Chapter 6

Aurora POV

On the night of the full moon festival, a massive bonfire blazed in Stormborn Pack's territory square.

I wore the ceremonial dress symbolizing my Luna status, standing alone on one side of the platform.

But my Mate, my Alpha Julian, trampled my dignity underfoot in front of everyone.

Right before the entire pack, without any attempt to hide it, he held Elara protectively in his arms, shielding her from the night wind. The intimacy between them was undeniable.

The whispers of the surrounding pack members drifted to my ears on the night breeze without reserve.

"See that? Alpha Julian only has eyes for Elara. The Luna standing there is just a joke."

"The Luna is just someone the Alpha brought back from outside. She was lucky to get the Luna position, that's all."

"Exactly. Elara saved Alpha Julian's life, and they're childhood friends. Elara is the one who should truly be the Alpha's Luna."

Every word was like a poisoned silver blade, viciously piercing my heart.

The intense pain transmitted through the Mate bond made it almost impossible to breathe.

I couldn't endure it anymore.

I spun around and rushed to the restroom, retching violently over the sink.

My stomach was empty. There was nothing to throw up.

Tears and cold sweat covered my face.

After a long while, I finally straightened up, turned on the faucet, and splashed cold water on my face again and again.

The ice water was bone-chilling. I looked up at my reflection in the mirror—face deathly pale, but eyes frighteningly clear.

I suddenly laughed.

Laughing and laughing, tears streamed down again.

"Thank you, Alpha Julian." I said softly to my reflection in the mirror. "Thank you for using the cruelest method to help me completely kill the last bit of softness in my heart."

I dried my face and walked out of the restroom.

I returned to the full moon ceremony square.

The bonfire still burned. Standing in the shadows, I watched Julian and Elara's embracing silhouettes in the firelight, my heart dead calm.

"Julian, I will never, ever love you again."