Chapter 10
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Celeste’s POV
The full moon cast a pale glow over the pack grounds, lighting up the ceremonial circle where Violet‘ s punishment would take place. The elders had summoned the Moon Priestess. It was her who would deliver the sentence.
The whole pack was gathered. I noticed the air was thick with tension.
All members stood silent. Their eyes were fixed on the center of the clearing where Violet was bound. The woman definitely didn’t expect that it would end up like this. Oh, how naive of her.
I kept my face steady, refusing to meet Violet‘ s pleading gaze as I stepped closer to the edge of the circle. The moment she saw me, she immediately pleaded to me. In fact, she even hugged my legs as if it would do anything to free her.
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“Celeste, please! You don’t understand,” Violet‘ s voice cracked, echoing across the silent crowd.
She continued, “I … I was desperate. I
loved Alpha Leo! Can you really blame me for that?”
“It’s too late, Violet. Your choices led us here. You have no one to blame but yourself,” I coldly told her.
“Please, Luna, forgive me!” she shouted desperately.
Again, she pleaded, “I didn’t mean for things to go this far. I only wanted… I only wanted to be with Leo.”
“Forgiveness?” I repeated, my voice icy.
I asked her, “Did you think about forgiveness when you drove that dagger into me?”
She fell silent, but her eyes remained
locked on mine.
“I was wrong, Luna … I see that now.
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Please, have mercy,” she whispered as a
single tear rolling down her cheek.
I shook my head, the last traces of sympathy fading.
“Mercy isn’t mine to give,” I said as I
gestured to the Moon Priestess to sentence
Violet.
The Moon Priestess stepped forward.
After that, she firmly said, “It is I, the Moon Priestess. I had been summoned by the Dark Night Pack who asked justice that I will soon deliver. I have decided to
sentence Lady Violet Finckle of the Dark Night Pack to death by my silver dagger.
وو
As soon as the priestess said that, she held up the silver dagger. Violet’s face went pale. Her whole body began to shake. Her cries had turned into soft whimpers.
“No… no, please,” she murmured.
Without a word, the Priestess raised the dagger. In a swift, merciless motion, she
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plunged it into Violet’s heart. The pack watched in silent awe as Violet‘ s life drained away. She fell on her back with her body then turned, into dust.
To my surprise, I felt nothing. There was no satisfaction nor relief. Only a strange numbness that I could feel.
“May the Moon Goddess judge her now,” the Priestess intoned, wiping the blade clean and placing it back in its sheath.
The pack members began to disperse, murmuring softly to one another. Leo stood at the edge of the crowd, watching me with a guarded expression. I met his gaze steadily and he nodded as if he already knew what I was going to say.
I told Albert to wait for me, which he did hesitantly as I could see from his face. But I assured him that I would sever my mating bond here for good. The future Alpha was eventually convinced.
“Leo, we need to talk,” I called, stepping
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plunged it into Violet’s heart. The pack watched in silent awe as Violet’s life
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drained away. She fell on her back with her body then turned, into dust.
To my surprise, I felt nothing. There was no satisfaction nor relief. Only a strange
numbness that I could feel.
“May the Moon Goddess judge her now,‘ the Priestess intoned, wiping the blade clean and placing it back in its sheath.
The pack members began to disperse, murmuring softly to one another. Leo stood at the edge of the crowd, watching me with a guarded expression. I met his gaze steadily and he nodded as if he already knew what I was going to say.
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I told Albert to wait for me, which he did hesitantly as I could see from his face. But I assured him that I would sever my mating bond here for good. The future Alpha was eventually convinced.
“Leo, we need to talk,” I called, stepping
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plunged it into Violet’s heart. The pack watched in silent awe as Violet’s life drained away. She fell on her back with her body then turned, into dust.
To my surprise, I felt nothing. There was no satisfaction nor relief. Only a strange numbness that I could feel.
“May the Moon Goddess judge her now,” the Priestess intoned, wiping the blade clean and placing it back in its sheath.
The pack members began to disperse, murmuring softly to one another. Leo stood at the edge of the crowd, watching me with a guarded expression. I met his gaze steadily and he nodded as if he already knew what I was going to say.
I told Albert to wait for me, which he did hesitantly as I could see from his face. But I assured him that I would sever my mating bond here for good. The future Alpha was eventually convinced.
“Leo, we need to talk,” I called, stepping
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towards him.
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The Alpha looked away for a moment, but he then nodded and motioned for me to
follow him to the quiet corner of the courtyard.
When we were alone, I took a deep breath and spoke, “Leo, it’s time. You made a promise to me. Let’s sever our mating bond for good.”
His face tensed as he hesitated.
The man still tried to coax me as he said,
“Celeste, are you sure? I know I made that promise, but… things are different now. Violet is gone. We can try again, rebuild what we lost.”
“No. I don’t want to rebuild anything with you. You gave me your word in that letter, and now it’s time for you to keep it,” I replied firmly, crossing my arms.
“Celeste, I’ve realized how much I’ve hurt you, and I’m trying to make it right. Why won’t you give me that chance?” he
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asked in frustration.
“Because there’s nothing left to fix, Leo!” I said, my voice rising.
After that, I continued, “Do you think a few words will erase everything you‘ ve done? The lies, the betrayal, Violet‘ s
attack? I can’t be your Luna anymore. Not after all of this.”
“What if I don’t want to sever the bond?” he asked me angrily.
I met his gaze, feeling a surge of anger, as I answered his question, “Then, I’ll tell the other packs about what you did. About your affair with Violet, the pregnancy, the betrayal. Do you really want to ruin the Dark Night Pack‘ s reputation because you refuse to let me go?”
Leo’s face paled when he heard my threat. The Alpha knew that it would ruin his pack‘ s reputation if this news ever came out. No pack would to make any alliance with packs who mistreated their
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own Luna.
After a long silence, the man finally nodded as he weakly said, “Fine. We’ll do it.”
“Then call the Moon Priestess back,” I replied, my voice unwavering.
Both Leo and I summoned the Moon Priestess at the sacred ground, deep inside the forest. Immediately, the priestess came to us. She looked at us sternly.
I had to admit that I was nervous. After all, this was a final act of separation. On the other hand, I also felt relieved because I would be able to free myself from Leo.
“Do you, Celeste Albright of the Ivory Fang Pack, wish to sever your mating bond from Leo Woodville of the Dark Night Pack?” the Moon Priestess asked, her voice echoing in the still night.
“Severing a mating bond is not something to take lightly. Once done, it cannot be undone,” she continued.
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Leo glanced at me as if he wanted me to answer differently. Nevertheless, I persisted. Severing my mating bond from him was what I had been yearning.
“Yes, Moon Priestess,” I said firmly, not taking my eyes off the Priestess.
“And you, Leo Woodville of the Dark Night Pack, wish to sever your mating bond from Celeste Albright of the Ivory Fang
Pack?” the Moon Priestess asked my estranged husband.
For a long moment, the Alpha hesitated. But he finally nodded. Finally, we could do the severing ceremony.
“Yes,” he muttered, barely audible.
The Moon Priestess nodded and stepped forward, pulling a small vial of sacred water from her satchel. After that, she poured it in a circle around us as she whispered an ancient prayer that filled the air with a strange and chilling calm.
“Take each other‘ s hands,” she
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instructed, her voice gentle but firm.
I initially hesitated, but I took Leo‘ s hands in mine. His grip was tense as if he didn’t want to let go. But I kept my face.
emotionless as I was ready to end this once
and for all.
The Priestess began chanting, her voice. low and rhythmic as she was casting spell that wrapped around us like a heavy blanket. As she spoke, I felt a sharp tug at my heart as though something deep inside me was being torn away. Leo’s face twisted in pain, so I knew he felt it too.
My body became hotter like Leo’s body. Both of us were shouting because of the sharp pains we felt throughout our bodies. It was very painful, but I forced myself to go through it.
“By the light of the Moon Goddess, I sever this bond. From this moment forth, you are no longer bound as mates,” the Moon
Priestess announced.
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A final pulse of energy surged through me. Then, I felt the bond snap as I left a cold emptiness in its place. Not long after that, Leo’s hands slipped from mine as both of us staggered back.
It was over. I was no longer Leo’s mate. Everything still felt so surreal, though.
The Priestess stepped back, bowing her head, as she said, “May the Goddess guide you both on your separate paths.
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Without another word, she turned and left us alone.
After that, Leo stood there as he stared at me with his eyes filled with a mixture of anger and sorrow.
“So that’s it, then? You‘ re just… leaving?” he asked bitterly.
“Yes,” I replied simply.
I added, “This was your decision as much as it was mine, Leo. I deserve a fresh start, and you… you need to face the
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consequences of what you’ve done.”
He let out a harsh laugh as he asked again, “Consequences? You mean losing you?”
“No. I mean losing everything you thought you could get away with. You betrayed me, Leo. That’s on you,” I said, meeting his gaze.
He said nothing, just stood there.
After a long silence, he muttered, “I did love you once, Celeste. You know that, right?”
I felt a small ache in my chest, but I forced myself to stay strong.
“Maybe, but it wasn’t enough,” I replied quietly.
Not long after that, I walked out of the circle as I left him behind. The finality of it hit me as I stepped away, but I knew it was the right choice. The life I had here was over, and I had a new path waiting for me. One where I could finally be free.
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As I walked back to my room, I felt a strange sense of peace. Severing the bond had left an ache in my heart, but it was also a relief. I no longer felt tied to Leo or this place.
When I was in my train of thought, a soft knock sounded at the door. When I opened it, I found Albert standing there with a concerned look. The man definitely wanted to know what happened between me and
Leos.
“Are you … alright?” he asked gently.
I nodded, offering a small smile.
“It’s done. The bond is severed. I’m free now,” I replied.
The future Alpha stepped inside, his eyes softened as he looked at me and said,
“I’m glad, Celeste. You deserve so much more than what you’ve been through here.”
“Thank you, Albert. You‘ ve done more for me than anyone else ever has,” I said,
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my voice thick with gratitude.
He reached out, taking my hand.
“Let’s go back to the Ivory Fang Pack. You’ll have a place there, a new beginning. No more pain, no more betrayal,” he said softly.
I couldn’t help but smile a little as I told him, “I’d like that. I’d like that a lot.”
As we stepped out into the night, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. My past with Leo was behind me. I was ready to start fresh, side by side with someone who valued me for who I truly was.
‘We’re free, Elia!‘ I told my wolf who happily howled inside of me.
