Kyle

I stood frozen, staring at the shattered vase on the floor. Bree's perfume tormented me. She was just here earlier in this quiet and empty house. Something was wrong, and my gut churned as I realized what it was.

I rushed through the room and searched desperately for her. But I found empty drawers and bare closets. Every trace of Bree was gone.

"No," I whispered, my heart sinking with the realization.

But she had left. The memory of her lying in that hospital bed flooded back to me. Her frail body, her tear-streaked face, and the anger in her voice when she screamed for me to leave. And I did, even accepted her rejection like a coward.

When I turned, something caught my eye on the nightstand - a small black box. My hands shook as I opened it, revealing a stack of photos inside. Photos of Janice and me together, smiling and laughing. I almost stopped breathing.

Bree knew about us all along. How long had she been suffering in silence? How long had she watched me destroy our relationship?

The door creaked behind me, and I whirled around to see Janice standing there with her practiced smile that now made my stomach turn.

"You knew she was leaving," I growled.

Janice tilted her head innocently.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb," I snapped, holding up one of the photos.

"Where did these come from?"

Her smile faltered for a moment but recovered quickly.

"Maybe Bree had someone following us?" she suggested.

"Don't lie to me!" I barked, moving towards her.

Janice's expression hardened as she admitted, "Fine. I sent them."

The truth hit me like a punch to the gut. Anger and betrayal boiled within me.

"Why? Why would you do that?"

"Because she wasn't good enough for you!" Janice's voice rose in defiance.

"She was weak, Kyle. You're the Alpha. You need someone strong by your side, not some fragile omega who can't even..."

"Stop!" I roared, cutting her off.

But she didn't.

"She had always intended to leave you, Kyle. I just helped speed up the process."

Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. Bree hadn't left because she was weak; she left because I made her believe she wasn't worthy.

"Get out," I ordered through gritted teeth.

"What? Are you serious?"

Janice's eyes widened in disbelief.

"You heard me. Pack your things and leave the pack. You're done here."

Janice's face twisted in shock.

"You're throwing me out? After everything?"

"After everything?" I chuckled.

"You betrayed Bree and me. There's no place for you here."

Janice was about to argue but stopped when she realized I wouldn't listen.

I sank onto the bed when she left. The smell of roses still lingered in the room, and it brought back every memory of Bree. She had always loved and believed in me. Bree had been my everything, and I had been too caught up in my own selfishness to see it. I made her leave me.

I grabbed my jacket and stormed out of the house. I needed to find her.

I was met with a few omegas who greeted me on my way to car parking.

"Where is she?" I demanded.

"Luna Bree?" one of them said hesitantly.

"Yes. Did she mention where she was going?"

She shook her head and said, "She left this morning. Didn't say much, just packed her things and drove off."

My jaw clenched in frustration. Bree wasn't one for announcing her plans, especially when she was hurting.

I rushed to my car. Guilt and determination battled inside me as I revved the engine. She couldn't have gone far. As I sped down the road, I was reminded of Bree standing in the garden, touching the roses with her fingers.

"These flowers, they're a promise. A reminder that even the thorniest things can bloom again," she once said.

Tears pricked at my eyes as I gripped the steering wheel tighter. The roses were gone now and so was Bree. I tried to speak to her via mind link, but she blocked me.

"I'll find you, Bree. No matter what it takes," I whispered, praying she would unblock me and talk to me.

Bree

Pain radiated through my body as I slowly opened my eyes. I realized that I was no longer in the forest. But I was sure I drove, ditched my car, and entered the forest to die. Instead, I found myself in a room that smelled of cedarwood and an unfamiliar scent that somehow felt comforting yet foreign at the same time.

"You're finally awake," a deep voice said.

I turned my head slowly, wincing at the pain from my broken ribs. A man stood near the doorway, tall and broad-shouldered with deep green eyes.

"Where am I?" I croaked out.

"Bloodmoon Pack," he replied, stepping closer.

"You collapsed in the forest, and my patrol found you."

I attempted to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through me, forcing me to stop. I hadn't fully healed from the accident yet.

"Why did you help me?"

"Would you have preferred if I hadn't?"

He wasn't mocking, only curious. But I ignored him and looked away.

"I'm Finn," he introduced, sitting in the chair near my bed.

"Bree."

"I know."

And it made my wolf stir inside me, uneasy but also intrigued.

The door opened, and Rosa entered, looking pale but relieved when she saw me awake.

"Bree," she exclaimed, hurrying to my side.

"You're alive, thanks to the Moon Goddess."

Rosa's healer eyes scanned me for any injuries. Her fingers brushed over my wrist until she saw the faint mark.

"It seems dormant for now," she said cautiously.

"For now," I repeated bitterly.

"You need to rest, Bree. The curse feeds on your emotions. If you don't stay calm..."

"I know, Rosa," I snapped, cutting her off.

"I've lived with it long enough."

Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn't argue. She turned to Finn and nodded her thanks.

"Alpha Finn, I'll keep an eye on her."

"I'm sure you will," Finn responded without moving.

Rosa hesitated before finally leaving us alone.

Finn remained silent, his gaze on me with unsettling calmness. I hated it. It was nothing like Kyle's easy arrogance or sharp words. His patient silence was unnerving.

"What do you want?" I demanded, breaking the silence.

"To help."

"I don't need your help."

"Your body says otherwise."

I glared at him, but he didn't even flinch. Instead, he leaned forward slightly with his eyes growing darker.

"You felt it too, didn't you?" he asked.

I stiffened.

"Felt what?"

"The bond."

My wolf stirred again, this time feeling more restless.

"You're wrong," I denied.

But Finn's steady gaze never wavered.

"Am I?

I clenched the blanket tightly, trying to ignore the pull I felt towards him. My bond with Kyle was broken, but that didn't mean I should get a new one.

"You're my second mate," Finn declared.

"Don't," I warned.

"You know it's true. Your wolf feels it, too."

A small whimper escaped from Asha, my wolf, a sound I hadn't heard in weeks.

“Do you really think these changes anything?” I snapped, my anger masking my fear.

“It doesn’t. I’m not going to stay here.”

“I’m not asking you to. But running won’t fix what’s broken, Bree.”

“Don’t act like you know me."

“I don’t. But I want to.”

His honesty took me by surprise. Kyle had never been like this.

“I’ll stay until I heal. Then I’m leaving," I stated.

Finn nodded but hope still beamed in his eyes.

Days passed, and I kept my distance, but Finn made it difficult. He was always around, always watching me. Not in a controlling way, but in a way that made it impossible to ignore him.

One evening, I wandered outside, drawn to the quiet garden behind the packhouse.

“You like it?”

I jumped at Finn's voice and turned to see him leaning against a tree.

“It's...peaceful,” I admitted.

“My mother planted this garden. She believed that flowers could heal even the deepest wounds.”

“Flowers can't fix everything," I scoffed.

“No. But it's a start. Look, you don't have to trust me. But I'll be here when you're ready.”

“I don't know if I'll ever be ready,” I whispered.

Then, we both went silent. Meanwhile, Kyle's car screeched to a halt at the border of Bloodmoon Pack.

“She's here,” Kyle muttered, his eyes narrowed as he stepped out.

Kyle

As soon as my vehicle stopped at the main gate, Bloodmoon warriors surrounded me like predators eyeing their prey. The leader, a massive figure with a jagged scar on his jaw, looked ready for a confrontation.

“What do you want?” he challenged.

“I’m here for Bree,” I stated firmly, exuding the confidence of an Alpha.

“Move aside.”

He smirked but didn’t budge.

“Alpha Finn doesn’t welcome uninvited guests.”

“Then let him come and tell me himself,” I growled.

Just then, Finn appeared, striding forward with an air of calm confidence that ignited my irritation.

“Kyle,” Finn acknowledged, stopping beside his warriors.

“I figured you’d show up.”

“Where is she?” I immediately said.

Finn crossed his arms with a smirk.

“She doesn’t want to see you.”

“You don’t have the right to speak for her.”

I stepped closer, asserting my Alpha presence.

“I’ll hear it from her directly.”

“As you wish," Finn said, still smirking as he turned toward the training grounds.

“Bree.”

That’s when I spotted Bree in the middle of a sparring match, fierce and radiant. My heart tightened at the sight, but when she turned to look at me, her expression was unreadable. She approached; annoyance evident as she wiped the sweat from her brow.

“What do you want, Kyle?” she asked.

“I came to take you home."

Her eyes narrowed and she let out a laugh.

“Home? Is that what you’re calling it now?”

“Bree..."

“No," she interrupted.

“You can’t just show up here and act like nothing happened. You made your choice.”

Her words hit harder than I expected, but I stood my ground.

“I messed up, Bree. I see that now. But I’m here, and I won’t leave without you.”

“You don’t get to make decisions for me. Not anymore."

I glanced at Finn, who stood quietly beside her, his presence both aggravating and intentional.

“Is this your doing?” I demanded.

“Have you been filling her head with lies about me?”

Finn raised an eyebrow.

“You’re overestimating my role. Bree doesn’t need my help to see the truth. You provided her with all the proof she required.”

My anger surged, and I raised my voice, “Do you really think you can replace me? She’s, my mate!”

“Not anymore," Finn said flatly.

“Enough!” Bree yelled, cutting the brewing tension between Finn and me.

Her eyes blazed with anger as she shifted her gaze between us.

“This isn’t about you, Kyle. It’s about me. I refuse to be a pawn in your games any longer.”

I stepped closer, desperation creeping into my voice.

“Bree, please. Don’t do this. Don’t throw away what we had.”

For a moment, her expression softened, but it quickly hardened again.

“You were the one who threw it away first.”

Her words struck a blow, leaving me speechless. She was right, and I couldn't argue with that.

Finn’s hand brushed against her arm, and Odin, my wolf, howled at the sight. It wasn’t out of jealousy; it was a protective instinct. Finn didn’t just want Bree; he wanted her to feel safe with him.

“I’ll always fight for you,” I vowed.

“Always.”

Bree tilted her head, studying me as if I were a stranger.

"Sometimes, letting go is the real fight, Kyle. You should consider it.”

Her words pierced my heart like a knife.

“You’ve heard her,” Finn said calmly.

“Leave. Now.”

“I’m not done here.”

“Yes, you are.”

Odin was ready to leap at Finn, but Bree’s voice held him back.

“Kyle, you need to go home.”

I considered ignoring her, pushing past Finn, and taking her back to where she belonged. But the determination in her eyes anchored me in place. She wasn’t begging; she was resolute and defeated. And so, with a heavy heart, I turned, and my fists clenched at my sides.

As I approached the gate, Finn’s warriors stepped aside, their faces smug with satisfaction. I brushed them off, my focus solely on Bree and the faint connection that still flickered between us, despite her dismissal.

"Finn, you might have won right now, but I am not someone who can get intimidated easily. Watch me take her back," I muttered as I went inside the car and left for now.