Lysandra POV :
"The prophecy states that five Alphas must unite with the chosen woman to stop the Void," the High Priestess continued. "Without that unity, the kingdom will fall."
"Then the kingdom will have to find another way," Kieran said. "Because I will not be bound to someone who weakens my bloodline."
"She doesn't even have a wolf," Theron added. "How is she supposed to fight Void beasts? Ask them nicely to leave?"
A few people actually laughed at that.
I felt my face burning but kept my expression blank.
"The girl is useless," said the scarred Alpha. "No power. No wolf. No training. She's a liability and not an asset."
"Exactly," Cassian said, speaking for the first time. Those silver eyes were cold as they landed on me. "I've examined her thoroughly. There's no magical signature. No power. Nothing. Binding myself to her would actively weaken my abilities."
"So we're all in agreement," Darius said. "The rejection stands. We find another solution to the Void problem."
"There is no other solution!" The High Priestess looked like she was about to cry. "The prophecy is clear!"
"Then we'll make a new prophecy," Kieran said dismissively. "Petition the Moon Goddess for a different ceremony. A better candidate."
"You cannot simply petition for a new prophecy!"
"Watch me."
The High Priestess turned to look at me, her eyes desperate. "Child, please. Say something. Make them understand."
All eyes turned to me.
I looked at the five Alphas. At their expressions of disgust and contempt. At the way they couldn't even stand to look at me properly.
"Actually," I said, standing up. "I agree with them."
Dead silence.
"What?" the High Priestess whispered.
"I agree," I repeated. "They don't want me. I don't want them. So let's just end this now."
Kieran's eyes narrowed. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying I reject this bond too." I looked at each of them in turn. "I reject you, Kieran Silvercrest. I reject you, Theron Ironfang. I reject you, Cassian Nightweaver. I reject you, Darius Goldmane. And I reject you, Zane Shadowmere."
I felt something snap inside my chest. Five threads breaking, five bonds severing completely. It should have hurt. The legends said mate rejection was supposed to be agonizing.
Instead, I felt... lighter.
The five Alphas looked surprised for about half a second. Then Theron actually smiled. It wasn't a nice smile.
"Well," he said. "That makes things easier."
"Agreed," Darius said. "No more pretending we have to tolerate her presence."
"This is perfect," Kieran said, and he actually looked relieved. "The bonds are broken on both sides. We can move forward without this... complication."
"Finally," Zane muttered. "I was getting tired of smelling weak blood every time she walked by."
"This is madness!" the High Priestess cried. "You're all mad! The prophecy..."
"Is over," Cassian said coldly. "The bonds are severed. We're free."
"You're not free!" The old woman looked like she was about to collapse. "You've doomed yourselves! All of you!"
"What are you talking about?" Kieran asked, finally showing a hint of concern.
"The prophecy is a binding," she said, her voice shaking. "Once the Blood Moon chooses, the connection is formed. Rejecting it doesn't break the bond. It damages it. And damaged bonds kill."
The room went dead silent.
"Kill how?" Theron asked slowly.
"Slowly and very painfully." The High Priestess looked at each of us. "The broken bonds will drain your life force. All six of you. You'll grow weaker, sicker. Within a year, you'll be dead."
"That's ridiculous," Darius said, but he didn't sound as confident as before.
"It's in the sacred texts. The bonds cannot be broken without consequence."
"Then we'll find a way to reverse it," Kieran said firmly.
"There is only one way to reverse it," she said. "Accept the bonds. Properly. All six of you."
"No," Zane said immediately.
"Absolutely not," Theron agreed.
"I'd rather die," Cassian said flatly.
I almost laughed at that. Almost.
