I had been with Damon for ten years, and yet here I was, still waiting for a sign that he saw a future with me. No mark, no proposal, not even a serious conversation about us.

But lately, I wasn’t even sure “us” was still a thing. Damon had grown distant, his attention focused on Serena, a stunning she-wolf from our pack. She seemed to always be where he was—at meetings, during training, even now, at the pack party.

The party was supposed to be a celebration for the pack, but for me, it felt more like torture. I stood near the drink table, watching Damon and Serena laugh like they were the only two people in the room.

She leaned in, whispering something in his ear, and he grinned.

I was about to leave when Serena approached me, a plate of food in hand.

“You should try this, Elara…” she said sweetly, holding the plate out to me. Her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

I looked at the food—there were herbs sprinkled all over it. My stomach twisted. “Thanks, but I’m good,” I said, stepping back.

“Oh, come on!” she insisted, pushing the plate toward me. “Damon said you’re too picky. It’s good to try new things.”

Damon appeared behind her, his expression unreadable. “Elara, don’t make a scene. It’s just food.”

“You know I’m allergic,” I said firmly, looking at both of them.

Serena’s smile turned smug as she raised an eyebrow. “It’s just a little herb, Elara. You’re not going to die from one bite.”

Damon sighed, clearly annoyed. “She’s right. You’ll be fine.”

My heart sank. I stared at him, hoping for a hint of the man I once knew, but he just looked bored.

“Fine,” I muttered, not wanting to argue anymore. I took the plate and turned away, setting it down on the nearest table.

But it was too late. The scent of the herbs had already triggered my allergy. My throat tightened, and a wave of dizziness hit me.

“Damon…” I gasped, clutching at my chest.

He didn’t even move. “Someone get the doc,” he said casually, taking Serena’s arm. “She does this all the time.”

The last thing I saw before everything went black was the two of them walking away, laughing.

***

I woke up to the sterile smell of the pack doctor’s office. The faint beeping of a heart monitor filled the room, and my Dad was sitting beside me, his arms crossed and his face tight with anger.

“Elara,” he said sharply, “what the hell are you doing with that man?!”

I didn’t answer. My throat was raw, and my chest felt heavy, but the ache in my heart was worse.

“You need to leave him,” my father said firmly. “I mean it. He doesn’t care about you. He doesn’t even respect you.”

“D-dad…”

“No.” He cut me off. “Listen to me. There’s an arranged marriage proposal on the table. He’s from a strong pack, and he’ll treat you like you deserve. The wedding is in five days.”

I blinked at him, trying to process what he was saying. “Five days?”

“Yes,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “It’s time to move on, Elara. Damon doesn’t deserve you.”

He was right. Deep down, I knew it. But knowing and accepting were two very different things.

He took a deep breath before continuing. “I’ll head back home first. There’s a company meeting I need to attend. Lydia called me when she heard you were in the pack hospital because of your allergy. I only came because I knew you’d never ask for help.”

I winced at the mention of Aunt Lydia’s call, the reminder that my family was watching over me even when I tried to hide everything.

He softened slightly but then reminded me, “End things with Damon as soon as possible, Elara. You need to be on the next plane home. It’s time to move forward.”

His words hung in the air, and I felt the weight of them in my chest. There was no going back.

***

When I got back to my place, my phone buzzed with a flood of messages from my Dad. Venues, dresses, flower arrangements—it was overwhelming. I scrolled through his texts until I found one that hit me hard.

[If he cared, he wouldn’t have let ten years pass without committing. Stop wasting your time.]

I sighed, sending him a quick voice note. “Just pick whatever you think is best for your only daughter, Dad. Let’s keep this wedding simple.”

As I put my phone down, Damon walked in.

“Who were you talking to?” he asked, his tone suspicious.

“No one important,” I said, tucking my phone away.

His eyes narrowed. “What’s this about a wedding?”

My heart skipped a beat, but I forced myself to stay calm. “Nothing. Just family stuff.”

He stepped closer, but before he could press further, his phone rang.

“Damon!” Serena’s panicked voice came through the line. “Someone’s following me. I’m so scared!”

His expression instantly shifted to concern. “Where are you?”

“I’m near the woods. Can you come get me?”

Without another word, he grabbed his keys and rushed out the door.

He didn’t even look back.

I stood there, the weight of everything crushing me. This was the man I had wasted ten years on—a man who would always choose someone else.

“Damon!” I called after him, my voice trembling with anger, “are you serious right now?”

“I’ll explain later,” he said over his shoulder, already halfway out the door.

The door slammed shut behind him, leaving me standing there, alone. Again.

I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. There was nothing left to explain.

That night, I called my aunt.

“Aunt Lydia, I just wanted to thank you for everything over the years. I’ll be leaving soon.”

“Leaving? Where are you going?”

“I’m getting married,” I said simply.

“To Damon?” she asked, her tone hopeful.

“No,” I said firmly. “It’s an arranged match. Someone from another pack.”

She was silent for a moment before speaking softly. “Are you sure about this?”

“I’m sure.” My voice didn’t waver. “Damon and I have been stuck in this gray area for ten years. It’s time for me to move forward.”

Her sigh was heavy with emotion, but she didn’t argue. “If that’s what you want, then I support you.”

That night, I set a countdown on my phone: five days until the wedding.

The next morning, I finalized everything with my Dad. By evening, a truckload of gifts arrived at my aunt’s house as a thank-you for all she had done for me.

Damon and Serena walked side by side, carrying bags filled with books and office supplies. From where I stood, they looked exactly like a young couple preparing to start a new project together. Serena’s laughter echoed faintly as she nudged Damon with her shoulder, her delicate figure trailing closely behind him.

I clenched my fists at my sides and turned my attention to Aunt Lydia, who had come down to greet me.

“Dad sent over some gifts for you,” I said casually. “Make sure to check the expiration dates so nothing goes bad.”

Aunt Lydia opened her mouth, likely about to comment on Damon and Serena, but I cut her off. I didn’t want to hear it.

Damon noticed us and, for the first time in weeks, took the initiative to explain himself.

“Elara, don’t get the wrong idea,” he said, shifting awkwardly. “Serena’s old office was too far from the pack lands, so I helped her find a new workspace. I didn’t know it was near your aunt’s place.”

I didn’t even glance at him. “That’s none of my business. I’m here to deliver the stuff my Dad sent. We don’t know when we’ll be back, so she sent a lot.”

Hearing that, Damon visibly relaxed, relieved I wasn’t starting an argument.

“No problem,” he said lightly. “The Calastiral Territory isn’t far. Let me know whenever you want to visit.”

He still had no idea I wasn’t planning on coming back, and I had no intention of telling him.

Aunt Lydia frowned, glancing at Serena, who was now adjusting one of the bags in Damon’s hands. Her smile faltered when she noticed Aunt Lydia’s scrutinizing gaze, but she quickly recovered.

The four of us stood there in awkward silence until Serena spoke up, feigning exhaustion.

“Damon, this is so heavy. Can we take the elevator first? I’m getting tired.”

“Of course,” Damon said, turning to the delivery driver. “Hold off on bringing up the rest for now. We’ll go up first.”

I stepped aside without a word, letting them pass. Damon hesitated for a moment, maybe expecting me to protest, but when I didn’t, he hurried into the elevator with Serena.

As the doors closed, I couldn’t help but remember a time when I had been in her place. Back when Aunt Lydia first moved, Damon had been just as attentive to me—carrying my bags, setting up my things, smiling as he called me the “future lady of the house.”

Watching them now felt like looking at a version of myself I barely recognized anymore.

Aunt Lydia sighed beside me, breaking my thoughts. “Are you really okay with this?”

“There’s no misunderstanding,” I said flatly. “He’s never let one stay overnight. If he hasn’t explained, then it’s because there’s nothing to explain.”

She studied me for a moment, her expression unreadable, before nodding.

I delivered the gifts to Aunt Lydia and said my goodbyes, but Damon and Serena were still upstairs. Out of courtesy—maybe out of habit—I sent him a quick message asking when he’d be back.

His response came almost instantly, but it wasn’t a text. It was a voice message.

“Elara,” Serena’s sweet voice chimed in, “Damon’s helping me unpack some equipment and set up my new office space. It’s a lot of work, and there’s so much to do. Don’t wait up, okay?”

I stared at my phone, unsure if I wanted to laugh or cry.

Then another message popped up.

“By the way, don’t overthink this,” Serena added. “Damon just felt sorry for me because I’m new here and don’t know anyone. He’s just being a good Alpha-in-training. You understand, right?”

My chest tightened, but I refused to let it show. Without replying, I closed the app and called a cab.

As I gazed out the window during the ride home, Damon called me. I debated ignoring it but picked up, curious what he’d say.

“Elara,” he began, his tone frustrated, “why are you being so harsh with Serena? She’s just a subordinate, and I was helping her get settled. It’s not a big deal.”

“Since when do you act like this?” I shot back. “At the pack's celebration party, you couldn’t even pretend to care about me. Now you’re bending over backward for her?”

“She’s new to the pack!” he snapped. “The company hasn’t arranged her workspace yet. Of course, I had to help. Why are you so insecure about this?”

In the background, I heard Serena’s soft voice. “Damon, don’t fight. I don’t want to come between you two, please?”

Her voice was dripping with sweetness, but I could see through it now.

I took a deep breath, my voice calm despite the storm inside me. “You’re right. My bad. Don’t worry—I’m already home. You don’t have to explain anything to me.”

When Damon heard the coldness in my voice, he hesitated, his usual confidence slipping. He tried to say something, but I hung up before he could finish. I could practically feel his frustration through the phone.

That was the last time I let Damon’s words affect me. I had a new future to focus on, one that didn’t include him.

Back at the apartment, my phone wouldn’t stop buzzing with notifications. I glanced at the screen and saw they were all from the pack chat. I hadn’t left it yet, even though I should’ve months ago.

At the top of the feed was a photo from Serena. She’d posted a picture of Damon assembling furniture at the new office. His sleeves were rolled up, hair slightly tousled, looking like some kind of corporate hero.

[Who else has an alpha this thoughtful?] she wrote, with a string of heart-eyed emojis. [Can I sign a lifetime contract already?]

The comments rolled in fast.

[Wow, Damon setting up furniture himself? Isn’t he always delegating everything?]

[He looks good doing it, though! Serena, you’re so lucky!]

[Looks like someone’s already the next Mrs. Damon.]

I scrolled through, my stomach turning at every message. Before Serena showed up, Damon used to do everything with me. He’d call me his partner, the one he trusted most. Now, it was clear that trust had shifted.

I didn’t bother reading the rest. I tossed my phone on the counter. None of it mattered anymore.

I went to my room to pack up my things. The apartment didn’t even feel like mine anymore—it hadn’t for a long time. While I was boxing up my belongings, I found a wooden box shoved to the back of my closet.

Inside were all the little gifts Damon had given me over the years: a silver bracelet, a necklace with the pack crest, handwritten notes about how much he cared. They used to mean everything to me, but now they just felt like weights holding me back.

I grabbed the box and headed outside. The clearing was quiet, bathed in the soft light of the full moon. It was the same place where our pack held celebrations and ceremonies, but tonight, it was just for me.

I set the box in the middle of the fire pit and lit a match. The flames caught quickly, swallowing the mementos one by one. The bracelet melted, the paper curled into ash, and with each piece that burned, I felt lighter.

This was my way of letting go.

The sound of footsteps made me glance over my shoulder. Damon was storming toward me, his eyes wide with disbelief.

“Elara, what the hell are you doing?!” he shouted.

I didn’t look at him, keeping my focus on the fire.

He came closer, his voice rising. “You’re burning everything? Are you insane? Those were our memories!”

I finally turned to face him, my voice calm. “Your memories, Damon. Not mine. This was all stuff you gave me to make yourself feel better. I’m done carrying it around.”

He stared at me, his frustration boiling over. “You’re seriously just throwing it all away? Like none of it ever mattered?”

I shrugged, keeping my tone even. “It mattered to me once, but not anymore. You made sure of that.”

For a moment, he just stood there, his chest heaving like he was about to explode. Then, without another word, he turned and walked away.

I stayed by the fire, watching it burn until there was nothing left but embers. As the flames died down, I felt something inside me shift. For the first time in years, I wasn’t holding on to the past.

I was finally free.

I dusted myself off, standing in the soft glow of the fire. The warmth on my face didn’t match the icy tone of my voice.

“It’s fine,” I said flatly. “I found a bunch of bugs crawling in the box—probably cockroaches—so I burned it.”