Marked by a Stronger Alpha After Being His Stand-in

"It's pack tradition," I lied smoothly. "The mark is purified before an anniversary to strengthen it."

Three days until I leave.

Lying to Rocco was becoming frighteningly natural.

He stared at me, his Alpha instincts screaming that something was wrong.

"Look me in the eye, Caterina," he said, moving toward the bed. "You're lying."

I met his gaze without flinching.

"Rocco, I have no reason to lie."

He placed the paper on the nightstand and sat down slowly on the edge of the bed.

He didn't press the issue.

"Come here," he said, his voice softening as he opened his arms. "I want to hold you."

I obeyed, letting him pull me into his arms.

He held me tightly, his chin resting on the top of my head.

"Caterina, I love you," he murmured in the darkness, his voice impossibly gentle. "You are my only Luna, the most precious thing in my life. No matter what happens, I will never let you leave me."

"I need you to remember that."

He was whispering all the right things, and his chest still held the familiar warmth I knew so well.

But my body was rigid, and my heart was a stone.

But Rocco felt none of the warmth he expected from our bond.

Before, whenever he held me like this, I would melt into him, my small movements and soft sighs telling him how much I loved him.

Now, there was nothing.

Only distance and resistance.

And the closer he got, the more severe the backlash of the rejection became. I knew he was suffering.

Both physically and mentally.

"Caterina?" He pulled back, searching my face with worried eyes. "What's wrong with you? Why do you feel so far away?"

"I'm not," I said blandly. "I'm right here, my love."

Just then, a frantic mind-link call burst into his thoughts.

"Alpha! Emergency!" It was Beta Marcus's panicked voice.

Rocco frowned and accepted the link.

"Scarlett was attacked by Rogues during the hunt! She's badly injured!" Marcus's voice was frantic. "She's lost a lot of blood and is unconscious. The doctors say it's critical!"

The color drained from Rocco's face.

The raw panic and anguish of someone fearing for the life of a loved one was written plainly across his features.

It was ten times more intense than his reaction when I had been injured.

"What? How did she run into Rogues?" he demanded, shooting up from the bed. "Where were the others? The guards?"

"The Rogues were after her. It seemed like a planned attack. The guards were all seriously wounded, she's the only one who…"

"I'm on my way!"

Rocco was already throwing on his clothes, his movements frantic.

"Caterina, Scar's in trouble. I have to go see her," he said, fastening his belt, his voice thick with urgency.

"Go," I said calmly.

He hesitated, clearly thrown by my composed response.

In the past, the mere mention of them being alone together would have sent me into a spiral of anxiety.

"I'll be back soon," he said, pausing at the door. "Wait for me."

"Okay."

After the door closed, I heard him rushing around the living room.

A few minutes later, an engine roared to life and then faded into the distance.

I got out of bed and walked to the window.

Watching his taillights disappear into the night, I felt a strange sense of peace.

No anger, no jealousy. Nothing.

Just the quiet relief of being set free.

For the next two days, I made my final preparations.

I called my lawyer to confirm the division of assets.

I sent a message to my mother, telling her I would be home soon.

I packed the design portfolios from the bookshelf, one by one.

The last few clothes in the closet were folded and placed in my suitcase.

Six years of my life, completely erased.

On the third day—our mate anniversary and my planned day of departure—I was jolted awake at five in the morning by a violent pain.

My chest felt like it was being ripped apart. Every breath was a fresh slice of a knife.

This was it. The final agony of the bond breaking.

Sage the witch had warned me that the forced rejection would have a period of excruciating pain.

It was the Moon Goddess's final offer of a chance to repent.

If the mates could reconcile, the bond could be saved.

I gritted my teeth, enduring it as cold sweat soaked through my nightgown.

The pain intensified until my vision began to blur.

I was losing the battle.

My hands trembling, I managed to force a mind-link to Rocco.

"Rocco… it hurts… can you please come back?"

The message went out into the void.

Silence. No response.

Another wave of agony crashed over me, and I finally collapsed onto the floor.