Aria's POV
My chest ached so badly it felt as if my wolf was clawing desperately inside my ribcage.
Tears blurred my vision as I pressed a trembling hand over my heart, trying to steady the frantic pounding beneath my palm. Inside my mind, my wolf paced restlessly, whining in pain as though she could feel the mate bond between us stretching thinner with every passing heartbeat.
How could Caleb do this to us?
How could the man who once stood beside me beneath the sacred moonlight—swearing before the Moon Goddess that I was his destined Luna—decide to sever our bond in the span of a few moments?
Years of love.
Years of trust.
And he was ready to throw it all away as if it had never meant anything.
What had gone wrong between us?
Had I truly done something so terrible that my Alpha—my mate—would cast me aside like an unwanted omega?
No.
This could not be how our story ended.
Our bond had been forged beneath countless full moons. The Moon Goddess herself had blessed it. It could not crumble simply because of a single accusation.
Just because his stepsister claimed something had happened and my brother had become the accused did not mean Caleb could simply destroy our marriage… or the sacred bond tying our wolves together.
I needed to speak with him.
I had to make him understand.
I remained seated in the quiet chamber of the packhouse for a long time, my thoughts spiraling endlessly. Finally, gathering the last of my courage, I closed my eyes and reached out through the mate mindlink that still connected us.
My wolf stirred anxiously.
Caleb…
For a moment, there was nothing but silence.
Then the link opened.
He had heard me.
But neither of us spoke.
Silence stretched between our minds like thick fog drifting through a dark forest—heavy, suffocating, impossible to escape.
I squeezed my eyes shut as tears slipped down my cheeks.
Through the bond, I could feel his presence.
His emotions were turbulent.
Rough.
Unsteady.
Like a wolf barely holding itself back from losing control.
Caleb… I whispered again.
A long breath echoed faintly through the link.
Aria.
His voice sounded hoarse, raw with emotion. Beneath it, I sensed the bitter taste of strong liquor dulling his senses.
My chest tightened painfully.
Please don’t do this, I pleaded softly. We can resolve everything else first. Let the truth come out before we make a decision like this. Breaking our bond does not have to happen now.
Caleb… please.
For several heartbeats, the mindlink remained silent.
Then he spoke again.
I don’t want this either, Aria.
His voice cracked.
Believe me, I hate this. I still love you. The Moon Goddess knows I do.
My wolf whimpered softly at his confession.
Then come back to me, he continued, desperation creeping into his voice. Stop defending him. Leave your brother out of this and stand beside me instead.
Please.
The desperation in his voice twisted painfully around my heart.
I closed my eyes, fighting another wave of tears.
I can’t do that, I whispered.
Marcus is my brother. He’s the only family I have left. How can you ask me to abandon him?
A sharp scoff echoed through the link.
And Clara is my sister, Caleb snapped.
Before my father returned to the Moon Goddess, I promised him I would always protect her. I swore it as his son and as the future Alpha of this pack. I cannot betray that promise.
His voice hardened.
If you continue defending your brother, Clara will forever see you as the sister of the wolf who harmed her. Every time she looks at you, she will remember that night.
Then his tone softened again.
Almost pleading.
But if you come back to us… if you stand beside her and show her you believe her, we can still fix this.
The pack will see their Luna standing beside her Alpha.
You can still save our bond, Aria.
My fingers trembled as I wiped the tears from my cheeks.
I felt completely helpless.
So that’s what you want? I asked quietly.
You want me to choose between you… and my own brother.
Caleb didn’t answer.
The silence spoke louder than any words.
I inhaled slowly before speaking again.
Then listen to me carefully, Caleb.
My thoughts trembled, but I forced the words forward.
You stand with your sister, and I will stand with my brother. If it turns out Marcus truly committed something unforgivable, I will kneel before Clara myself and beg for her forgiveness in front of the entire pack.
I swallowed the painful lump in my throat.
But until the truth is revealed… I will not abandon him.
The silence that followed felt colder than the longest winter night.
Finally Caleb spoke again.
His voice sounded distant.
Bitter.
Fine.
Do whatever you want. If you’re determined to destroy what we have, then go ahead.
He paused.
I… I don’t even recognize you anymore, Aria.
His words cut deeper than claws.
I don’t know who you’ve become.
Before I could respond, the mindlink snapped shut.
But not before I felt the echo of his broken sob through the fading bond.
My hand slowly fell to my lap.
Fresh tears slid down my pale cheeks as quiet whimpers escaped my throat, soon turning into uncontrollable sobs.
Why, Caleb?
Why couldn’t he wait for the truth?
Why was he so determined to end our bond like this?
“Aria…”
Marcus’s voice broke through my thoughts.
I hurriedly wiped my face, not wanting him to see me like this. I didn’t want him blaming himself for my pain.
But the more I wiped my tears, the more they fell.
When I finally looked up at him, my eyes were swollen and burning.
“I’m sorry,” Marcus whispered.
His voice was heavy with guilt.
“I’m so sorry, sis.”
He wrapped his arms around me tightly.
I could feel his body trembling as he cried as well.
I immediately shook my head and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead.
“No,” I said firmly.
“You don’t need to apologize.”
I pulled back slightly so he could see the truth in my eyes.
“I believe you, Marcus.”
My voice softened.
“I know the kind of wolf you are.”
Even if the whole pack turned against us…
Even if I lost more than I already had…
“I will stand beside you.”
My grief slowly hardened into determination.
“We’re going to fight this together,” I said.
“We will prove your innocence before the pack council.”
I squeezed his shoulders.
“I promise you something right now.”
I met his gaze firmly.
“Your sister will never abandon you. No matter what happens.”
Marcus nodded quietly.
He reached up and wiped the tears from my cheeks.
I did the same for him.
Then we hugged each other again, holding on tightly.
Drawing strength from the bond that had kept us together since the day our parents returned to the Moon Goddess.
Because even if the pack rejected us…
Even if my Alpha chose to walk away from me…
I would never turn my back on the only family I had left.
