5

##Chapter 5

"Lyra, you said no one here could strip you of your Luna title. My father certainly has the right, doesn't he?"

Kael proudly declared, linking his arm through the old Alpha's.

He wasn't wrong. Although I was the Blackwood Pack's Luna, the old Alpha, as an elder of the Wolf Council, indeed had the authority to decide my fate.

"Father, Mother, I know Lyra is good at flattering, and you like her. But I'm miserable with her. I only love Seraphina, and Seraphina is carrying my child. Please grant us your blessing!"

"Alpha, Luna, hello."

Seraphina shed her arrogant expression, smiling gracefully.

The Alpha had never liked Seraphina, especially since she had once abandoned Kael.

But now, seeing Seraphina's pregnant belly, the Alpha forcibly restrained himself and said nothing.

The Luna, even more conflicted, hesitantly asked Seraphina: "Are you... really carrying Kael's child? Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere now?"

"Not usually, but Lyra has angered me so much my stomach hurts."

Seeing the Luna's concern, Seraphina immediately took advantage, whining prettily.

Upon hearing this, the Alpha looked at me gravely, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

The guests, who had been somewhat swayed by my confident demeanor, now saw the Alpha and Luna's concern for Kael and Seraphina.

They no longer doubted, completely believing I was merely putting on an act. Countless scornful gazes pierced me like knives.

Kael smirked, certain of his victory.

"Father, Mother, I want to dissolve my mate bond with Lyra. If you want someone to serve you devotedly and attend to your needs, just get a few attentive servants. A normal Luna wouldn't do something so undignified. If you just get to know Seraphina better, you'll surely grow to love her."

Kael's disdain was unconcealed.

Seeing that I had no chance of recovering, Seraphina burst into triumphant laughter: "So, what good is flattery? Without status, without true backing, all that flattery will leave you with nothing in the end!"

The Alpha and Luna were about to speak, but I waved them off.

Kael looked surprised by this gesture and immediately glared at me, scolding:

"Before, you'd never dare defy Father and Mother. Now you dare stop them from speaking! Are you giving up because you have no hope with me? You truly are a despicable creature!

"Father, Mother, can you bear for me to be with someone so devious? I want to break this mate bond. Please agree."

Seraphina immediately chimed in: "Alpha, Luna, you wouldn't want your eldest grandson to be without a proper name or status, would you? As soon as Kael breaks this bond, I will immediately agree to mated to him."

The Alpha and Luna looked at me steadily, then at Seraphina and Kael's tightly clasped hands, and sighed deeply.

"What a pity.If there’s no true bond between two people, no amount of force can make them a family."

"Kael, do as you wish."

Kael was overjoyed.

"Lyra, you could have received compensation, but you were too greedy. Once you sign, you'll have absolutely no connection to me and will no longer be the Blackwood Pack's Luna. This is all your own doing!"

The overwhelming mockery of the guests filled my ears.

“I, Kael of the Blackwood Pack, hereby reject you, Lyra, as my mate!”

Since things had come to this, I readily accepted his rejection.

Instantly, a surge of pain washed over me—the agony of the mate bond severing. But after years of battle, this pain was nothing to me and my wolf. Soon, I felt a long-lost sense of ease and freedom.

Kael's face, however, contorted in agony. He stumbled, almost collapsing, but Seraphina quickly caught him. He was too weak.

Yet, he forced himself to smile triumphantly.

"Seraphina, I'm finally a free man. I can mark you."

Seraphina could hardly contain her excitement: "Kael, I've waited for this day for so long! But before that, we should deal with this nuisance first. Make her shut up."

I looked at them with pity and said, word by word:

"Since we are now completely unrelated, it's time to let you know where my confidence comes from."