Five years. This was the first time in five years he'd ever mentioned making our bond public.
And it happened to be right when I'd already decided to leave.
I turned toward the chamber door, my back to him. "Sure. Next time."
The moment the door clicked shut, I knew.
That "next time" would never come.
And I was right.
Just as I'd predicted, his companion that night was Aurora.
The celebration grounds glittered with moonstone lanterns, honeyed mead flowing freely.
Aurora wore an exquisite white ceremonial gown, her arm linked through his as all eyes followed them. Her cheeks were flushed, and she kept leaning into him, drawing good-natured teasing from the gathered wolves.
"Aurora's gotten so beautiful."
"I know, right? She and Fenris look perfect together."
Everyone tactfully avoided mentioning their former pack-sibling bond.
After all, Aurora had no blood ties to the Duskmoor pack now. To outsiders, they were just an ordinary courting pair.
After the celebration ended, a tipsy Aurora sat in the carriage seat beside him, her fingers restlessly tugging at his sleeve, her voice thick with mead and grievance.
"Fenris... I really can't go back to that guest lodge... Can I stay at your keep until the bond dissolution waiting period is over?"
His hands tightened on the reins.
Logic told him to refuse.
It would be hard to explain to me, and if things blew up, the pack elders might find out.
But looking at her reddened eyes and flushed cheeks, he found himself steering toward the Alpha's keep as if possessed.
It wasn't until he reached the front entrance that he saw something he hadn't expected.
I was standing at the threshold, talking to Kael Thornhart.
Kael was a well-known high-born heir in their circles, but he'd refused to inherit his family's territory and become a Pack Advocate instead, specializing in bond-law.
We each held a document in our hands.
Fenris's heart lurched. He steadied Aurora and strode toward us.
"What are the two of you doing here?" His amber gaze locked onto the parchment in my hands. "Who's seeking a Bond Severance?"
Something about the document seemed to catch his attention, a flicker of recognition crossing his features.
Before he could examine it more closely, I had already slipped the papers into my satchel, keeping my voice light and unbothered. "Raven is going through a Bond Dissolution with her mate. I'm helping her seek guidance from the Mooncourt."