I spent the whole night crying in my campus apartment. I couldn't face Ellis after what happened tonight. I was still hurting a lot. I finally managed to get some sleep, but the door soon opened, and I felt someone shaking me.

" What?" I groaned, opening my eyes. It was Lila, her expression solemn. She pulled me in her arms, and I held her tightly.

" Ellis chose her. He went right past me," I croaked, my chest tightening. My best friend pulled away from me and held my hand.

" He's an idiot," she said with venom.

We stayed there for a while, silently. My phone beeped, and I rushed to pick it up, hoping it was Ellis, but it wasn't.

The day went by slowly, and Ellis had not reached out to me yet. Each hour he didn't call, my heart bled.

Sleep eluded me, and Jace came to check on me the following day.

" Ellis is still confused," he said, and I shook my head, getting out of his embrace.

" There is nothing to be confused about," I went to the mini bar, got wine, and drank it.

" Is he with Charlotte?" I asked. He faced the floor, and I knew my suspicions were correct. Many questions ran through my mind. Did they sleep together? My inner Lycan was whimpering; she was hurt that Ellis didn't instantly reject his mate as we had planned.

" I can't believe he hasn't contacted me," I murmured.

The beta and Lila stared at me with sorry expressions on their faces, but I didn't want that. I ran a hand through my hair and gulped my wine.

" Play the piano for us, please. I love listening to you play," Jace said with a smile. He was trying to distract me from thoughts of Ellis, and I appreciated that. I touched the keyboard on my piano as I asked.

" What should I play?"

" My heart will go on," he said, sitting before me. I sat and played with them. I played for a long time, and it calmed me. My chest felt lighter, yet tears were building in my eyes, and I closed my eyes as I freely let them fall. I was crying for good now. My heart would never go on if he chose her over me. I needed Ellis; I needed him to keep his promise to me, HIS VOW. I stopped playing and stood up.

" I want to rest now," I breathed, wiping the tears off my face. Lilac was crying, too, and Jace held her closer. I couldn't stand the pain in my chest, so I rushed upstairs and threw myself on the bed. I curled on the bed, holding the plushie Ellis gave me tighter as my body shook.

I grabbed my phone, hoping to find a call or message from him, but there was nothing.

The next day, I woke up and took a long shower. I sat on my closet carpet, eyes on my phone. The door opened, and Lilac walked in.

" Darling, are you alright?" she asked.

"Fine, don't worry about me," I murmured, getting up and finding an outfit. I picked a short red dress. I eyed Lila. She was agitated.

" What is it?" I asked.

" Someone is here for you," she said quietly. I squinted my eyebrows. Who could it be? I followed her, and to my surprise, I found Ellis there. My heart is pounding against my chest, and I'm sure he could hear it. We held each other's gaze before I spoke, " I want coffee,"

I walked past him, and he audibly sighed and followed me out of my apartment building to his car. The car ride to the café was silent.

I didn't wait for him to open the door for me when we arrived at the Café.

The waiter smiled, already knowing what we were taking. We sat at our favorite table. After a long time, Ellis took my hand and asked, " How are you?"

" Do I look alright to you?" I retorted, annoyed. I took my hand back from him. He pressed his lips together.

" What happens now, Ellis?"

" I'll settle this. Give me some time, please," he said carefully. I didn't know what to say to him right now. The waiter served our beverages: black coffee for him and hot chocolate for me.

" You and I made a promise, Ellis. How can you easily forget that?"

" I know, babe. I love you so much. Nothing will ever change that," he said quickly, grasping my hands again.

" So you want us both?" I narrowed my gaze at him.

" No, my feelings are such a mess right now. My inner lycan wasn't expecting this at all and wanted to be close to her," his inner lycan, Lias, was strong and would survive the loss of their mate. Ellis needed to stop using Lias as an excuse.

" You want her. You were meant for each other," A tear rolled down my cheek when I spoke.

" I love you. You're my entire world," he said, sure of his words.

" Then reject her and keep your promise," I held his hand this time. " Ellis, I love you so much,"

" I tried to reject her, but her inner wolf is weak. She's not like us, baby. She might die from the rejection," he says desperately.

His phone rang, and I realized it was Charlotte calling him constantly.

" Did you fuck her?" I asked. He looked at me as if I had pierced his chest with a dagger.

" No!" he yelled. That relieved me, but my eyes turned fierce when I saw Charlotte enter our café.

" You're fucking kidding me, right?" I growled.

Charlotte spotted us instantly, with a smile plastered on her thin lips as she approached us.

' Relax, please,' Ellis's mind linked me. I glared at him, ' She's innocent and timid. Already she feels terrible this is happening,'

I rolled my eyes but kept my cold demeanor. Charlotte didn't look like someone who would feel terrible if this happened. I bet she loved it.

" Love! I'm sorry about what happened at the party," Charlotte said urgently, sitting next to Ellis, closely, I might add.

" It's not your fault, Charlotte," I grumbled tightly, unable to be nice to her.

" I feel so guilty that we had sex yesterday, knowing well he is your boyfriend," My heart started to race in my chest... Sex? My body shook at realizing they mated, and my Lycan was wincing at this betrayal. Ellis lied to me.

" Oh, love, I'm such a horrible person. It just happened over and over. It is the mate bond. I'm sorry, my friend," Charlotte cried. I was stunned, numb at what I heard. My broad stare snapped at Ellis. He looked incredibly guilty, and my lips suddenly quivered.

" Y—you told me nothing happened," my voice trembled. Ellis glared at his mate. She cowered in fear of him, yet I could swear I saw a faint smirk curl on her lips. She wanted me to find out that they slept together.

" It wasn't- Love, you're my everything. I didn't mean for it to happen," he was stuttering. This was the first time I heard him stutter. He tried to hold my hand, but I revolted against him.

" My lycan, he-"

" Enough," I growled, releasing my alpha aura. Charlotte jumped from her seat, scared and not looking at me.

" You betrayed me, both of you," I said, glaring at them. Vee was growling now. All the earlier sadness was replaced with anger towards these two.

Tears were building in my eyes, but I refused to cry. I wasn't going to cry in front of them. The tension in the café was palpable now, and the other customers were still watching us. My bloodline was powerful. My parents were both alphas. Hence, my aura was oppressive and commanding. It was usually light, calming people around me. Now, it was dark.

" Love, tame your lycan," Ellis said through his teeth. I glared at him for a long time. I could sense his inner lycan was trying to surface. We were alphas, but this was his territory; defianing him like that in front of people couldn't be tolerated, no matter how much he loved me. I looked away but refused to submit to him.

He looked over to Charlotte as if getting his silent message. She bowed to us,

" Forgive me, Love," she still couldn't look me in the eye. Charlotte turned to leave while I glared at her retreating. Bitch. I noticed everyone in the café had left. It was just the two of us now.

" I was confused and disoriented after having so much to drink. I thought it was you," he was restless, trying to justify his actions. I didn't stop the tears that were streaming down my face.

" Forgive me, please," he begged. I felt so much contempt for him. I've done nothing but love him, yet he betrayed me like this. I inhaled and stood to leave. Ellis grabbed my arm and spun me to him. He held me in a tight embrace. My body was shaking, and hot sobs escaped my lips before I felt darkness overtake my senses.

My eyes opened later. I found myself in my bedroom. Did I faint?

Arms were wrapped around me; it was Ellis. I carefully left, but he woke up, looking panicked.

" Love, babe, you passed out. How do you feel?" he asked, sitting up. I stepped away from him and rushed into the bathroom. I locked myself in. I sat on the floor and wrapped my arms around my knees as I breathed in and out, in and out, trying not to cry.

" Love, Love, please open the door. I'm sorry, I'm so fucking sorry for the hurt I caused you," he is banging on the door. The door opened a second later, and he walked in. Ellis got on his knees and tilted my head towards him. However, I refused to look at him. I pushed him away from me.

" Leave me alone," I implored, " I don't want to see you, Ellis," I buried my face in my legs.

" No, Love,"

" You lied to me!" I shouted angrily, hitting his chest severely, but he didn't budge, " You said you wouldn't hurt me, but here we are! You fucked her, shared with her intimate parts of you,"

He was silent after my sudden outburst, filled with shame.

" I hate you. I wish I didn't love you!" I screamed, tears rolling down my cheeks. Ellis gently grabbed my wrist and carried me to the bedroom despite my struggle. He laid me on the bed, stroking my hair, and sat next to me.

" Rest, I'll see you tomorrow evening," he said, but I didn't answer him, just closing my eyes.

The next day, I was ready to go to class. I wore sunglasses because I had bags under my eyes from not getting enough sleep.

I step out of the elevator only to find Charlotte in the lobby of my building. I frowned as she approached me with a grin on her face. She wore a short skirt and a white dress shirt that I recognized as Ellis'.

The omega reeked of my boyfriend, and my hands balled into a fist.

" Hi, Love," she waved, and I narrowed my gaze at her.

" May I help you?" I asked, looking at her icily, and she took a step back, intimidated by me.

" Well, I just wanted us to walk to class together," she said.

I didn't answer her and walked to the campus, "You hate me, don't you?" Charlotte suddenly said after a long silence.

I stared at her sharply, my gaze piercing, "You slept with my boyfriend; should I commend you?"

" He's my mate," she shrugged her shoulders. I stopped walking and looked at her,

" What is it you want, Charlotte?"

She hesitated for a while before she spoke," My mate, "

Tears welled in my eyes, and my shoulders relaxed. I breathed in through my mouth and exhaled.

" He's in turmoil. He loves you but is mated to me and is in pain," Charlotte continued quietly.

" I'm not leaving him, Love. He's everything I've ever wanted in a man and is mine by right," she paused to breathe deeply and said, " You're the intruder, and if you love him, you'll leave him,"

I wanted to cry and scream, no, he was mine. He's been mine since I was six years old. He made me promises. He loves me so much. The moon goddess made a mistake by pairing them because Ellis was MINE, but I didn't do any of that. I scrutinized the girl in front of me. She was bold and not sheepish.

" The mate bond is too hard to ignore, Love, and if he dares reject me, I'll kill myself, and my blood will be on your hands. Ellis will resent you eventually," Her brown eyes flashed, and I raised an eyebrow. Was that her wolf on the surface? Lone wolves were disconnected from their counterparts. Charlotte said so herself!

I turned around to leave, but she called my name boldly.

" We slept together after he left your apartment last night, and he told me he wants me but doesn't want to break your heart because you've been together for so long," My heart clenched in my chest after her words, and Vee winced. I walked away as if it didn't bother me, but I was dying inside.

Once in my apartment, I grabbed my phone and responded to K-Corp's email.

I ACCEPT TO INTERN WITH YOUR COMPANY. I wrote and sent it. I went to my closet and started packing my things. Three hours went by, and I checked my emails. I was surprised to see that the president himself responded to me.

David Kofflin: Amazing, we can't wait to have you here. The new company is in New York. Are you prepared to leave?

We discussed the details, and he told me they would pay me good money, which was rare. Interns always worked for free until they proved themselves.

Leaving this pack was good for me, away from Ellis and Charlotte. What she said earlier was right. I was the intruder, and I was hurting Ellis. He couldn't decide, so I'll do it for him.

I paced around the salon with a glass of wine in my hand. I've had such good times here, and I'll miss all my friends too.

' We shall come back again, right?' My inner lycan, Vee, asked.

' I don't think so, no,' I answered.

She was sad. This pack had been our home for ten years, but she knew it was for the best. I wanted to forget Ellis. I've loved him for many years; now, this is where it ends. I looked at the pictures on my phone a few times, and tears rolled down my face again. He was a handsome man indeed, and Charlotte was a lucky girl. Charlotte. I've never seen her be so confident before. I cleared my throat and called my dad, Edward Chasia. I wanted him to prepare a plane for me as I can't use Ellis' anymore.

" Hello, my love," he greeted me, and a smile appeared on my lips. I missed him so dearly. I remember he was against my coming here, but I was adamant and just wanted to be close to my boyfriend.

" Hi, Dad," We exchanged pleasantries, and I sighed.

" I want to go home," I informed him.

" That's great, we miss you. Are you coming with Ellis?" he growled, the last part. My father was protective of me. I was his little girl, and he was heartbroken when I joined this pack, The Grey Lycan Pack.

" No, I'm coming alone. Can you please make transport arrangements for me?" I was barely able to keep the crack in my voice. Dad was silent. I could tell he had questions because he could sense my sadness through the phone but didn't ask.

" Alright, my Princess. I'll prepare a private plane for you."

" Thank you, Dad,"

I didn't tell Lilac that I was leaving the pack. She would cry and convince me to stay, so I'd call her when I landed in the Golden Lycan Pack.

I called my driver to help me with my bags, and as soon as I stepped out of the apartment, I met Lilac. My best friend's eyes were glassy, and she was crying when she looked at the bags. She ran to me and wrapped her arms around me.

" I'm sorry," my voice was soft. I caressed my cheek.

" Don't leave me," she cried, and I wiped her tears away with my thumbs.

" We'll talk, I promise. However, I can't stay," I said, dejected. Lilac was trying to understand.

" Where are you going?" She finally asked.

" I accepted an intern out of the country. It's a good opportunity," I told her. I couldn't tell her with whom or where because Ellis could command her to talk. She knew that, so she didn't ask all the details. No one could ever ignore an alpha's command, let alone one as powerful as Ellis Carter.

" You will do great, I just know, but what about your courses?" she asked.

" Well, I only have a few months left, so I'll continue elsewhere," I informed her. She smiled at me and gave me the longest of hugs.

Lilac was sobbing. I'd never seen her cry so much, and I felt awful. I waved at her as I entered the car.

" Airport," I said to the driver.

" Yes, ma'am,"

I watched the scenery as we moved, and images of Ellis and I doing something came to mind with each building. We have a lot of memories together. He told me he would forever hold me because I was his soulmate, not because a deity chose, but because he did. He promised me his heart and soul.

I felt like crying again, but I was tired, so I took deep breaths and closed my eyes. Goodbye, Ellis.