Constance's Power

Every girl would have been as excited on the eve of the mating ceremony as Constance, but she felt only a deep, troubling knot of fear in her belly. Tomorrow, she would bond with the man she loved most and would be crowned as the Luna of the Ironhowl Pack. No sooner had she thought that than an uneasy pang filled her as she sat at the mirror in her room, toying with her long, silvery hair.

As she gazed into the mirror, her hands started shaking. She had an image in her mind of the future Luna. A self-assured, competent leader. But all she saw was an innocent girl who was quite uncertain about whether she was ready.

A quiet knock at the door disturbed her thoughts. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she forced herself to take it easy. It was late. Who could be here at this hour?

"Come in," she said quietly.

The door creaked open, and Keen Stormfang, the powerful Alpha of the Pack, entered the room. His tall, broad-shouldered figure filled the entryway, and Constance's throat tightened at the sight of him. Keen. Her mate. Her future. He was the only one who truly believed in her and supported her. She was a wolfless daughter of the pack's beta, and only his high rank in the pack saved her from becoming a slave.

His golden eyes fixed on hers, but something was odd about them tonight-something cold and distant. She frowned and stood up from the chair.

"Keen?" Constance asked. Her voice was barely louder than a whisper. "What are you doing here? It is late, and tomorrow..."

"I know," Keen interrupted. His voice was tight and sharp. He shut the door behind him, the gentle click echoing across the room like the sound of a final verdict.

Constance's heart fell. Something wasn't right. She could feel it.

"I needed to see you," Keen replied, stepping closer but not reaching for her as he usually did.

"Are you... are you nervous about tomorrow, too?" Constance asked, trying to smile, but her lips shook. She wanted to reach for him and narrow the gap between them, but something about his posture kept her glued to the spot.

He shook his head, and his jaw tightened. "This isn't about nerves, Constance."

An icy shiver went down her spine. "Then what is it?"

Keen's eyes clouded, and he remained silent for quite some time. The stillness between them was oppressive. The air around her became too thick and heavy.

"I'm rejecting you."

The words hit her like a punch in the chest. Constance blinked, thinking she had not heard him correctly. "What...?"

Keen's expression did not change. He was cold. Unmoving. "I reject you as my mate, Constance. You will leave the pack tonight and never return."

Her world shifted, and the floor beneath her feet appeared to collapse. This cannot be happening. Not Keen. Not the man she had known since they were children, the man she adored with all of her being. This was not real.

"Keen... you don't mean that." Her voice cracked, and she took a step toward him, reaching out with her hand to his face. "We're supposed to-tomorrow is-"

"There is no tomorrow," he cut her off and abruptly pushed her hand away from him. "You will leave tonight, Constance, and you will never come back."

Her hand fell to her side, trembling. "Why are you doing this?" she asked, tears welling in her eyes but refusing to drop. "What has changed? Keen, we've been waiting for this for ages. I don't understand."

"I should not explain myself to the wolfless outcast. Get out!"

He had never talked to her this way. Her loving and caring future husband suddenly became a stranger. He was the only one who sensed her wolf, and Keen was the only one who didn't look down on her.

Constance felt her heart splintered in her chest, pieces of it slipping away, leaving her hollow. She had imagined this moment, their future together, and being by his side as his Luna. But suddenly, it was all slipping and gone, snatched from her grasp without reason or mercy.

"Is there someone else?" The question escaped her before she could stop it.

Keen's jaw clenched, but he didn't answer. Instead, he turned his back on her, walking toward the door as if she no longer mattered. As if she were nothing to him.

"Keen!" She cried, her voice breaking as she ran after him, gripping his arm, desperate for him to look at her and explain why he was doing this. "Please... tell me why!"

Keen carefully released his arm from her embrace and exited the room without saying anything else. The sound of the locked door resonated in the silence, permanent and irreversible.

Constance remained there for what seemed like hours, her breath shallow and her legs quivering beneath her. The silence of the room pressed down on her chest, making it difficult to breathe. She had imagined plenty of situations for this night, like nervous laughter, stolen kisses, and even a late-night conversation about their future. Never this. Never the cold, hollow rejection of the man she adored above all else.

The future she had dreamt about was in ruins around her. Keen was gone. And with him, everything she had believed in. She was no longer his mate. No longer anything.

She didn't understand why he did this to her. He'd never been like this before. Keen had always been tough but not heartless. There was always an underlying compassion, a sense that, despite his harsh comments, he genuinely cared for her. He was so stern that he pointed out her flaws, but she felt the reasons were not so simple.

She could not stay here. Keen's words rang through her thoughts like a curse. If she remained, she would only serve as a reminder of his rejection. She couldn't take the whispers, looks, and pity. Not when she hardly had enough strength to confront herself.

Constance stood gently from the chair, wiping away the tears on her face. If Keen wanted her gone, she would leave-but she would find the truth. She was wolfless, but she maintained her dignity. She would know the truth, no matter how much it took her.