My Fiancé Broke His Vow For Her

I never understood why my older sister, Sera, fell so deeply in love with Kaelen.

That was until I saw him presiding over the Lycan ritual, bathed in the silver glow of the Full Moon, looking like a god descended to earth.

From that moment on, I couldn't tear my eyes away from him.

For years, I tried everything to make him break his sacred vow of celibacy and choose me, but he never truly accepted or rejected me.

Then, five years later, he returned from the Royal Pack House and suddenly announced that the Alpha King had sanctioned our mating.

I was crying tears of joy, thinking my dreams had finally come true.

But then, I overheard him whispering to my sister in the shadows.

"Kaelen, you don't have to mate with someone you don't love just for me. The Alpha King can't hurt me, don't let him threaten you," Sera pleaded.

"Sera, I took the Vow of the Moon for you once. Now, I will break it for you, just to ensure you stay safe and protected," Kaelen replied, his voice dripping with a devotion he never showed me.

It turns out he loved her all along.

Even the protection charms he gave me every year, inscribed with the words "Eternal Peace for Sera," were never meant for me.

Five years of devotion were nothing but a beautiful, cruel lie.

On the night before our mating ceremony, after settling my affairs, I threw myself into the dark depths of the Blackwood Lake.

Kaelen, in this life or the next, I hope we never meet again.

The note in my hand was brief: "In fifteen days, at the bottom of the lake pavilion."

This was the escape route I had meticulously prepared for my fake death.

It was New Year's Eve, a time for pack reunions. Kaelen had been at the Citadel performing the Moon Rites and didn't return until after midnight.

He carried a box of expensive pastries and set them on the table.

Then, he gestured for me to sit and personally fed a piece to me, a rare, faint smile touching his lips.

"Lyra, I brought these from the Royal Kitchens. I heard the high-ranking she-wolves love these. Try one."

I forced a smile and took a bite, nodding as the sweetness hit my tongue.

"It's so sweet," I whispered.

But my heart was overflowing with bitterness.

Seeing me eat, he pulled a silver protection charm from his pouch and handed it to me.

"This is for this year. May Sera always be at peace."

Sera. It was always about Sera.

Five years, and it was always the same dedication to her hidden in plain sight.

The tears finally spilled over, and I couldn't swallow the pastry no matter how hard I tried.

He looked startled by my reaction. "What's wrong?"

I shook my head vigorously, wiping my eyes. "Nothing. It's just... in five years, this is the first time you've fed me. I'm just too happy."

The first time, and the very last.

He sighed softly and brushed a tear from my cheek.

"Since we are to be mated, I will treat you well from now on. I will be a responsible husband."

For a fleeting second, his warm words almost shook my resolve.

But his next sentence plunged me straight back into the icy depths.

"In a few days, I must accompany the Alpha King to the Ancestral Rituals. You should stay behind. Your sister specifically asked that you rest and recover your strength so you can soon... bear my heirs."

He didn't finish the sentence, but I knew what he meant. Giving him children had always been Sera's dream.

As the Alpha King's favorite consort, she would surely be by his side during the rituals. She wanted me stuck at home just so she could have more private time with Kaelen.

I understood, and I was ready to let them have what they wanted.

"Fine, go. But the day before the mating ceremony is the Lunar Festival. Can you ask the King for a night off to stay home with me?"

His hand paused over the pastries, but then he gave a slight nod.

"Alright."

The next morning, a messenger arrived from the Citadel. The Alpha King was hosting a banquet for Lady Sera to celebrate the news of her pregnancy.

Kaelen's face froze for a split second before he regained his composure and accepted the invitation.

Watching his reaction, I pulled the messenger aside. "How long has Lady Sera been with child?"

"Over a month, Miss Lyra," the man replied respectfully.

My heart dropped. A month ago, Kaelen had spent the entire night at the Citadel for a "ritual."

When he returned at dawn, he smelled of Sera's signature honeysuckle perfume, and there was a smudge of crimson rouge on his collar.

A wave of profound misery washed over me.

He hadn't even broken his vow of celibacy officially back then.

It all felt so pathetic now.

He was only leaving the priesthood because he had already broken his sacred vows with her.

And I was nothing more than a convenient shield to protect them both from the King's wrath.

The moment we entered the Royal Pack House, the air was thick with celebration.

Sera stood up to greet us personally, her smile radiating warmth and sisterly affection as she took my hand.

"Sister, it's been so long. I've missed you dearly."

She sat us in the seats of honor right next to her.

She casually rested a hand on her belly, beaming at me. "A month ago, I asked Kaelen to pray for a child for me. I never expected the Moon Mother to answer so quickly."

She shot a meaningful glance at Kaelen as she spoke.

The implication was blindingly obvious, but since I was leaving anyway, I didn't care to react.

Seeing my flat expression, she tried to provoke me again.

"Kaelen, where is your congratulatory gift for me?"

Kaelen remained silent for a moment before offering his sacred obsidian prayer beads with both hands.

"I offer these beads. May you and the little prince stay safe and at peace."

Seeing those beads felt like a thousand needles stabbing my heart. I clenched my fists until my knuckles turned white.

I had searched through the most dangerous parts of the ancient forest to find the thousand-year-old wood for those beads. I had carved them myself, day and night, to give to him after the mating announcement.

They were the only token of affection he had ever accepted from me.

Sera grabbed them quickly, running her fingers over them with a triumphant smirk.

"Sister, you look upset. Do you like these beads too?"

I lowered my head immediately. "I wouldn't dare."

Sera burst into laughter, looking like a victor on a battlefield. She stood up and tried to shove the beads into my hand.

"We're sisters, what's mine is yours. If you like them, just take them."

As I reached out to push her hand away, she suddenly let out a sharp cry and collapsed onto the floor.

The room went into a frenzy as guards and servants rushed forward.

"Lyra! I only wanted to share my favorite gift with you! If you wanted them, you could have asked, why would you push me like this?"

Seeing the trap, I didn't hesitate. I dropped to my knees and slammed my forehead against the cold floor.

"My Lady, I was clumsy. I accidentally bumped into you. Please, forgive my ignorance."

I made myself as small and pathetic as possible, pressing my face into the dirt.

Sera finally softened her act.

"Sister, this is the Royal House, not a place for your petty tantrums. I am merciful enough to let this go, but if the King finds out, your life would be forfeit."

Kaelen stepped in immediately. "Her Ladyship is truly gracious. I will make sure my mate is disciplined properly when we return."

"I'll take her home now so we don't ruin the festivities for the other guests."

The moment we left the palace, he turned on me, his voice cold and sharp. "How could you be so reckless in the Citadel? If Sera wasn't your sister, you'd be in a dungeon right now!"

"I know you're angry about the beads, but that's no excuse to push a pregnant female. Those beads were the only gift worthy of her status. Don't ever let this happen again."

Before I could reply, two more messengers appeared.

"Priest Kaelen, Lady Sera feels faint and fears an ill omen. She requests you return immediately to perform a blessing."

I frowned. "Wasn't she just fine a moment ago?"

Kaelen didn't even wait for the messenger to finish. He turned and sprinted back toward the palace.

A few minutes later, one of the messengers doubled back.

He shoved a letter into my hand, saying it was from Sera.

I opened it. It contained only one sentence: "I hope you enjoy having a loyal mate who spends every night in my bed instead of yours."

Kaelen didn't come home that night.

Not only did he stay the night, but he sent word the next day saying he wouldn't be back at all. He was going straight from the palace to the Ancestral Grounds with the King.

He didn't return until the evening of the Lunar Festival, the very night before our mating ceremony. He looked exhausted and travel-worn.

Looking at him, I asked softly, "Do you remember what you promised me?"

He blinked, looking confused as he searched his memory. Finally, he gave up. "What did I promise?"

"I told you. Tonight is the festival. I wanted you to spend it with me."

He looked embarrassed for a second, then nodded firmly.

"Right. I'll take you out once I return from the palace."

When I didn't say anything, he added an explanation. "Sera felt weak after the trip. She needs me to perform a rite. I'll be quick. Wait for me."

My heart ached. I grabbed onto a final shred of hope, looking at him pleadingly. "Does it have to be tonight? Can't you just stay?"

"It's important. Trust me, I'll be back soon and we'll celebrate the festival together."

I didn't stop him this time. My heart had finally turned to ice.

"I've set up a table at the lake pavilion. Just take the ferry to the island when you get back."

"I will."

Then, he rushed out the door without looking back.

I sat on that boat for a long time. I waited until the last firework faded. I waited until the night air turned freezing. He never came.

Instead, a palace messenger found me again and handed me another note.

"Sister, on a night meant for lovers, I am with the one I adore. We are perfectly in sync. Are you jealous? Don't blame me, blame your name. LyraDalways the one left waiting in the wings."

I sat on the edge of the boat and sobbed. I let out every ounce of pain and rejection I had felt since the day I was born.

Sera's name meant 'fiery and celestial.' My parents had named her with love.

But I was named Lyra simply because my father saw a lyre in the corner when I was born and couldn't be bothered to think of anything better for a second daughter.

I had always been the unloved weed in the garden.

Even knowing Sera loved Kaelen, I shouldn't have fallen for him. But I was starved for warmth, and I let his crumbs of kindness fool me.

After I was done crying, I wiped my face.

I told the boatman to take me to the pavilion.

"Are you sure you don't want to wait longer?" he asked.

"No. You can't wait for someone who doesn't want to be found."

Once I reached the pavilion, I looked out at the dark water. I drank a glass of wine mixed with my own tears and laughed aloud.

"From this day on, Lyra Vance is no more. Sera, are you satisfied? Kaelen, I'm setting you free."

I drained the last of the wine and leaped into the freezing lake.

Back at the palace, Sera had kept Kaelen until the dead of night.

"Does Your Ladyship feel any better?"

"There's no one here, Kaelen. Stop calling me that. Call me Sera. I miss hearing it."

Kaelen took a step back and bowed his head.

"Please rest well, My Lady. My mating ceremony is tomorrow, and I have much to prepare. I must take my leave."

He turned to go, but she called out to him.

"Kaelen! Why do you keep hurting me? You don't love her! This mating is just a strategy. Why are you pushing me away?"

Kaelen didn't look back. His voice was flat. "Once we are mated, I will be faithful to her. Please respect yourself, My Lady. Goodbye."

He walked away quickly, feeling a strange sense of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

He rushed home only to find the house empty. The rooms were cold and showed no signs of wedding preparations.

He remembered I said I'd be waiting at the lake. A sudden, chilling dread gripped his chest.

He ran toward the docks as fast as his wolf-speed would allow.

But when he arrived, the pavilion in the distance was dark. He grabbed the old boatman.

The man gave him news that stopped his heart.

"Sir, the young lady at the pavilion... she jumped. It's been over an hour."

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