Maya couldn't sleep that night. Caleb's warning echoed in her mind: Liam has darker shadows than you can imagine. What did he mean? She touched the moonstone at her neck, feeling it pulse with warmth.
The next morning, pack members hustled around preparing for the full moon gathering. Tonight, Alpha Marcus would announce the next generation of pack leaders. Everyone expected Liam to be named future Alpha - with Maya as his Luna.
"You look terrible," Serena said, bouncing onto Maya's bed. "Thinking about your boyfriend?"
"He's not my boyfriend," Maya snapped.
"Right. He's your mate," Serena teased. "Even better."
Maya threw a pillow at her sister. "I'm still not accepting him."
Serena's smile vanished. "You can't reject the bond at the gathering. No one's ever done that!"
"Watch me," Maya whispered.
The clearing buzzed with excitement as pack members gathered under the silver moonlight. Torches illuminated the ceremonial circle where Alpha Marcus stood tall and imposing.
Maya spotted Liam across the crowd. Their eyes locked, and the mate bond hummed between them. He looked different tonight - less arrogant, more vulnerable. He gave her a small nod, almost hopeful.
Caleb appeared at Maya's side. "You're not reconsidering, are you?"
"I don't know," Maya admitted. "After our talk in the woods..."
"I need to show you something before you decide." Caleb grabbed her wrist. "Now."
He pulled her behind the meeting hall, away from the crowd.
"What's so important it can't wait?" Maya asked.
"This." Caleb showed her his phone. On the screen was a video of Liam.
Maya's heart dropped as she watched. Liam stood with his father, cornering a younger wolf. The boy cowered as Liam shoved him hard against a tree.
"This was yesterday," Caleb said. "After your heart-to-heart in the woods."
"No," Maya whispered. "He said he was just training them, preparing them..."
"By terrorizing them?" Caleb used Liam's own words against him. "He's exactly like his father."
The video continued. Alpha Marcus laughed as the boy fell. Liam's face twisted into a cruel smile.
"I don't understand," Maya said, her voice breaking. "He seemed so sincere in the woods."
"He's manipulating you," Caleb insisted. "The mate bond is making you blind."
The ceremonial drums began to beat, calling everyone to gather.
"It's time," Caleb said. "What will you do?"
Maya touched the moonstone, which now felt cold against her skin. "What I should have done from the beginning."
Alpha Marcus raised his hands for silence. The pack fell quiet, moonlight bathing them in silver.
"Tonight, we celebrate the future of our pack," he announced. "My son, Liam, will soon take his rightful place as Alpha."
Cheers erupted. Liam stepped forward, looking powerful and confident in the ceremonial wolf pelt draped over his shoulders.
"And beside every great Alpha," Marcus continued, "stands a strong Luna. Step forward, Maya."
Whispers rippled through the crowd as Maya walked to the center of the circle. The moonstone felt like ice against her chest.
Liam's eyes found hers, filled with something that looked like hope. She remembered his vulnerability in the forest, his confession, the scars on his back.
Then she remembered the video - his cruel smile, so like his father's.
"Maya," Alpha Marcus said, "do you accept the bond with my son and your place as future Luna of this pack?"
The crowd held its breath.
Maya looked directly at Liam. "No," she said clearly. "I reject the mate bond."
Gasps echoed through the clearing. No one had ever rejected a mate bond - it was unheard of, forbidden.
"What did you say?" Alpha Marcus growled, stepping toward her.
"I said no." Maya stood taller. "I've seen who your son truly is. I've seen the cruelty you've taught him. I refuse to be part of it."
The pack stared in shocked silence. Luna Evelyn covered her mouth with her hand. Serena looked horrified.
"You dare?" Alpha Marcus snarled, his eyes flashing gold.
"I dare," Maya replied. "The mate bond is supposed to be sacred, but there's nothing sacred about bullying and fear."
She turned to face the pack. "I saw Liam hurting a younger wolf yesterday. Just like his father taught him." She pointed at the Alpha. "Is this the leadership we want? Is this who we are?"
Liam's face went white with shock, then darkened with hurt. "Maya, what are you talking about? I wasn't even—"
"I saw the video," she cut him off. "Don't lie to me again."
Something like confusion flickered in Liam's eyes, quickly replaced by cold anger. Without a word, he ripped off the ceremonial pelt and threw it at his father's feet. Then he turned and stalked into the darkness, the pack parting silently to let him pass.
Alpha Marcus's face contorted with rage. "You have disgraced this pack," he growled at Maya. "There will be consequences."
But Maya barely heard him. The moment she'd spoken the words of rejection, the moonstone had burned into her skin. Pain radiated through her chest, stealing her breath. The mate bond was tearing apart, just as Elara had warned.
From the edge of the clearing, Caleb watched with a satisfied smile.
Maya stumbled home alone, each step agony. The pack had scattered after her declaration, whispering and staring. Even Serena had been too shocked to follow.
Inside her room, Maya collapsed onto her bed, clutching her chest. The pain was unbearable now, like someone was ripping out her heart.
"It hurts, doesn't it?"
Maya jerked upright. Elara sat in the shadowy corner, her silver hair gleaming in the moonlight.
"What are you doing here?" Maya gasped.
"I felt the bond breaking," Elara said softly. "It's killing you, just as I warned."
"Help me," Maya pleaded.
Elara moved to sit beside her. "I can ease the pain, but the price is high."
"Anything," Maya whispered.
Cool fingers touched the moonstone. "The ceremony of rejection is incomplete. To truly sever the bond, you must give me the stone."
Maya hesitated. Despite everything, something felt wrong about removing the necklace.
"If you keep it," Elara warned, "the pain will only grow worse. Until it consumes you both."
With trembling fingers, Maya reached for the clasp. As it came loose, a howl of pure anguish tore through the night - Liam's wolf, crying out in pain.
Maya froze. "He feels it too."
"Of course," Elara said impatiently. "The bond hurts both of you. Give me the stone, and it ends for both of you."
But the howl had sparked something in Maya's mind. If Liam was in wolf form, feeling the same pain miles away... how could he have been bullying someone yesterday?
"The video," she whispered. "When exactly was it taken?"
"Does it matter?" Elara snapped. "Give me the stone!"
Maya clutched the moonstone tighter. "It matters if I've made a terrible mistake."
Elara's gentle face hardened. "Too late for regrets now. The damage is done."
Another howl pierced the night, closer this time. The sound of paws pounded toward the house.
Elara hissed in frustration. "Foolish girl. You've ruined everything."
Before Maya could react, Elara grabbed the moonstone, yanking it from her grasp. The chain snapped, and the stone glowed bright in Elara's palm.
"What are you doing?" Maya cried.
Elara's eyes gleamed with triumph. "Taking what's mine."
The window exploded inward as a massive black wolf crashed through the glass. Liam's wolf form stood between them, hackles raised, teeth bared at Elara.
"Stay back!" Elara warned, holding up the moonstone. "Or I'll destroy it - and both of you with it."
The wolf growled, its gold eyes fixed on Maya with an emotion she couldn't name - betrayal, anger, or something deeper.
"Liam," Maya whispered, reaching toward him. "I think I've made a terrible mistake."
Beyond the shattered window, more howls joined the night - dozens of them, coming closer.
Elara's face twisted with rage. "You've called the entire pack?"
The black wolf's lips curled back in what almost looked like a smile.
"This isn't over," Elara snarled. With a wave of her hand, darkness swirled around her. When it cleared, she was gone - and the moonstone with her.
The moment Elara vanished, Maya collapsed, the pain in her chest exploding like fire. The last thing she saw was Liam's wolf lunging toward her, his golden eyes wild with panic.
Then darkness took her.