The moment Elara walked away, something inside me shattered. I watched her retreating form, the distance between us growing with each step she took. My wolf howled in agony, clawing at me from within as our mate slipped through our fingers once more.
"Fuck!" I slammed my fist into the nearest wall, the concrete cracking under the impact. Blood dripped from my knuckles, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the hollowness expanding in my chest.
She was right. About everything.
The memories of my cruelty flooded back—each harsh word, each time I'd laughed as she suffered, each moment I'd chosen my pride over her heart. And for what? To protect my fragile ego? To please my father? To maintain some bullshit status among my peers?
I'd destroyed the most precious gift the Moon Goddess had ever given me.
