Prologue

"Can't you see that I am already engaged with someone? Yet you persist in approaching me," Alucard declared with a stern tone, his eyes piercing through mine. "Leave now, or I shall summon the royal guards to drag you out of the royal palace."

My heart shattered upon hearing that from him. It had never occurred to me that Alucard would treat me this way.

Once, he was a tender-hearted man, my beloved mate, who enveloped me in affection. He made grand promises, vowing to grant me the world.

Him...

Alucard Forest de Carteret.

The Crown Prince of the Sowinski Kingdom.

Unbeknownst to me, I wasn't aware of his position. He showed up one day to my pack as he was being saved from being drowning in the river during the storm. Cloaked in temporary amnesia, he approached me, boldly declaring that I was his destined mate.

"Alucard..." Tears streamed down my cheeks as I pleaded desperately. "Why are you doing this to me? You said... You said you love me..." Despite his passive expression, I sank to my knees before him, confronted by a cold demeanor I had never witnessed before. It emanated from him, glistening in front of me like an icy facade. "I am your mate..." I hiccuped.

I was prepared to be the lowest of the lowest. I loved him. It wasn't because I was aware of his royal status, but rather because I found myself falling for him as he became my unwavering pillar of support during my darkest moments.

And now... he was shunning me away. I discovered that he was betrothed to another person, even as he engaged in an affair with me. I wasn't aware. I did not know.

It hurt to know that fact he was toying with me, but here I was, begging him to choose me over that woman that was betrothed to him.

"A stranger told you that he loved you, and you easily believed him?" There was a disdain smeared on his tone. "I do not like a woman who easily flung herself to a man." He smirked before he roughly removed my hands that were clinging to the hem of his tunic. "I have never loved you, Faustina. Remember that."

His words echoed in my ears, and each one pierced through my heart like a thousand daggers. The pain was unbearable, and I felt my spirit breaking apart. How could he deny our love, our connection? The memories of our stolen moments together, the whispers of affection and promises of a future, all seemed like cruel illusions now.

Summoning all the strength I had left, I slowly rose to my feet, my eyes fixed on his cold gaze. "If that is truly how you feel, then so be it, Alucard. And one day, when you realize the emptiness of a life devoid of love, I hope you remember the pain you inflicted upon me."

Alucard's plump lips pulled a condescending smile. "Fret not. I will never regret what I did. So, shall I reject you now? This mate bond we had is a nuisance to me. I did not want my fiancee to be bothered by it."

I gripped my skirt, trying so hard not to shed a tear again. "O-Of course." My lips were quivering when I caught something flickering in his forest-green orbs. But it vanished in a blink of an eye.

Alucard took a step back, his gaze shifting away from me as if unable to bear the weight of his own actions. The air around us grew heavy with the impending rejection, and my heart sank further with each passing moment.

"Very well, Faustina," he said, his voice devoid of any tenderness. "I, Alucard Forest de Carteret, hereby reject Faustina Kerez and I's mate bond. Let it be severed, never to be acknowledged again."

His words cut through me like a knife, and the bond that had once connected us felt as if it was being ripped apart. A surge of pain radiated from within, but I refused to let him see my weakness any longer.

With a heavy sigh, I nodded and forced a small smile, masking the turmoil inside me. "If that is your decision, then so be it." My voice smeared with nonchalantness. "I, Faustina Kerez, accept Alucard Forest de Carteret's rejection of our mate bond."

His gaze briefly met mine, and in that fleeting moment, I saw a glimmer of regret—a trace of the man I once believed in. But it vanished as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by an icy indifference.

I wanted to say something, to voice the ache in my heart and the injustice of it all, but I held my tongue. There was no use in struggling against a battle that had already been lost. The love I had for Alucard would forever remain a bittersweet memory, a lesson learned in the fragility of trust and the pain of unrequited affection.

Turning away from him, I took a deep breath and steeled myself against the overwhelming sorrow threatening to consume me. I would find a way to heal, to mend the pieces of my shattered heart. The Moon Oriental pack had always been my sanctuary, and I would return to them, seeking solace and support from those who truly cared for me.

As I walked away from Alucard and the royal palace, the weight of his rejection heavy upon my shoulders, I reminded myself of my worth. I was not defined by his rejection or his callous actions. I was a strong and resilient woman, capable of rising above the pain and rebuilding my life.

More tears were clearing my vision as I placed my hand on top of my stomach. "Seems like it'll be just you and me, little one..." I whispered to my stomach, acknowledging the growing life within me.