The next morning, Klaus stormed into his office, his mood as dark as the clouds hanging over Snowfall Pack. He wasn’t Alpha yet, but he carried the weight of it, even more so now with his father watching his every move. I followed him as I always did, drifting unseen and unheard. The hunters and warriors of the pack bustled around, preparing for patrols, but their chatter died down when Klaus passed by, his presence commanding respect even without the title.

I stayed close, my soul trailing behind, floating through walls and people. They passed through me without knowing I was there. Only Klaus could have felt it—if he still had our bond. But he didn’t.

Inside his office, Klaus dropped into his chair, his face etched with frustration. His right-hand man, Benedict, stood by the door, rattling off reports about pack logistics and training schedules, but Klaus was barely listening. His gaze flicked to his phone every few minutes, his thumb hovering over the screen as if expecting something.

“Is something wrong, Klaus?” Benedict asked, glancing at the uncharacteristic tension in his posture.

Klaus scowled but didn’t meet his eyes. “No. Keep going.”

Benedict hesitated, sensing the storm brewing, but pressed on with the report. He detailed the morning patrols, the rogue sightings near the border, and upcoming negotiations with neighboring packs. Yet Klaus’s mind seemed miles away, his fingers drumming impatiently on the desk.

"What was he waiting for?" I thought bitterly. "Was he waiting for me to give in like I always did after our fights? Was he expecting me to call, to make the first move again?"

But this time was different. I wasn't coming back.

At noon, Klaus abruptly slammed his hand on the desk. “Benedict, where’s lunch?”

Benedict blinked, clearly caught off guard. “Lunch, sir? We…we haven’t arranged for anything.”

Klaus’s eyes flashed, a growl rumbling in his chest. “Why the hell not?”

The man looked confused. “You never asked for anyone to take care of your lunch, Klaus. Mavis—well, she usually handled it herself. Omegas used to deliver it.”

I stood by Klaus’s desk, watching the moment unfold like a cruel joke. I was the one who made sure he had something to eat every day. I had learned how to cook because he was so picky because his stomach couldn’t handle the stress after the war. And now, he sat there, angry and hungry, without a clue that I had been the one behind every meal he enjoyed.

Klaus tensed, his fist clenching the phone. He hung up on Benedict, a low growl escaping his throat. “You’d better not reply to my messages,” he muttered under his breath, more to himself than anyone else.

I looked at the framed photo on his desk, one from our second anniversary. He picked it up, his fingers tracing the edges, and for a fleeting moment, his anger softened. But then, with a frustrated huff, he set the photo back down and reached for the stuffed wolf I had given him. He turned it upside down, a habit he’d developed whenever he was mad at me.

“This doll looks like you, Mavis,” he’d say, smirking. “Always watching me. Always by my side.” And whenever I upset him, he would make it stand on its head as if punishing it.

I cried silently beside him, remembering how everything between us used to be before Claudette came back. Back when I thought I was Klaus’s world, his mate, his Luna-to-be. But all of that had shattered the moment Claudette re-entered our lives.

Claudette. His childhood sweetheart, the one who left him for another Alpha, only to come crawling back after that relationship fell apart. I had watched as he secretly picked her up from work, bought her the jewelry I had been waiting for, and celebrated her birthday while forgetting mine. It was all so obvious now, but back then, I tried to deny it, tried to fight for him.

We had argued so many times—about her, about the distance growing between us. I compromised again and again, hoping that Klaus would choose me, that he would remember the bond we had, the one our wolves once shared. But the last time we fought was the final straw. He kicked me out of the car to pick up Claudette.

I died that night, and Klaus didn’t even know.

I watched as he walked into our house that evening. The place was eerily quiet, no longer filled with the smell of the meals I used to prepare or the warmth of our life together. He dropped his suit jacket by the door and called out for me, his voice echoing through the empty halls.

“Mavis?” He frowned when there was no answer. He glanced at his phone, then sent me a message: [Mavis, stop messing around. Come back home.]

No reply.

He dialed my number. “The number you’ve dialed is currently unavailable…” The automated voice grated on his nerves.

Klaus hung up and tried again. Still nothing.

I watched him stand in the dimly lit hallway, his shoulders rigid, his breathing shallow. For the first time in a long while, Klaus looked lost. And for the first time, I felt the tiniest bit of satisfaction.

"You’re too late, Klaus," I thought, my tears now dry. "I’m gone. You threw me away for her, and now you’ll live with that choice."

The next second, Klaus’s phone buzzed, cutting through the tension in the air. His eyes flicked down to the screen, a sigh escaping his lips as he saw the name.

Claudette.

For a brief moment, disappointment flashed in his eyes, but he quickly masked it, pressing the phone to his ear. "What is it, Claudette?" He answered, his voice rougher than usual.

Her voice was frantic, almost pleading. “Klaus, he’s found me again. My ex-Alpha—he won’t stop calling. I’m scared. Can you come?”

At the mention of her ex, Klaus stirred, a low growl rising in his chest. A threat to Claudette? He had never tolerated danger when it came to her, not in the past, and not now.

"Don't worry. I’ll be there soon." His voice was clipped, decisive, as he grabbed his suit jacket and keys.

As he stormed out of the house, I followed him like a shadow. My chest tightened painfully. He had forgotten. Forgotten about the calls, the messages, the gnawing feeling that something was wrong. You were so close, Klaus, just a heartbeat away from realizing I was already gone.

When he arrived at Claudette's place, the tension he'd been holding seemed to dissolve as he found her standing at the door, slightly unsteady. She was clearly tipsy, her cheeks flushed from the wine she’d had at a party earlier. There were no signs of danger, no ex-Alpha calling her nonstop. Just Claudette, looking lost and vulnerable, her eyes glassy with unshed tears.

“Klaus…” She slurred slightly, reaching out and wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. He stiffened, but only for a moment.

He helped her inside, guiding her toward the bedroom. "You’ve had too much to drink. Let’s get you to bed." His voice was gentle, the same voice he used when he wanted to comfort, to soothe.

But Claudette wouldn’t let go. Her grip on him tightened, her face inches from his. “Klaus, I missed you… I missed you so much. Every day I regret leaving you.”

Klaus swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he tried to pull away. “Claudette, stop. I’m… I’m engaged to Mavis now.”

“Do you love her?” Claudette’s voice was a whisper, but the question hung heavily in the air, cutting through the space between them like a knife.

My heart clenched, my soul aching for the answer.

Klaus’s jaw tensed. He didn’t meet her eyes. “We’re engaged,” he said, the words hollow and empty. He didn’t say he loved me. He couldn’t even bring himself to say the words out loud. Not to Claudette, not to himself.

Because I wasn’t his choice. I was his mate, but not his heart.

Claudette’s tears fell freely now, streaking down her flushed cheeks. “If I hadn’t left, Klaus, we would have been happy. We were meant to be.” She leaned in, her breath warm against his neck. "Klaus, please… just hold me…"

The distance between them disappeared, their foreheads touching, then their noses, and finally, their lips.

I stood frozen by the bay window, fists clenched at my sides as I watched Klaus—my mate, the one I had given my life for—fall into the arms of another. Claudette’s robe slipped to the floor, and Klaus’s usual restraint crumbled as he pressed against her, his lips moving from her shoulder to her chest with a tenderness that had once been reserved for me.

I closed my eyes, the pain too much to bear. My soul ached, the agony of betrayal cutting deeper than any physical wound. He had chosen her, even if just for a moment.

Suddenly, the shrill sound of a phone ringing shattered the intimate atmosphere. Klaus froze, his entire body stiffening as the spell between them broke. He scrambled off the bed, pulling the quilt up to cover Claudette as guilt flashed across his face.

"Sorry," he mumbled, not meeting her eyes as he fumbled with his belt and tie, hurriedly putting himself back together.

“Klaus…” Claudette’s voice was soft, confused, hurt.

But he didn’t turn back. His phone buzzed again, and he grabbed it from the floor, glancing at the screen before rushing out the door, the unfinished mess behind him a testament to his moment of weakness.

Once in the car, Klaus let out a shaky breath, raising his hand to his face. In a moment of frustration, he slapped himself hard across the cheek. “What the hell did I just do?”

I watched from beside him, feeling nothing but cold indifference. This was the man I had loved. The man who once swore to protect me, to stand by me. And yet, here he was, reeking of alcohol and Claudette’s scent.

But his thoughts weren’t on me. Not really. He looked down at his phone and saw the missed call.

It was from my mother.

Klaus hesitated before calling back. The phone rang only once before my mother answered, her voice warm and gentle as always.

"Klaus, I hope I’m not bothering you this late,” she began softly. “I just finished knitting those scarves for you and Mavis. When are you both coming over to get them?"

Tears welled up in my eyes. She was so happy to knit for us, so happy to think of me, her daughter, still alive.

Klaus forced a smile, though his face was tight with guilt. “We’ll come by soon, Madam. Mavis has been staying with Irene after a fight we had… You know how she is, always running off when she’s upset.”

He was lying. He didn’t know where I was. He didn’t even realize I was gone.

As he hung up, Klaus stared at his phone, his mind racing. He looked down at his hands, still trembling. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

So, he did what he always did when he needed to clear his head—he drove to the riverside near our pack. The place where he would sit to rid himself of the stench of alcohol or the scent of other wolves before coming back to me.

But there was no point in doing that anymore. I wasn’t home.

The wind blew lightly through his hair as he sat on the stone bench, gazing out at the river. I stood beside him, watching the way the moonlight glistened off the water.

“Mavis…” His voice was barely a whisper. “Tomorrow is my birthday. How long are you going to keep this up?”

I had forgotten. Tomorrow was his birthday. The gift I had ordered for him was probably still on its way.

--

Klaus awoke, instinctively reaching for the other side of the bed, expecting to feel the warmth of my body beside him. His hand landed on cold sheets instead, the chill sinking deep into his bones. He frowned, his brows knitting together as he stared at the space. My pillow still carried the faint scent of lavender, but it wasn’t enough to fill the void of my absence.

It was Klaus’s birthday today, a Saturday—usually a time when I’d go all out with surprises. He sat up, the dim morning light filtering through the curtains, casting long shadows on the walls. He scrubbed his face with his hands, trying to shake off the creeping unease that had settled in his chest since I walked out.

His insides stirred, restless, uneasy. 'She’ll come back,' Klaus told himself, trying to calm the beast inside. 'She always does.'

Even during our worst fights, I never let his birthday pass unnoticed. I always had a gift and always prepared his favorite meals. Klaus clung to that hope like a lifeline. Surely, today wouldn’t be any different. With determination, he swung his legs out of bed and made his way to the kitchen.

He cooked a full spread of my favorite breakfast foods—pancakes, eggs, sausage, everything I loved. The scent of warm syrup and butter filled the air, mingling with the hope that I would walk through the door any minute now. But as the minutes ticked by, the house remained silent. Empty.

His phone buzzed, pulling him from his thoughts. He snatched it off the counter, eyes bright with anticipation, only to find disappointment waiting.

The caller was a jeweler, not me.

"Mr. Klaus of Snowfall Pack?" came the voice over the line. "This is to inform you that the custom diamond rings and tie clips Miss Mavis ordered a month ago are ready for collection."

Klaus stiffened, the weight of the words sinking in. 'A month ago? She was already planning my birthday this far in advance...' He couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt twist in his chest. I had thought of him and cared enough to plan. But he? He had let me walk away. He let me slip through his fingers because of her—Claudette.

Without another word, Klaus threw on his coat and drove straight to the jeweler, the anticipation growing heavy inside him. When he arrived, the jeweler handed him two small boxes. Inside, he found a pair of customized diamond rings, along with tie clips engraved with our initials, "K" and "M."