And it wasn’t just the fact that he’d chosen her over me—it was how openly he did it, without a shred of guilt or concern for what others might say. The whispers started almost immediately, spreading through the pack like wildfire.
Everywhere I turned, I could feel their eyes on me, watching, judging. They pitied me—the daughter of the Bloodmoon Pack’s Alpha, a true Lycan, reduced to nothing more than a joke. Once, I had been respected, revered even, for my powerful lineage. My family’s blood ran deep, our history rich with tales of strength and honor. But all of that seemed so far away now.
I laughed bitterly at the absurdity of it all, the sound hollow in the empty room. How had it come to this? When did I become so insignificant in his eyes?
I unwrapped the cake I had prepared for us, the one I had been so sure we would share. The icing was perfect, the smell sweet and comforting, but as I took a bite, it tasted like ashes in my mouth. Pointless. This was all pointless.
Without thinking, I reached out through our bond, mind-linking Haynes. His response came swiftly, his voice as cold as the winter air. [Yes?]
There was a brief silence as I swallowed the lump in my throat, forcing myself to sound calm. “Where are you?” I asked, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside.
[I told you I’m in a meeting. What’s the matter?]
He didn’t even flinch as he lied, his tone as smooth as ever. He didn’t know that the whole pack already knew where he truly was, and with whom. There was no guilt, no panic in his voice—just the same icy indifference.
I glanced around the room, catching the pitying looks from the Omega maids as they scurried about, pretending not to notice me. Something inside me snapped, the last thread of patience fraying beyond repair.
“Let’s break up,” I said, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. “I don’t want to be your mate anymore. I don’t care if breaking our bond will kill me in pain—let’s just end it.”
There was a pause on the other end before his irritated voice cut through the bond. [What the hell is this… You’re making a fuss again.]
I sneered, the bitterness in my heart spilling over. “Stop lying, Alpha. Everyone in the pack knows you’re with Leila right now.”
And with that, I severed the mind link, not caring about his reaction, not wanting to hear whatever excuse he might come up with.