Severing the Alpha's Worthless Vow

Caleb didn't come home last night.

I wasn't surprised. It wasn't the first time.

But as I finished getting ready, I saw him walk in with breakfast in hand, Seraphina trailing behind him.

When he saw me, he placed the breakfast on the dining table and, for once, offered an explanation.

"We were out late. I stayed with Seraphina—she was shaken after your power flared up. It was past midnight by the time she finally fell asleep, so I just crashed at her place."

Seraphina, clinging to his arm, chimed in, her tone dripping with false innocence.

"That's right, Elara. You're not mad, are you?"

I said nothing, just nodded.

Caleb seemed to sense my coldness. In a rare gentle tone, he pushed the breakfast toward me and tried again.

"Didn't you say you've always wanted to see the decennial meteor shower? I have time today. I can take you."

That meteor shower—I had asked him about it repeatedly, and each time he had refused, citing pack business. A few days later, I saw him in Seraphina's post.

"Watching the most beautiful starry sky with the one I love most," the caption read.

Although their faces weren't visible, the image of their intertwined hands said it all.

Even without the photo, the faint scent on him that wasn't mine would have made my decision easy.

"No, thank you," I said calmly. "I have plans today."

A flash of discomfort crossed his face, as if he hadn't expected the rejection. He opened his mouth to say more, but Seraphina was already settled on the sofa, looking at me with wide, innocent eyes.

"Elara, when you say you're busy… does that mean you're meeting a wolf from another pack?"

I shot her a sharp look, suspicion blooming in my gut.

The only ones who knew I was filing to sever the bond were the Elders' Council and my own clan's elders. No one else was supposed to know.

Sensing my suspicious gaze, Seraphina quickly turned to Caleb, putting on a show of wide-eyed purity.

"Caleb, please don't be angry at what I'm about to say. A few days ago, a friend of mine told me they saw Elara meeting secretly with a wolf from another pack… acting…" she trailed off deliberately, feigning hesitation before continuing in a softer, fearful tone, "intimately…"

"But maybe my friend was mistaken! After all, how could Elara ever betray you? She loves you so much, Caleb."

The moment her words were out, Caleb's face twisted in rage.

Without warning, he unleashed his Alpha aura, and the crystal glasses on the table shattered. His eyes burned with fury as he stared at me.

"Elara! So you won't see the meteor shower with me because you're sneaking around with some other wolf?" he snarled. "Is that how you should act while carrying my pup?"

I glanced at the shattered glass on the floor but said nothing. Before I could speak, Seraphina, ever the peacemaker, jumped in again.

"Caleb, please don't be angry. Let's calm down and talk. It's not entirely her fault—after all, her Vance Clan bloodline is also…"

But before she could finish that venomous sentence, my rage erupted. An invisible shockwave of power blasted out from me, sending her flying.

She could slander me all she wanted, but she had no right to insult my clan.

The shockwave left a faint energy brand on her skin, and she immediately looked to Caleb with tear-filled eyes, as if gravely injured. As expected, he rushed to her side, fussing over her with concern.

Seeing her pitiful expression, he glared at me, his finger jabbing in my direction.

"Elara, you disappoint me beyond words! Even if what Seraphina said wasn't true, you had no right to harm her!"

He continued his tirade, "You will apologize to Seraphina right now, or I'll report this to the Elders' Council and force them to sever our bond!"

I cut him off sharply, my voice like ice. "So you knew she was lying."

His face froze, caught in his own words. He quickly shifted back to self-righteous anger, pointing at me again.

"Yes, I saw that too! But you were still wrong to hurt her! Apologize to Seraphina now, or we sever the bond!"

A chill spread through my body. I stared at him in disbelief, holding on to one last shred of hope, making one final attempt.

"Caleb," I said, my voice low and firm, "I've scheduled the ritual to terminate the pregnancy. It's tomorrow. Will you be there?"

He scoffed, his voice filled with derision, as if I had just told the most ridiculous joke he'd ever heard.