Rejecting the Luna’s Hollow Vow

Arthur used to be incredibly considerate toward me. Whenever I casually mentioned my favorite gelato, he would queue up at the shop to get me a cone, even if it meant standing in the rain. Once, a packmate called to invite me to a late-night run, and I told Arthur not to wait up. I shifted and sprinted through the forest to meet them.

Later that night, as a storm rolled in, my packmate escorted me home. Dazed from the evening's events, I stumbled back into human form and made my way to the front door. There stood Arthur, drenched, holding a melted cone, yet he didn’t show a trace of irritation.

“Winning a mate requires effort,” he said, his alpha tone softening as he handed me the messy treat. At that moment, I realized I needed to hold Arthur dear.

So, when he grumbled about me eating ice cream in his car, I didn’t fire back. Instead, I patiently reasoned:

"It’s just ice cream. It doesn’t have a strong scent."

"I’m being careful. It won’t spill in your car."

Arthur studied me with a frown, eyeing the ice cream. We’d known each other for years and understood one another well, but right then, his impatience felt alien to me.

I took a large bite of the ice cream, feeling the chill settle in my stomach.

“Arthur.”

“Hmm?”

“Look, there’s just a little bit left. I’ll finish it soon. I know you don’t like mess, and I won’t dirty your car.”

I reached out to playfully pinch his cheek, hoping to coax a smile from him.

Arthur leaned back, avoiding my touch.

“Your hands are covered in cream. Don’t touch me.”

Feeling a bit deflated, I withdrew my hand and stared at him intently.

“Arthur, would you get out of the car with me so we can finish eating on the sidewalk?”

“Do you really need me to join you for ice cream? Aren’t you an adult?”

A mix of unnamed emotions bubbled up inside me, overwhelming my senses.

“I’m your mate. What’s wrong with you sharing an ice cream with me?”

Arthur’s face turned cold.

“Makenzie, can’t you be a bit more mature? Yesterday, when I went to Livia’s office to discuss pack strategy, I bought her an ice cream to cool down. She said she’d rather focus on her duties as a Delta than worry about trivial things like that. You two are friends, yet you handle things so differently. Here you are, getting all worked up over ice cream.”

I stared at him, disbelief washing over me.

“Are you comparing me to someone else now? Are you implying I’m lacking?”

“What am I comparing? You just don’t have the outlook that Livia has. Am I not supposed to mention that?”

He chuckled softly, but there was no warmth in it.

“Are you jealous because your friend is more accomplished? She’s a Delta, trained to protect the pack, risking her life for us. And you? You’re a Gamma, focused on training warriors. Yet here you are, obsessed with this ice cream.”

Arthur had always been logical. As the Beta of the Blue Pack, he was known for his sharp mind and commanding presence. But I never imagined he’d use his alpha tone against me, pointing out my shortcomings in front of the pack.

I couldn’t argue with him. My throat felt dry and sore, the weight of his words pressing down on me.

Tears streamed down my face as I sobbed in the car, while Arthur opened my door like he was simply an observer.

“Get out. The ice cream’s melting. Don’t mess up my car.”

As soon as my feet touched the ground, Arthur drove off, leaving me standing there in disbelief. The ice cream gradually melted, sticky cream covering my hands.

I thought, if Arthur had just told me he didn’t like packmates eating in his car, I would’ve been okay. Even if he’d lumped me in with “others.”

The next day, unfortunately, I saw Livia getting out of Arthur’s passenger seat, holding an ice cream cone. She was smiling sweetly, and Arthur’s expression was gentle, his alpha aura calm and content.

It turned out, I really was just “another packmate.” Arthur’s aversion was genuine, but there was someone who got a pass.

Closing my eyes for a moment, I sighed, “Why haven’t you left yet?”

Wasn’t he worried about missing Livia’s prenatal appointment?

Arthur loosened his tie in frustration.

“My mate wants to sever the bond, and you ask where I’d go?”

I thought, fine, he could stay. It was his house, after all. I started packing some items I had bought with my own money, preparing to leave.

Once the cooling-off period ended, the rejection vow would automatically take effect.

Arthur watched me in surprise as I packed.

“Do you hate me that much? You don’t want to stay in our home?”

I didn’t understand. He and Livia had secretly become close, yet he was arguing about the rejection, not keen on registering the child?

Arthur sighed.

“Let’s both take some time to cool off. You stay at the house. I’ll crash at the pack office for a few days.”

I looked up at him.

“So, you’re giving me the house, but keeping all the assets?”

Arthur’s brow furrowed deeply, his alpha aura flaring with frustration.

“Are you really set on this rejection?”

I didn’t want to waste words with him, so I shoved him out and called a locksmith to change the locks right in front of him. Arthur watched me intently, his alpha tone heavy in the air, but he said nothing.