Luna Aurora (Alpha Fenrir)

Aurora took a deep breath as she stepped out of the car and approached the pack's ceremonial grounds, where she would soon face Fenrir's rejection.

The space was empty except for two figures waiting by the stone altar that had long stood as a symbol of their pack's unity and loyalty.

Fenrir stood tall, his expression as cold and unyielding as ever, while Arianna was beside him, a triumphant glint in her eyes. Aurora's heart clenched, but she steadied herself, determined not to show any weakness. "Aurora," Arianna's mocking voice reached her before she could even reach the altar. "Glad you made it. I was beginning to think you'd skip out on this little event."

Aurora clenched her fists, swallowing the retort that threatened to escape her lips. She reminded herself that this moment was about her and Fenrir, not the petty games of a woman who'd come back to disrupt her life. She felt the pain of his words like a dagger to her heart, but she would not let him see her break. She had already made her peace with his decision, or so she thought. Now, she just needed to survive the formalities. "Let's get this over with," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil raging within her.

Fenrir's face showed no remorse, no hesitation. He stepped forward, his eyes hard as he began the ritual words. "I, Alpha Fenrir of the Onyx Shadow Pack, reject you, Aurora, as my mate and my Luna. From this moment, you are no longer bound to me, nor I to you." Each word landed with a crushing weight on Aurora's chest.

Her instincts screamed at her to hold onto the bond, to resist the rejection, but she forced herself to stay calm. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her break.

Gathering every ounce of strength, she met his gaze. "I, Aurora, accept your rejection, Alpha Fenrir." The words left her mouth with a finality that shocked even her. As she spoke, she felt the invisible threads that bound them snapping, the severing of their mate bond sending an overwhelming ache through her entire being.

tried to take a step back, but her vision blurred, and her legs wobbled as the full weight

felt as though it had been hollowed out, left weak and

another shaky step, her vision going

was the cold expression on Fenrir's face, unmoved by her collapse. Darkness enveloped her as her legs gave way, and she

her eyes, she was in a familiar room, the comforting scent of

ache of the rejection lingered, but now there was a heaviness in her limbs, an exhaustion that refused to let

sweetheart," her mother's soft voice broke through the fog of pain. She looked over to see her mother sitting beside the

Aurora's voice was barely a whisper, her throat

gentle hand on her forehead. "You collapsed, darling. The rejection from Fenrir... it's affected you deeply." Her mother's voice wavered with worry. "The bond you shared with him was strong, and breaking it so suddenly has left you weak." Aurora's heart twisted at the reminder of what

her hair softly. "You need rest, Aurora. You've

murmured, her voice trembling

She reached out and squeezed her hand. "You've been carrying this burden alone. I