The next day, I limped my way to the pack's armory.

Mr. Davis, the armorer, gasped when he saw the dagger fragments in my handkerchief.

"My child, isn't this 'Moonshadow'? The dagger your father forged for you? How did it get broken like this?"

Mr. Davis was my father's best friend. They had designed this dagger for me together.

I stared at the pieces, letting tears blur my vision as I whispered, "I know. How did it just break all of a sudden?"

I wiped my tears away and pushed the broken dagger toward him.

"Uncle Davis, I might be leaving for a while. Could you please keep this safe for me? And if it's possible, could you try to repair it?"

Mr. Davis looked stunned. "You're leaving, child?"

I nodded slowly. "I'm going to follow my father's path. I'm going to become a Chronicler, traveling to the front lines of the pack conflicts."

Mr. Davis's lips parted, but no words came out. After a long silence, he just sighed, his eyes red.

"Ah, you've always been a stubborn one. Once you make up your mind, there's no changing it."

"I never had children of my own. The greatest joy of my life was watching you grow up, thanks to your father. It feels like we were destined to be family."

"Now that your father is gone, I don't dare ask for much. I just want you to be safe. You have to take care of yourself out there."

My tears broke free. I stepped forward and gave him a deep hug, saying goodbye to the last person who felt like family.

After leaving the armory, I went to the council and formally submitted my resignation.

One of the elders sighed.

"Eleanor, are you absolutely sure about this?"

I smiled and nodded.

"I'm sure."

"And the bonding ceremony... you're not going through with it?"

"No, I'm not."

The scratch of the quill on the parchment sounded like the final judgment on my story with Aiden.

The elder handed me the approved document with a look of regret. "I always thought you two would become the pride of our pack, our greatest Alpha and Luna."

I smiled and bowed, letting my tears fall silently onto the marble floor.

I carried my personal belongings back to my quarters and heard Chloe's voice from inside.

"Aiden, isn't living separately after the ceremony a bit too cruel? Do you think Eleanor will agree?"

Aiden's brow was furrowed. "She's changed. She used to be so kind, but now she'd actually hurt someone. I can't forgive her for that!"

"Maybe Eleanor is just too in love with you. After all, you two grew up together. I'm the one who came later..."

"How can you take a childhood crush seriously? Don't worry, I only see her as a sister now."

I stood frozen in the doorway, my hand instinctively going to the wolf-fang pendant in my pocket.

Aiden gave it to me when he turned eighteen.

It was his birthday, but he insisted on pressing the gift into my hand.

"Eleanor, when I get back from my training in the northern territories, we'll be mated."

"This pendant is my promise. I swear it!"

I had accepted it with a blushing face and had counted the days until his return ever since.

But today, I finally learned the truth.

Not only did his childhood crush not count, but his sworn promise at eighteen didn't count either.

"Oh, Eleanor, you're back!"

I looked up in a panic, and the pendant slipped from my fingers, clattering to the floor.

Aiden frowned and walked toward me. "So you decided to come back?"

He was about to say more, but he stopped when he saw my red-rimmed eyes.

"You've been crying?"

I just lowered my head in silence.

Aiden let go of Chloe and strode over to me.

He stared at the tear tracks on my face, his tone accusatory.

"Chloe's leg is still injured, so I was just checking on her. Don't get the wrong idea."

I forced a smile and nodded obediently.

Seeing me so quiet and docile, Aiden faltered, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

He opened his mouth to say something, but Chloe cut him off.

"Aiden, I'm a little thirsty. Could you get me some water from my room?"

"Of course!" Aiden turned and walked away, and I took the opportunity to leave.

"Eleanor." Chloe grabbed my arm.

She glanced at Aiden's retreating back, and when she looked at me again, her face was a mask of pure hatred.

"Eleanor Vance, you have some nerve. Aiden doesn't love you. If it weren't for you, he and I would already be mated!"

"They say your Vance family has such a noble bloodline, but you're just a desperate whore throwing yourself at him. Aren't you afraid of bringing shame to your family name?"

I was about to retort, but her eyes lit up as if she'd just had a brilliant idea.

"Oh, my mistake, I forgot..."

"Your entire family is already dead. And that mating contract? You ungrateful bitch traded your short-lived dad's legacy for it!"