Days passed, and the distance only grew. Caleb kept disappearing for ‘pack duties, and business meetings,’ spending more and more time with Hannah and her son, while I stayed behind, breaking a little more each day.

The video of Caleb and Hannah kissing still haunted me. I had told myself it was nothing—a moment of comfort, nothing more—but deep down, I couldn’t ignore it. I couldn’t pretend it didn’t hurt. And today, I’d had enough.

“Caleb,” I said as he walked into the kitchen that evening, “what’s going on with you and Hannah?”

He froze for a moment, his expression hardening. “What do you mean? She’s a pack member, Sarah. She’s going through a lot.”

“And what about me?” I whispered, the words tasting like acid in my mouth. “Have you forgotten what I’ve been through? What we’ve lost?”

His face softened briefly, but his eyes shifted away, avoiding mine. “I... I have responsibilities, Sarah. You know that.”

I scoffed, the anger bubbling up in me. “Responsibilities to her? To her child?”

He didn’t answer, and that silence told me everything. I wasn’t a priority. I was a duty, something to manage, but never truly cherished. I was his wife, but never his choice.

I woke up the next morning feeling like a shadow of my former self. Empty. As I stared at the ceiling, I knew Caleb would be leaving soon, and honestly, I didn’t feel like making him breakfast. He was too busy with Hannah and her kid, so what was the point? I threw on some clothes and decided to head to work without bothering to prepare anything for him.

As I walked toward the kitchen, I could hear Caleb stirring in our bedroom. I didn’t even care. I poured myself a cup of coffee and grabbed my bag, ready to get out of the house.

“Sarah!” Caleb’s voice cut through the stillness, irritation dripping from his tone. “Where’s my breakfast?”

I took a deep breath before answering, forcing the words out. “I didn’t make any. Figured you wouldn’t mind since you’ve been busy with pack duties.”

He stepped into the kitchen, looking more confused than anything. “You didn’t prepare anything? I don’t have time to grab food on the way.”

“Maybe you could’ve thought about that before prioritizing your time with Hannah and her son,” I shot back, the frustration I had been holding back spilling over.

His expression hardened, and I saw the anger beginning to stir beneath the surface. “This isn’t about her! I’m the Alpha. I have responsibilities to the pack.”

“And what about me?” I snapped, my voice rising with the hurt that had been building. “I used to be your priority. Now, I feel like a ghost in our own home.”

He opened his mouth to say something, but then he just shook his head, defeated. Without another word, he turned and walked away. The silence that followed felt heavier than ever, like a weight pressing down on my chest.

I stepped outside, feeling a strange mix of anger and relief. I wasn’t going to keep sacrificing my happiness for someone who didn’t appreciate me. Work was a distraction—a way to focus on something other than my crumbling marriage.

At the clinic, I found comfort in the familiar routine. My coworkers noticed I was off, though. They asked if everything was okay, and I shrugged it off, putting on a brave face. But inside, I was still hurting.

After my shift, I bumped into Jake at the nearby coffee shop. He was from an allied pack, and we’d known each other for years. Being around him felt like a breath of fresh air, a reminder that I wasn’t completely alone.

“Hey, Sarah! You look a little down. Everything okay?” he asked, genuine concern on his face.

I sighed and leaned against the counter. “Just dealing with some stuff at home. You know how it is.”

“Want to talk about it?”

I hesitated, but then decided to spill everything—the miscarriage, Caleb’s distance, how lonely I felt. Jake listened, and for the first time in a while, I felt like someone really saw me.

“Caleb’s being an idiot!” Jake said, his tone low but firm. “You deserve someone who values you, not just as the Luna but as a person.”

“I know,” I admitted. “But it’s hard to let go. I keep hoping he’ll come back to me.”

“He’s not going to change unless he realizes what he’s losing,” Jake said. “You shouldn’t wait for him to figure it out. You deserve happiness, Sarah.”

His words stuck with me long after we parted ways. Maybe it was time to stop waiting for Caleb to wake up and start focusing on myself. I had connections in the pack—people who cared about me.

When I got home that night, I didn’t feel like pretending anymore. I took a shower, threw on my pajamas, and curled up on the couch with a book. When Caleb walked in, he glanced at me, confusion flickering in his eyes.

“Aren’t you going to make dinner?” he asked, his tone sharp.

I looked up from my book, surprised. “Nope. I figured you could handle it since you’re so busy.”

He scowled, and for a second, I felt a rush of satisfaction. I wasn’t going to let him control my happiness anymore. “I’m tired of being the only one putting in the effort. If you want dinner, you can figure it out.”

He crossed his arms, his irritation growing. “What’s your problem, Sarah? I’ve been busy with the company and the pack—”

“Oh, I get it. Pack duties!” I cut him off, my voice cold, every word sharp and pointed. “Does that include kissing Hannah too? Is that part of your responsibilities now? You couldn’t even look me in the eye after the kiss, but you sure as hell showed up for her.”

His face went pale, his lips parted as if to explain, but the words wouldn’t come. He stared at me for a moment, and I saw the guilt flicker in his eyes, but he didn’t speak.

Before I could say anything more, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen, his expression instantly changing to one of urgency. He let out a frustrated sigh. “I have to take this,” he muttered, already walking away. “It’s urgent. Something happened at the company.”

I wanted to scream. I wanted to ask him how long he planned to keep hiding behind work, how long he would avoid the truth. But the words got stuck in my throat. The anger—oh, it was there, but so was the pain. I watched him, helpless, as he quickly dialed his secretary, his focus now completely on the call.

"Yeah, I’ll be there right away," he said before walking toward the door, not even sparing me another glance.

And just like that, he was gone. Left me standing there in the silence of our empty home, the weight of everything crushing down on me.

I sank back onto the couch, the tears finally spilling over. I didn’t care anymore. I was so tired of pretending, so tired of being the one who always gave. And I hated him for doing this to me.

The door slammed behind him, and I was left with nothing but my own shattered heart and a room full of unanswered questions.

***

The days blurred together, and the tension between Caleb and me just seemed to grow. Every little thing turned into a fight, and I found myself snapping back more than ever before. Gone were the days when I’d just stay quiet and let him vent his frustrations. Now, I was ready to stand my ground.

One evening, while I was washing the dishes, Caleb walked in, phone glued to his ear. He was pacing back and forth, talking about pack business. I could hear the irritation in his voice, and it only added to my frustration.

“Can you believe this? I swear, they’re all idiots,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s like they don’t even think! Ugh!”

I rolled my eyes, not even trying to hide it. “Well, maybe they wouldn’t be idiots if you actually listened to them instead of barking orders all the time.”

He turned to me, surprise flashing across his face. “What did you just say?”

“I said maybe if you were a little less of a dictator, they wouldn’t screw up!” I snapped back, not backing down. “I know how dumb you are!”

“Don’t start with me, Sarah. You have no idea what it’s like to lead a pack,” he shot back, his voice rising. “And you have no clue how hard it is to run a company while juggling everything else. Being Alpha isn't just about making speeches and looking good in front of the pack. It’s about sacrifice—something you clearly don’t understand.”

“Oh, so now I’m just a clueless Luna?” I replied, throwing down the dish towel. “I’m supposed to sit here and nod while you act like you’re the only one who matters?”

Caleb clenched his jaw, his anger palpable. “You’re just being jealous, and it’s making you look ridiculous!

“Jealous? Seriously?”

“Yes! Damn it. Just because I’m busy with Hannah doesn’t mean I don’t care about you.”

I laughed, but it was bitter. “You think I’m jealous of her? Maybe I’m just sick of being treated like an afterthought. You’re the one with the narrow mind, Caleb!”

He stepped closer, eyes blazing. “Don’t twist this around. You’re making it impossible to even talk to you!”

“I’m making it impossible? You think I’m the problem here?” I shot back. “You’re the one who chose to run off and play house with Hannah! I’m the one stuck here trying to hold things together!”

Caleb’s frustration boiled over. “You don’t know what it’s like to balance everything! I have a pack to lead, and you think it’s all about you!”

“Maybe if you actually included me in your life instead of pushing me away, I wouldn’t feel so alone!” I yelled, my heart racing. “You think you’re the only one dealing with tough stuff? Newsflash: I’m not your emotional punching bag!”

He took a step back, his anger softening. “You’re acting like I don’t care. That’s not true, Sarah.”

“And yet you act like I’m not even here!” I shot back, feeling the heat rise in my chest. “You’re so focused on your new life that you don’t see how much this hurts me.”

“I’m trying to do what’s best for the pack,” he said, his voice dropping. “But maybe if you didn’t make everything about you, I could actually focus!”

The silence that followed felt heavy. I couldn’t hold back anymore. “You really want to talk about making things about me?” I demanded. “Maybe you should explain the video I saw. You and Hannah—kissing.”

His eyes widened, and for a moment, I thought he might actually be shocked. But then his lips curled into a dismissive smirk. “It was nothing, Sarah. Just a friendly kiss. You’re blowing this out of proportion. You’re just crazy if you think it means anything.”

I could feel my heart break all over again. “A friendly kiss? Really?” I laughed, but the pain was sharp. “You expect me to believe that? After everything, that’s all you have to say?”

He shook his head, clearly frustrated. “You’re twisting this. You’re making it something it’s not. It was nothing, Sarah. Nothing.”

The silence that followed felt suffocating. His words echoed in my ears, but the pain of betrayal was louder. “You know what? I’m done being your second choice. If you can’t see how much you’re pushing me away, then maybe you should take a good look in the mirror.”

He shook his head, frustration written all over his face. “You’re so stubborn, Sarah. You always have to turn everything into a fight.”

“Maybe it’s because I’m tired of just sitting back and letting you walk all over me!” I shot back, crossing my arms. “I’m not going to stay quiet while you act like I don’t matter!”

He slammed his fist on the table. “You’re acting crazy! You’ve lost it, Sarah! I can’t deal with this right now.”

“Crazy? You think I’m crazy?” I shot back, my heart racing. “I’m just standing up for myself! If that makes me crazy, then so be it!”

Caleb shook his head in disbelief. “You need to calm down. You’re acting like a lunatic!”

“Maybe I wouldn’t have to if you paid attention to me for once!” I snapped, feeling tears prick at my eyes.

“You’re making this a bigger deal than it is. I can’t believe you’re turning into this person,” his voice rising. “You’re not the woman I married. You’re acting like you’re losing your mind!”