Hazel's POV
"Leon, reject her now!" Cayden snapped as he finally stepped forward. Leon turned to him, fear flickering in his eyes.
Caspian added, his tone firm, "Reject her now, because there's no way we're allowing a prisoner among us."
"No—no, Leon, you can't!" Sophia cried, clinging desperately to him. "You can't reject me. My life has been hell, Leon. Please, save me. The Moon Goddess must have sent you to help me… and my family." She pointed toward her sisters and stepmother. "You can't leave me like this. If you reject me, my life will be over."
I glanced at Aurora—she was frozen, too stunned to speak. Her eyes were fixed on Leon, silently pleading for him to do the right thing: reject Sophia and choose her.
"An Alpha can cut off a bond, right?" Cayden asked, turning to Elder Gina. She nodded slowly.
"If it's a forbidden bond," she said, "then yes, an Alpha has the right to end it."
"Then I hereby decline this mating bond," Caspian declared loudly.
