SHANE BLACKTHORN

The hall was alive with celebration, the air thick with the scent of roses and lavender, mingling with the sound of soft music and hushed conversation. Yet, I could barely breathe. My chest felt tight, the walls pressing in as I stood at the edge of the room, watching the ceremony unfold. This wasn't just a celebration—it was the prelude to my mating ritual. By the end of this, Leah and I would be expected to Consummate our bond and I would have to mark her as mine and she would do the same to me.

The thought of it made me sick.

I tugged at the collar of my ceremonial jacket, the fabric suddenly unbearable against my skin. My palms were clammy, and my head spun with the weight of expectations. They were all watching, all waiting for me to fulfill the role I was supposed to play. A role, if I was being honest, I never truly wanted.

The air felt oppressive, suffocating, and I clenched my fists to keep from bolting right then and there.

The ritual was beginning. The Elder stepped forward, holding an ornate chalice filled with a glowing liquid—moon essence, they called it. It shimmered like liquid silver under the light of the chandeliers that lined the room.

"The first ritual," the Elder began, his voice deep and commanding, "is a bond of intention. The essence of the moon binds the two souls, ensuring their union is blessed by the heavens."

Leah stepped forward confidently, her every movement calculated, her face serene but distant. I could feel her happiness. She knelt gracefully before the Elder, tilting her head back as he lifted the chalice to her lips. I knew the words she was supposed to say—words that would signal her commitment to the bond.

"I drink this essence as a sign of my devotion, my loyalty, and my love," she said, her voice clear and steady. She drank deeply, her eyes glinting in the light.

It was my turn. The room grew silent as every gaze fell on me. The weight of their stares was unbearable. My feet felt like lead as I stepped forward, kneeling before the Elder.

I stared at the chalice as he held it out to me, its shimmering contents reflecting the turmoil in my heart. I should say the words, I thought. I should drink the essence. But as the Elder waited, as Leah's gaze burned into the side of my face, all I could think about was Millie.

I had seen her earlier, standing at the back of the hall in that dress, looking like she belonged to the moon itself. The way the fabric hugged her figure, the way her eyes sparkled even in the dim light—it was like the universe had stopped for a moment to remind me of what I truly wanted. Her.

"Alpha Shane," the Elder prompted, his voice sharp with expectation.

My hands shook as I reached for the chalice. The room was spinning, their stares like knives against my back. But I couldn't do it. I couldn't lie to myself—or to anyone else—any longer. I couldn't swear loyalty to Leah under the moon and before the moon goddess herself, not when my thoughts were filled with Millie.

Before the chalice reached my lips, I stood abruptly. Gasps rippled through the room, but I didn't care. My hands balled into fists, my resolve hardening. I turned to leave, each step feeling like a declaration.

"Shane!" Leah's voice cut through the air, sharp and commanding. I felt her grab my arm, her nails digging into my skin as she pulled me back.

"Where do you think you're going?" she hissed, her voice low but biting. Her eyes darted to the onlookers, then back to me.

"Don't pretend like you don't know," I said, my voice cold.

Leah stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper meant for my ears alone. "And what would people say if they saw you walking out in the middle of the ceremony? Especially after what happened earlier? Are you trying to disgrace me?"

I didn't respond. Her words washed over me like a tide I had no interest in fighting. "No, I'm not trying to disgrace you Leah. I wish I could have loved you but I don't and staying and doing this is just wrong. I love Millie, and right now, I just want to see her."

"And what about me? Do you not care even a little?" she snapped. "I'm sick of this."

I could tell she was being honest this time, I would be sick of this too. Her admission gives me the courage to stick to my decision. Completing this ritual just because I need to reawaken to fight Rafael only hurts Leah. And while we've had our ups and downs, there was a time when we were friends.

"I'm leaving," I said firmly, my voice devoid of emotion. "I can't do this, Leah. I'm sorry."

I pulled my arm free and strode toward the doors, ignoring the whispers and shocked expressions around me. I didn't care. Let them talk. Let them speculate. None of it mattered. Only Millie mattered, only seeing her and telling her how beautiful she looked in that dress mattered to me.

As I reached the doors, Alex stepped in front of me, his broad frame blocking my way. His eyes narrowed, his posture rigid.

"What do you think you're doing?" he growled.

I met his gaze, my own unwavering. "Get out of my way, Alex."

"You know the consequences of your actions," he said, his voice laced with warning. "I told you what would happen if you got any ideas."

"Let go of me before I tear you to pieces," I growled, my wolf rising to the surface.

"Is that a threat, Alpha?" Alex sneered, his tone mocking.

I stepped closer, lowering my voice to a dangerous whisper. "I don't make threats. I give warnings."

For a moment, he held his ground, his jaw tightening. But then, he bowed his head in surrender.

"I hope you don't come to regret this decision," he muttered, stepping aside.

I didn't respond. I shoved the doors open and stepped into the cool night air.

Millie's scent hit me like a wave, sweet and intoxicating. It was a lifeline, guiding me down the hall, through another set of doors, and into the courtyard.

When I saw her, my heart stopped.

She was dancing under the moonlight with Caelum. Her laughter rang out, light and carefree, as if she didn't have a care in the world. Caelum twirled her, his own laughter joining hers, his expression unguarded and full of joy.

My chest tightened, the sight of them like a dagger to my heart. Millie's smile—it wasn't for me. Her laughter wasn't mine to claim.

I stood frozen, watching them. Caelum looked so happy, his usually somber demeanor replaced with something lighter, something freer. And Millie...she glowed. She was beautiful, radiant, and utterly at ease.

Of course she cared for him. I had always known that. Caelum was safe, protective, stable—everything she needed. And me? What could I offer her?

I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms. I could feel my heart breaking with every second that passed.

I wanted to go to her, to tell her how beautiful she looked, how much I loved her. But what if she chose him? What if she turned me away?

Caelum was everything I wasn't. And maybe...maybe she deserved that.

Swallowing hard, I stepped back into the shadows, my heart bleeding with every step I took. Millie deserved happiness, even if it wasn't with me. And I had to accept that.

The moon hung low, its pale light spilling across the courtyard as I walked away, each step heavier than the last. My chest felt hollow, as though someone had reached in and ripped out the part of me that could breathe. Rage burned hot under my skin, clashing with the icy despair clawing at my heart. I tried to tell myself to stop thinking about her—to stop picturing her laughing with him, her head thrown back in joy, the way I had imagined it would be with me. But the image was seared into my mind, a cruel reminder of what I couldn't have.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms until the pain grounded me, if only for a moment. Jealousy coiled tight around my throat, choking me. I had never felt this way before—never this mix of fury and helplessness. Millie wasn't mine to claim, and yet the thought of her with Caelum felt like a betrayal, even though it wasn't. She was radiant, ethereal, and undeniably out of reach. I hated him for making her laugh. I hated her for letting him. Most of all, I hated myself for walking away.

The training room called to me like a sanctuary. It was the one place where I could let the chaos in my mind drown in the rhythm of my body. I spent most of my teenage years here, beating away every doubt, every fear, every shred of weakness. It felt fitting to return now, broken and raw, like the boy I had once been. Now more than ever I needed the training if I was going to be facing Rafael without my reawakening.

I found the old wooden box where I stashed my cigarettes, hidden beneath the bench. My hands trembled as I lit one, the sharp scent of tobacco and ash filling the air. I inhaled deeply, the smoke curling around me like a protective barrier. The world seemed quieter here, muted by the glow of the cigarette and the steady rhythm of my breathing.

The door creaked open a few minutes later, and I didn't need to look up to know who it was. Leah. Of course. Her presence was like a storm cloud, heavy and unwelcome.

"Go away," I said, my voice low and rough.

"Give me one," she replied, ignoring my dismissal. "I could use one after all, I just got left at the altar," she jokes.

I sighed, tossing the box and lighter her way. She caught them easily, her movements fluid and practiced. Moments later, a puff of smoke joined mine in the still air.

"I'm guessing you saw them outside," she began, her tone carefully neutral.

I didn't answer. Instead, I stood, ready to leave if she was going to start her usual manipulation tactics to drag me back to that cursed ceremony.

"Wait," she said, grabbing my hand and pulling me back down. Her grip was surprisingly firm, her nails biting into my skin.

"You agree Millie is better off with him," Leah continued, her voice soft but pointed. "That's why you're sitting here, smoking like a loser."

"That doesn't mean I want to spend the rest of my life mated to you," I snapped, glaring at her.

She smirked, then exhaled a puff of smoke directly at me. A bitter edge to her expression. "I know. But if you're giving Millie up anyway, then why can't we just finish the ceremony? You can—"

Her words cut off as a wave of dizziness crashed over me. My chest tightened, and I started coughing violently, the cigarette falling from my hand. My vision blurred, the room spinning as a faint mist of smoke began to envelop me.

I looked up at the cigarette Leah was smoking and grabbed it, crushing it beneath my boot. I ripped it open. Inside, the tobacco was laced with a fine purple powder—wolfsbane. She had asked me for one so I could lower my guard when she started smoking.

"You swapped the cigarettes," I rasped, clutching my chest as the poison began to take effect.

Leah leaned back, a smug smile spreading across her face. "I didn't do anything, Shane. You did this to yourself," she says kicking the powder now spread on the floor directly at me.

"You... you planned this," I growled, my voice weak and strained.

Her expression turned colder, her fingers brushing against my cheek in mock tenderness. "I didn't want it to come to this, but you pushed me too far. I wanted to save you, Shane. I wanted you to save her. Now you get to live with her blood on your hands."

My blood turned to ice. "What did you do to her?" I demanded, my voice rising despite the agony coursing through me. "Tell me before I kill you."

Leah laughed softly, the sound sending a chill down my spine. "Kill me? You can't even stand, Shane." She swatted my feeble attempt to grab her, her strength overwhelming my poisoned body.

"Please," I begged, my voice breaking. "Please don't hurt her. I'll do whatever you want. I'll finish the ceremony—anything. Just don't touch her."

Leah crouched beside me, her smile twisting into something darker. "It's too late for that now," she said, her tone almost pitying. "With the amount of wolfsbane in your system, you can't do anything. Just sleep, Shane. When you wake up, everything will be in its rightful place."

Her words ignited something primal in me. Gritting my teeth, I summoned the last of my strength, my body shifting into my wolf form. Pain lanced through me as I staggered to my feet, every muscle screaming in protest.

I ran, the world a blur as I followed her scent—the one scent that had always grounded me. Millie. My vision swam, my legs threatening to give out, but I pushed forward, driven by desperation.

I burst into the courtyard, my heart pounding in my chest.

It was empty.

Except for the blood.

The metallic scent hit me first, sharp and nauseating. A pool of crimson stained the ground, glistening under the moonlight.

My knees buckled, and I transformed back, collapsing to the ground. Tears blurred my vision as I crawled toward the blood, my fingers trembling as they touched the warm, sticky liquid.

She was gone.

Millie was gone, and it was all my fault.

Darkness closed in around me, the weight of my failure pulling me under.

Authors note:
Few chapters to go and we're done. Thank you for reading and please don't forget to vote and comment. Love y'all.