Ditching My Alpha

When I went to pick up my bonding pearls, I discovered that there were two custom-made sets waiting for me. One set was mine, a symbol of my connection to Braxton Cole, my fiancé, while the other set was for Lila Darrow, my sister. She was a young wolf, just starting her journey in the pack, and I thought she was happy for me.

I felt a lump in my throat as I took the pearls. The bonding pearls were not just pieces of jewelry; they were a representation of our souls intertwined, blessed by the goddess of our kind. I was supposed to feel excited, but instead, dread washed over me. I decided to confront Braxton about it, but when I approached him, I overheard him talking on the phone.

“Please help me buy a house for Lila in your name. Don't let Calla find out,” he said, his voice low and tense, laced with urgency.

My heart sank. I couldn’t hear the reply, but the disappointment crushed me. How could he betray me like this? When I finally asked him about it, his words shattered my heart.

“I love her. I can’t give up Lila,” he admitted, his gaze avoiding mine.

In that moment, I felt the world tilt. I had to let him go. I had to let them be together.

***

After discovering there were two identical sets of blessed pearls, it felt like my heart was being stabbed repeatedly. I had designed my set with care, embedding symbols of our wolves and the date we met into the elegant pieces. The inner part of each pearl held our names, something I thought was special between us. Now, to find out that Lila had the same set? It made me feel foolish.

I bitterly smiled as I put their set back down. How could I have been so blind? I turned away, walking out of the shop, and tossed my own pearls into a trash can. I was done with them. The cool breeze hit my face, bringing some clarity to my confused mind.

Just as I was about to call Braxton and demand answers, I saw a message from him. “I’m waiting for you at the Silver Moon Inn,” it read. I hesitated but eventually made my way there, unease gnawing at my stomach.

When I arrived, I followed the waiter’s instructions to find him. He stood by the window, his back to me, still on the phone.

“Please help me buy a house for Lila in your name,” he repeated, his voice tense. “I can’t let Calla find out.”

My heart shattered into pieces as I processed his words. So this was it. My fiancé had been keeping secrets, and I was nothing but a fool. Who was I to him? I looked at his familiar figure, disappointment flooding my veins. Even without hearing the other side of the conversation, I knew whatever was said would crush me further.

He continued, “I love her. I can’t give up Lila.”

His words fell like ice water over my heart. I stood frozen, the weight of his confession crushing me. This was more than I could bear. If he loved Lila so much, then I had no place in his life.

I took a deep breath and walked up to him, knocking lightly on the table. He quickly hung up, turning around with a look of panic in his eyes.

“When did you get here?” he asked, feigning surprise.

I forced a smile. “Just arrived. Who were you talking to on the phone?”

He scrutinized my expression, his relief palpable when he saw no signs of emotion on my face. He walked toward me and pulled out the chair closest to me. “Just a work call. They wanted to remind me about a meeting later.”

I nodded, not calling him out on his pathetic excuse.

“Let’s eat. You can leave early after lunch,” I suggested, trying to sound casual.

He waved over the waiter to serve our food, then turned back to me. “How are the pearls? Did they meet your expectations?”

My smile faltered, but I nodded. “They’re nice, but I was surprised to find out I have another set exactly like my custom-made pearls.”

I let my words hang in the air, watching as his expression shifted slightly.

“Maybe there was a mix-up. I can check this afternoon,” he said, but his eyes darted away.

I felt my heart turn to ice, knowing it was all lies. He looked at me, probably wondering why I was so quiet. I had always been the one to fill the silence, to share my thoughts and dreams with him.

At first, he was patient, even engaging. But ever since Lila came back from her training, he grew more distant. He’d interrupt me or change the subject entirely, saying, “Girls are cuter when they talk less. Just be quiet, Calla.”

His comments stung, but I’d brush it off, thinking he was joking. I didn’t realize how obvious his disinterest had become until now.

Looking back, I felt foolish. How could I have ignored the signs?