The Moon Goddess Used My Illness to Rewrite My Fate

Twenty-four hours had passed since Arabella's accident, yet the whispers spreading from pack to pack had only grown louder. What had begun as idle gossip among scouts and merchants had reached every territory by sunrise. Around countless fires, wolves spoke of Alpha Cassian Ironclaw leaving his own lands without hesitation to remain at Arabella's bedside, and with each retelling, Rosalie's place as his Luna seemed to fade a little more.

If the rumors had not died by now, it was because Cassian had made no attempt to silence them.

The Ironclaw manor was unusually quiet. Seated alone before the cold hearth, Rosalie stared at the parchment resting in her trembling hands while the Moon Healer's solemn words echoed endlessly in her mind.

"Luna, the darkness has already spread deep into your wolf's core. The Moonstone Ritual may still save you, but every passing day weakens your chances. If the corruption reaches your mind, it will steal your memories, your senses... perhaps even your life. Send for your mate. The ritual cannot begin without the Alpha beside you."

She had reached for the mindlink immediately, saying nothing of her condition, asking only that Cassian come to the healing grounds. He had agreed without hesitation, telling her to wait for him.

She waited.

The sun crossed the sky, and still he never came.

When she reached for their bond again, all she found was silence. Unable to bear the uncertainty, she sought out one of Cassian's warriors, who lowered his head before answering.

"Alpha Cassian rode east at first light, my Luna."

"Why?"

The warrior hesitated only briefly.

"Lady Arabella Blackwood was gravely wounded during a rogue attack."

Rosalie understood everything before another word was spoken.

Drawing her cloak tighter around herself, she stepped out of the healing grounds. The mountain winds carried the bite of winter, yet they felt colder than she had ever remembered. Instinctively, she reached through the mindlink for her brother, Evander, only to stop herself. His pack lay beyond the northern ranges, and he would still be resting beneath the moon after his own border patrol.

By the time she returned to the manor, she had tried to reach Cassian through their mate bond again and again, but each attempt vanished into empty silence.

She had never been the kind of woman to demand his attention. As Alpha, his responsibilities always came before everything else, and she had long since accepted that. Yet for the first time in years, she found herself wishing he would answer only to grow impatient with her, to scold her for interrupting his dutiesanything that would remind her she still occupied a place in his heart.

Instead, there was nothing.

Leaning back against the sofa, Rosalie closed her eyes as an overwhelming weariness settled over her.

The Nightshade and Ironclaw packs had been allies for generations. She and Cassian had grown up beneath the same moon, trained together, and presented only months apart. When the Moon Goddess revealed them as fated mates, no wolf questioned it. Their union had seemed as inevitable as the rising of the full moon itself.

She had mistaken his quiet reserve for the comfort that came with years of familiarity, believing that true mates no longer needed grand gestures to prove their love.

Now she understood how foolish that belief had been.

For Arabella, Cassian had crossed territories without a second thought.

For his own Luna... he had not come at all.

The mindlink stirred against her consciousness before she could sink further into despair. She had ignored the first few attempts, unwilling to speak with anyone, until another voice gently reached her.

"Rosalie?"

It was her mother-in-law, Adelaide Ironclaw.

"Have you been able to reach Cassian?"

No one can take your place. I'll speak with Cassian myself and have him return at once. He owes you an explanation.

Rosalie managed a faint smile, though Adelaide could not see it.

She wanted to tell her that an apology would change nothing. Whatever had gone wrong between her and Cassian belonged to them alone. Her in-laws had never once treated her with anything less than kindness, and she refused to burden them with the disappointment she carried in her heart.

Thank you, Mother, she said gently. But you don't need to worry about me. I'll be alright. I just... don't think I'm ready to face the rest of the pack tonight.

Then don't, Adelaide replied at once. Leave the elders and the pack members to your father and me. You should rest. Everything else can wait until tomorrow.

Not long after the mindlink faded, another presence brushed against her consciousness.

It was Cassian.

Rosalie accepted the link almost immediately.

His voice reached her through the mate bond, distant and indifferent, carrying none of the warmth she had once believed belonged only to her.

"It's late. Why have you been trying to reach me?"

It's nothing important, she answered quietly.

Silence lingered between them.

Then another feminine voice drifted faintly through the bond.

"Alpha... Lady Arabella has awakened. She's asking for you."

"I'll be there."

The connection disappeared before Rosalie could utter another word.

She remained standing in the quiet room, staring at nothing as the emptiness left behind by the severed mindlink spread through her chest.

Cassian and Arabella had once been together before either of them had found their fated mates. Throughout their younger years, nearly every wolf had believed they would one day become Alpha and Luna together. Rosalie had loved Cassian since she was barely old enough to understand what the mate bond meant, though she had hidden those feelings deep within her heart, choosing instead to watch from afar as he remained at Arabella's side.

Everything changed during the Moon Blessing Festival.

When the sacred Moonstone recognized Cassian and revealed Rosalie as his fated mate before the entire pack, he had crossed the ceremonial grounds and asked for her hand in front of the elders.

Too stunned to refuseand unwilling to disgrace him before the Moon Goddess herselfRosalie accepted.

That night, she had tried to confess that she had loved him for years, but Cassian had simply begun courting her as though the bond alone were reason enough. Their mating ceremony followed soon after, and the entire territory celebrated what everyone believed was a union blessed by fate.

She had entered their marriage believing the Moon Goddess had finally answered her prayers.

Instead, she found herself living beside a mate whose heart always seemed just beyond her reach.

She had convinced herself that this quiet distance was simply Cassian's nature, that wolves who had spent years together no longer needed tender words or lingering affection.

Only now did she realize that his gentleness had never disappeared.

It had simply been reserved for someone else.

A dull ache settled over her chest as tears clouded her vision. Drawing her cloak around herself, she sat beside the window until the trembling in her hands finally eased.

Then she reached through the mindlink to the one wolf who had never failed her.

"Evander... I'll be returning to the Ashford Pack in a few days."

Her brother was silent for a heartbeat.

"Is Cassian coming with you?"

"No. Just me."

Concern immediately filled his voice.

"Did something happen between you two?"

Rosalie looked beyond the window where pale moonlight covered the forest in silver. Her throat tightened, but when she spoke, her voice remained steady.

"No. Do you remember when I told you I wanted to continue my studies with the Moon Sages? I think it's finally time. Cassian has many responsibilities as Alpha. Perhaps he'll visit once the Winter Moon Festival arrives."

Evander's worry eased, though it had not disappeared completely.

"Very well. Tell me when you're leaving, and I'll be waiting for you at our borders."

After speaking with her brother a little longer, Rosalie finally withdrew from the mindlink.

The room fell silent once more.

She lowered her gaze to the Moon Healer's parchment resting on the table beside her. After a long moment, she folded it with great care and tucked it away in a wooden chest, as though hiding it from sight could somehow postpone the fate written upon it.

Cassian returned to the Ironclaw Pack a week later.

He did not return alone.

He brought Arabella back with him and settled her in the manor beside theirsa residence that had once been Evander's mating gift to Rosalie. Although the estate had belonged to her ever since her wedding, she had never moved into it, sending only servants from time to time to keep it clean.

Now, another woman would be living there.

In all the years she had been Cassian's mate, Rosalie had rarely opposed him. Whenever disagreements arose, she was always the first to yield, believing that preserving peace was worth more than winning an argument.

For the first time, however, she wanted to ask him whether he truly believed this was appropriate.

The question rose to her lips...

...only to fade away before it could be spoken.

She had already decided to leave.

What purpose would those words serve now?

Turning away from him, she resumed placing the books from the shelves into neatly stacked wooden crates.

Perhaps noticing the distance in her eyes, Cassian spoke after a long silence.

"It is only until Arabella recovers. The Moon Healers asked that she remain close while they continue treating her. It will be easier for everyone."

Rosalie smiled faintly, though there was little warmth in it.

"She is welcome to stay," she replied without looking at him. "Just let her know that I intend to put the manor up for transfer. Elders from neighboring packs have already expressed interest in the land, so there may be visitors from time to time."

Cassian frowned.

"Why would you give it away? Have you fallen into difficulty?"

She placed another book into the crate before answering.

"No. It was a mating gift from my brother, yet it has stood empty for years. It deserves an owner who will actually live in it."

Cassian studied her quietly.

Between the wealth of the Nightshade and Ironclaw Packs, countless estates lay unused across their territories. He knew perfectly well that the manor was not the real reason.

Still, when he saw the calm expression on her face, he understood she had no desire to continue the conversation.

As he turned to leave, his attention drifted toward the wooden crates.

"I thought you were only cleaning. Why are you packing your books?"

Rosalie closed the lid of one crate before answering.

"They have gathered dust. I thought I'd leave them beneath the moonlight for a few nights."

Cassian accepted the explanation with a nod before another thought occurred to him.

"I almost forgot. How did your visit to the Moon Healer go? Everything happened so suddenly that day. I never had the chance to ask."

For the briefest moment, Rosalie's hand tightened against the edge of the crate.

The healer's warning returned to her with painful clarity.

The darkness spreading through her wolf...

The ritual that could no longer wait...

The mate who had never come.

She lowered her eyes and gently shook her head.

"It was nothing serious."

Cassian gave a quiet hum, accepting her answer without question.

"Arabella's injuries are worse than we first believed. Her wolf is unstable, and she has been frightened ever since the attack. I'll be spending most of my time at the neighboring manor until she recovers."

Rosalie simply nodded.

"Then take good care of her."

There was no accusation in her voice, no resentment, not even disappointment.

Her indifference unsettled him far more than anger would have.

Yet Cassian said nothing else before walking away.

Rosalie remained where she was, watching through the window as his figure disappeared toward the neighboring estate.

A faint, bitter smile curved across her lips while tears slowly clouded her vision.

Every corner of the Alpha Manor held traces of the future she had once imagined for them. The carved furniture in the great hall, the curtains that danced with every mountain breeze, the paintings adorning the stone walls, even the spare cloak and boots waiting beside the entrance had all been chosen by her own hands, each carrying a quiet hope that they would someday build a warm home together.

Now those memories mocked her more cruelly than any enemy ever could.

After sealing the last crate, Rosalie reached for the communication crystal resting on the table, intending to contact Freya and ask her to share the evening meal.

Before she could channel her wolf's aura into it, however, the crystal glowed with Freya's presence.

"Rosalie," Freya's anxious voice echoed through the link. "You need to listen to the pack's whispers."

Rosalie closed her eyes and extended her senses toward the territory's shared mindlink.

The gossip spreading through the pack struck her almost immediately.

Everyone was saying the same thing.

Alpha Cassian Ironclaw and Arabella Voss had rekindled the love they had once shared.

Following Freya's instructions, Rosalie reached into the territory's shared mindlink, where wolves often passed along news and rumors from one pack to another.

The first thing she saw was a message left by Arabella.

"No matter how far I wander, my heart will always find its way back to you."

Beneath those words was a memory crystal that preserved a fleeting image of Cassian standing beside a great iron cauldron, quietly preparing a bowl of medicinal broth with his own hands.

The responses beneath it were overflowing.

Many wolves rejoiced, believing the pair destined to be together at last. Others spoke even more harshly, insisting that Rosalie had stolen Cassian away years ago after driving Arabella from the pack. Now that Arabella had returned and Cassian stood faithfully at her side once more, they claimed it was nothing more than the Moon Goddess restoring what should have belonged to her all along.

Some even called it retribution.

As though the pain settling in Rosalie's heart were justice.

She read every word without changing her expression.

Only Freya's voice, carried gently through the communication crystal, finally broke the silence.

"Are you going to tell me what's happening?" she asked carefully. "Have you and Alpha Cassian separated?"

After a long pause, Rosalie answered with a faint smile.

"Not yet."

"Then why is he spending every waking hour with that woman?" Freya demanded, unable to hide her anger.

Rosalie let out a tired laugh.

"Calm yourself. I was actually about to invite you to supper before you contacted me."

"Are you at the manor?"

"I am."

"Good. I'll come for you."

"That sounds nice," Rosalie replied softly. "I wasn't in the mood to ride out alone anyway."

It did not take Freya long to arrive.

By the time she reached the Alpha Manor, Rosalie had already bathed, changed into a fresh gown, and braided her hair. Together they rode into the village at the foot of the mountain, where an elderly she-wolf kept a quiet tavern they had visited countless times since they were young.

Only after the meal had been ordered did Rosalie finally speak.

"Freya... I need you to recommend an elder well versed in pack law."

Freya looked at her in confusion.

"I've decided to dissolve my mate bond with Cassian."

The color drained from Freya's face.

Before she could ask why, Rosalie continued with a gentle smile that somehow hurt even more.

"The Moon Healer found a darkness growing inside my wolf. If the Moonstone Ritual fails... I may not survive it."

Freya's eyes immediately filled with tears.

"When did this happen?" she whispered. "What did the Moon Healer say? Do your parents know?"

"It was the same day Arabella was attacked."

Rosalie lowered her gaze to the untouched tea before her.

"The ritual required my mate to stand beside me before the Moonstone. The healer asked me to summon Cassian... but he had already left to find Arabella."

Her voice remained remarkably calm.

"The ritual is dangerous. If I must face it, I'd rather do so in my birth pack, with my family."

Unable to hold back any longer, Freya burst into tears.

"Forget Cassian," she choked out. "No mate is worth facing something like this alone. I'll return with you."

Rosalie reached across the table and gently brushed away the tears on her friend's cheeks.

"I'll be alright," she murmured. "Don't cry."

When she returned to the Alpha Manor that evening, Cassian was already waiting in the great hall.

He looked up as she entered.

"Where have you been?"

"I had supper with Freya."

She removed her cloak, set it neatly aside, and took her seat opposite him.

After a brief silence, she lifted her eyes to meet his.

"Cassian... do you remember the pilgrimage we always said we would make to the Sacred Moon Temple?"

Among wolves, it was said that mates whose bonds had begun to fracture could journey together to the ancient temple where the first Moonstone had fallen from the heavens. If they offered sincere prayers beneath the full moon, the Moon Goddess would grant them the wisdom to mend what had been broken.

Rosalie had spoken of making that pilgrimage many times over the years.

Cassian had always dismissed it as little more than an old legend.

This time was no different.

He sighed quietly before answering.

"You still believe those stories? The Moon Goddess doesn't solve every problem for us." He paused before adding, "Besides, Arabella still hasn't recovered. I can't leave the territory while she's in this condition. Perhaps after the Winter Moon Festival."

The answer did not surprise Rosalie.

In the past, hearing even that small promise would have filled her with excitement. She would already be thinking about the offerings they would prepare and the route they would take through the northern mountains.

Now she merely nodded.

"Alright."

Nothing more.

Her quiet acceptance left Cassian strangely unsettled.

She had become so calm that he scarcely recognized the woman sitting before him.

His gaze wandered across the great hall until it stopped on the empty stretch of stone above the hearth.

A slight frown crossed his face.

"Our mating portrait..." he said slowly. "Where is it?"

Rosalie followed his gaze before answering with practiced ease.

"I took it down to clean the frame. It had gathered quite a bit of dust."

Cassian sat quietly in their chamber, absentmindedly turning a small communication crystal over in his hand while the room settled into an uneasy silence. Without another word, Rosalie rose and disappeared into the bathing room.

When she emerged some time later, her hair still damp from the scented herbs she had washed it with, she found him sitting at the edge of their bed, the crystal resting in his palm.

"Freya reached out," he said. "She told me she found the legal elder you were looking for. She said she'll pass the name along soon."

For the briefest moment, the color left Rosalie's face.

She could only wonder whether Freya had revealed anything else.

Suppressing the unease in her heart, she gave a quiet nod and sat before the dressing table, rubbing a few drops of moonflower oil through the ends of her hair.

Cassian watched her reflection in the polished mirror, his gaze lingering longer than usual.

"What do you need a legal elder for?"

Rosalie lowered her eyes, pretending to concentrate on her hair.

"I'm helping a friend."

"You could have sought Elder Hodge instead," Cassian replied. "Why trouble Freya with something so simple?"

His voice remained even, but she recognized the suspicion hidden beneath it.

"I'm not familiar with Elder Hodge," she answered without hesitation. "Besides, I'd rather not involve anyone connected to this pack."

The explanation came so naturally that even Rosalie was surprised by how effortlessly the lie left her lips.

Neither of them spoke again.

By the time she finished, Cassian had already gone to bathe.

When he returned, the candles had been dimmed, and Rosalie was already lying beneath the blankets.

She did not read.

She did not reach for another communication crystal.

She simply turned her back toward him and closed her eyes.

The distance between them felt heavier than the stone walls surrounding the manor.

Ever since returning from Arabella's side, Cassian had sensed something had changed.

Rosalie was quieter than before.

Calmer.

As though she had quietly stepped farther away from him without ever leaving the room.

Unable to ignore the feeling any longer, he shifted closer and slipped an arm gently around her waist, drawing her toward him.

"Rosalie," he murmured. "What's wrong?"

Her body stiffened beneath his touch.

Cassian felt it immediately.

Only then did he realize how long it had been since they had shared even the smallest moment of intimacy.

He leaned closer, but before he could close the distance between them, Rosalie turned and placed a gentle hand against his chest, stopping him.

"I'm tired," she said softly. "Let's sleep."

Cassian released her without protest, though the question weighing on his mind refused to disappear.

"Are you upset because of Arabella?"

Rosalie smiled faintly.

It was a smile that never reached her eyes.

"Why would I be?"

She paused before continuing in the same quiet voice.

"What right do I have to be angry?"

The answer unsettled him more than any accusation could have.

By all rights, she should have questioned him.

She should have been hurt that he had remained by Arabella's side for an entire week before bringing her back to live only a short walk from their own home.

She should have demanded an explanation.

Instead...

She accepted everything with unbearable calm.

Cassian frowned.

He no longer knew what she was thinking.

After a long silence, he finally spoke again.

"Arabella is well known among the packs. Rumors like these could ruin her standing. There is nothing between us. Don't believe everything you hear."

Rosalie remembered the message Arabella had shared through the territories' communication crystals.

She also knew Cassian must have seen it.

Yet he had done nothing to deny it.

When wolves accused Rosalie of stealing Cassian away years ago, he had remained just as silent.

Now his silence carried the same meaning.

Keeping her voice perfectly steady, she asked,

"What rumors?"

She looked at him without the slightest trace of emotion.

"I've been occupied these past few days. I haven't paid much attention to what the pack has been saying."

Relief flickered across Cassian's face before disappearing almost as quickly.

"It's nothing important," he said quietly. "Get some rest."

Rosalie closed her eyes.

Before long, her breathing became slow and even.

Beside her, however, Cassian remained awake.

An unfamiliar restlessness refused to leave him.

Long after the manor had fallen silent, he slipped from the bed and made his way downstairs.

As he passed the study, something caught his attention.

The door stood slightly ajar.

He pushed it open.

In the corner of the room rested several wooden crates, each one carefully packed and sealed.

Cassian stopped where he stood.

The books Rosalie had claimed she merely wanted to air beneath the moonlight had all been packed away.

His eyes slowly drifted lower.

Resting inside one of the open crates was the carved frame that had once displayed their mating portrait.

The frame remained.

The portrait itself was gone.

A strange unease settled over him as he stood motionless in the quiet study.

After what felt like an eternity, he reached for his communication crystal and infused it with a thread of his aura.

Though the hour was well past midnight, he did not hesitate.

When his Beta finally answered, Cassian spoke without preamble.

"Did the Moon Healer ever send over Luna Rosalie's examination records?"

The communication crystal glowed faintly before Colton Riggs' sleepy voice emerged from within.

"Yes, Alpha. I still have the healer's records."

"Bring them to me."

"At once."

The connection faded.

Not long afterward, another pulse of spiritual energy flowed into the crystal. Cassian unfolded the healer's message and carefully read every line.

The examination recorded nothing alarming.

Rosalie's wolf was slightly weakened from lack of sunlight, and the Moon Healer had advised more time beneath the full moon along with a few restorative herbs, but there was nothing to suggest a life-threatening illness.

Only then did the tightness in Cassian's chest finally ease.

**

The following morning, Rosalie was surprised to find Cassian still at the manor.

He had always devoted himself entirely to pack affairs. Even after bringing Arabella back, he had rarely remained home once dawn broke. Seeing him waiting in the great hall instead of leaving before sunrise felt strangely unfamiliar.

The moment she descended the staircase, Cassian dismissed the warrior he had been speaking with and rose to his feet.

"I've arranged everything," he said. "We'll leave for the Sacred Moon Temple this afternoon. Go prepare your things. We'll set out before sunset."

Rosalie stopped halfway across the hall, unable to hide her surprise.

Seeing the question in her eyes, Cassian explained,

"Our mating anniversary is only a few days away. We can make the pilgrimage together and return before the Winter Moon Festival."

For a brief moment, Rosalie almost asked about Arabella.

If he left...

Who would remain by her side?

The question lingered on the tip of her tongue before she quietly swallowed it.

Throughout their marriage, every celebration had always been arranged by her. Whether it was their anniversary, the changing of the seasons, or the smallest festival beneath the full moon, she had been the one to prepare everything while Cassian simply appeared whenever time allowed.

Now, hearing him suggest the journey himself felt almost unreal.

Was it guilt?

Or had something changed after their conversation the previous night?

Rosalie could not tell.

In the end, she simply nodded.

If this truly became their final journey together...

...then she wished to remember it without bitterness.

After breakfast, she returned to their chamber and packed only what she needed. The northern mountains surrounding the Sacred Moon Temple were cold throughout the year, so she chose several heavy cloaks along with the medicinal herbs commonly used to ease the dizziness brought on by the high peaks.

By midday, they departed the territory.

The journey to the temple required passing through several allied packs before reaching the sacred mountain where the first Moonstone was said to have descended from the heavens.

Upon arriving at the final resting lodge before the ascent, pilgrims were required to register their names with the temple guardians before continuing on foot.

While Cassian remained behind to complete the formalities, Rosalie wandered toward a nearby spring to warm her hands with a cup of herbal tea.

When she returned...

Cassian was gone.

At first, she assumed he had merely stepped away to speak with the temple elders.

She waited patiently.

As more pilgrims began climbing toward the mountain while Cassian still failed to appear, unease slowly settled into her heart.

She reached for the mate bond.

This time, he answered almost immediately.

"Rosalie..."

His breathing was uneven.

"I can't make the pilgrimage."

Her fingers tightened around the warm cup in her hands.

"Why?" she asked quietly.

There was a long silence before he finally answered.

"It's Arabella... she attempted to sever her own wolf."

Rosalie stood perfectly still.

The bustling voices surrounding the temple faded into silence.

Without another word, the connection between them disappeared.

A long while later, she quietly joined the line of pilgrims climbing toward the Sacred Moon Temple.

Alone.

Beneath the towering Moonstone, wolves from every territory offered prayers to the Moon Goddess, turning the ancient prayer wheel with hopeful hearts.

For years, Rosalie had imagined standing there beside Cassian, praying that they would grow old together beneath the Goddess's blessing.

Instead...

She closed her eyes and whispered a different prayer.

She prayed only that she might survive.

That her wolf would endure.

That she would live long enough to return home.

During the days that followed, neither of them reached for the mate bond again.

Cassian had promised to meet her after two days.

He never came.

When the night of their fifth mating anniversary arrived, followed closely by the Winter Moon Festival, the bond between them remained painfully silent.

No greeting.

No explanation.

Nothing.

By then, Rosalie no longer felt surprised.

She had expected so little that disappointment should have been impossible.

Yet five years of loving the same man still left wounds that refused to stop bleeding. It felt as though countless silver blades had pierced her heart all at once, leaving behind a pain so suffocating that even breathing became difficult.

After returning from the Sacred Moon Temple, Rosalie sought out the legal elder Freya had recommended.

Once he had listened to everything she wished to do, the elder nodded thoughtfully.

"If you truly intend to dissolve your mate bond as quickly as possible," he said, "your Alpha must first agree before the Moonstone. Once he gives his consent, we can petition the Council of Elders to witness the severing ritual. Matters concerning estates, territory, and other possessions may be settled afterward."

Rosalie remained silent for a long while.

Was now truly the right time to dissolve their mate bond?

It was not Cassian she feared facing.

It was the rest of the Ironclaw Pack.

Alpha Rowan and Luna Adelaide had always loved her as though she were their own daughter. They had never once made her feel like an outsider after she entered the family. If they pleaded with her to reconsider... if they asked her to remain by Cassian's side...

She did not know whether she possessed the strength to refuse them.

She was simply too tired.

Too tired to explain.

Too tired to defend a marriage that had already died in her heart.

At last, she lifted her eyes toward Belinda.

"What if I entrust everything to you?" she asked quietly. "Speak to Cassian on my behalf and obtain his agreement before the Moonstone. Once that is done, I'll return to complete the severing ritual myself. Would that be acceptable?"

Belinda regarded her thoughtfully.

After a moment, she inclined her head.

"It can be arranged," she replied. "You'll need to grant me authority before the Council of Elders and sign the necessary documents."

Rosalie accepted the parchment without another word.

Though her fingers trembled ever so slightly as she pressed her name into the agreement with her wolf's aura, she never allowed the weakness to show upon her face.

When everything had been completed, Belinda accompanied her toward the entrance.

The moment they stepped outside, a crowd surged forward.

No warning.

No chance to react.

Clay cups filled with bitter herbal tea, bowls of cooled broth, and handfuls of mud came flying toward her from every direction.

The foul liquid soaked through her cloak and hair, dripping down her face before splattering across the stone road beneath her feet.

For a heartbeat, Rosalie simply stood there.

Too stunned to move.

"You shameless thief!"

One young she-wolf pointed at her with undisguised hatred.

"You stole Lady Arabella's mate!"

"The Moon Goddess will punish you!"

"Stay away from our future Luna!"

The accusations came one after another, sharper than claws.

Before Rosalie could gather herself, someone shoved her violently from behind.

Already weakened by the darkness consuming her wolf, she failed to steady herself.

She stumbled backward.

Then fell hard onto the stone pavement.

Pain shot through her side, forcing the air from her lungs.

"Enough!"

Belinda's voice rang through the courtyard with unmistakable authority.

Without hesitation, she pushed through the furious crowd and hurried toward Rosalie.

"What do you think you're doing?" she demanded coldly. "Do you understand that assaulting another wolf before witnesses is a crime under pack law?"

The young she-wolf leading the group folded her arms across her chest.

"A crime?" she scoffed. "We're only giving her what she deserves after everything she's done to Lady Arabella."

Belinda's expression did not change.

"Lady Arabella?"

"Who else?" another she-wolf snapped.

Belinda regarded them calmly.

"Did Lady Arabella order you to come here?"

The leader immediately shook her head.

"Lady Arabella would never do something like that. She's too kind. She's suffered because of this woman for years, so we're simply seeking justice for her."

"That's right!"

"Our Lady Arabella has endured enough because of this witch!"

Belinda gave a faint, humorless smile.

"Very well."

Her gaze swept over every face before her.

"I hope that same devotion remains when each of you stands before the Council of Elders to answer for today's actions."

Almost as if summoned by those words, several pack warriors arrived at a run.

The furious crowd scattered immediately.

Many fled before the warriors could seize them, though several were caught before they escaped.

Belinda helped Rosalie to her feet.

Her clothing was soaked, her silver hair clung messily to her face, and her complexion had turned frighteningly pale.

Without another word, Belinda guided her back inside.

After helping Rosalie clean herself as best they could, they made their way to the Hall of Judgment to report the assault.

During the journey, Belinda received several urgent messages through her communication crystal.

Someone had preserved the entire incident inside a memory crystal.

By then, it had already spread across countless packs through the shared communication network.

The comments beneath it overflowed with ridicule and condemnation.

Rosalie quietly read them all.

With every cruel remark...

The last trace of hesitation inside her disappeared.

She looked toward Belinda, her voice calm enough to send a chill through the room.

"Elder Sawyer."

Belinda lifted her eyes.

"I wish to entrust another matter to you."

"Go on."

"I want every wolf who deliberately spread false accusations against me to answer before the Council of Elders. As for those who assaulted me today..."

She paused briefly.

"...I will accept no private settlement."

"I intend to pursue every charge permitted under pack law."

Belinda nodded without the slightest hesitation.

"I understand."

"I'll see to it personally."

By the time Rosalie finished giving her statement at the Hall of Judgment, the little strength she had been clinging to had nearly vanished.

The corruption within her wolf had been worsening by the day, and the ordeal had drained what little remained.

She leaned back in her chair, her face almost devoid of color.

Belinda watched her with growing concern.

"Lady Rosalie," she said gently, "shall I escort you back to the Alpha Manor?"

Rosalie slowly shook her head.

"Thank you... but I'd rather walk for a while."

"I need the quiet."

Belinda hesitated before finally nodding.

"As you wish. Please take care of yourself."

She waited until Rosalie disappeared beyond the stone gates before taking out her communication crystal and reaching through the mindlink to Freya.

"Rosalie just left my chambers. She doesn't look well. I offered to accompany her, but she refused. Go after her."

Freya was in the middle of a council meeting when the message reached her.

She answered almost immediately.

"I'm on my way."

The moment Freya withdrew from the mindlink with Belinda, she excused herself from the council chamber and hurried into the corridor. Without wasting another heartbeat, she reached for her communication crystal and sought Rosalie through their private connection.

The link formed almost immediately.

To Freya's surprise, Rosalie sounded perfectly at ease.

"I'm alright," she said with a light laugh. "Don't leave your duties because of me. Finish your work first, and then we'll have supper together."

Hearing that familiar warmth in her voice eased the tightness in Freya's chest.

After a brief silence, she smiled.

"Then spend the Winter Moon Festival with me this year."

There was a quiet hope hidden beneath her words.

Rosalie answered without hesitation.

"Of course. But don't disappear into your work again."

Freya laughed softly.

"I won't. If there's anything left unfinished, I'll bring it home instead."

Rosalie let out an amused snort.

"Some things never change."

The sound made Freya's heart ache in a way she could not explain.

"Now go back to your meeting," Rosalie urged gently. "I'm truly alright."

Only after the connection faded did Freya return to the council chamber.

**

Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside the neighboring manor had become unusually tense.

The memory crystal recording Rosalie's assault had spread through the territories with astonishing speed, and every shared communication network was filled with heated discussions.

Arabella had become the center of attention once again.

Her steward, Vanessa Coleman, stood before her with an expression weighed down by worry, while Cassian remained seated nearby, silently watching the images preserved inside his own communication crystal.

Rosalie's pale face...

Her soaked clothing...

The moment she was shoved to the ground...

Each scene tightened something painfully inside his chest.

"When did this happen?" he asked quietly.

Vanessa hesitated before answering.

"Roughly an hour ago. The warriors escorted the attackers to the Hall of Judgment shortly afterward."

Cassian rose without another word.

He immediately reached through the mate bond.

Silence.

He tried again.

Nothing answered him.

His expression darkened.

Without bothering to explain himself, he seized his cloak and strode from the manor.

Arabella watched his retreating figure until the doors closed behind him.

Only then did she turn toward Vanessa.

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"This is becoming dangerous."

Vanessa released a weary sigh.

"It was meant to force the Alpha to make a choice."

She lowered her voice further.

"No matter how much time he spends here, he still hasn't dissolved his mate bond with Rosalie. If the pack begins to question his intentions, all of our efforts may be wasted."

Arabella lowered her eyes, saying nothing more.

---

Cassian rode hard through the territory, the wind whipping past him as his thoughts refused to settle.

Rosalie had returned alone from the Sacred Moon Temple.

She had never reached for him through the mate bond.

She had not asked him to fulfill the promise he had broken.

She had not confronted him.

She had simply... grown farther away.

The realization left him strangely unsettled.

Before he reached the Hall of Judgment, a familiar figure appeared farther down the stone road.

Rosalie.

She walked alone beneath the winter sky, carrying a small travel chest behind her.

Cassian immediately pulled his horse to a stop before her.

"Rosalie."

She paused.

Slowly, she lifted her eyes toward him.

There was no warmth in them.

No joy.

Not even resentment.

Only a quiet emptiness that made his heart tighten.

He dismounted almost immediately and crossed the short distance between them before taking the chest from her hand.

"I'll carry this."

She neither thanked him nor objected.

Instead, she simply stood where she was.

"You returned from the Sacred Moon Temple without telling me," Cassian said. "Why didn't you reach out? I would have come for you."

Rosalie offered no reply.

She merely climbed onto the horse behind him as though his words had never been spoken.

Cassian remained motionless for a brief moment before mounting in front of her.

As they rode back toward the Alpha Manor, he found himself glancing over his shoulder more than once.

Rosalie sat quietly behind him, her gaze fixed on the distant mountains.

Her face had become noticeably thinner.

Even beneath the heavy winter cloak, he could tell she had lost weight.

The sight unsettled him.

After a long silence, he finally spoke again.

"Have you eaten today?"

"No."

"We should stop somewhere before returning."

"I'm not hungry."

Her voice was calm.

Too calm.

The wind carried the silence between them until Cassian asked the question that had been haunting him ever since he saw the memory crystal.

"Were you hurt?"

Only then did Rosalie slowly lift her eyes.

Their gazes met briefly through the faint thread of the mate bond.

So...

He had seen it after all.

That was why he had suddenly appeared before her.

Why he was looking at her with concern now.

The thought crossed her mind without stirring even the slightest ripple in her heart.

For a fleeting moment, Rosalie found herself wondering whether Cassian's concern had truly been for her.

The thought vanished almost as quickly as it came.

No...

He was here because the wolves who had attacked her were all devoted followers of Arabella. If they were judged too harshly, whispers would inevitably spread through every territory, staining Arabella's reputation along with theirs.

Keeping her gaze fixed on the passing forest, she spoke without emotion.

"If you've come to persuade me on Arabella's behalf, don't waste your breath. Those wolves knew exactly what they were doing. They should answer for their actions."

Her voice was calm.

Too calm.

Cassian felt an unfamiliar unease settle over him.

After a brief silence, he answered quietly,

"I'm not here because of Arabella."

Rosalie merely gave a faint hum of acknowledgment before falling silent once more, as though nothing else he said mattered.

The rest of the journey passed without another word.

---

They had only just returned to the Alpha Manor, their travel chest still resting untouched near the entrance, when hurried footsteps echoed from outside.

Arabella appeared at the doorway.

Her long hair had been cut short to treat the burns along the side of her face. Pale bandages disappeared beneath the collar of her robe, and her complexion was so colorless that she seemed as though a strong wind might carry her away.

Vanessa supported her carefully as they crossed the threshold.

The moment Cassian saw her sway unsteadily, he instinctively strode forward.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his brows drawing together. "You should still be resting."

Arabella reached for his hand as though seeking comfort.

"I had to come."

Her voice was weak enough to tug at anyone's sympathy.

"I heard what happened to Mrs. Ironclaw." Her eyes slowly turned toward Rosalie, already shimmering with tears. "Those wolves acted because they admired me. I should have guided them better. I never imagined they would hurt someone."

She lowered her head.

"Mrs. Ironclaw... I'm truly sorry. Please allow me to apologize in their place."

Before Rosalie could answer, Cassian spoke first.

"This isn't your responsibility."

His tone carried quiet certainty.

"You've done nothing wrong. Rosalie won't blame you."

Arabella slowly shook her head.

"Whether Mrs. Ironclaw forgives them is entirely her choice."

She looked at Rosalie once more.

"But I still owe her an apology."

Only then did Rosalie lift her eyes.

Her gaze passed over Arabella before settling on the hands she and Cassian still held together.

Cassian seemed to notice it as well.

His fingers stiffened.

For the first time in years, he hesitated, uncertain whether he should withdraw his hand or continue supporting Arabella.

Rosalie looked away before he could decide.

"Lady Arabella," she said evenly, "you are not your followers, and your followers are not you. I don't require an apology from you."

Her voice remained composed.

"But I have no intention of withdrawing the charges. They knowingly harmed another member of the pack, and they will answer for it."

Arabella bit her lip.

"They're still young," she pleaded softly. "Young wolves make foolish mistakes. Please... show them mercy."

Rosalie regarded her quietly.

Then she asked,

"Why are you so determined to protect them?"

A brief silence settled over the room.

Finally, she continued.

"Unless..."

Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

"...they acted because you asked them to."

The words struck Arabella like a blow.

The color drained completely from her face.

Before she could answer, Vanessa stepped forward.

"Luna Rosalie," she said firmly, "you were right earlier. Lady Arabella is not responsible for the actions of her followers. She came here only to apologize."

Her expression hardened.

"Please don't accuse her without evidence."

Cassian also frowned.

"Rosalie."

His voice carried quiet disapproval.

"Arabella would never resort to something like that."

Rosalie looked at him for only a heartbeat.

Then she turned away.

Without another word, she climbed the staircase, leaving the three of them standing together in the great hall.

Not long afterward, Cassian personally escorted Arabella back to the neighboring manor.

---

Only when the silence returned did Rosalie realize how hungry she was.

The housekeeper prepared a simple bowl of slow-cooked venison stew, though even after finishing it, she found little satisfaction in the meal.

Cassian had still not returned.

Remembering the property deeds she intended to take with her, Rosalie made her way toward his study.

The room remained exactly as she remembered.

As she searched the shelves, her sleeve brushed against a small wooden bear resting near the edge.

It toppled onto the floor.

The carving split cleanly in half.

Instead of solid wood, countless tiny folded pieces of parchment spilled from its hollow center.

Frowning slightly, Rosalie knelt to gather them.

One unfolded in her hands almost by accident.

Her eyes drifted across the faded ink.

"One hundred and one days since Arabella left."

"The Moon Goddess may pair me with another someday, but it makes little difference. Whoever becomes my mate will never be the one I truly wanted."

Rosalie's breathing caught.

Slowly, she opened another.

"During Mark's mating ceremony, I caught the blessing ribbon."

"When I looked up, Rosalie was standing there smiling at me."

"On impulse, I asked her to accept me."

"I already knew she would never refuse."

"She tried to pretend she felt nothing for me afterward, but it was obvious she had loved me for years."

"Since fate had already made the choice for us... I simply played my part."

The final lines were written in a hand Rosalie knew all too well.

"She is the mate my parents always wanted for me."

"Since the Moon Goddess has already bound us together, the least I can do is play the part expected of me."

The parchment slipped from her trembling fingers.

Tears blurred her vision before she even realized they had begun to fall.

With shaking hands, she unfolded another.

"The mating ceremony is over."

"Rosalie looks happier than I've ever seen her."

"Yet every night I lie beside her, I feel nothing except resentment."

"If only the Moon Goddess had chosen Arabella instead."

"Had Rosalie never existed, perhaps my parents would never have opposed Arabella."

Another line had been added beneath it.

"I keep my distance, yet she does the same. I can't understand her."

"She's... strange."

Rosalie stared at the fading ink until the words dissolved behind her tears.

After a long while, she carefully gathered every folded parchment from the floor.

One by one, she returned them to the hollow wooden bear.

She fitted its carved head back into place with the same care she had once devoted to preserving their marriage, leaving no trace that anyone had ever looked inside.

Only after locking the door to their chamber did she finally allow herself to collapse onto the floor.

For years, she had believed her devotion would someday be enough.

Now she understood that every hope she had treasured had existed only in her own heart.

---

Cassian did not return for another two days.

When he finally entered the manor, Rosalie was opening a sealed letter that had arrived from the northern territories.

Inside was the travel authorization bearing the seal of the Ashford Pack.

She quietly folded it and tucked it away before Cassian even glanced in her direction.

Just as she picked up her cloak to leave, his voice stopped her.

"Rosalie."

She turned.

"What is it?"

Cassian hesitated for several moments before speaking.

"It's Arabella."

His expression was unusually strained.

"She attempted to take her own life by swallowing wolfsbane."

"The Moon Healers managed to save her... but only barely."

Rosalie listened without interrupting.

After a long silence, Cassian finally forced himself to continue.

"I need your help."

She crossed the room and sat opposite him.

Still, she said nothing.

He lowered his head.

"I think..."

His voice caught briefly.

"...we should temporarily dissolve our mate bond."

"Arabella needs me right now."

Rosalie looked at him quietly.

Then she nodded.

"Very well."

Her answer came so quickly that Cassian found himself staring at her.

She asked only one question.

"Will the Council of Elders need to witness it?"

"Yes."

"Then let's go."

---

Neither of them spoke during the journey to the Sacred Moonstone Hall.

The Council completed the formalities with surprising speed.

Once the elders had witnessed the temporary dissolution of their bond, the ritual was sealed within the Moonstone's records.

Walking down the temple steps afterward, Cassian found himself strangely unable to meet Rosalie's eyes.

"It will only be temporary," he said at last.

"When Arabella recovers... we'll restore the bond."

Rosalie simply inclined her head.

While he spoke, she quietly withdrew a communication crystal and confirmed passage with a caravan bound for the northern territories before sunset.

Everything aligned perfectly.

If she departed that afternoon, she would reach the Ashford Pack without stopping along the way.

As they reached the foot of the temple, Cassian spoke again.

"There is one more favor I need to ask."

Rosalie looked at him patiently.

"The other packs have already begun spreading rumors."

He exhaled slowly.

"I need you to tell them that our bond had already been failing long before Arabella returned."

His voice grew quieter.

"They mustn't believe she was the reason we separated."

Rosalie lowered her eyes to the Moonstone decree resting in her hands.

After a long moment, she smiled.

It was a gentle smile.

One that hurt far more than tears.

"Alright."

That single word was all she gave him.

Cassian escorted her back to the manor before leaving immediately for Arabella's side.

He never noticed that every belonging Rosalie owned had already been packed away.

She checked each travel chest one final time, making certain every important document and heirloom had been accounted for before entrusting them to a merchant caravan traveling north.

Not long afterward, Freya arrived.

She insisted on accompanying Rosalie to the border gates.

When the time came to part, she embraced her tightly, reluctant to let go.

Only after watching Freya disappear behind the forest path did Rosalie climb into the carriage that would carry her home.

As the horses began moving, she reached for her communication crystal one final time.

With calm fingers, she sent a message across the territories' shared communication network, making certain both Cassian and Arabella would receive it.

"Alpha Cassian Ironclaw and I dissolved our mate bond some time ago."

"May the Moon Goddess bless whatever path the two of you choose together."

The crystal pulsed once as the message spread from pack to pack.

Then, just before she severed her connection to the network forever, Rosalie added one final sentence.

"Farewell."