The boy who gave me that music box was gone. In his place was an Alpha who saw me as nothing more than a shadow of another woman. I clenched my fists, ignoring the sting of the broken shards. My wolf stirred within me, howling in pain and anger.
If Ronan couldn’t see my worth, then it was time for me to find someone who could. And under the next blood moon, I would prove to him—and to myself—that I was more than a stand-in.
“No matter how others treat you in the future, I, your unofficial brother, will always protect you. Let this talisman be the proof.”
The young Ronan’s words rang in my ears, echoing in my memory like a haunting melody. Back then, he had handed me the small wolf-shaped talisman, its etched runes a symbol of protection. A boy’s attempt to offer comfort had completely won over my broken heart. From that moment, Ronan became my anchor, my moon in the dark night.
For ten long years, I had loved him. I held onto every promise he made, weaving them into the fabric of my being. But now, the boy who had sworn to protect me was gone, replaced by a calculating Alpha who no longer remembered his words—or me.
Clutching the shattered remains of my music box talisman, I whispered a silent farewell before tossing the pieces into the trash. If Ronan had abandoned those promises, I would abandon him—and the love I had clung to for so long.
The next morning, the packhouse was quiet. Ronan hadn’t returned.
I shipped my belongings back to my childhood home and headed to the pack’s administrative office to finalize my resignation. As Beta Soren handed me the papers, a message from Ronan lit up my phone screen:
[Ayla, I went too far yesterday. I stayed at the office to work late and ended up falling asleep here. Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon.]
I glanced at the empty Alpha’s office. He wasn’t here. His lies couldn’t even muster the energy to be convincing anymore. Without replying, I left the resignation letter on his desk.
Exiting the chat, I removed him from my pinned conversations, a small act of severance that felt like cutting a final thread. As I was about to turn off my phone, a notification popped up: Violet Frost sent you a friend request.
My finger hovered for a moment before I accepted. Immediately, her message arrived: