Fawn had hoped that her resolve, bolstered by the support of her friends, would make the pain easier to bear. But as the days turned into weeks, the hollow ache of rejection remained. Every time she closed her eyes, she felt the phantom bond pulling at her heart, only to snap violently when the memory of Lucian's rejection resurfaced.

She wasn't fragile-she knew that. She had overcome hardships before, but this pain was something entirely different. It wasn't just emotional; it was physical. The severed bond was a constant reminder of what could have been, an open wound that refused to heal.

One night, the pain became unbearable.

Fawn lay in bed, the darkness of her small room pressing down on her. The cold seeped through the thin walls, but it was nothing compared to the cold that had settled in her chest. She tossed and turned, trying to push Lucian's image from her mind, but it was futile. Every memory, every touch, every word they had shared felt like a cruel joke now.

Her breath hitched as another wave of pain washed over her. It wasn't the normal heartache she had grown used to-it was deeper, sharper, as if someone had driven a knife into her chest. Her wolf whimpered inside her, the primal part of her soul that still longed for her mate, even after everything.

Fawn gasped, clutching at her chest, her fingers digging into the fabric of her shirt. She could feel it again-Lucian with her. Beth. The bond wasn't just a distant reminder; it was a direct connection to Lucian's emotions, to his physical intimacy with Beth. And every time they were together, it sent shockwaves through Fawn's body, tearing her apart from the inside.

Tears streamed down her face as she curled into a ball, trying to block out the sensations, the overwhelming pain that wracked her body. Her wolf howled in her mind, an agonized cry that mirrored Fawn's own torment. She squeezed her eyes shut, willing the connection to break, but it clung to her like a parasite, feeding off her misery.

She could feel them-Lucian's hands on Beth, his lips on her skin. Every intimate moment they shared sent ripples of agony through Fawn's body. She had thought she could endure it, but tonight, the pain was too much. It felt like her soul was being torn in two, like her very essence was unraveling.

Why? she thought, gasping for breath as another wave hit her. Why does it still hurt so much?

She had accepted his rejection. She had told herself that she didn't need him, that she could move on. But her body and soul had other ideas. The mate bond, even broken, was relentless, refusing to let her heal.

Fawn's vision blurred as she clutched at her chest, her fingers trembling. The world around her felt like it was spinning, the room tilting on its axis as the pain consumed her.

"Stop," she whispered, her voice shaking. "Please... just stop."

But there was no one to hear her plea. No one to take the pain away.

In the midst of her agony, a voice broke through the haze-a familiar voice, soft and concerned.

"Fawn?"

It was Rowan.

Through the haze of pain, Fawn barely registered his presence. She felt his hands on her shoulders, shaking her gently, trying to pull her out of the nightmare she was trapped in.

"Fawn, can you hear me?" Rowan's voice was urgent now, panic creeping into his tone.

Fawn blinked, her vision swimming as she looked up at him. His face was a blur, but she could see the worry etched into his features.

"I... I can't..." Fawn gasped, her voice barely above a whisper. "It hurts... so much..."

Rowan's expression softened, and he knelt beside her, pulling her into his arms. His warmth enveloped her, grounding her in reality, but it did little to ease the pain.

"It's the bond," Rowan murmured, his voice pained. "I know, Fawn. I'm so sorry."

Fawn buried her face in his chest, tears streaming down her cheeks. She had never felt so weak, so utterly broken. The strong, confident healer she had once been seemed like a distant memory. Now, all she felt was the gaping void left behind by Lucian's rejection.

"I don't know how to make it stop," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I don't know how to stop feeling this."

Rowan's grip tightened around her, his heart aching for his friend. He wished he could take her pain away, but he knew there was no easy fix for this. The bond, even after rejection, was cruel and unforgiving.

"It will fade," Rowan said softly, though he knew the words offered little comfort. "In time, it will fade."

Fawn nodded against his chest, though she wasn't sure if she believed him. The bond felt like a curse, a never-ending torment that she couldn't escape. And the worst part was knowing that Lucian didn't feel the same pain. He was free to be with Beth, to live his life without the weight of their broken bond dragging him down.

For Fawn, there was no escape.

The next morning, Fawn woke up feeling hollow. Her body ached from the emotional strain of the night before, and her mind was foggy with exhaustion. Rowan had stayed with her, refusing to leave her side until she had finally fallen into a fitful sleep.

She sat up slowly, her head spinning. The pain from the bond had lessened, but it still lingered like a dull ache, a reminder that she couldn't escape this torment as long as Lucian was with Beth.

Fawn sighed, running a hand through her disheveled white hair. She had never felt so defeated, so utterly lost. The confidence she had once taken pride in had withered away, leaving her feeling like a shell of the person she used to be.

But as she sat there, staring blankly at the wall, a thought crossed her mind-a thought that sent a shiver down her spine.

What if I leave?

The idea had been floating in the back of her mind for weeks, but she had never seriously considered it. Leaving the pack meant leaving behind everything she had ever known-her friends, her home, her identity as a healer.

But staying meant living in constant agony, chained to a bond that would never let her truly heal.

Fawn swallowed hard, her heart racing at the thought. Could she do it? Could she leave the pack and start over somewhere else? It seemed impossible, but at the same time, it felt like the only option left to her.

She couldn't stay here, not while Lucian was still with Beth. The pain was too much, the constant reminders of what she had lost too overwhelming.

Taking a deep breath, Fawn made her decision.

She would leave.