Just then, my phone vibrated again. It was a message from Camille, attached with a photo.
The photo was of an elegant, masculine hand—Jasper's hand—holding a defensive amulet in the Pack's treasury.
Her message carried her usual smug tone. "Jasper picked out many expensive artifacts for me, and this amulet is just one of them. He said this offensive artifact is a little something extra for you, to make up for the shawl. Don't be mad, okay?"
For three years, Camille had constantly lorded Jasper's favor over me, making sure I knew that every kindness he showed me was merely a scrap she didn't want.
I no longer felt anger, nor the impulse to question him. This time, I quietly blocked her. If I no longer needed him, why should I care about her provocations?
After everything was settled, I went to the Alpha's residence. The elderly Alpha Marcus leaned on a staff carved with ancient runes, his eyes gentle and benevolent.
"Scarlett, the legacy mission to find the Moon Well will take a long time. You will leave the pack and travel to the Silent Canyon. Can you truly bear to leave everything here behind?"
A flicker of sadness crossed his face. "You must understand, the Silent Canyon lies at the edge of the continent. The conditions are harsh, and you'll be cut off from all contact. You may never return."
My chest ached, but my resolve didn't waver. "Yes, Alpha, I understand."
The Alpha paused, then sighed softly. "Very well. Since you've made your decision, I will arrange a patrol team to escort you. They will take you to the border of the canyon. From there, the rest of the journey is up to you."
"The patrol leaves tomorrow… You should say a proper goodbye to Jasper."
Tomorrow? That was the exact day of our bonding ceremony.
Since I had decided to leave, I thought I should say a proper farewell. I returned home and quietly waited for Jasper to come back. The sun set, and then the sky grew dark.
It wasn't until midnight that he finally returned, his steps hurried, a chill clinging to him. I went to greet him, ready to speak, but my gaze froze on the Marked Shawl in his hands.
The once-immaculate moonlight thread was splattered with black mud, its edges and tassels frayed and torn.
Jasper shifted, trying to hide the shawl behind his back. "Camille didn't mean to... It was too long for her, and she tripped in the mud. She even cut her hand."
He paused, looking exhausted, but his gaze remained wary. "I know tomorrow is the ceremony. I promise to get you a more valuable gift before then. Please… don't be mad at me."
I knew he was worried I would argue with him. All I could do in that moment was lower my head and say softly, "It's okay. I'll just use something else."
Jasper was stunned. "You… you're not angry?"
He let out a long sigh of relief. "Don't worry, Scarlett. I'll find you a better ceremony gift. Tomorrow, at the ceremony, I promise you'll be the most dazzling one there."
With that, he rushed out the door, unwilling to stay a moment longer. "I'm going to find a new gift now! See you at the altar tomorrow!"
He didn't even give me a chance to say goodbye.
It didn't matter anymore. I grabbed my suitcase and left without a backward glance.
The next day, Jasper arrived at the altar with a new ceremony gift, only to find Camille there.
"Why are you here?" he asked, barely noticing the hint of irritation that had crept into his voice.
Camille pouted, feigning innocence. "Well, you know I ruined Scarlett's shawl. I came to apologize to her."
She slowly circled the altar, her words dripping with false concern. "Why isn't she here yet? She must still be angry, waiting for you to coax her. I would never be absent on such an important day."
Before Jasper could reply, Alpha Marcus's firm, powerful voice echoed through the pack-wide mind-link.
"Our Pack's Lunar Alchemist, Scarlett Vance, will embark on a journey to the Silent Canyon to pursue the legacy of our ancestors. Let us all bless her and her courage!"
