Chapter 13: Severing Mate‘ s Bond (Winona’s POV)
The tension in the packhouse had grown unbearable. I watched Scott from the doorway of the training grounds, my hands. tightening into fists at my sides. He was sparring with one of the younger wolves, his movements sharp and precise. The Scott I knew–calculated, distant, yet always in control–was back. But something was missing. He was… hollow.
And it was all because of Ariana.
Even now, her name left a bitter taste in my mouth. She had left weeks ago, yet her presence still clung to the pack like an unwanted shadow. Scott‘ s eyes no longer
lit up
with pride or amusement, not even when he bested his opponents. He went about his duties with mechanical
precision, throwing himself into training and council meetings as if he could will himself to forget her.
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Chapter 13: Severing Mate’s Bond (Winona’s POV)
But I knew better.
I saw the way he stared into the woods when he thought no one was looking, his expression unreadable but heavy with regret. No matter how much he tried to mask it, Scott was still tethered to her. He
still loved her.
And that was something I couldn’t allow.
I turned away, my nails digging into my palms as I walked down the corridor. The sound of my footsteps echoed in the emptiness of the packhouse, a reminder of how much quieter it had become since she left.
For years, I had imagined Scott without her. I thought it would feel like I had finally reclaimed what should have been mine. But it wasn’t enough. Not while her ghost still haunted him.
I needed to sever their connection for
good.
Later that night, I found myself at the rival
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Chapter 13: Severing Mate’s Bond (Winona’s POV)
pack‘ s territory. The forest was eerily silent, the moonlight barely penetrating the dense canopy overhead. My heart raced as I approached the hidden path.
The witch.
Her presence was unmistakable. She stood in the center of the woods, her figure cloaked in shadows despite the faint glow of the moon. Her eyes glinted like shards of glass as she turned to face me, her lips curling into a knowing smile.
“Winona,” she said. “I was wondering when you’d come to me.”
I hesitated, my breath hitching. “You know why I’m here?”
She laughed, a sound that sent a shiver down my spine. “Of course. Your desires. are as transparent as the night sky.”
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to meet her gaze. “I need something to sever a mate bond. Permanently.”
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Chapter 13: Severing Mate’s Bond (Winona’s POV)
Her smile widened, revealing sharp, dirty teeth. “Ah, the dew of severance.” She stepped closer, her movements fluid and otherworldly. “It is not an easy thing to obtain, but lucky for you, I prepared it under the last blood moon.”
She held out a small vial, the liquid inside glowing faintly red.
“This,” she said, her voice dropping to a whisper, “will sever the mate bond completely. Once consumed, neither party will feel the connection ever again. They will become strangers to one another.”
I reached for the vial, but her hand shot out, grabbing my wrist.
“But,” she continued, her grip like iron,
“there is a cost.
I froze, my throat tightening. “What kind of cost?”
The witch’s eyes bore into mine, her smile fading. “Your intentions are steeped in envy and desperation, Winona. This will
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Chapter 13: Severing Mate’s Bond (Winona’s POV)
not only sever their bond but will alter your standing in the eyes of the moon. The
moon goddess does not take kindly to meddling with fated ties.”
“I don’t care,” I snapped, wrenching my hand free. “Just give it to me.”
The witch’s smile returned, colder this time. She released the vial into my palm. “Very well. But remember, once this is done, there is no undoing it.”
I nodded, clutching the vial tightly as I turned and left the clearing.
Back at the packhouse, I waited for the perfect moment. Scott was in his training place, pouring over patrol reports. I knocked softly before stepping inside, feigning nonchalance.
“Scott,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me. “You‘ ve been working too hard. I brought you some tea.”
He barely looked up, his eyes scanning the
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Chapter 13: Severing Mate’s Bond (Winona’s POV)
reports in front of him. “Thanks,” he muttered, reaching for the mug without a second thought.
I watched as he lifted it to his lips, my heart pounding for the result. The dew of severance was already mixed into the tea, its faint red tint masked by the brew.
This was it. Once he drank it, his bond with Ariana would be gone forever.
But as the liquid touched his lips, he paused. His brow furrowed, and he set the mug down, looking at me for the first time.
“Winona,” he said, his voice laced with suspicion. “What’s in this?”
Panic flared in my chest, but I forced a laugh. “Just some herbs to help you relax. You‘ ve been so tense lately.”
He studied me for a long moment, his gaze sharp and unyielding. Then, to my relief, he picked up the mug again and drank deeply.
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