The End of Us, The Start of Me

Later that day, Celeste found Leo in his office. The Alpha demanded to see her immediately. Without further ado, Celeste knew what he would talk about.

“I heard you’re making Violet cried before the other members of the pack,” Leo said when Celeste arrived before him.

“I need you to tell Violet to respect boundaries. She’s been acting… bold, Leo. It’s not right,” Celeste calmly told him, choosing her words carefully.

Leo’s eyes narrowed as he dismissively said, “You’re reading too much into things, Celeste.”

She took a deep breath, trying to stay calm, as she asked him, “Am I? She disrespects me every chance she gets and it’s hurting us. I need to know you understand that.”

Leo’s gaze turned cold as he defensively said, “Celeste, Violet is an important part of this pack.”

“Important enough to humiliate your Luna? Important enough to … make her pregnant?” she asked Leo, her voice rising before she could stop it.

Leo stood up when Celeste mentioned about Violet’s pregnancy. She could no longer stand by it. But she would never expect what her fated mate would do to her.

“Enough, Celeste. You’re making a scene!” he shouted angrily.

Celeste felt a flash of anger from her mate. Before she could respond, Leo took a step closer. When she saw him, his eyes were flashing with authority.

When Leo spoke again, his voice held the commanding tone of the Alpha. A tone that sent a shiver through any wolf, including her. It really broke Celeste’s heart.

‘How dare you use your Alpha voice to us!’ Elia protested as the wolf growled angrily inside of her.

“Apologize to Violet. Now,” Leo commanded with his firm Alpha voice.

Celeste clenched her fists as she felt the pressure of his Alpha voice bearing down on her. Just when she thought that she would give in, there was something inside of her that refused to bow down. In fact, it managed to overwhelm the pressure of the Alpha’s voice.

With all of her strength, Celeste braced herself to utter something her fated mate would never expect, “No, Leo. I will not apologize to her.”

Leo stared at Celeste, shock flickering across his face as his Luna refused to obey his Alpha voice. This time was different. She refused to yield to him, so she kept her gaze steady.

“You may be the Alpha. But I am still your mate. I deserve respect,” she said weakly with her voice barely a whisper.

The Alpha's face darkened when his Luna said that. In fact, Celeste could see the anger simmering beneath his expression. Nevertheless, the man said nothing.

Eventually, Leo turned away from Celeste. A dismissive gesture that stung more than any words he could have said. But what happened earlier had made Celeste made up her mind.

‘We have to leave the pack to sever the mating bond,’ she told her wolf who howled wholeheartedly.

However, Celeste knew that there was doubts inside of her. Then, she heard Elia.

‘We must let go of the past to get a better future, Celeste,’ Elia told her.

That was what finally convinced she to leave this pack as soon as possible.

Tonight was the night Celeste planned to leave the pack. As she sat by the edge of the bed, she ran her fingers along the thin gold ring on her ring finger. Leo gave it to her when they first discovered they were fated mates. This ring was a token of his promise and her hope.

But the right felt more like a weight more than ever. The ring became a reminder of dreams that had faded long ago. It became clear to her then.

No matter what would happen, Celeste would sever the mating bond. For years, she had held onto the hope that Leo might remember his promises and put their future above the past. But that was gone for good after their last meeting. So, she knew what she would do.

While Celeste clearly knew that she wanted to sever her bond, she needed to go back to her original pack, the Ivory Fang Pack. From her pack, she could summon the Moon Priestess safely.

After all, she was the only one who had the power to safely break the connection between mates without causing harm.

Not to mention, the ritual was delicate. It had to be done under the light of the full moon when both participants would feel safe. Since Celeste no longer felt safe, she made up her mind to go back to her original pack. So, this might be the only chance to do it.

As she slipped out the back door, she cast one last glance at the pack house. Memories flooded her mind. The day both Leo and her found out that they were fated mates, their wedding day, the promises, the dreams they had once shared.

But those dreams had long since withered and she couldn’t let them hold her back any longer.

She then put removed a ring that had binded her to him for years and left a letter addressed to him.

[Dear Leo,

If you read this letter, I’m already gone for good. I hope you and Violet find the happiness you’ve been looking for. I’m tired of seeing you choose her over me over and over again. I deserve someone better even if we’re fated to be mates.

Goodbye, Leo. I hope to never see you again.

Celeste, your abandoned Luna]

Celeste walked out of the bedroom with her suitcase, the door closing softly behind her. She felt no regret or guilt—just the weight of a decision that should have been made long ago.

It was time to leave, and this time, there would be no coming back.