Chapter 9: The Choice I Had Been Waiting For

The Settlement Stone remained suspended in the air, waiting for my decision.

Forgiveness.

Compensation.

Or Severance.

My family stood beneath the altar in complete silence.

For the first time, they couldn't interrupt me.

They couldn't accuse me.

They couldn't twist my words.

The Moon Goddess had given me the final say.

I looked at Theodore.

He was staring at the empty chair where I should have been sitting.

"Diana," he whispered.

"If you can hear me... I'm sorry."

His voice trembled.

"I know an apology isn't enough. I know I've failed you."

I watched him silently.

Once, those words would have been everything I wanted to hear.

Once, I would've forgiven him immediately.

Once, I would've told him that it wasn't his fault.

But that girl had died three days ago.

And with her died the part of me that was willing to beg for love.

The Settlement Stone flashed.

[Subject has selected: Severance.]

Theodore's head snapped up.

"No!"

His voice echoed across the altar.

"Diana, wait!"

The stone continued glowing.

[Fated Mate Bond: Severance initiated.]

Theodore staggered backward as though someone had struck him.

He grabbed his chest.

A sharp gasp escaped him.

The invisible bond connecting our souls began to crack.

I felt it too.

For eighteen years, his presence had been a constant thread inside me.

Even when he ignored me, I could feel him.

Even when he chose Elara, some foolish part of me had still believed our bond meant something.

Now that thread was finally breaking.

And strangely...

It didn't hurt.

It felt like finally putting down a burden I'd been carrying for years.

Theodore dropped to one knee.

"Please... don't do this."

I almost laughed.

He had never begged me for anything before.

Not once.

The elder raised his hand.

"Alpha Theodore, the decision belongs to Diana."

Theodore looked toward the empty chair again.

"I know! But she doesn't understand. I can make things right!"

Maria stepped forward.

"She understood perfectly."

Her voice was cold.

"That's why she chose this."

Theodore's eyes reddened.

"Maria, please. Tell her I never meant for this to happen."

"She called you while she was dying."

Maria's words cut through the altar like a blade.

"She begged you to save her."

Theodore froze.

"And you told her she was competing with Elara for attention."

Theodore's face lost all color.

Maria continued.

"Those were the last words Diana ever heard from you."

No one spoke.

Even Elara stopped crying.

Theodore lowered his head.

His hands trembled violently.

"I didn't know..."

"That's exactly the problem," Maria said. "You never knew."

The Settlement Stone flashed again.

[Fated Mate Bond: 100% severed.]

Theodore suddenly cried out.

The invisible pressure around him disappeared.

Our bond was gone.

Completely.

For the first time since I was a child, I couldn't feel him.

And I felt free.

Then the stone turned toward my family.

[Family Bond Assessment: Complete.]

My mother began sobbing.

"Diana, please... we're your parents."

I stared at her.

Parents.

The word sounded strange now.

Where had they been when I needed them?

When I came home covered in bruises?

When I begged them to believe me?

When I called for help while dying in the forest?

They had always been there for Elara.

Never for me.

The stone displayed one final message.

[Family Bond: Voluntary Severance Available.]

My father stepped forward.

"Diana, don't sever the family bond."

His voice was no longer angry.

It was afraid.

"Whatever happened, we can fix it."

I looked at him for a long moment.

Then I remembered the day I'd brought home my first combat medal.

He hadn't even looked at it.

He'd been too busy comforting Elara because she had ranked seventh.

I remembered every dinner I'd eaten alone.

Every injury I'd hidden.

Every achievement I'd buried.

Every time I'd heard the words, 'Why can't you be more like Elara?'

There was nothing left to save.

[Family Bond: Severance confirmed.]

My mother collapsed into my father's arms.

Adrian stood completely still.

Elara's face had gone white.

Theodore stared at the altar as if his entire world had disappeared.

But I didn't feel guilty.

I didn't feel angry.

I simply felt empty.

Then the Moon Goddess spoke one final time.

"Diana Mitchell has completed her karmic settlement."

"Her debts are cleared."

"Her contributions are recognized."

"Her bonds have been released."

"Her soul may now choose its final path."

A soft silver light surrounded me.

For the first time since my death, I felt warmth.

I looked at Maria.

She was crying again.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I couldn't save you."

I wished I could touch her.

I wished I could tell her that she had done more for me in death than my family had done in life.

But my voice still couldn't cross the boundary between worlds.

The light grew brighter.

And somewhere beyond it, I saw a door.