Janet-Margaret Ashton

They were already married for three years when Alpha Damian Zeus’s long-lost first love, Lily, returned bringing along a five-year-old pup. Luna Ariana Volkstane slid the formal rejection request across the table. "Let's end this bond. It's better for you, me, and your first love." He just smirked. "You want me to reject you? You think you can break our bond that easily?" So she did. Ariana cut ties with him completely, poured herself into her career, and rose to global fame as a legendary healer, her knowledge of rare herbs, wolf anatomy, and ancient magic sought after across continents. The powerful suitors lined up. The Alpha of an overseas empire whispered, "Ariana, hurry up and perform the severing ritual. I can't wait to claim you." A powerful pack leader vowed, "I'll be there with you the day you break the bond." A legendary wolf attorney promised, "I'll handle your rejection case with the pack council myself." Ariana just rubbed her temples. It's not that she didn't want the split, she wanted it more than anything, it's just that the Alpha she was mated to refused to let go. Finally, she announced, "Whoever can officially get me rejected, I'll put you at the head table of my bond-breaking celebration." Not long after, Alpha Damian was served the official rejection request right in the middle of an emergency pack council meeting. That same afternoon, he was attacked by rogues at the gates of his own territory. When Ariana showed up at the pack infirmary with healing herbs, she repeated calmly, "Let's sever the mate bond. It's better for you, me, and everyone else." But the cold, untouchable Alpha pulled her into his arms, his eyes blood-red with fury. "You want me to reject you? Over my dead body."

"I have to go," Casper gasps, covering his mouth the moment he hears Serene's name. I reach for him, wrapping my hand around his wrist. "If you walk away from this ceremony, I won't let you humiliate me again." Casper brushes a stray strand of hair from my face. The familiar tingles from the mate bond spread across my skin, but instead of comfort, they feel like mockery. "You're being dramatic, Lily." "I mean it, Casper." "I'll be right back. Wait for me here, and we can finish… this." This. The word stings like a blade against my skin. Is this all that remains of our bond? Something inside me breaks into a thousand pieces, and I know it can't be put back together. *** This is the THIRD time Casper has walked away for Serene. Lilith swears she will never let anyone humiliate her again. Not her mate, not her Pack. She cuts her ties with the Pack to claim her own freedom. She never expects to meet Kael, the heir to the Alpha King, a man who is willing to erase anyone who dares to stand in her way. *** "I can make him disappear. Hell, I can get rid of anyone who bothers you. Just say the word." I swallow hard at the seriousness in his gaze. "No. That won't be necessary." Kael rises and presses a kiss to my forehead. "Just say the word."