High in the night sky was the moon.
Full.
Bright.
Unforgiving.
The night wind gently tugged at Elsie's pale dress as she stood in the middle of the clearing behind the Alpha estate, the cool grass brushing against her bare feet. They could almost feel the weight of what was about to happen in the stillness of the forest around them. There was no celebration here.
There weren't any lamps. No sound. No wolves cheering. There is no sound.
The elders' expressions were solemn as they stood in a half circle near the ancient stone altar. Even though the tension in his jaw betrayed him, Edward maintained a rigid posture as he stood in front of her wearing dark ceremonial robes. Sara was standing in his stead. Her hand rested protectively over the slight curve of her stomach.
Elsie made a conscious effort not to look at it. Her father was worried and stood next to the older people. There were only a few people in attendance. Family.
Heads of the pack. Witnesses.
Nothing further. The oldest member of the council leaned on his carved staff as he slowly came forward. "Tonight, we gather under the gaze of the Moon Goddess to witness the severing of a sacred bond," he said, his voice softly echoing through the clearing.
Elsie's fingers at her sides curled slightly. It was never intended to be broken the mate bond. It was designed to last forever. However, fate had already been altered. The older continued, "Edward Blackwood and Elsie Whitmore were bound by destiny." Nevertheless, this union must end by choice or circumstance.
The older man looked at them both. "The connection between your souls will be severed forever once the bond is broken." His focus remained on them. "Do you both understand the price of this?"
The voice of Edward came first. "Yes."
His response was firm. Confident.
However, Elsie noticed that his hands were clenched at the sides. She forced her own voice to remain steady while swallowing. "Yes."
The elder gave a nod. "Then proceed forward." They did so. The distance between them was reduced by two measured steps. Edward gave her a genuine look for the first time that night. genuinely looked. He looked at her face like he was trying to remember something. He murmured quietly, too low for anyone else to hear, "You don't have to do this." Elsie's chest tightened. However, she raised her chin. She said softly, "You already did it when you rejected me." They were separated by the words like a stone.
The older man aimed the tip of his staff at the moon. "Cut your hands in a fist." Before putting her hand on Edward's, Elsie paused for a moment. Their bond erupted violently as soon as their skins touched. Her chest was throbbing with a rapid pulse. Her chest tightened. Edward also took a deep breath.
The old sayings were started by the elder.
"By the moon goddess's light... by the wolf's blood... by the bond that fate once gave..."
They appeared to be being squeezed into the air. Under her skin, the connection between them burned like fire.
"Let this bond be broken now." Elsie's chest went through a raging ache. It came quickly. Violent.
She felt like something was being ripped out of her. As the invisible thread that held their souls together began to unravel, she gasped and felt her knees nearly buckle. Her hand was held in a tighter grip by Edward. He let out a low groan as the pain also hit him. The older man went on.
"Let their hearts follow different paths." The bond split once more.
This time, it's harder. As the agony permeated her veins, Elsie cried softly with a trembling body. Her wolf seemed to be being taken apart piece by piece. Edward's face had turned pale as he stood next to her.
Now his breathing was labored. However, he continued to stand. The last words were said.
"And under the gaze of the Moon Goddess... This bond has been severed....
Elsie felt something break inside of her. She was hit by an intense, blinding wave of pain that was unlike anything she had ever experienced before. As he clenched his chest, Edward stumbled back and let out a choked sound. Still, Elsie....Elsie was unable to maintain her balance any longer. Violently, the world spun. Her vision became hazy. Her father yelling her name was the last thing she heard. She was then completely swallowed up by the night. Elsie gave out and fell to the ground. Unconscious.
While the embers of their connection consumed him like fire, Edward fell to one knee beside her and clung to his chest. Since becoming Alpha for the first time Edward seemed terrified.