Chapter 2

A blast of music filled the silence on Aldric’s end, lingering for a moment before he sighed deeply.

"Selene, not this again." His voice carried quiet exasperation, the same tone he always used when he didn’t want to deal with me.

I froze, my heart pounding. What did he mean by not this again? He was the one who had broken another promise, yet somehow, I was the unreasonable one for feeling hurt?

Anger flared in my chest, and I snapped before I could stop myself. "I know exactly where you are and what you’re doing, Aldric! You think I can’t see? Seraphine practically parades it all over the pack network! Maybe you should tell her to stop posting those pictures if you don’t want everyone to find out!"

With that, I hung up, my hands shaking as I turned my phone on silent.

I had never felt so humiliated. Seraphine had made sure everyone in the pack saw them together, yet Aldric acted like I was being unreasonable, like I was the problem.

I stalked over to the closet and yanked it open. As I grabbed my suitcase from the top shelf, my eyes landed on a small red gift bag, hidden behind the cases. My heart clenched. I had bought it just last week, a customized leather field kit, perfect for Aldric’s next expedition. It was deep navy, the exact color of the midnight sky he loved.

I shoved it aside, feeling a wave of bitterness. There would be no more gifts, no more trying to make things better.

Quickly, I packed my clothes and the few personal items I had brought into Aldric’s villa. I was determined to leave tonight. It didn’t matter if I had nowhere to go—anywhere was better than here, in this hollow house that wasn’t truly mine.

It took hours to gather everything. When I finished, I called a taxi and left without looking back.

---

It had been years since I’d last stepped foot in this apartment. My parents had given it to me after I secured my position as a researcher at the Silverclaw Institute. It was modest but enough for me. Back then, I chose to stay here rather than move into Aldric’s estate, wanting to keep my independence.

But as time passed, Aldric insisted it would be easier if we lived together. His home had the space, the amenities, and more importantly, it allowed us to be seen as the future of the Silverclaw Pack—Alpha and Luna. After all, who would question the mate bond between us if we were under one roof?

It seemed so logical at the time. How could I have known that moving in with him would be the beginning of our slow unraveling?

As I set my suitcase down in the old living room, I felt a wave of exhaustion hit me. I barely had the energy to pull off the plastic covers that had protected the furniture while I was away. With little thought, I collapsed onto the bare mattress, not bothering to unpack.

Even after all this time together, we had never felt further apart. How had things gone so wrong?

---

The next morning, the shrill sound of my phone alarm dragged me from sleep. Groaning, I reached over and saw a string of messages from Aldric.

*Selene, stop being dramatic. It was a last-minute meeting. Seraphine needed help with negotiations for her family’s trade contract.*

*We’re not children anymore. Come back once you’ve calmed down.*

His words lit a fire in my chest.

*Dramatic?* I seethed as I tossed the phone onto the bed and stormed into the kitchen. Grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge, I paced back and forth, trying to shake off the anger boiling inside me.

The word *childish* echoed in my mind. Was I really overreacting? Was I being unreasonable for wanting my mate to choose me for once?

I couldn’t count how many times Aldric had canceled our plans—postponing outings, skipping dinners with his family, all because Seraphine had called for him. She was always in need of *something*, always requiring his attention.

I thought back to the night she called him, sobbing over a horror movie. *A horror movie,* of all things! My lupine hearing picked up her pitiful voice over the phone, begging Aldric to comfort her. She wasn’t even alone. Her staff was there around the clock.

But that hadn’t stopped him. He had changed out of his pajamas without hesitation, telling me, “Seraphine needs me, Selene. I have to go.”

I tried to argue with him that night, but he only sighed, his patience running thin. “I’ve told you before, there’s nothing between us,” he said. “You’re being unreasonable.”

I had pushed further, trying to make him see how much it hurt me, but his response had been cold. "If your mind is already made up," he had said, "then what’s the point of convincing you otherwise?"

He had left, every time. Taking his own car, dismissing the chauffeur, and driving straight to Seraphine.

And the next day, without fail, Aldric would pull some grand romantic gesture—an extravagant dinner, a surprise gift—and I would forgive him. We would fall back into the rhythm of our relationship, pretending everything was fine.

But the cycle never broke. And the more we repeated it, the more I realized that our bond was weakening, that Aldric was slipping away from me.

He thought I couldn’t see it, but I wasn’t blind. I wasn’t stupid.

The truth was, I had allowed myself to be swept along, to keep forgiving him because I loved him. But now, I finally understood why I needed to stop.

And that’s why this time, I wasn’t going to fall for him again.

—

### Chapter 3

The night air was cool as I left my apartment, heading toward the lounge where Eamon’s celebration was being held. I had made up my mind—if Aldric wanted to play his games, so be it, but I wasn’t going to let him control my every move anymore. He had sent me a message about the event, but I didn’t bother responding. If he expected me to grovel for his attention, he was mistaken.

I took a deep breath as I approached the venue, trying to calm the anxious flutter in my chest. The faint hum of the pack’s network buzzed around me, but I blocked it out. Tonight, I wanted to feel free, even if only for a moment.

Just as I was about to enter the lounge, a firm body collided with mine, knocking me off balance. I gasped, but before I could fall, a pair of strong hands caught me, steadying me effortlessly.

My heart skipped a beat as I looked up, expecting to meet Aldric’s sharp, cold gaze. But instead, I found myself staring into the eyes of a stranger. His scent wrapped around me like a warm blanket—rich, earthy, and strangely comforting. It was unlike anything I had ever encountered, calming my frayed nerves in an instant.

“I’m sorry,” I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. But before I could say more, the stranger stepped back, his expression unreadable.

“It’s alright,” he said, his voice deep and smooth. His eyes lingered on mine for a split second, as if he was searching for something, before he nodded and disappeared into the crowd.

I blinked, trying to process what had just happened. Who was he? And why did his presence feel so… familiar? I shook my head, pushing the thought away. This wasn’t the time to get distracted. I had a party to attend and a façade to maintain.

---

As I entered the lounge, the dim lights and soft music set a relaxed, intimate atmosphere. Eamon’s celebration was in full swing, the pack’s elites gathered in clusters, laughing and chatting over drinks. I scanned the room and spotted Aldric almost immediately, standing near the bar, his expression unreadable as always.

But I didn’t go to him.

Instead, I walked toward the back of the lounge, keeping my distance. The less I had to deal with his icy demeanor tonight, the better. I could feel his eyes following me as I moved, but I pretended not to notice. I wasn’t going to play his game.

Eamon, ever the life of the party, spotted me from across the room and waved enthusiastically. He broke away from his conversation and made his way over, his broad grin lighting up his face.

“Selene! You made it!” he exclaimed, wrapping me in a quick, friendly hug. “I wasn’t sure if you’d show.”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” I replied with a smile, though my heart wasn’t entirely in it. Eamon had always been kind to me, one of the few who didn’t treat me like an outsider because of my omega status. He had never judged me for being Aldric’s mate—or for the fact that our bond had been slowly disintegrating.

“Come, let me get you a drink,” Eamon said, leading me to the bar. He ordered for both of us and handed me a glass of wine, his eyes twinkling mischievously. “You know, you might be the only person in this room who can keep up with me when it comes to celebrating.”

I laughed softly, grateful for his light-heartedness. “I’ll do my best.”

We chatted for a while, but my mind kept drifting back to the stranger outside the lounge. His scent still lingered faintly in my senses, a soothing balm to the chaos swirling inside me. Who was he? And why had his presence affected me so deeply?

Before I could dwell on it further, the door to the private room opened, and the conversation in the lounge quieted slightly as Aldric walked in, Seraphine at his side. She was dressed in her usual elegant style, her laughter light and easy as she clung to his arm.

I felt a pang in my chest, but I forced myself to remain calm. Aldric’s gaze swept over the room, briefly landing on me before he turned his attention to Seraphine, guiding her to their seats.

Eamon, noticing the tension between us, leaned in and whispered, “You okay?”

I gave him a small nod, though my heart felt heavy. “I’ll be fine.”

As the night wore on, I did my best to blend into the background, quietly sipping my drink and making small talk with the other guests. But every so often, I caught Aldric watching me from across the room, his eyes cold and calculating.

At one point, I excused myself to get some air, slipping out onto the balcony to escape the suffocating atmosphere inside. The cool breeze was a welcome relief, and I closed my eyes, trying to center myself.

“You always were one to slip away unnoticed,” a deep voice said from behind me.

I turned, startled, to find Aldric standing in the doorway, his arms crossed as he leaned casually against the frame.

“I needed some air,” I replied, my voice tight.

Aldric’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he stepped forward, his presence imposing as always. “You’ve been avoiding me all night.”

I clenched my jaw, unwilling to let him drag me into another one of his manipulative games. “Maybe I just don’t feel like playing your little power games anymore.”

A flash of irritation crossed his face, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. “We need to talk, Selene.”

“I don’t think there’s anything left to talk about,” I said, taking a step back. “You made your choices clear.”

Aldric’s gaze darkened, his wolf instincts rippling just beneath the surface. “You’re mine, Selene. Don’t forget that.”

The words sent a chill down my spine, but I stood my ground. “Maybe I don’t want to be yours anymore.”

For a moment, we stood there, locked in a silent battle of wills. Aldric’s eyes were cold, calculating, and for the first time, I saw the true depth of his indifference.

“I’ll always have what’s mine,” he said finally, his voice low and dangerous.

---

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