An Alpha's Poisonous Pardon

Sometime later, Damien followed my scent and appeared before me.

When he saw me, the tension on his face vanished, and his eyes filled with pity.

"Why did you run off here all alone? I was worried."

"It's getting colder. And things are busy in the Pack at the end of the year. If you got sick, I'd be heartbroken."

I wasn't surprised that Damien had found me.

He had once claimed it was our mate bond's mind-link.

Now I finally understood. It was the tracking rune in the necklace around my neck. He wanted to monitor me, terrified I would cause trouble for Rosalie.

I just blinked. My tears had long since dried, and I stared blankly at the snowflakes drifting down from the sky.

"I heard that praying to the Moon Goddess makes wishes come true, so I came out to make a wish."

My first wish was simple: that Damien and I could sever our mate bond smoothly.

My second wish: that I would never see him again after our bond was broken.

My third wish: that my mother's spirit could finally rest in peace.

I hope she doesn't hate me for falling in love with the accomplice of her murderer, for even wanting to bear his pup.

Damien draped his coat over my shoulders and affectionately tapped my nose. "You should have dressed more warmly. Look at your hands, they're freezing."

"What did you wish for?"

I watched numbly as he continued his tender performance.

"About us, and about my mother."

Damien stiffened, his eyes narrowing as they searched my face. "Rosalie is your half-sister. No matter what, she's your family. She was also devastated by your mother's death, and now you two only have each other. It's been three years. Why don't you…"

I knew what he was implying. "I know. I won't cause any more trouble."

My appeal had already failed; she was never punished.

Furthermore, even if that pardon were revoked, nothing would change.

Damien looked relieved. His expression didn't change, but the slight upward tilt of his lips told me he was in a much better mood.

"My love, I'm so glad you've put this behind you."

"It's a new year, a new beginning. Let's spend the rest of our lives together. We'll be happy, I promise."

I just listened to him in silence.

Before long, Damien took me home.

Mason was gone, and Damien said he had to handle some Pack business in his study.

I sat there, numb. A thousand emotions raged within me until I took out the "Bond-Severing Ritual" scroll I had prepared.

Without a second thought, I signed it and went straight to the study. But I found the door ajar and no one inside.

It was my first time entering his private chamber, which was neat and tidy.

On the wall hung a life-sized portrait of Rosalie.

Propped against the leg of the desk was a piece of wolf-hide parchment, covered with her name written over and over.

Every stroke was filled with a boyish, lovesick devotion.

I thought I could calmly accept the truth of his betrayal.

But I couldn't. My heart felt as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand, a pain that not even a werewolf's healing ability could mend.