The tension in the air was sharp enough to cut as Lukas stood in the doorway, his amber eyes glowing with barely restrained anger. "You forget yourself, Ayla," he hissed, his voice low but laced with venom. "Living here doesn’t make you untouchable."

I folded my arms, my wolf pacing restlessly beneath my skin. "Untouchable? That’s rich, coming from you," I shot back, my voice calm, controlled, and deadly. "Tell me, Lukas. How’s Celeste these days?"

His jaw tightened, the subtle shift in his face betraying his guilt. "I’m not doing this with you," he muttered, brushing past me into the kitchen.

The oven’s timer blared, breaking the tension. I grabbed the gloves and yanked the cake out—a pathetic attempt to salvage my 30th birthday. The irony wasn’t lost on me. Thirty years old, still stuck playing housemaid to a man who couldn’t even fake fidelity.

"Is that for us?" Lukas asked, gesturing to the cake with forced casualness.

"Not everything’s about you," I snapped, slamming the pan onto the counter.

He flinched but quickly recovered, his lips curving into a cold smirk. "Don’t be so dramatic. I’ve been handling pack business, Ayla. You know how important it is."

"Pack business?" I barked out a laugh. "Is that what you call your late-night visits to Celeste’s quarters?"

He froze, the smugness vanishing. "You’re paranoid."

"Am I?" I reached for my phone, already open to Celeste’s latest photo—a smug selfie in what was unmistakably Lukas’ private study. The caption read: The Alpha’s seat is warm tonight.

I held it up, letting him see. "Explain this."

Lukas’ face darkened. "You’re spying now?"

"No, Lukas. I’m noticing. Something I should’ve done years ago."

The silence between us was heavy, oppressive. For a second, I thought he might apologize, maybe even beg. But instead, his lip curled in disgust.

"You’ve always been jealous," he sneered. "That’s your problem. You can’t stand not being the center of attention."

I laughed, bitter and hollow. "Jealous? Of what? Being lied to? Cheated on? Please."

Before he could reply, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and sighed dramatically. "Celeste needs me," he said, shoving the phone into his pocket.

"Of course she does," I muttered.

"Clean up here," he ordered, ignoring me completely. "And don’t forget, we have the pack meeting tomorrow. Try not to embarrass yourself for once."

The door slammed behind him, and I stood there, the cake forgotten, anger bubbling under my skin. My wolf growled, pushing to the surface, but I forced her down. I wouldn’t waste my energy on him. Not anymore.

But I wasn’t done. Not by a long shot.

An hour later, I was in Celeste’s quarters. The place reeked of cheap perfume and arrogance. Her vanity table was filled with expensive makeup and jewelry—gifts from Lukas, no doubt.

The bed was unmade, sheets scattered and stained. My stomach churned as I spotted the torn lace lingerie on the floor.

I picked up one of her necklaces, a delicate gold chain with a heart pendant. It felt heavy in my hand, like the weight of all the lies I’d swallowed over the years.

Footsteps approached, and I froze. The door opened, and there she was—Celeste, the pack’s perfect golden girl.

She stopped short, her eyes narrowing when she saw me. "What are you doing here?"

"Cleaning up your mess," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

Her lips curled into a smirk. "Is that what Lukas told you? How sweet."

I stepped closer, the necklace still in my hand. "I’m not here for him. I’m here for me."

Her smirk faltered. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

"It means I’m done playing nice," I said, my voice low and steady. "You think you’ve won? Think again."

She opened her mouth to reply, but I didn’t give her the chance. I dropped the necklace onto the vanity and turned to leave.

"You’re pathetic," she called after me. "That’s why he’ll never choose you."

I paused in the doorway, my wolf snarling. Slowly, I turned back to face her.

"You’re right," I said, a cold smile spreading across my lips. "He won’t choose me. But when I’m done, neither will you."

Back in my quarters, I started packing. Seven years of my life reduced to a single suitcase. The rest—the clothes, the jewelry, the memories—I left behind. They belonged to the Ayla who had let Lukas walk all over her. That Ayla was dead.

As I zipped up the suitcase, my phone buzzed. A text from Selene, my best friend and the only person who had ever told me the truth about Lukas.

About time you woke up. My pack’s doors are open. Come home.

Tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them away. I didn’t have time to cry. Not yet.

The sound of footsteps outside my window made me freeze. My wolf bristled, her senses sharp. I moved to the window and peered out.

A shadow moved in the distance. A rogue.

My heart raced as I stepped back, my mind scrambling for a plan. The door burst open, and a massive wolf lunged at me.

I shifted just in time, my claws raking across its side. The fight was brutal, chaotic. My wolf reveled in the release, her strength and fury unleashed after years of suppression.

But then I smelled it—a scent I knew all too well.

Lukas.

He stood in the doorway, his face a mask of cold fury.

"What the hell is going on here?" he demanded.

The rogue retreated, its eyes darting between us before disappearing into the night.

Lukas stepped closer, his gaze fixed on me. "You just made a big mistake, Ayla."

I straightened, my wolf still on edge. "The only mistake I made was staying this long."

His lips curled into a sinister smile. "Oh, Ayla. You have no idea what’s coming."

I held his gaze, refusing to back down. "Neither do you."

And with that, I walked past him, my suitcase in hand. For the first time in years, I felt free. But I knew this was just the beginning.

But it didn’t end there, i found myself in front of him.

The ride to the pack retreat was suffocating. Lukas had fallen into his usual silence, his hands gripping the steering wheel as though it might shatter beneath his force. I sat rigidly, staring out at the rain-soaked trees blurring past the window. My wolf paced inside me, restless and simmering with rage.

Celeste’s voice still echoed in my head. Mistress. The audacity of it.

“You’ll need to change before we arrive,” Lukas said, breaking the silence. His tone was curt, as though he were speaking to a subordinate rather than his mate. “There’s a dress in the backseat.”

I turned my head slowly to look at him. “Celeste’s, I assume?”

His jaw tightened, and he didn’t answer. That was confirmation enough.

I reached back, my fingers brushing over the expensive silk. It reeked of her perfume—overpowering, sickly sweet, and utterly revolting. “I’m not wearing this,” I said, dropping it onto the floor like the trash it was.

“Ayla,” Lukas growled, his Alpha dominance bleeding into his tone. “Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “Harder for who? You, Lukas? Or your precious Celeste? Do you think this little display will fool anyone? They already know.”

His knuckles whitened as he gripped the wheel. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, I think I do.” I leaned closer, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “They call her the mistress to her face, don’t they? What do they call me behind my back? The joke?”

His silence was deafening.

The packhouse loomed ahead, its towering structure shrouded in mist. The driveway was packed with luxury cars, their owners mingling under the grand awning, oblivious to the storm raging around them.

Lukas parked near the entrance, turning to me with an expression that teetered between frustration and desperation. “Just... stay by my side tonight. Don’t cause a scene.”

I smirked. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

He stepped out first, his Alpha persona snapping into place like a well-worn mask. He strode around to my side, opening the door and offering his hand. I ignored it, stepping out on my own, letting the rain soak through my clothes.

Whispers followed us as we ascended the steps, their judgmental gazes lingering on my bedraggled appearance. Lukas placed a firm hand on my lower back, a possessive gesture meant to silence the rumors. Instead, it only fueled my anger.

The grand hall was a display of opulence and excess, the air thick with the mingling scents of wolves from all corners of the region. Celeste was waiting near the hearth, a glass of wine in hand, her golden hair cascading down her back like a goddess descended from the heavens. She saw us immediately, her lips curving into a smug smile.

“Ayla,” she purred, stepping forward. “You made it. How... unexpected.”

“Celeste,” I replied, matching her tone. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Her gaze dropped to my rain-soaked jeans and bloody forehead. “Oh dear, you’ve had quite the journey. Shall I have someone bring you something more... appropriate?”

“Don’t trouble yourself,” I said, brushing past her. “I’m perfectly comfortable.”

The room fell into a tense hush as I moved deeper into the crowd, Lukas trailing behind me. The pack members parted, their eyes darting between us with poorly concealed curiosity. They were waiting for the show, the inevitable clash.

But I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction. Not yet.

The meeting began with the usual formalities—territory disputes, alliance updates, and endless discussions about rogue sightings. I tuned it out, my attention drifting to Celeste, who sat across the room, her eyes fixed on Lukas like a predator watching its prey.

Every touch, every glance they exchanged was a dagger to my chest. But instead of crumbling, I let it fuel me.

When the meeting finally adjourned, the pack mingled once more, their voices a cacophony of gossip and laughter. Celeste wasted no time, sidling up to Lukas with a dazzling smile.

“Lukas,” she said, her voice dripping with faux innocence. “There’s a matter I’d like to discuss. Privately.”

His gaze flicked to me, and for a brief moment, I saw hesitation. But it was fleeting. He nodded and followed her toward the private lounge, leaving me alone amidst the sea of judgmental stares.

I didn’t follow. Not immediately. Instead, I let the minutes drag on, joining the crowd, pretending to listen to meaningless conversations. My wolf itched to confront them, to expose their lies, but I forced her down.

When I finally approached the lounge, the door was ajar. Their voices filtered through, low and intimate.

“You should’ve left her,” Celeste was saying. “She doesn’t belong here, Lukas. She never did.”

“You think I don’t know that?” he snapped. “Do you have any idea what this is costing me?”

I stepped into the doorway, my heart pounding but my face calm. “Am I interrupting?”

Celeste froze, her eyes widening. Lukas turned slowly, his expression shifting from anger to something unreadable.

“Ayla,” he began, his voice steady but strained. “This isn’t what it looks like.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Really? Because it looks like you’re discussing how inconvenient I am for both of you.”

Celeste opened her mouth, but I cut her off. “Save it. I’m not here to argue.” I stepped closer, meeting Lukas’ gaze. “I just want you to know that this is the last time you’ll humiliate me.”

He frowned. “What are you talking about?”

I smiled—a cold, bitter smile. “You’ll see.”

The sound of laughter echoed through the hall as Lukas and Celeste strutted toward the pack, their eyes shining with a calculated gleam that had always made my stomach churn. I stood there, watching them, the weight of the past few weeks pressing down on me, but there was no way I’d let it break me now. Not anymore.

The sting of betrayal still burned, but it wasn’t the sharp ache I’d felt days ago. No, now it was a cold, steady rage that ran through me like fire in my veins. I wasn’t the girl who had begged Lukas for scraps of affection anymore. I wasn’t the girl who would cry alone in the shadows, waiting for his call. I was done.

As Lukas and Celeste disappeared into the crowd, I turned and walked in the opposite direction. No one stopped me. No one tried to pull me back into the cage they thought I belonged in. I had earned my independence. They could all see it now.

I didn't need Lukas or Celeste to define me. I didn’t need anyone to tell me who I was.

I made my way to the garden. The sky was heavy with the storm’s remnants, and the soft sound of raindrops falling from the trees soothed my nerves. The thorns from earlier still ached where they had torn into my skin, but there was no time to nurse wounds. I had plans to make, decisions to change the course of my life. The only question was where to start.

Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket. Selene’s name flashed on the screen. I hadn’t spoken to her since she first reached out. But something about her message now seemed to pull me back from the edge. “I’ve found you some options. A fresh start, Ayla. No more looking over your shoulder. You deserve better.”

Her words struck a chord, and a fire flickered in my chest. I wasn’t about to let Lukas’s world be my cage anymore. If there was an escape, I’d find it.

I turned my back on the mansion and walked toward the road, ignoring the way the wind whipped through my hair. For the first time in ages, I didn’t feel like I was running. I was moving forward. The future was mine to shape.

Back at the mansion, Lukas was fuming. I could feel it through the bond, the seething anger as he realized I had slipped away.

But this time, I wasn’t afraid of him. I wasn’t afraid of his anger. I wasn’t afraid of anyone anymore.

The road was quiet, almost eerily so, but that only gave me more peace. With every step I took, I left the past behind. The whispers of the pack, the coldness of Lukas's eyes—none of that mattered anymore.

By the time I reached the city, the sun was starting to dip below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the buildings. It was beautiful, but I barely noticed. The buzzing of my phone drew my attention again. This time, it was a text from my mother.

“Why are you doing this to us, Ayla? Lukas is your mate. You can’t walk away from him like this.”

I stopped walking, staring at the screen. Her words were like nails in my chest, but they were nothing compared to the weight of my own truth. Lukas might have been my mate, but he hadn’t earned that title. He had never protected me. He had never stood by me.

His loyalty wasn’t to me—it was to his pack. And Celeste.

I put the phone away. There would be no more messages, no more pleas. I had made my decision.

As I entered the small apartment building I had secured earlier, my heart began to settle. The walls here didn’t know my past. They didn’t know Lukas or Celeste. They were blank slates, just like me.

The apartment was sparsely furnished, but it didn’t matter. I didn’t need much. A bed, a place to write, a space to breathe. That was all.

As I unpacked, my mind kept drifting back to Lukas’s words—his promises, his lies. And then, suddenly, the weight of the betrayal hit me again. This time, though, it wasn’t crushing. It was fuel. My anger, my pain, all of it turned into fire. I could feel my wolf stirring, sensing the power in the shift.

I grabbed my phone, my fingers trembling as I typed a message to Selene. “I’m ready. Set it all up. I’m leaving everything behind.”

Before I could second-guess myself, I hit send. I had no room for doubt. No room for fear.

Lukas’s call came an hour later. I let it ring, knowing full well it wasn’t going to change anything. When it finally stopped, my phone buzzed again. A voicemail.

“Ayla…” Lukas’s voice sounded different, strained. “Please don’t do this. I—I don’t know how to fix this, but I can. You’re not nothing. You’re my everything. Don’t leave me.”

I stared at the message, my chest tightening. I had been his everything once. Those lies. But now, I am someone else.

There was no going back.

Two days later, Merryl called with the details. The interviews, the job offers, the city—the possibilities stretched out before me like a new dawn.

But Lukas won't dare forget me even if he wants to, I planned to cause him some pain, forgetting I was once obsessed with him. I stole his PC a while back to get information that I can use against him and not to my surprise….he had a whole lot.

I opened my phone to find Celeste had posted a new update. Hypocrite.

She was sitting in Lukas's passenger seat, their fingers intertwined, both wearing the latest engagement rings. I smiled.

Using his account, I sent the story of our seven years together, along with the evidence of his affair I had collected, to everyone at the pack. Sent special ones to Sir Alpha Kane.

Then I smashed the computer, grabbed my suitcase and headed to the airport alone. As I was going through security, countless messages and calls flooded in.