After I became someone else's bride, he regretted it

Eason, one of Moon ridge’s most celebrated young warriors, sent me the ninety-fifth proof of his betrayal.

A Memory Stone, a moon-etched crystal that records scent, sound, and image.

Inside it, Eason and Nancy his so-called “cousin”were tangled together in a way no blood-kin ever should be.

The first time he betrayed me was at our own bonding feast.

Nancy had just returned from the Southern Wolf Academy. She ran straight into his arms… and kissed him.

The second time on our seventh anniversary.

Eason stepped outside to answer a messenger wolf, and five minutes later, someone slipped me a Memory Stone showing the two of them lying on the same fur bed.

And on and on it went.

This time, the 95th time they betrayed me, was on our very wedding day.

Eason disappeared from the clan’s ceremonial grounds without a word.I stood there in a white gown, looking like a fool, apologizing to the guests for the groom’s sudden “emergency.”

Then my pouch vibrated softly—another Memory Stone.

Moon-fireworks burst across the image.

Nancy leaned against Eason’s bare chest, eyes fixed on the crystal.Like she was daring me to react.

I ripped off my veil and threw it in the trash. Pulled off the ring that never quite fit right. Wiped my tears, smiled through the ache, and told everyone Eason must’ve had a good reason.

Once the crowd had cleared, I cried in my mother’s arms.

Then, for the 95th time, I forgave Eason.

What he didn’t know was… I was counting.

I was waiting for him to betray me until the hundred and first time.

That’s how many times he’s proposed to me over the years.

That’s the day I’ll leave him for good.

But then when I finally accepted an arranged union and became promised to a northern chieftain…

why was Eason suddenly the one on his knees, begging me to stay?

I watched him leave, disappearing between the pines.

When he was gone, I wiped my face and touched the rune-etched summoning feather I hadn’t used in years.

“I changed my mind,” I said quietly. “Is it too late?”

When the answer came—“No”—

I began saying goodbye to Eason in my heart.

‘I don’t want to be the bride in a wedding like this, Eason. And I certainly don’t want a man like you to be my husband!’

……

He returned late that night hours after vanishing on our wedding day.

He tried to make it up to me, pulling me close, kissing me gently… like we were still in love.

And for a moment, I let myself soften.

I sank into his arms until a howl-call rang from the crystal at his belt.

“Eason,” Nancy’s voice sang through the echo rune,

“My ascension celebration is starting! Everyone’s waiting for you!”

Eason gave me a sorry smile as he grabbed his shirt.

“I have to go,” he murmured. “It’s her big night.”

I didn’t answer.

Just watched him leave.

Again.

Three years ago, Nancy had moved to the far western cliffs for training, and since then, my relationship had steadily rotted.

She always called at the worst moments.

Always needed him when it would wound me most.

Eventually, she moved into our den, claiming issues with her pack mates.

And after that, she didn’t even pretend anymore.

She’d stroll into our sleeping chamber without knocking.

More than once, Eason and I scrambled to cover ourselves under her smug stare.

At first, Eason tried to set boundaries.

But somehow… she became part of “us.”

Every ceremony.

Every milestone.

She was always there.

And somewhere along the way, she became more important than I was.

Like today.

One howl from Nancy, and my wedding was abandoned.

Eason left me at the altar because Nancy “needed” him at her celebration.

Spirits help me I was the woman carrying his child.

Seven weeks along.

Not long after he left, an anonymous raven delivered another Memory Stone.

Inside it, I watched my groom and Nancy wrapped around each other under a sky painted with moon-fireworks.

It didn’t take long for the scene to spread among the clans.

Eason was the golden boy of the warrior ranks every move he made was watched.

And this was no exception.

I stared at the stone, smiled bitterly… and felt nothing.

I closed my eyes and counted.

Ninety-six.

I couldn’t remember when the pain stopped when numbness took its place.

But I knew one thing.

At one-hundred-and-one, I will walk away.

He’d proposed to me that many times.

The last one was three months ago right after I learned I was pregnant.

I’ll endure 101 betrayals… because that’s how many it will take to kill what remains of my love for him.

It was nearly dawn when Eason finally returned.

He slid into bed behind me, arms curling around my waist.

His scent reached me.

Vanilla.

Nancy’s perfume oil.

“Babe,” he whispered against my neck,

“I promise… I’ll give you the wedding you deserve. Grand. Perfect.”

His hands drifted down my back, pulling me closer.

Usually, I’d melt.

But tonight, his breath made my stomach twist.

I inhaled slowly, then pulled away.

“No mating tonight, Eason,” I said, voice flat.

“The healer warned it could harm the baby.”

He went still.

In the dark, the silence between us felt colder than winter.

Then he pressed a kiss to my forehead.

“Rest, love.”

The next morning, I woke to a cold, empty space beside me.

Eason was gone.

And a messenger hawk was perched at my window.

It carried images—mist-blurred visions captured by a stone Eason in the bathing springs.

Even with the steam, I recognized the body I once loved.

And the long scar across his sculpted abdomen the one he earned protecting me from a knife years ago.

I wiped a tear from my cheek.

Never let anything hurt me, huh?

Then what is all of this?

Still, like a fool, I sought him out.

Today was my pregnancy check with the tribe’s healer.

The least he could do was show up for his child.

I didn’t expect him to answer but I didn’t expect Nancy to answer the rune-call instead.

“Oh! Hi there, my future sister-in-law,” she chirped.

“Eason’s still asleep. He exhausted himself making my night perfect.”

I hung up without a word, fingers icy.

When I turned back to the healer, the words slipped out of me.

“I don’t want this child anymore.”

And I don’t want Eason either.