I’ve always been Alexis’ number one fan, especially when it comes to horseback riding. Even though he highly refuses to let me watch his matches, I’ve always supported him. But this time, things are different. This game is too important, too big to miss. Despite his insistence that I stay away, I’m determined to be there. Maybe I’ll hide in the middle rows and cheer him on from a distance. I don’t care what he says—I just need to see him ride.

The match starts at three, so I told my colleagues I'd only be working a half day. Thankfully, they were understanding and let me leave early. As a healer in the Mighty Red Pack, I have responsibilities, but today, my heart is somewhere else.

As I packed up my things, my best friend Jade, tapped my shoulder, letting out a long sigh. "When is Alexis going to stop hiding your relationship from everyone? Or should I say, when are you going to wake up and realize he’s not treating you the way you deserve?"

I forced a smile. "He loves me, okay?"

"Whatever, Sydney. Enjoy watching the match the same way you enjoy being his secret girlfriend. Take care." Jade’s tone was mocking, but I knew it came from a place of concern. She’d always been like that—blunt but caring. And despite her words, I was grateful to have her as my friend. She only wanted what was best for me.

I sighed, knowing she wasn’t wrong. I’ve been with Alexis for over five years now, but aside from our families and my few close friends, no one knows about us. Alexis made the decision to keep our relationship private—no, hidden.

Alexis Cameron is the Alpha’s son. With his striking looks and unmatched talent at horseback riding, he’s gained quite the reputation and fame, not just within our pack, but among the neighboring packs as well. Girls practically lose their minds whenever he’s around, drooling over his every move.

And Alexis loves that attention. I don’t mind that, really. He’s always said that to maintain his image and popularity, the whole pack have to believe he’s single, that he hasn’t found his fated mate yet. I chose to understand his reasons, but sometimes, deep down, I wish he’d show me off. As much as I try to convince myself it doesn’t matter, the desire to be acknowledged, to be seen, tugs at me.

I rushed back to our shared apartment, eager to fix myself up quickly. After applying some light makeup and slipping into something casual, I headed to the riding arena. It was only two-thirty, but the place was already packed. Scanning the crowd, I noticed plenty of girls waving posters and banners with Alexis’ name on them, their faces full of excitement. My heart sank a little, but I pushed the feeling aside and found a seat in the middle section.

Not long after, the match began. Alexis appeared, riding confidently atop his black racehorse, looking every bit as handsome as ever. His perfect posture and undeniable charisma were on full display, and it was clear why so many women in the crowd were completely smitten. I watched in awe, but deep down, I wished I could cheer for him out loud, proudly letting everyone know that I was his girl. But that dream felt distant—impossible, really.

The match stretched on for more than an hour, and as expected, Alexis claimed first place. He was handed the trophy, and in that moment, I couldn’t resist the urge to capture the scene. I grabbed my camera, moving closer to the front, and snapped a few shots of him looking absolutely perfect.

Then, our eyes met. My heart skipped a beat, and panic surged through me. I quickly tried to duck back into the crowd, hoping he hadn’t really seen me, but it was too late.

His voice invaded my thoughts through our mind-link. “Sydney, what the hell are you doing here? I told you not to come! Don’t you get it? If people find out we’re together, you’ll ruin everything for me!”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. I had expected him to be upset, but hearing the sharpness in his tone stung within me.

From afar, I could see the frustration etched on Alexis’ face. And then, as if to twist the knife, I watched as a crowd of women gathered around him, touching and hugging him freely. My stomach churned, but I forced myself to shrug it off. I didn’t want to upset him any further, so I quietly left the stadium.

Back at our apartment, I decided to prepare a few of his favorite dishes. Cooking was my way of congratulating him on his victory and apologizing for attending the match against his wishes. Hours passed, and it was nearly eleven by the time he returned.

The smell of smoke, liquor, and other women’s scents clung to him like a second skin. My heart sank when I noticed the hickeys scattered along his neck, but I swallowed the lump in my throat. This wasn’t the first time I’d seen something like this. It had happened before, and just like every other time, I reminded myself that it was only fan service—nothing more.

I chose to ignore it all, forcing a smile as I greeted him. “Congratulations on winning, babe. I made you something to eat—all your favorites.”

He didn’t acknowledge my words. Instead, he went straight into lecturing me. “I don’t ever want to see you at one of my matches again. Is that clear? You’re such an eyesore!”

The harshness of his words stung, but I nodded quickly. “I’m sorry.” As he made his way toward the bedroom, I called after him, “Don’t you want to eat first?”

“I never asked you to cook anything,” He snapped, his back still to me. “Eat it yourself. I’m tired.”

I heard him mutter under his breath as he walked away, “What would my supporters think if they knew I was dating a half-blood vampire wolf? They’d hate me.”

He thought I didn’t hear him, so I pretended not to. Deep down, I always knew, but I refused to acknowledge it—all for the sake of keeping him with me. Alexis didn’t just hide me to protect his fame; he was ashamed to be dating a half-blooded vampire wolf.

Yes, a vampire lineage runs through my blood, and I’ve never been ashamed of it. But reality in this pack hits hard. Discrimination is everywhere, and wolves with vampire blood are looked down upon—even more so than Omegas.

As I quietly cleaned up the table, my eyes drifted to the hanging calendar on the wall. Our wedding—small, intimate, and private—was set to happen in just two weeks. A smile tugged at my lips, but it quickly faded when my gaze shifted to the picture beside the calendar. It was a photo of Alexis and Betina, his childhood best friend.

A cold sense of dread crept over me as I realized she would be returning to the pack the day before our wedding.

After cleaning the kitchen and storing the dishes in the refrigerator, I took a quick shower. I changed into my pajamas and slipped quietly into our bedroom. Gently closing the door behind me, I sat on the edge of the bed next to Alexis, glancing at his phone in his hand. His latest message caught my eye: I can’t wait to see you again, Bet. I miss you.

A familiar wave of jealousy surged through me, but like always, I swallowed it down. In this relationship, I’ve learned there’s no room for anger or complaints from me.

"Did you invite her to our wedding?" I asked softly, watching as Alexis immediately turned off his phone. "You should. She’s your best friend, and I know how important she is to you—"

He cut me off before I could finish.

"Shut up, will you? Who said you could look at my phone? Can’t you mind your own business?" His irritation was sharp, cutting through the quiet room.

I flinched, but gently pulled the covers up to my chin and lay down beside him. "I’m sorry..." I murmured, my voice almost a whisper.

Alexis didn’t respond. The silence between us is heavy. Desperate to bridge the growing distance, I tried again. "Babe… can I… hug you?"

I remembered the early days of living together, when he always wanted to cuddle before we fell asleep. He used to say it helped him relax, that he slept better with me in his arms. Back then, we would lie in bed, talking about our days—me, sharing stories about healing, and him, excited about his start-up career as a horseback rider.

But now, things are different.

"You’re so annoying, Sydney." His voice was cold as he stood up from the bed.

I was stunned, retreating further under the blanket as I watched him leave the room. The door slammed behind him, echoing in the silence.

I lay there, heart heavy. I didn’t know exactly when things started to change between us—or maybe, deep down, I did.

When he started winning horseback competitions and gaining popularity, he slowly began to push me aside. Things got worse when Betina came back. That’s when he barely spoke to me, unless he needed something or wanted to lecture me for doing something he didn’t like. It hurt, both as his girlfriend and as his fated mate, but I chose to understand—every time.

After Betina left our pack again, I thought things would return to normal between us. But they didn’t. In fact, they’ve only gotten worse with each passing day. Still, I love him, and I hope he does too, especially now with our wedding just around the corner.

The next morning, I woke up early, but as usual, Alexis was already gone without a word. I cleaned the apartment before getting ready for work.

At eight, I arrived at the infirmary, and one of the head healers approached me right away. “Sydney, do you have a moment? There’s something important we need to discuss.”

I greeted her respectfully, nodding my head, and she motioned for me to follow her into her office. Once inside, she opened a drawer and pulled out several files, then looked at me with a warm smile. “Have a seat, Sydney.”

I sat down, waiting for her to speak.

“These files,” she began, holding them up, “are contracts for the healer we’ve selected. Sydney, I’ve noticed your dedication and how exceptional you are at your work. After discussing with the other heads, we’ve made a decision.” Her words hinted at something promising, though she hadn’t made it entirely clear yet.

“What do you mean?” I asked, needing clarification.

“We’ve chosen you to become a head healer as well,” She continued. “Not here, but in our sister pack, the Mighty Blue Pack. You’ll be assigned there for at least two years, maybe more. Sydney, we believe your skills and leadership would be a perfect fit for their infirmary.” She handed me the contract. “All the details are in here for your review. I’m not pressuring you to decide right now. Take your time, and once you've made the decision, please tell me right away.”

I opened the contract and carefully read through every detail. It was undeniably a significant step forward in my career as a healer. Not only would my salary triple, but I would also be working in a pack where half-blooded vampire wolves were fully accepted.

It should have been a dream come true. So why wasn’t I happy? Instead, a wave of confusion washed over me.

The distance between our pack and the Mighty Blue Pack, despite being neighbors, was immense. And once you set foot in another pack, leaving wasn’t something you could easily do.

Accepting the offer meant leaving and being far away from Alexis.

With the way he’s been treating me, why does the thought of rejecting this ‘once in a blue moon’ offer just to stay near him even cross my mind?