Chapter 8

Elena’s POV “Wait, don’t—" Bryson looked at me in panic as he took a step forward near me. He reached out his hand, seemingly wanting to hold me, but I moved with agility and stepped back. Standing tall, I decisively and firmly uttered the formal separation of our bond. “I, Elena Dooley, Princess of Lycan Kingdom, reject you, Bryson Renner, Alpha of Swiftridge Pack, as my mate.” “Aghhh!” Bryson clutched his chest and bent down as he fell to his knees. His face grimaced, and his breathing became rugged. He couldn’t help but shout while his other fist was punching the ground, as though all of his actions would lessen the burning pain he was in. I froze on the spot and fisted my hands together while my breathing hitched. Though the pain would be felt more by the rejected mate, I still could feel a bit of pain and a slight sense of emptiness in me as the string that attached us was cut off. Courtney pushed me to the side and attentively crouched down to hold Bryson. Gazing up at me, she scolded, “Look what you’ve done! You have no mercy!” “You, ungrateful bitch!” Glenda followed suit, pointing a finger at me as she stood between me and Bryson. “How dare you!” A calm and yet domineering voice echoed in the room, taking all of our attention. “I must hear no more insolent remarks from any of you! This is the Princess you are speaking to!” “But she—” Glenda tried to retort, but Beta Jude instantly sent her a fierce glare. Squinting his eyes, he threateningly uttered, “One more word, and you’ll face the consequence!” That immediately shut them all up, bringing silence around us, which made Bryson’s heavy breaths of pain seem so loud. His chest fell and rose heavily. He kept his eyes closed and breathed through his mouth. After a few minutes that felt like forever, he finally stood up and clung to his chest. Though the most challenging and most painful part of the breaking of our mate bond was done, he’d still feel a bearable pain for a couple of days. And maybe he’ll even feel empty. “You’ve been planning for this from the start, aren’t you?” He looked at me with accusation. I raised an eyebrow and crossed my arms. “What if I am?” He sighed and shook his head, calmly trying to explain, “Glenda is nothing but my second wife and additional Luna. You’re my first. Why do you have to do this?” My eyes widened, as did Glenda’s. Where was he getting the audacity to say such things? “First? Second?” I asked in disbelief. Snickering, I looked at him like he had just grown another head on his neck. “Do you need a doctor, Bryson? You seem to have been so forgetful lately!” His lips turned into a thin line. I gave him no chance to utter another word, though. I repeated what he had told me before: “You’re the one who said that she and I would be on equal footing!” “That’s not what—” “Don’t turn everyone here into a fool, Bryson!” I shouted, pointing at all of us. Everyone heard and saw what he chose to do. He chose Glenda over me! How he acted was even worse than what he said either. He said I’d be on equal footing with Glenda when, in fact, they just wanted me to be their puppet. “That woman of yours didn’t want to compete with me for a man, but guess what?” Smirking, I nodded and glanced at Glenda, who was supporting him in standing. “I disdain to share my man even more!” “I never said that!” Glenda rebut. I wanted to roll my eyes. All of them became so forgetful of everything they said to me. “Oh, please, don’t be a hypocrite now! You were so bold when you talked to me before,” I told her before I looked at each and every one of them with cold, menacing eyes. “All of you are!” With that, I turned around and attempted to leave but halted midway. “Elena…” Bryson called out solemnly. His eyes dimmed with sadness as he looked at me profoundly and emotionally, asking, “Don’t you love me anymore?” Staring him right into his eyes, I coldly replied, “I don’t think I ever did.” “Thank you for coming here.” That was my last words to Beta Jude as I passed him and went back to my room, no longer minding the gasps I heard and Bryson’s call. “Luna, are we leaving now? For good?” Zara asked as she found me packing my bags and went to help me. Smiling, I nodded at her, and she started packing the other bags. However, Elyse came in after she left to get our other things. Elyse is the wife of Max Renner, Bryson’s brother. As she was the only one who didn’t bully me, I stopped what I was doing and let her in. Though she didn’t bully me, she didn’t help me either. “Luna Elena… May I have a word with you?” she asked. I gave her a small smile. “It’s Elena… I’m no longer you’re Luna.” “But earlier…” She wanted to ask me more things, but I was no longer up for small talk. So, I asked straightaway, “What do you want?” “Please, can’t you re-think this? I’m sure Alpha Bryson loves you.” She looked down as she said that. I hid a bitter smile. She couldn’t even look at me because she didn’t believe her own words. “But I don’t love him…” I replied nonchalantly while silently adding, ‘Not anymore.’ She looked at me intensely and asked, “But if you leave. Where will you go?” “I think that’s my business alone now.” With that, I closed my language and gestured to leave. “But…” “No words you can say can change my mind, Elyse.” With those last words, I saw hope leave her eyes as I closed the door and went downstairs to meet Zara. “Let’s go.” “Lu—I mean, Princess, I’ve talked with the other servants we brought from the Ironpaw Pack, and they…” Zara gave me a smile, and on cue, dozens of the familiar faces of servants came out with bags in their hands. I looked at them with amazement, warmth cursing through my heart. “You’re all here…” “We’ve always been loyal to the Ironpaw Pack, Princess. We’ll be wherever you are,” they said and nodded with each other in agreement. We were already at the pack’s gate when a tall figure suddenly stood on our path with his arms spread open. “You can’t leave!” Bryson looked at me thoughtfully as he used his alpha tone, demanding me to stay. I smirked. As I was a born Alpha female and a promoted Princess, he should know better that his Alpha tone wouldn’t work on me. Tilting my head, I mockingly asked, “Have you turned deaf now, Bryson? It’s the King’s Beta himself who clarified that I could.” Staring at him intensely, my eyes dimmed, and my voice became deep. “And I would.” “No paper has been signed yet! You’re still my wife!” he countered. “But the words of the King and the letter of notification from him bear more weight, now, does it?” I pointed at him while gesturing at the crumpled paper in his hands. “You can’t do this, Elena. You can’t leave me.” I stared at him for a while, wondering where was he getting the audacity to ask me to stay. Sighing, I shook my head in disappointment as I gave him one last stare and felt the heaviness in my chest lightening a little. “Now you get to be with your fated mate and I'll get to have my freedom back… Goodbye, Alpha Bryson.”