Rejected Luna's Silent Vengeance

I looked at him with a hint of irony.

"Alpha Emmanuel, our research project wrapped up ages ago, and you swapped my name with Kyla’s. We’re not working together anymore, so why can’t I just block you?"

Emmanuel sighed at my words, giving me his usual look of disappointment.

"Zariyah, why do you always nitpick? It’s just a name. You’re already a respected healer with a reputation; what’s wrong with giving younger members of the pack a chance?"

I stared at Emmanuel, sensing his indifference. He never offers his own name to Kyla, only ever sacrificing mine. Yet, at this moment, I had lost the desire to argue with him.

"Alpha Emmanuel, this is a breach of pack honor. My not reporting you to the council is already showing leniency. We have no professional ties anymore, and on a personal level, we’ve severed our mate bond. I have no reason to keep your contact information. Please stop bothering me."

Emmanuel was taken aback by my bluntness, silent for a few seconds before suddenly smiling,

"Zariyah, you’ve gotten smarter, playing hard to get."

I rolled my eyes dramatically and turned to leave, not expecting him to grab my arm.

"Zariyah, for next month’s marking anniversary, let me take you to the pack’s gathering feast. Remember how much you loved the roasted venison with herbs?"

"Can I have a slice of the alpha’s portion this time?" I asked deliberately.

He frowned, "Zariyah, you weren’t so materialistic before."

A wave of bitterness washed over me as I recalled Kyla’s photos from a lavish dinner at the Lycan King’s palace last night. A casual meal with her can cost thousands in gold, yet for our once-a-year anniversary, he insists on the pack’s common feast and can’t even spare me a slice from the alpha’s table.

With a bitter smile, I pulled my arm away from his grasp.

That evening, I sat down with my parents and confessed our severed mate bond. My father remained silent, his fists clenched tightly until he couldn’t contain his anger,

"Who does Alpha Emmanuel think he is? Had I not recommended him and introduced him to the council, would he have achieved his current position?"

My mother’s eyes reddened,

"Zariyah, if you’re unhappy, we can bring him before the council."

I shook my head. "Let it go. It’s better to part on good terms."

My father sighed,

"I raised you to be considerate, but those who don’t appreciate you end up hurting you."

I didn’t contradict him. Instead, I brewed a pot of moonflower tea for my parents. The aroma calmed my turbulent emotions somewhat.

The next day in the pack’s training grounds, as I stood at the front demonstrating healing techniques, whispers rose from the warriors below. Pack training often has inattentive listeners, but I continued without concern. Suddenly, someone called out,

"Healer Zariyah, is it true you and Alpha Emmanuel severed your mate bond?"

"Is it because he couldn’t handle you cheating on him?"

"You’ve been mated for seven years with no pups—is it because your private life is messy, with miscarriages causing this?"

My fingers trembled uncontrollably as the memories I wanted to forget replayed painfully in my mind, making me want to scream.

But I didn’t. I fought back the emotions, forcing a smile,

"Alpha Emmanuel and I parted amicably."

"She’s lying!" Kyla stood up with a hint of triumph,

"Alpha Emmanuel told me that because Healer Zariyah was promiscuous and lost the ability to bear pups, that’s why he severed the bond."

My emotions were on the verge of collapse, and I couldn’t help but yell out the truth,

"The one who had the miscarriage and was promiscuous wasn’t me! It was—"

A loud slap silenced the training grounds. Blood trickled from the corner of my mouth where I had been struck, and I turned to see Emmanuel had quietly entered the area.

He looked at me with a pleading expression,

"Zariyah, admitting mistakes is essential for a healer!"

Before I could respond, he dismissed the warriors, leaving just the two of us in the clearing. With an expression of concern, he tried to check my swollen cheek. I coldly pushed his hand away.

He quickly pleaded,

"Zariyah, you know I’m up for a promotion to the Lycan King’s council; I can’t afford a scandal. If you tell others you’re the one who wanted to sever the bond, it’ll be hard for me to explain."

"The miscarriage issue is long in the past; why bring it up again? It’s cruel to destroy a young she-wolf’s life."

I asked, trembling,

"And what about my reputation? Doesn’t it matter?"

He didn’t answer, and in that silence, I felt the weight of his betrayal settle deeper into my soul. My wolf stirred within me, a low growl of pain and anger echoing in my mind. I clenched my fists, knowing that this was the final straw. There would be no turning back now.