Chapter Five

Ronan stared at me.

“Don't forget why we bonded,” he said. “This was an alliance between two packs. It was never about love.”

My fingers slipped on the wall. I pressed them harder against it.

“What do you expect from me? Some vow of undying devotion? I have a pack to protect.”

I gave a short laugh, and it turned into a sob before I could stop it. Tears stung the cut on my face.

I'd known what he would say. Still, a part of me had wanted him to see me bleeding and care, even if he couldn't love me.

“Ronan, honey.” Vanessa rested against his arm. “The cubs are scared. Let's take them upstairs and get them settled. Elara needs some time to cool off.”

He gave me one last look, then lifted a child into each arm.

Vanessa walked beside him as he carried them away.

I stayed against the wall until I could trust my legs. No one came back. The blood on my chin cooled while I waited for the pain in my back to ease enough to move.

I had spent my first life making excuses for that retreating back. I couldn't do it again.

I would get through the ceremony. Then I would leave.

Three days later, the twins' birthday celebration coincided with the pack's great annual full-moon festival.

The party was held at the castle in the center of the territory. Moonstone pillars gleamed around the hall, and the guests drank moonflower nectar from carved cups. Ronan had spared no expense, particularly for Caleb, his Alpha son.

I wore the moon-white robes of the Luna. Beneath them, my back still ached. The cut on my forehead hadn't fully healed.

I spent most of the evening in a corner while my children held Vanessa's hands. Whenever one let go, it was only to show her something or fetch something for her. Neither came to me.

Ronan stood beside the stone altar with a drink, watching her across the room.

“He never got over his first love,” someone said through the pack link.

“Look at the cubs. You'd think they were hers.”

“Elara's only Luna on paper.”

I tried to shut out the chatter, but other voices joined in. A visiting Alpha told his mate he'd attended the Wolf Academy with Ronan and Vanessa.

“Everyone knew about them,” he said. “He almost pledged himself to her on graduation night.”

“She gave up her chance when she left,” his mate replied. “But I guess you never really forget your first love.”

Another guest glanced at me before adding, “An alliance can get you the title. It can't make him want you. Even giving him heirs hasn't helped her.”

They talked as though I weren't close enough to hear, though they knew how a Luna's senses worked.

I set down my untouched drink. I'd spent years trying to endure occasions like this gracefully. Tonight, there was no reason to stay for another conversation.

I walked to the elevator and pressed the button for the ground floor.

A hand slipped between the closing doors.

Vanessa stepped inside. When we were alone, she stopped smiling for the room and smiled just at me.

“The bond-breaking ceremony will be over soon,” she said. “You haven't forgotten your promise?”

“No.”

“You'll leave as soon as it's finished?”

“I want to leave more than you want me gone.”

That seemed to reassure her. She leaned against the wall as the elevator began to descend.

“I'll take good care of Ronan and the cubs. You don't need to worry about them.” She glanced at me. “They never liked that bitter healing scent of yours. Once you're gone, they'll forget it.”

I didn't answer. I could feel the bond weakening, a little more with each passing moment. After all that waiting, the Goddess's power was loosening what Ronan had signed away.

I concentrated on that instead of Vanessa's voice.

Something struck beneath the floor.

The elevator lurched. I was thrown against the metal wall, and the lights went out.

Vanessa screamed. I heard her fumbling for her phone.

“Ronan! Help! The elevator's stuck.”

I tried to get my feet under me and couldn't. A section of twisted metal had trapped my legs. Something heavy pressed against my side, and warm blood ran down my face from the cut I'd reopened.

I couldn't see Vanessa. I could hear her calling for him, over and over.

Footsteps finally sounded beyond the doors.

“Can anyone hear me?” a man called. “Anybody in there?”

“We're in here,” Vanessa cried. “My leg's pinned. Get me out.”

Tools scraped against the doors. Metal groaned, then a thin beam of light cut through the opening.

A Beta rescuer looked inside. His gaze moved between us, checking the debris and the sloping floor. Through the narrow gap behind him, I could make out Ronan and the twins.

“We can only bring one through at a time,” the rescuer said. “There isn't room to work on both, and this car isn't stable.”

“Vanessa first,” Ronan said.

He hadn't asked me anything. His eyes had gone straight to her.

“Yes, save Vanessa,” Chloe cried.

“Please,” Caleb said, pulling at the rescuer's vest. “She's going to be our Luna.”

The Beta looked back at me. I could barely keep my head raised. Blood had run into the collar of my dress, and every breath caught against the weight on my chest.

“Alpha, your mate is hurt worse. We should get her out first. With her healing ability—”

“I said Vanessa.” Ronan's voice hardened. “She's leading the ritual next month. We can't risk permanent damage to her leg.”

The rescuer hesitated, then turned toward Vanessa.

I watched him work through the narrow gap. He eased one piece of metal away, braced another, and reached for her arm. She cried out as they shifted the wreckage off her leg. Ronan leaned forward to take her as soon as they could pull her through.

The support on her side gave way.

I heard the tearing sound before I saw anything move. The twisted panel dropped across my legs and back, forcing me against the wrecked floor.

I tried to scream. I couldn't draw enough air.

Beyond the gap, Ronan held Vanessa against his chest. The twins crowded around her, crying with relief. He turned away with all three of them.

I waited for him to look back.

He didn't.

My vision narrowed. I called on my healing power, pouring everything I had left into the parts of my body that were failing. My wolf struggled to respond. I could feel how little strength remained, but I kept spending it because the alternative was to die here.

The last threads of the mate bond tore loose.

I felt them break before I lost consciousness.