Celeste tilted her head, a sly smile curving her lips as she watched me from across the table. The warm glow of the Italian restaurant didn’t soften the sharpness in her eyes.

"You know…" her voice light and airy, "I’ve always thought we looked alike. Almost like sisters, don’t you think?"

Celeste’s grin widened, a little too smug, like she was already two steps ahead in some game I didn’t know we were playing. It wasn’t just a smile—it was the kind of look that made my wolf growl low in the back of my mind. She was plotting something. I could feel it.

Still, I didn’t flinch. I wasn’t about to give her the satisfaction.

"Must just be your imagination," I added casually and left her. My wolf didn’t trust her, and honestly? Neither did I.

***

The night dragged on, the lively chatter around me a background hum as I tried to focus on anything but Celeste’s smug presence. When I excused myself to step outside for some air, I didn’t expect trouble to follow.

I barely made it to the alley behind the restaurant before Asher found me. He stalked toward me, his golden eyes dark with anger.

"Lois!" he said sharply. "We need to talk."

"About what?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

His jaw clenched, and before I could react, he slapped me. The crack of it echoed in the narrow space, leaving my cheek stinging and my heart pounding.

"Asher!" I gasped, stepping back in shock. My wolf growled, the sting of betrayal cutting deeper than the slap.

"What the hell were you thinking?" he demanded, his voice low and furious. "Why did you fucking push Celeste? She’s hurt, Lois! You knew her damn ankle was twisted, and you still—"

"I didn’t push her," I snapped, my voice shaking. "What are you even talking about?!"

Before I could say more, Celeste appeared at the end of the alley. She was limping, her face twisted into a picture of helplessness. Damn her! Her shirt had a faint splash of what looked like wine on the sleeve, and she clutched the wall for support.

Asher rushed to her side without hesitation, his hands hovering protectively. "Celeste! ! You shouldn’t have followed me out here," he scolded her gently. "I told you I’d handle it."

Celeste gave him a small, brave smile, and the way he looked at her made something inside me break.

"It’s okay, Asher…" she said softly, her voice trembling like she was holding back tears. "I-I don’t think Lois meant to. Maybe it was an accident…”

My wolf snarled inside me, her anger mirroring mine. The scene was so perfectly staged it made my stomach turn!

"If her brother finds out you hurt her," Celeste added, sighing dramatically, "it might mess things up between your packs. You wouldn’t want that, would you?"

At the mention of my brother, Asher’s expression shifted, just for a second. But then he straightened, his voice turning hard again.

"Her brother trusted me to look after her," he said, his tone like ice. "That means it’s my job to deal with her when she’s out of line."

I let out a bitter laugh, unable to hold it back anymore. "Deal with me? For what, exactly? Even in pack law, you need proof before punishing someone. Don’t you think it’s a little unfair to just jump to conclusions and hit me without knowing the full story?"

Asher clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing. "You knew there were no witnesses nor CCTV’s in the restroom. You fucking thought you’d get away with it? Huh!"

"Asher," I tried to keep my voice steady, "y-you’re really going to believe her over me?"

Celeste stepped closer, resting her hand on Asher’s arm, her face full of fake concern. "Lois, you know I’ve always wanted to be friends with you," she said sweetly, through her eyes practically glowed with satisfaction.

Asher glanced at her, his expression softening like a fool. "She wouldn’t lie about this," he said quietly, his tone absolute.

My wolf growled, furious, but I just scoffed, glaring at both of them. "Of course, she doesn’t," I snapped. "She’s way too good at playing the victim for that!”

Five years! Five years of building something I thought was real, and he didn’t even hesitate to take her side.

Wow.

Celeste reached out, placing a hand on his arm. "Asher, please," she said, her tone all soft and sweet. "Don’t fight over me. I don’t want to come between you two."

I laughed bitterly, the sound harsh and raw. "Too late for that."

"Lois," Asher said sharply, his golden eyes flashing with warning.

I shook my head, backing away. "I’m done, Asher! You’ve made it clear where you stand, and it’s not with me."

Without waiting for a response, I turned and walked away, ignoring Celeste’s murmured protests and Asher’s frustrated shout.

I didn’t go back inside. Instead, I paid the bill at the front desk and sent a quick message to the group chat:

"Something came up. Enjoy the rest of the night—it’s on me."

As I stepped out into the cool night air, the weight of it all crashed down on me. Asher wasn’t just a Gamma in my pack. He was supposed to be my partner, my anchor. But tonight proved something I’d been too blind to see.

I was holding onto someone who had already let go of me.

Dragging myself back to the pack house, I paused in the doorway and let my eyes wander over the place I had called home for five years. It was quiet—too quiet—just like my love for Asher.

Every corner, every creak in the floor seemed to echo memories of us, moments that now felt like sharp claws digging into my heart.

I took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The moonlight streamed through the large windows, casting a glow over familiar furniture and keepsakes. There were silly little trinkets—matching mugs with cheesy wolf-themed designs, a framed photo of us at the pack’s annual bonfire, and even a pair of charms shaped like paw prints that supposedly glowed when we were close to each other. They’d all once meant so much. Now they felt like anchors pulling me into a sea of regret.

As I stood there, staring at those memories, a wave of exhaustion hit me. It wasn’t just physical—it was the kind of tiredness that seeped into your bones after fighting for someone who stopped fighting for you.

My mind drifted back to when I first met Asher, back when things were so different.

It had been years ago, during one of my late-night runs in wolf form. I’d gone deeper into the forest than usual, my paws crunching over leaves, the air thick with the scent of pine. That’s when I heard them—the low growls, the sharp snarls. Rogues.

I barely had time to react before they charged. There were three of them, their eyes glowing with hunger and desperation. My wolf fought back fiercely, but I was outnumbered and cornered. Just when I thought it was over, a blur of dark fur crashed into the rogues, sending them flying.

It was Asher; my brother best friend. He didn’t hesitate, didn’t falter. His wolf was relentless, taking them down one by one until they fled, yelping into the night.

After shifting back, he’d wrapped his jacket around me, his voice low but soothing. "You okay?"

I nodded, still shaken, and he smiled—a soft, lopsided grin that made my heart skip a beat. "Stick closer to the pack borders next time. I don’t want to have to rescue you again."

That was the start of everything. Asher became my protector, my confidant. He had this way of making me feel safe, like nothing could touch me as long as he was around. I remembered the nights we’d spent under the stars, talking about dreams and pack life, his arm slung casually over my shoulder. The way he’d always pull me close during bonfires, his warmth chasing away the night’s chill.

I shook my head, snapping myself out of the memory. That Asher felt like a lifetime ago. The man who had protected me, who had laughed with me, wasn’t the same one who now believed every lie Celeste fed him.

Unable to sleep, I grabbed a large cardboard box and started packing. The mugs, the charms, the blanket we’d fought over on countless cold nights—it all went into the box. Every item felt heavier than it should, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t.

By the time the sun rose, the place barely looked like mine. It was stripped of everything that had made it feel warm and personal. The colorful pillows were gone, the pictures packed away, the trinkets boxed up. The rooms were plain and cold, just like his absence.

Asher didn’t come home that night. Or the next. Days blurred into weeks, and the only sounds that broke the silence were my pen scratching across paper as I worked on my designs. At first, I missed his presence, but over time, I started to feel something else: relief.

I buried myself in my work, sketching late into the night. My wolf stirred occasionally, restless and aching, but even she knew it was time to move on.

One evening, when the weight of everything felt unbearable, I decided to reach out one last time. He deserved that—a chance for closure. I dialed his number, and it rang several times before going straight to voicemail. Moments later, a message buzzed in:

[If you’re god-damn ready to apologize to Celeste, then maybe we can talk. Otherwise, don’t bother.]

I stared at the screen, his words slamming into me like a rogue’s attack. A bitter laugh escaped my lips. That was it, then.

The night before I planned to leave, I packed the last of my things into a suitcase. The pack house looked foreign now—bare and cold, stripped of every memory I’d poured into it. But in the emptiness, I felt a strange sense of relief.

At dawn, I walked out the door for the last time. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scents of the forest surrounding the pack lands. My wolf paced in my mind, uneasy but resolute. This was it.

Just as I reached the pack borders, my phone buzzed. It was my birthday, and messages started pouring in.

[Happy birthday! Hope this year is full of joy and success.]

[Wishing you strength and happiness.]

[You deserve the best—don’t settle for less!]

I smiled faintly. Each message reminded me that my life wasn’t ending here—it was just beginning.

I powered off my phone and took a deep breath, my feet crossing the boundary. The gates loomed behind me, closing with a soft clang.

But I didn’t look back.

As the plane took off, I couldn’t help but think to myself, I will be happy. With everything ahead of me, I knew I had so much to look forward to.