Dissolve Mate Bond

**********VIVIAN'S POV**********

"You do know that rejecting Dari doesn't mean you've stopped being his Luna," Tessa's voice echoed in my head, slicing through the tense silence of the room like a silver blade.

I paused, my hands hovering over my suitcase. I was meticulously packing my meager belongings, more than ready to vacate this absolute hell of a packhouse. The stinging memory of him tossing me aside for Camilla was fresh, but Tessa's cryptic words were far more jarring. I had just stood downstairs and poured every ounce of my hidden Alpha strength into that rejection vow. The official rejection vow had hung heavily in the air, setting my departure in stone.

"What are you talking about?" I asked my wolf, my brow furrowing in utter confusion. "I said the words. I rejected him to his face. I felt the shift in the room."

*I mean exactly what I said,* Tessa stated flatly. *You can't just throw a verbal rejection at Dari and magically think you are free from the bond.*

"I heard you the first time. But why? What else has to be done?" I shoved shirts into the suitcase, my frustration bubbling just beneath the surface.

*Since we are both Alphas—a crucial fact Dari has absolutely no idea about—a mere verbal rejection means absolutely nothing to fully sever our connection.*

I leaned against the bedside table, stunned by this revelation. The throbbing in my chest suddenly made sense. It wasn't just the emotional fallout of a broken heart; it was the physical and spiritual pull of a bond that was still very much intact, tethering my soul to his despite his cruel betrayal.

*To be completely free from each other's spiritual and physical pull, we have to officially dissolve the mate bond through a formal ritual,* Tessa continued, mapping out the intricate lore of our kind. *Otherwise, the Moon Goddess's tie remains active.*

I realized my ignorance stemmed directly from never paying attention to my father's strict teachings about mating lore. He had spent hours drilling the ancient texts into my head, but I had been a rebellious teenager, too caught up in my own world to care about the archaic laws of our ancestors.

"How come I never knew about all this?" I muttered, a wave of regret washing over me.

*Because you never listened to your father's teachings,* Tessa snarled in response, her annoyance bleeding through our mental link.

"Don't push the blame on me," I shot back. "My father was never an easygoing man. His lessons felt more like interrogations."

*I get it, but still, you have to dissolve the mate bond,* Tessa sighed.

"How do I actually dissolve it?" I pressed, throwing the last of my things inside.

*I don't know the exact process,* Tessa admitted honestly. *Go ahead and ask Dari,* she growled sarcastically.

"Shut up," I warned her, and swiftly finished packing my bags. I didn't have time to dwell on complicated rituals right now. My main priority was getting out of this territory before I lost the last shred of my dignity.

Slipping out of the packhouse proved to be disgustingly easy. I pulled my luggage down the grand staircase, my footsteps muffled by the plush carpets. I remained completely unnoticed by the pack members. The entire staff was frantically rushing around, preoccupied with preparing Camilla's new room exactly the way Dari meticulously wanted it.

I paused by the hallway arch, watching the head maid direct two Omegas carrying a massive velvet headboard. They were treating the homewrecker like the true Luna, catering to her every whim, while I was cast aside like a worthless Omega. No one spared a single glance my way. No one cared that the woman who had bled for this pack was walking out the door like a forgotten ghost.

*Just ignore them and let's go,* Tessa whispered in my mind, her presence offering a soothing balm to my bruised ego.

Nodding in agreement, I stepped out into the cool, twilight streets, leaving all the negativity and heartbreak behind. The evening sky was painted in deep hues of purple and gold, a serene calmness settling over the territory.

As we walked through the dimly lit, serene city streets, my suitcase wheels clicked against the pavement in a steady rhythm.

*Vivian, where are we headed now?* Tessa asked, sensing the lack of a destination in my mind.

The brutal, subservient life I had endured for the past three years had finally broken me down. I had traded my birthright for a man who didn't even respect me, let alone love me. I had willingly played the quiet, submissive wife, suppressing my true Alpha nature just to keep the peace. And for what? To be discarded the moment Camilla batted her eyelashes. Despite my deep, burning shame over ignoring my father's early warnings, I knew I had to reach out to my powerful family. I couldn't survive out here as a rogue, not when I had an empire waiting for me back home.

I opened a telepathic mindlink I hadn't dared to use in three entire years.

"Caleb," I called out to my stepbrother, my mental voice echoing into the vast network of our bloodline.

His shock was palpable and immediate across the bond. For a long moment, there was nothing but static, then his voice broke through.

*Vivian? Is that really you?* he replied, his rich, baritone voice laced with heavy disbelief.

"Yes, Caleb. It is me," I answered, my throat tightening. "I am alive and finally awake to the truth."

*What do you need, Vivian? It has been three years. Did your marriage work?*

Taking a deep, ragged breath, I swallowed my lingering pride. "Caleb, I have made a decision. I am leaving the Sanguine moon, and I am returning to start afresh. I want to meet you at the borders. Now."

Miles later, I arrived at the edge of the pack territory. My legs were burning with exertion by the time the sprawling city lights faded into the dense tree line. My heart raced with anticipation as I spotted a sleek, modern Tesla Model S Plaid gleaming under the pale moonlight.

The passenger door swung open, and Caleb stepped out, his designer dress shoes crunching against the gravel. He looked entirely different from the boy I knew three years ago—broader shoulders, a much sharper, calculating gaze, and an impressive height accompanied by a dark, undeniable Alpha aura that commanded absolute respect.

We locked eyes in the dark, an unbreakable familial bond humming powerfully between us. He was my blood, my pack, my family. Yet, as his impeccably dressed driver bypassed Caleb and took my luggage with a polite bow, our old, fiercely competitive sibling dynamic instantly flared back to life.

"Vivian," Caleb greeted smoothly, his eyes flashing with a predatory glint. "Looking good. Ready to take on the pack?"

I straightened my spine, refusing to let my exhaustion show. I smirked, determined not to let him assert any dominance over me. "Of course, Caleb. I have been preparing for this moment my whole life."

He chuckled deeply, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Oh, I have always been one step ahead of you, little sis. But I am excited to see what you bring to the table."

I stepped closer, tilting my chin up to meet his challenging gaze. "Whatever I bring to the table, has nothing to do with you, Caleb," I replied smoothly, perfectly balancing my trademark sarcasm with mutual respect.

Caleb simply chuckles, his chest rumbling as he took a step back. His welcoming words marked the official transition from abused Luna back to a powerful Alpha heiress.

"Welcome back, Vivian."