I had always known that Allison was his previous mate, the one destined to be with him. But she betrayed him, and I was the one who stayed by his side when he was at his lowest.

After everything, how could he still look at her like that? She didn’t deserve his forgiveness, yet here they were, locked in each other's embrace.

Landon and I had been together for years now, and everything was fine until the day Allison returned. Despite being engaged with Landon, we hadn’t marked each other, a fact that gnawed at the back of my mind every time I saw that taunting glint in Allison’s eyes. We were a couple, but we weren’t mates, not truly.

I still remember the day I learned they had broken their bond. A ripple of elation had run through me, so powerful it almost knocked the breath from my lungs. Landon was free. He was no longer tied to the woman who betrayed him, the woman who didn’t understand the treasure she had until she lost it. I thought, naively perhaps, that this was my chance.

I’d admired Landon from afar for so long, even before Allison came into the picture. My admiration turned into love, quiet and unassuming, hidden in the shadow of his bond with her. I knew better than to interfere with fate, so I kept my distance, content with being a supportive friend. But when their bond broke, I saw an opportunity. A chance to step into the light and show him that I could be the one for him.

So, I made my move. I was careful, not wanting to rush him or make him feel pressured. Landon had been through enough. I wanted to be a source of comfort, of stability, something he could rely on. And for a while, it seemed like it was working. We grew closer, our relationship blossoming into something more. But there was always a part of him that was distant, a part of him that I could never fully reach.

And now, seeing them together again, it felt like a cruel joke. The bond they once shared may have been broken, but there was still something between them, something I could never compete with. It wasn’t fair. I had done everything right and played my part perfectly, but it was as if the universe was conspiring against me, constantly pulling them back together no matter how hard I tried to keep them apart.

I tore my gaze away, unable to stomach the sight any longer. The bile of resentment burned at the back of my throat. I wanted to hate Landon for his weakness, for still being drawn to her despite everything she had done. But more than anything, I hated myself. For thinking that I could ever replace the connection they once had, for daring to believe that I could be more to him than just a substitute.

...

I stared at the ceiling, my body still humming from the heat of the moment, trying to process what had just happened. Allison lay beside me, her breathing steady, but I couldn't bring myself to relax. What the hell had I just done?

Suddenly, the shrill ring of my phone cut through the silence, jolting me back to reality. Seeing the caller, I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen, but I knew I couldn’t ignore it. I pressed the button and brought the phone to my ear. “Hello?”

“Landon,” her voice was strained, tinged with worry. “Is Emery with you? I was waiting for you two last night but you didn't come.”

My heart sank as I realized that I had forgotten about her. A sense of guilt twisted in my gut, but I tried to compose myself.

“No,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. “Something important cropped up so I had to leave last night”

“Is that so? Emery didn't come home last night, and she’s not answering her phone. I thought maybe she was with you.” Her words were like ice water thrown in my face.

I sat up, the bed suddenly feeling like a trap I needed to escape from. “I’ll look for her,” I hurriedly said, already pulling on my clothes. “I’m sure she’s fine. Maybe she just needed some time alone.”

But the words felt hollow, even as I said them. I had no idea where Emery was or what she was doing. How could I, when I had been so consumed by… this?

“I’m sure she’s okay,” I repeated, trying to reassure both her and myself. “I bet she's with her best friend."

I ended the call, shoving the phone into my pocket as I turned to Allison.

“I have to go,” I said, not bothering to explain as I grabbed my jacket and headed for the door. The guilt was suffocating, pressing down on my chest with every step I took.

Allison sat up, confusion written across her face. “What’s going on?”

“Emery’s missing,” I replied curtly, the words bitter on my tongue. “Her mom can’t find her, so I have to look for her.”

Allison frowned, confusion clouding her features. “Now? Can’t it wait?”

“No,” I snapped, harsher than I intended. “It can’t.”

I saw the hurt flash in her eyes, but I didn’t have time to deal with that now.

Without another word, I left, almost slamming the door behind me.

The air was cool against my skin, but it did nothing to calm the storm brewing inside me.

I drove around aimlessly, searching for her, but she was nowhere to be found. The more I looked, the more I started to believe that she wasn’t in any danger. She was just… angry.

I was overwhelmed with anger and pain, but Landon's voice suddenly made me snap out of my senses. I turned and looked at him. The device was pressed to his ear. There was a tension in his posture, a tightness in his jaw that I recognized all too well.

"I'll look for her," Landon said. His words laced with a desperation that tugged at something deep inside me. He was worried about me. The realization brings a flicker of something close to hope, but it was quickly extinguished by the reality of everything that had happened.

I watched as he ended the call, shoving the phone into his pocket with a sharp exhale. Allison was looking at him in confusion, but Landon just barely glanced at her. Afterward, he hurried away, the door closing behind him with a slam. As I watched him leave, a strange mix of emotions swirled within me.

Suddenly, a low, venomous whisper that cut through the silence like a knife sounded.

“That little bitch,” Allison hissed, her voice dripping with malice. “Always getting in the way. Why couldn’t she just disappear?”

Her words sent a chill down my spine. I turned and looked at her, feeling a surge of anger. Allison’s face was twisted with hatred, her eyes dark and furious as she glared at the spot where Landon stood moments ago.

I knew she hated me—I could sense it in the way she looked at me, the way she always tried to insert herself between Landon and me. But hearing her speak like this, with such open hostility, was something else entirely. It was like a punch to the gut, a reminder of all the reasons I should have walked away from this mess long ago.

But I didn’t. I stayed. I fought for Landon, even when I knew it was a losing battle. And now, I was stuck in this strange situation, listening to the woman who ruined everything curse my name.

I wanted to scream at her, to tell her that her bond with Landon had long been broken and she shouldn't have returned, but I couldn't. My voice was trapped in the same void that kept me here, unable to reach the living world.

All I could do was watch as Allison paced the room, her anger simmering just below the surface. She muttered to herself, her words a jumbled mix of curses and accusations, all aimed at me. It was almost pathetic, how much power she thought she had over this situation.

And yet, despite everything, I felt a pang of pity for her. She was just as trapped as I am, stuck in a cycle of jealousy and resentment that she couldn't break free from. But unlike me, she was still alive. She still had a chance to change, to make things right.

But would she? I didn’t know, and I didn’t think she even knew. As I watched her, a strange sense of detachment washed over me. This wasn’t my fight anymore. I had done all I could, and it wasn’t enough. Landon was out there, searching for me, but it was too late. There was nothing left for him to find.

Sighing, I followed where Landon was and realized that he returned to our house. I saw how his frown deepened. He wasn’t greeted by the usual warmth—no sumptuous meals laid out on the table, no cozy lights filling the rooms. The house was eerily quiet.

Flicking on the hallway light, he called out my name, his voice echoing in the silence. There was no answer.

He hesitated for a moment, anxiety creeping in. Tossing his suit jacket onto a chair, he pulled out his phone and sent me a quick message.

[Emery, stop messing around and come back soon.]

But there was no reply.

His unease growing, Landon dialed my number, but only the automated voice responded, "I'm sorry, the number you dialed..."

He tried again, and again. Each time, the same lifeless response.

Frowning, he ran his fingers over his phone, the weight of realization settling in. It seemed he finally realized that something was wrong.

Landon stared blankly at the documents in front of him, trying to push thoughts of Emery to the back of his mind.

But normalcy was fleeting, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, frowning at the message notification from Allison.

[Someone’s following me, harassing me. Please, Landon, I need you.]

A surge of protective instinct flared within him. Allison might have hurt him in ways he could barely comprehend, but the thought of her in danger sent adrenaline coursing through his veins. She was an omega, after all, and her scent had always been intoxicating to other werewolves, especially those who didn’t know how to control themselves around someone so vulnerable.

He didn’t think twice. He grabbed his keys and bolted out of the office. He had to get there before anything happened.

When he arrived at her apartment complex, he found her huddled near the entrance, her eyes wide with fear, her usually composed demeanor shattered. The sight made his chest tighten. He rushed to her side, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“Allison, what happened? Are you okay?”

Before she could answer, a low growl echoed from behind him. Landon spun around, his senses sharpening as he caught sight of the man standing in the shadows. He was tall and broad-shouldered, and his eyes were wild with a predatory hunger that made Landon’s inner wolf howl in response, muscles tensing as a protective fury rose within him. “Stay behind me,” he ordered Allison, his voice hard.

The man took a step forward, his gaze fixed on Allison with a possessiveness that made Landon’s hackles rise. “She’s mine,” the stranger snarled, his voice thick with the undertones of a werewolf on the brink of losing control.

“She’s not yours,” Landon shot back, his voice dangerously low. “Back off.”

But the man didn’t back down. Instead, he lunged at Landon, claws outstretched, his eyes gleaming with madness.

Landon met him head-on, his wolf roaring to life as he threw himself into the fight. The impact sent them both crashing to the ground, a tangle of limbs and snarls as they wrestled for dominance.

Landon’s fists connected with the man’s jaw, and he heard the sickening crack of bone. But the man was relentless, clawing at Landon’s sides, his movements fueled by a desperation that bordered on madness.

Landon wasn’t sure how long they fought—seconds, minutes, it all blurred together in a haze of pain and adrenaline. But eventually, he managed to pin the man to the ground, his hand clamped around the stranger’s throat, his wolf’s snarls filling the air. “Leave. Now. Before I make you regret it,” Landon growled, his voice thick with the dominance of an alpha.

The man’s eyes flickered with fear, his bravado crumbling under the weight of Landon’s threat. With a choked gasp, he nodded, and Landon released him, watching with a mix of satisfaction and disgust as the man scrambled to his feet and fled into the night.

Breathing heavily, Landon straightened, wiping the blood from his mouth as he turned back to Allison. She was trembling, her eyes wide with shock, and he felt a pang of guilt for not getting there sooner.

“It’s okay,” he said, trying to keep his voice calm. “He’s gone now. You’re safe.”

Allison nodded, but the fear didn’t leave her eyes. She stepped closer, wrapping her arms around herself as if trying to ward off the lingering terror. “Thank you, Landon,” she whispered, her voice shaky. “I didn’t know what to do… I was so scared…”

He felt her lean into him, her small frame trembling against his, and he instinctively wrapped his arms around her, offering what comfort he could. But as he held her, the reality of what he’d done began to sink in. He had rushed to her side without a second thought, putting her safety above everything else, even when Emery’s absence still loomed over him like a dark shadow.

The guilt that had been gnawing at him since last night returned, heavier now, more suffocating. He had betrayed Emery once, and now, in his haste to protect Allison, he was betraying her again. The thought made his stomach churn.

“Landon…” Allison’s voice broke through his thoughts, her hand resting on his chest. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mix of gratitude and something else, something that made his heart flutter in his chest. “I knew you’d come. You always do.”

The words should have reassured him, but instead, they only deepened the ache in his chest. He couldn’t keep doing this—teetering on the edge between two women, unable to fully commit to either. He needed to find Emery, to make things right, but as he stood there with Allison, her warmth seeped into him.

“I need to go,” he said abruptly, pulling away from Allison’s embrace. Her eyes widened in surprise, but she didn’t protest as he stepped back. “Just… be careful, okay? Stay inside tonight.”

She nodded, though he could see the confusion and hurt in her gaze. “Okay,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Thank you, Landon.”

He forced a smile, but it felt hollow, a poor attempt to mask the turmoil inside him. Without another word, he turned and walked away.