Chapter 184: Special Chapter 3: The First Goodbye

Farley Anderson.

The heir of the Graveclaw Pack.

Son of Alpha Castro Anderson.

And on the day of Lady Euphyllia's Coming of Age, the man the Moon Goddess revealed to be her destined mate.

The entire ceremonial hall erupted into applause. Cheers echoed from every corner of the estate as nobles from neighboring territories rose from their seats, offering their congratulations to both families.

Two respected bloodlines. A union blessed beneath the Moon Goddess Herself.

It was everything the kingdom hoped for. Everything Lord Esteban had quietly prayed would bring his daughter a lifetime of happiness.

Lady Euphyllia stood at the center of the grand hall, her silver-blue eyes still wide with surprise as Lord Farley approached her. For the briefest moment, she simply stared at him.

Then, he smiled. It was warm, confident, and gentle enough to put even the most anxious heart at ease.

"My lady." He bowed before her with the grace expected of the future Alpha of Graveclaw. "It would seem..." His amber eyes softened. "...the Moon Goddess has been kinder to me than I deserve."

Lady Euphyllia laughed. The sound rang throughout the hall like the sweetest melody I had ever heard. "I think..." She lowered her gaze shyly. "...She's been rather kind to both of us."

Another wave of applause followed. Someone toasted to the future Alpha and Luna. Another noble loudly proclaimed that the Moon Goddess Herself had arranged the perfect union.

I stood quietly among Lord Esteban's household knights, applauding and smiling. Exactly as everyone else did.

Because this was a day of celebration.

Lady Euphyllia looked happier than I had ever seen her. She spoke with Lord Farley as though they had known each other for years instead of only exchanging polite greetings during gatherings between neighboring Packs.

Perhaps, that was what happened when two souls destined for one another finally met.

Lord Farley was everything one could hope for. Honorable. Well-mannered. A capable swordsman despite still being young.

Even I couldn't find fault with him. And somehow, that made everything hurt even more.

Because there was nothing to resent. Nothing to hate. Nothing to convince myself that Lady Euphyllia deserved better.

She already had the very best the Moon Goddess had chosen for her.

Throughout the remainder of the celebration, I watched from a respectful distance as Lord Farley remained at her side. He listened whenever she spoke, laughed whenever she laughed, and offered her his arm whenever another noble approached.

Every gesture carried quiet sincerity.

More than once, I caught Lord Esteban observing them together. The relief upon his face was unmistakable. A father, watching his daughter meet the man she would one day marry.

Perhaps, there was no greater blessing.

Later that evening, after many of the guests had begun departing, Lady Euphyllia found me standing alone beneath one of the flowering trees overlooking the estate gardens.

"There you are."

I turned immediately. "Lady Euphyllia."

She hurried toward me, unable to hide the excitement dancing within her silver-blue eyes. "Aurelian." She smiled so brightly that, for a fleeting moment, I almost forgot to breathe. "Did you hear?"

I returned her smile. "I believe everyone within three territories heard."

She laughed before clasping both hands together. "I have a mate."

"I know."

"It still feels unreal." The breeze gently stirred her dark hair as she looked toward the moon overhead. "I thought..." She smiled to herself. "...I'd be terrified."

"Were you?"

"A little." She admitted it honestly. "But..." She looked back at me. "...when I saw him..." Her smile softened into something quieter. "...I wasn't afraid anymore."

I nodded. "I'm glad." And I truly was.

Because she deserved every happiness this world could offer her.

Even if none of those dreams had room for me.

Lady Euphyllia reached forward without warning and linked her arm through mine, smiling with the same innocent affection she always had. "You know..." She nudged my shoulder playfully. "I was worried you'd dislike him."

I blinked. "Why would I?" Why would she think that?

"Because you're overprotective."

"I am not."

She laughed. "You absolutely are." Before I could defend myself, she leaned her head lightly against my shoulder. "I knew you'd support me." Her voice was warm with complete certainty. "You always do."

I looked down at the girl I had silently loved for years.

The girl who trusted me enough to share every joy and every sorrow without ever realizing she had become both my greatest happiness... and my greatest heartbreak.

I smiled genuinely. "Always."

The promise escaped my lips almost effortlessly, and she smiled even brighter.

Never realizing that with a single word, I had just promised to stand beside her while she walked toward another man's future.

The years passed more quickly than I wished they would. Lady Euphyllia became Lady Anderson. The wedding between House Caedex and the Graveclaw Pack was celebrated throughout three neighboring territories, praised as the beginning of a prosperous alliance that would strengthen both Packs for generations to come.

I stood behind Lord Esteban throughout the ceremony. Just as I always had.

Lord Farley proved himself to be exactly the man everyone believed him to be. He treated Lady Euphyllia with gentleness. He sought her counsel before making important decisions.

Whenever diplomatic meetings dragged late into the evening, she remained beside him, quietly organizing reports while he listened to every suggestion she offered. More than once, I caught him looking at her with unmistakable admiration. It comforted me more than I cared to admit.

Because if I could not be the one standing beside her, then at the very least, the man chosen by the Moon Goddess genuinely cherished her.

That alone was enough.

Or so I told myself.

When Alpha Castro finally passed away peacefully, the entire Graveclaw Pack mourned. Lord Farley inherited the title without opposition.

Alpha Farley Anderson.

Lady Euphyllia became his Luna shortly thereafter. She wore the title beautifully. Strong without becoming prideful and gentle without appearing weak.

The pack flourished beneath the two of them.

For a little while, I dared to believe Lord Esteban's wish had finally come true. His daughter was happy. That should have been the end of the story.

Instead... war arrived.

It began quietly. It was a disagreement over borders and trade routes. Then, accusations were exchanged between neighboring packs.

By the time the first messenger reached Graveclaw, negotiations had already failed. Every capable warrior answered the call to arms. Including me.

The morning I prepared to leave for the front lines, Lady Euphyllia found me adjusting the straps of my armor within the courtyard. "So..." She folded her arms. "...you're abandoning me."

I couldn't help smiling. "I'll return."

"You'd better." She frowned at the sword resting against my waist. "I dislike wars."

"So do I."

"They're troublesome."

"They are."

"They're dangerous."

I nodded. "They are."

She sighed before stepping closer. "Promise me something."

"Anything."

She looked directly into my eyes. "Come back alive."

The words settled quietly inside my chest. "I will, Lady Euphyllia."

"You can't become my old knight if you're dead."

A chuckle escaped from my lips. "I'll do my best."

She smiled. "I know."

Then, without warning, she hugged me briefly and warmly. Exactly as she always had. "Take care, Aurelian."

"I will, my lady."

That was the last time I saw her smile.

The war stretched from weeks into months. Battles blurred together until I could scarcely remember where one battlefield ended and another began. Letters became increasingly rare. Then stopped altogether. Rumors traveled faster than official reports.

One fortress had fallen. Another alliance had collapsed. Supplies dwindled. More and more warriors failed to return each morning. By the time reinforcements finally arrived, every man standing beside me wore the same exhaustion upon his face.

Then... everything changed.

The battle had only just ended. Blood still stained my armor. I hadn't even removed my sword when one of Graveclaw's scouts came galloping toward our encampment.

His horse nearly collapsed beneath him.He barely waited for it to stop before jumping to the ground. "Aurelian!" His voice cracked.

I immediately turned. "What happened?"

The scout struggled to catch his breath. "The council..." His face had gone completely pale. "They've reached an agreement."

A cold unease settled somewhere deep inside me. "What agreement?"

He swallowed hard. "The neighboring packs demanded proof that Graveclaw would surrender." Then, he whispered the words that shattered my world. "They're sending Lady Euphyllia."

For a heartbeat, I simply stared at him. Unable... Unwilling... To understand. "What?"

"They're sacrificing our Luna."

The world around me disappeared, even the battlefield, the soldiers, and the cries of the wounded. Everything faded beneath the deafening roar filling my ears.

No.

No.

No.

Without another word, I mounted my horse. Someone called after me. Another warrior tried to stop me. But I heard none of them. There was only one thought left inside my mind.

I had made Lord Esteban a promise. And I was already far too late.

I had never hated the distance between battlefields more than I did that day.

The horse beneath me galloped until white foam gathered around its mouth, yet every desperate stride felt unbearably slow.

Faster.

It needed to be faster.

The image of Lady Euphyllia's smile flashed relentlessly through my mind. "Come back alive."

The promise I had made her echoed inside my ears with cruel persistence.

I gritted my teeth. "I'm coming."

The words disappeared into the wind. Another mile passed. Then another. Still... too slow. The horse had already given everything it possessed. I could ask no more of it. Without another thought, I swung myself from the saddle while the animal was still running.

The familiar heat rushed beneath my skin. Bones shifted. Muscles stretched. A heartbeat later, a massive silver wolf landed upon the forest floor without breaking stride.

The world blurred around me. Trees became streaks of green. The wind tore through my fur as I ran with every ounce of strength my body possessed. Branches snapped beneath my paws. Rivers became little more than obstacles to leap across.

I no longer thought about exhaustion, nor hunger, nor pain.

There was only one destination. Graveclaw Pack.

By the time the pack's watchtowers came into view, my lungs burned with every breath. I crossed the borders without slowing. Pack warriors immediately recognized me. No one dared stop me.

The manor stood ahead. Its front courtyard had become crowded with warriors, elders, and servants gathered outside the council hall.

Something was wrong. Far too many people stood in silence.

As I approached, familiar voices finally reached me.

"My Alpha!"

It was Lord Esteban.

I turned sharply toward the entrance.

He stood several steps below the council hall, restrained by two Graveclaw warriors despite struggling with every ounce of strength left inside him. "Please!" His voice cracked. "You cannot do this! My daughter has done nothing wrong!" His usually immaculate robes had become hopelessly disheveled.

I had never... not once... seen Lord Esteban abandon his dignity like this. He looked less like a respected noble, more like a father watching his child be led to her death.

"Please..." His knees struck the stone steps. "I beg you."

Silence answered him. Slowly, my gaze lifted toward the entrance of the council hall.

Alpha Farley stood there. His posture remained perfectly straight. His expression was... empty.

There was no triumph upon his face.

No cruelty. No satisfaction.

Only... acceptance as if the decision had already been made long before Lord Esteban arrived to plead against it.

Something inside my chest quietly shattered. I looked away. I couldn't bear it. Not now. Not when there was still someone I needed to find. I ran.

Servants called after me the moment I crossed into the Anderson residence. "Sir Aurelian!"

"The Luna is—"

I never heard the rest. My wolf's instincts surged forward. The familiar scent I had known since childhood lingered faintly throughout the estate. It was avender, chrysanthemums, and... salt.

Tears.

I followed it instinctively through polished corridors, past frightened servants across the rear veranda. The scent grew stronger and stronger until it finally led me toward the gardens.

She was there, curled beneath the old flowering tree overlooking the lake. Her knees were drawn tightly against her chest, both arms wrapped around them as though trying desperately to hold herself together. Her shoulders trembled. Soft sobs escaped her one after another.

I stopped breathing.

This... couldn't be Lady Euphyllia.

The girl who laughed louder than anyone else, who insisted flowers grew better when spoken to kindly, who smiled even after falling from trees, and who believed every problem could somehow be solved if people simply talked long enough.

She looked... broken, more fragile than the petals scattered around her feet.

When I stepped forward once more, I was human again. Barefoot. Still covered in blood that wasn't my own.

For several long moments, I simply looked at her, unable to move and to accept what stood before me. Then, her name escaped my lips before I realized I had spoken.

"Euphyllia..."

No title. No distance. Just... her.

She slowly lifted her head. Her silver-blue eyes, swollen from crying, found mine almost immediately. For one heartbreaking moment, she simply stared as if convincing herself I was truly standing there. "Aurelian..." Her voice broke.

The single word shattered whatever restraint I still possessed. I crossed the distance between us in hurried strides. She did the same.

Halfway between us, she stumbled. I caught her before she could fall.

The force of her embrace nearly knocked the breath from my lungs as both arms wrapped desperately around me. She buried her face against my shoulder.

Then, she broke.

Great, shaking sobs tore from her chest, each one sounding as though it had been trapped inside her for far too long.

I held her tightly. One hand cradled the back of her head while the other rested protectively across her back, silently willing every piece of her that had been broken to somehow become whole again.

"It's alright..." The lie tasted bitter. I closed my eyes. "I'm here..."

She clutched me harder as though she feared letting go would leave her completely alone. And for the first time since Lord Esteban had entrusted his daughter to an orphaned boy, I no longer cared whether I was acting as a knight or simply as a man whose heart had belonged to her for far too many years.