Chapter 22

He stood there stunned, his eyes vacant, as if he had lost his entire world.

He mumbled repeatedly: "Mating Bond... registration?"

"Yes, the news just came in. It's confirmed."

"How could she..." his voice cracked, his emotions fracturing like ice, piece by piece, "How could she bond with another Alpha so quickly?!"

Alpha Damien's voice grew lower and lower, his throat feeling burned. He couldn't sit still any longer and shot up: "Get the car ready. To the airport, now."

His Beta Marcus tried to stop him: "Alpha Damien, Elder Theron is still on his deathbed in the healing ward—"

"I don't care!" Alpha Damien was nearly out of control. "I need to find her right now! Immediately!"

12:33 PM, outside the Northern Territory Pack Registry Office.

Sunlight slanted down, a gentle breeze brushing our faces.

Alpha King Kaelen and I walked out side by side through those ceremonial stone doors. He held our freshly sealed Mating Bond certificate in his hand, his gaze steady, his face showing a rare gentle smile.

"From today on, you're my Luna Queen."

I looked up at him, the corners of my mouth lifting slightly. My wolf spirit had fully recovered, and with it, my mood was wonderfully light.

I had completely let go of Alpha Damien. I was ready to embrace my new life.

We hadn't even walked down the stone steps when suddenly a sharp voice rang out:

"You registered your Mating Bond?"

Alpha Damien's voice seemed to carry on the wind from across the territory square, filled with twisted anger and disbelief.

I froze, looking up to see that once bone-deep familiar figure rushing toward us.

His face was haggard from travel, his Alpha ceremonial coat wrinkled, his shirt disheveled.

He lunged forward like a madman: "Seraphina, you registered your bond? You really mated with him? How could you?!"

"Why couldn't I?" My tone was cold. Alpha King Kaelen stepped in front of me, blocking his advance.

Alpha Damien looked up at me, his eyes bloodshot: "I know I wronged you before. I know I was wrong... but why would you do this?! Are you trying to spite me by rushing into a Mating Bond with just anyone?!"

I looked directly at him, my voice without a trace of warmth: "Alpha Damien, I gave you countless chances. From the day I got pregnant with your pup, from the moment I fell to the ground at the marketplace, from that night when I left alone under everyone's curses... You had so many opportunities to turn back, but every time you chose to hurt me instead."

"What's with this reaction now? We ended long ago."

Alpha Damien swayed, the color draining from his face bit by bit.

"I never stopped loving you," he suddenly said quietly.

My heart skipped a beat, but my expression remained unchanged.

"I know... I never understood what love was before. I thought you were just an optional presence in my life, a she-wolf who would go along with me, a pack member I could arrange as I pleased. It wasn't until I lost you that I realized—you were my reason for living."

He stepped forward, almost falling to his knees: "Seraphina, I truly... truly love you. Not for the pup, not out of duty. I just want you back by my side."

Like a madman, he pulled out his phone, swiping through photos and holding them up to me, as if trying to prove something.

"After you left, I went to all the places we traveled to together. I still have the notes you wrote back then... The moonlight herb candles you liked, the silver-free jewelry you loved—I bought them all... Every night when I wake up from dreaming about you, I think you've come back."

His voice grew hoarse, choking: "I watched you go into the healing ward, watched you fall to the ground at the marketplace, but I didn't reach out to help. I deserve your hatred forever. But I'm begging you, don't mate with someone else..."