Elowen POV
I'm smiling at Alaric over breakfast, and he has no idea I'm planning my escape.
"You seem happy this morning," he says, pouring me tea. Always so attentive. Always so perfectly fake.
"I slept well." The lie tastes like ash. I haven't slept in three days—too busy planning, scheming, preparing.
"I'm glad." He reaches across the table, covering my hand with his. "I was thinking, perhaps we could ride to the north gardens today? There's something I want to show you."
More manipulation. More pretty lies wrapped in kindness.
"That sounds lovely," I say, matching his warmth with my own practiced smile.
He has no idea I've already packed. That Vesperine—fully healed and loyal to me, not him—has horses ready at the east gate. That tonight, when the Keep sleeps, we're gone.
I play his game for three more days. Smile. Laugh at his jokes. Let him think he's winning.
On the third night, Vesperine and I slip out during a storm. Thunder covers the sound of hooves. Rain washes away our scent trail.
We ride hard for Ironhart territory, and I feel absolutely nothing.
No fear. No sadness. No hope.
Just ice.
"Are you sure about this?" Vesperine shouts over the wind. "Going back to Thaddeus—"
"I'm not going back to Thaddeus. I'm going to the Lunar Council."
"To reject him publicly?"
"To reject all of them."
We reach Ironhart palace at dawn, soaked and exhausted. Guards scramble when they see us—the missing Luna, returned after two months.
Thaddeus meets me in the entrance hall, Lyria behind him. He actually looks concerned.
"Elowen! Thank the Goddess. When Ravenspur took you, I—"
"I need to speak to the Head Councilor. Immediately."
"What? You just got back, you should rest—"
"NOW." My voice echoes through the hall. Wolves freeze. "Get me the Head Councilor or I'll walk to the Council chambers myself."
Thaddeus blinks, clearly confused by this version of me. The one who doesn't bend. Doesn't break.
"Of course. I'll send for him. But Elowen, we should talk—"
I walk past him like he's air.
In my old chambers—the ones I haven't seen in two months—I find Cassian waiting. He looks terrible. Thin. Haunted.
"Elowen." His voice cracks. "Please, just let me explain—"
"Move."
"The bet was a mistake! I never collected the money, I swear—"
"I said move."
He grabs my arm. "I love you! Everything that happened between us was real—"
I look at his hand on my arm. Then at his face. My expression must be terrifying because he lets go immediately.
"If you ever touch me again," I say quietly, "I will make sure every wolf in every territory knows exactly what kind of male you are. Now get out."
He leaves, stumbling like I struck him.
Good.
The Head Councilor arrives within the hour. I formally request an emergency session, citing the Law of Broken Faith. He tries to argue—these hearings take months to arrange.
I pull out documents. Evidence I've been gathering. "I have testimony about Alpha Thaddeus's political marriage. Evidence of Alpha Cassian's wager. And proof that Alpha Alaric Ravenspur kidnapped me with intent to use me against Ironhart."
The Councilor goes pale. "This is... highly irregular."
"This is my right under pack law. Seven days. That's all I need."
He agrees because he has no choice.
The next week is war.
Thaddeus tries cornering me daily. I lock my doors.
Cassian sends letters. I burn them without reading.
Alaric himself shows up on day four, somehow getting past palace security.
I find him in the gardens where we used to meet. Where everything started.
"Elowen." He looks desperate. Rain from yesterday still drips from the trees. "Please. Just talk to me."
"No."
"What you heard that night—you misunderstood. My feelings for you are real—"
"Stop. Talking."
"I was going to tell you the truth! I was going to—"
"You were going to use me to destroy Thaddeus, then discard me. Your words. Not mine."
His face crumbles. "I changed my mind! After getting to know you, everything changed—"
"I don't care."
And I don't. That's the terrifying part. I don't care about his pain, his excuses, his desperate eyes.
I don't care about any of them.
The night before the Council hearing, all three of them come to my chambers.
Together.
I open the door to find Thaddeus, Cassian, and Alaric standing in my hallway. Three powerful Alphas, all looking broken.
"Elowen," Thaddeus starts. "I'm offering you complete control of the Miravel territories. Full autonomy. Whatever you want—"
"I'll give you my entire fortune," Cassian interrupts. "My title. Everything. Just give me another chance—"
"I'll testify against Thaddeus myself," Alaric says desperately. "You won't have to. I'll take the blame for everything—"
I look at them. Really look.
Three months ago, any one of them could've saved me with these words. With real honesty. Real change.
Now?
"You're all too late," I say simply.
"Please—" they say in unison.
"Tomorrow, I stand before the Lunar Council. I will reject every bond, every claim, every tie to all of you. And then I'm leaving. Not because you hurt me. Not because I hate you."
"Then why?" Thaddeus whispers.
"Because I'm finally choosing myself."
I close the door. Lock it. Ignore their pleading through the wood.
Tomorrow changes everything.
Tomorrow I become free.
I sleep dreamlessly for the first time in months.
Dawn comes cold and clear. Vesperine helps me dress—white, the color of mourning for wolves. My hair unbound. No jewelry. No pack markers.
Just me.
The Council chamber is packed when I arrive. Every major Alpha, Beta, pack representative in the region. Hundreds of witnesses.
I walk down the center aisle alone. Thaddeus, Cassian, and Alaric sit in the accused section, their eyes following me with desperate hope.
I feel nothing.
The Head Councilor calls the session to order.
"Elowen Miravel. You've invoked the Law of Broken Faith. State your case."
I stand before the Council stone—ancient, sacred, carved with the names of every wolf who ever sought justice here.
"I reject my mate bond with Alpha Thaddeus Ironhart. I reject all ties to the Ironhart dynasty. And I formally accuse three Alphas of breaking faith."
The chamber erupts in shocked whispers.
I pull out my evidence. Documents. Recordings. Testimony.
I speak for thirty minutes. Calm. Factual. Devastating.
When I finish, I cut my palm with the ceremonial blade. Let my blood fall on the Council stone.
"Under the Law of Broken Faith, I sever these bonds. I claim my freedom. I choose myself."
Power erupts from the stone—ancient magic responding to ancient law.
The bonds shatter.
All three Alphas scream, collapsing as the connections tear. It should hurt me too—bonds breaking always hurt.
But I feel nothing. Just relief.
The Council validates my rejection. Grants me independent status.
I walk out of that chamber a free wolf.
No mate. No pack. No ties.
Just Elowen Miravel. Finally belonging to herself.
Outside, Vesperine waits with packed horses.
"Where to?" she asks.
"Anywhere but here."
We ride toward the Veilwood—neutral territory, free lands, somewhere I can breathe.
Behind us, the three Alphas who broke me are still on their knees, still screaming.
I don't look back.
But as we crest the hill, something inside me shifts. A stirring. A whisper.
For just a moment, my reflection in a stream shows eyes that flash gold instead of grey.
Then it's gone.
Vesperine gasps. "Did you see—"
"Nothing," I say quickly. "I saw nothing."
But my hand goes to my chest, where something warm pulses. Something that's been sleeping for twenty-three years.
Something that's finally, impossibly, waking up.
My wolf.