Aurora's pack registration had been transferred out of her bloodline's territory. She was tangled in a brutal bond dissolution with her mate, Darian Hollowfang.
With no den to shelter her, Fenris had arranged everything—securing her lodging at neutral territory inns, accompanying her through shared meals and moonlit walks along the forest trails, even standing beside her at the Mooncourt hearings to fight her bond severance.
Meanwhile, a month ago, I had been captured by wolves from a rival pack. When I sent him an urgent howl-call, desperate and afraid, his sigil channel remained dark and silent.
Later, an unmarked memory-crystal arrived for me.
In the vision it held, he was in Aurora's bed, lost in her body, their scents intertwined.
That was the moment I finally made my decision: this hollow bond had to end.
The memory pulled a bitter laugh from my throat.
I turned and walked out of his council chamber, sealing the signed bond rejection documents and sending them by trusted courier to Selene.
Back at the Alpha's Keep, I began gathering my things.