At the mention of the ceremony and my name, Ryland’s eyes darkened with disdain as disgust and contempt flashed in them. “There's no way I’m going through with the Joining Ceremony with Elara. Don’t ever mention that name to me again!”
My spirit hovered nearby, feeling the weight of his words sink into the very core of me. Even after death, I could still feel the ache of his rejection.
Ryland had changed the moment Selene returned to the pack. Once, he had been kind, and loyal, the man I thought I would spend the rest of my life with. But Selene’s reappearance poisoned his heart, turning him against me.
When Selene was first admitted to the pack hospital due to her pollen allergy, his disgust for me grew. He lost interest in our Joining Ceremony preparations. He took time off from his duties as Alpha, not for me, but for Selene. He spent every waking moment by her bedside, tending to her needs while our bond slowly fizzled out.