When the Moon No Longer Answers the Wolf Chapter 10

The next day, the entire wolf world had new gossip to enjoy.

Kaelen announced to all the packs that he was ending his engagement with Seraphina. It had all been a collaboration: Seraphina needed to escape an arranged marriage, and he needed the pretense of a mate.

Now, Seraphina's character had proven flawed, making her unworthy to be an Alpha's mate. As of today, the engagement was off. From now on, they had nothing to do with each other.

As Kaelen's announcement was sent out, Seraphina was being thrown out of Blackwood Manor.

"Kaelen, you can't do this to me! I may have been wrong, but wasn't this your goal too?"

"Getting Aurora to leave you—the more painful, the better. And she did leave, didn't she?"

Kaelen sneered. "Still arguing? Our contract never included driving her away. I only asked you to play the part of a convincing fiancée to make her back down."

"It was you, Seraphina, who developed feelings you shouldn't have."

Seeing that Seraphina was about to say more, Kaelen lost his patience and cast a silence spell on her.

"If you dare to speak of Aurora's matter, this spell will make your tongue rot and cause you unbearable pain. It won't kill you, but you won't have an easy time either."

"Considering I did bring you here to act, I'll spare your life. You should know that those who have bullied Aurora in the past have never met a good end."

Kaelen deliberately erased Aurora from their conflict, not wanting her to be subjected to such gossip.

Aurora had suffered enough. She couldn't be dragged into this mess.

She was a revered Enforcer and should always be respected. As for him, he would watch from a distance.

Kaelen had no interest in these matters. He spent his days pacing between the Council and Blackrock Summit, trying to find a way in.

But the High Alpha would not allow it.

"Alpha Kaelen, although you are Enforcer Aurora's uncle and have a close relationship with her, I must honor my promise to her."

Kaelen's heart tightened, his throat constricting. "Did she... leave any message?"

The High Alpha glanced at him and shook his head.

"She made me promise not to let you disturb her, and I absolutely cannot let you in."

"I don't know what conflict you two had, but since I promised her, I will not break my word. You should take care of yourself."

...

Blackrock Summit. A man lay among a mess of empty wine bottles.

After hearing the High Alpha's words, Kaelen had wandered to Blackrock Mountain in a daze. He had tried countless times at the spot where Aurora had entered the ritual array, but to no avail.

He took out bottle after bottle of aged wine and began to drink alone.

"Is Aurora mad at me? Is it because I didn't wish her a happy birthday?"

"I was wrong. I shouldn't have let you suffer. But I did prepare gifts for you, every single year."

With a wave of Kaelen's hand, a dazzling array of items appeared on the ground—valuable, rare, interesting, exquisite... all different, yet all things Aurora would love.

Though he had stopped celebrating any holidays with her, he had always prepared gifts. Whenever he saw something she might like, he bought it.

He was just waiting for her to come to her senses and give up her fantasy about him. Then he would give her all these gifts. Kaelen had never truly intended to be separated from Aurora, nor had he ever put so much thought into anyone else.

Over the century, these gifts had accumulated enough to cover the entire summit. Each one was a testament to his affection and longing. Aurora wasn't the only one who wanted to reconcile.

Kaelen, more than anyone, wanted to make things right with her, to protect her under his wing, and never let her be hurt again.

He just never thought that the "happy birthday" he had hesitated to say would be their last moment together.

Kaelen reached out into the empty air, as if he could bring the person he longed for to him.

Suddenly, he saw the red cord on his hand.

After a moment of daze, he shot up and found a box among the gifts.

He opened it. Inside was a necklace made of red cord.

And the pendant hanging from it was none other than the Moonheart Stone he claimed Seraphina had absorbed.