The jasmine had bloomed early. I stood beneath it, in heels and ruin, a woman left with nothing. And I cried. Not polite tears. Not quiet ones. The kind that shook the soul. The kind that came from the deepest part of a broken girl.
Not just because I had loved Gareth, my fated mate, with a fire he used to burn me.
Not just because the pack adored Gwyneth and marked me as a villain.
But because I had let go of every piece of love I had ever given to this pack. Every hope I had ever held.
My screams echoed through the forest, unanswered.
Two days.
That was how long I stayed locked inside my den, packing my things in silence and preparing to leave the Silverfang Pack for good.
I ate almost nothing. I barely slept. My chest didn’t ache anymore. I was simply numb, as if my wolf had curled into a cold corner inside me and refused to move.
A knock came.
“Freya?” Gwyneth’s sweet voice floated through the door, fake as always.
When I didn’t answer, the door opened anyway. Gwyneth stepped inside like the Alpha’s house belonged to her alone.
“Sister, I know you’ve been … going through things. But it’s my birthday, and all the pack members are asking where you are. You need to come greet everyone. Even if Father is angry with you… you’re still his daughter.”
I stayed silent and kept folding clothes.
“Freya, please? I’m just trying to keep our pack peaceful.”
Then another voice followed. Deeper. Colder. His.
“Where are you going? Why can’t you act normal for once—”
“You are my warrior, not my Alpha. Don’t forget your place.”
My words cut through the air like claws, and Gareth stopped, his expression empty and unreadable.
I hadn’t seen him since the night he sold my legacy, the night he humiliated me in front of the whole pack. The night the male who had once been my fated mate treated me worse than a rogue.
“Lady Freya, you have everything,” he finally said, tone formal.
“The Silverfang Pack has a tremendous legacy. You don’t need to fight with your sister or torment her. The least you can do is show up for one night. Just behave.”
I laughed, sharp, bitter, and painful.
Behave.
Gwyneth sniffed softly, pretending to be innocent.
“Gareth, you’re my sister’s warrior and friend. Please help me. I only want Freya to come downstairs. Everyone is talking…”
I turned away.
If I looked at either of them any longer, I would tear the whole room apart.
“Fine. Get out. I’ll be there.”