After he left, I dialed my aunt, Lyra, to say goodbye. My parents had left the pack territory ten years ago to lead another pack, leaving me in Lyra’s care.
Nicho and I had grown close as young wolves, especially since he lived next door. When Lyra got mated and moved to her mate’s pack, I chose to stay behind. What was supposed to be a temporary arrangement with Nicho stretched into eight years.
When Aunt Lyra picked up, her voice was warm but surprised. “Married? To Nicho? It’s about time! Eight years is long enough for any wolf to claim his mate.”
I hesitated before correcting her. “No, Aunt Lyra. It’s an arranged bonding. I don’t even know who he is.”
The silence on the other end was deafening before she finally spoke. “Have you thought this through? Nicho cares for you. Maybe he just needs a little nudge to make things official. I could talk to him.”
A bitter laugh escaped me. “No need, Aunt Lyra. If Nicho cared, he wouldn’t have waited eight years while toying with my heart. It wasn’t a true bond—just a shadow of one. If I don’t let go now, I’ll waste my entire youth waiting for a wolf who’ll never mark me.”
She sighed, clearly struggling to understand how we could live together for so long without solidifying our bond. Still, she didn’t push further, promising to support me no matter what.
Before bed, I set a countdown on my phone. Three days to leave the past behind.
The next day, I asked my mom to send some parting gifts to thank Aunt Lyra for caring for me all these years.
That evening, as I waited for the delivery truck, I found Nicho lingering outside the packhouse.
His golden eyes narrowed as he saw me directing the driver. “What’s all this?”
“Just some farewell gifts for Aunt Lyra,” I said, keeping my tone neutral.
“Farewell?” His voice dropped, the faint growl in his tone betraying his unease.
I gave him a soft smile. “I’ll be leaving the pack soon.”
His wolf flickered briefly in his gaze, but he didn’t press further. Perhaps he thought I was bluffing.
Just then, Selena’s scent wafted in on the evening breeze. She trotted toward us in wolf form, shifting mid-step. Her arms immediately wrapped around Nicho’s, her large green eyes wide with mock innocence.
“Alpha Nicho, thank you for coming last night. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you,” she purred.