The night before our marking ceremony, Sienna Collins, Lincoln Taylor’s ex-mate, posted an update on Instagram: "Out of millions of possibilities, I’d still choose you." The image showed two hands clasped tightly together. I reported the post for being inappropriate.

Lincoln, the Alpha of the Silverfang Pack, instantly called me on FaceTime. With Sienna sobbing in the background, he accused me of being petty and self-centered. Ten minutes later, he commented on her post, saying, "Finally got what I wanted after all this time."

In the past, such behavior would have driven me mad. I would have bombarded him with calls, reached out to his Beta and Gamma, and ultimately confronted Sienna for her audacity. I would have been a mess. But this time, I genuinely couldn’t care less.

By the time I got back to the pack den, it was late. Lincoln sat on the couch, irritably fiddling with his tie. I dropped my keys in the foyer and headed to the kitchen to pour myself some coffee. Today was supposed to be our final fitting for our marking ceremony attire. I had even taken the day off from training for it.

I waited all day, but Lincoln never showed. His phone was constantly busy. It wasn’t until I aimlessly browsed through Instagram and saw Sienna’s post that I realized he had ditched our plans and gone out with a group of warriors instead.

I sat on the couch, massaging my sore ankles. It was so late I couldn’t find a cab, so I had walked home. Lincoln watched me with a smug grin.

“Waited long at the tailor’s? Didn’t know when to come back? So oblivious, but I guess that’s why you’re mine.”

In the past, I might have argued, trying to prove that I was with him out of love, not because no one else wanted me. But tonight, I stayed silent.

Lincoln raised an eyebrow. “Alice, I got you that leather satchel you’ve been eyeing.”

“I noticed.”

After every argument, he’d buy me something I liked—a tacit agreement between us to make peace. I glanced at the latest designer bag on the table and then put it back in its box.

Lincoln eagerly offered, “Let me put it away for you.”

The phone on the table kept buzzing. Lincoln was still in the bedroom, taking his sweet time. I picked up the call myself. A coquettish voice on the other end purred, “Alpha Lincoln, the forecast says it’ll rain tonight. I’m a bit scared. Can you stay with me?”

As I was about to respond, Lincoln burst out of the room, bumping into me. I stumbled and fell to the floor, the phone slipping from my hand.

Lincoln picked up the phone, his voice cold. “Who said you could touch my phone, idiot? Can’t even stand up properly.”

He looked at me as though I were foolish, then grabbed his car keys and said, “Come on. I’ll take you to the healer.”

I followed him out the door, limping but without a word of complaint.

As soon as I slid into the passenger seat of Lincoln’s car, the scent of Sienna hit me like a slap. Her belongings were scattered across the seat—a tube of lipstick, a compact mirror, and a fur scarf that reeked of her floral perfume. I gathered them up with a calm I didn’t know I had and tucked them into the glove compartment.

Lincoln’s jaw tightened, his Alpha aura flickering with unease. “Don’t get the wrong idea, Alice,” he said, his voice firm but laced with defensiveness. “Sienna must’ve left those by accident.”

I shrugged, my tone indifferent. “It’s fine. I’ve put them away. Just remind her to be more careful next time.”

The car fell silent, the tension thickening like fog. Lincoln kept glancing at me, his piercing blue eyes searching for a reaction that wasn’t there. Finally, he broke the silence. “You’re not going to toss them out?”

I blinked, focusing on my phone. “They’re her things. Why would I throw them away?”

The old me would’ve been furious, seeing Sienna’s belongings as a blatant attempt to mark her territory, to assert her claim over Lincoln. But now? I didn’t care. Lincoln was no longer my mate, and Sienna’s antics were irrelevant to me.

“Come on,” I said, cutting through the silence. “Let’s head to the hospital. It’s getting late.”

Lincoln nodded, his Alpha instincts kicking in as he accelerated smoothly, the car gliding through the darkened streets. Just as we approached the hospital entrance, a soft chime echoed through the car—Sienna’s custom ringtone.

Her voice spilled through the speakers, trembling with fear. “Lincoln, I think I heard something outside my den. Could you come and check?”

Without hesitation, Lincoln pulled the car over, his Alpha tone shifting to a soothing, protective cadence. “Don’t worry, Sienna. Lock your door. I’ll be there soon.”

He turned to me, urgency etched into his features. “Sienna’s in trouble. I need to check it out. The hospital is right ahead. You can go on your own.”

“Wait—” I started to protest, but he was already opening my door, his movements swift and decisive.

“Go, Alice. I’ll catch up with you later,” he said, his Alpha tone leaving no room for argument. Before I could respond, he shut the door, revved the engine, and sped off into the night.

Left standing under the dim glow of a streetlamp, I clenched my phone tightly and made my way toward the hospital, the cool night air biting at my skin. The streets were eerily quiet, the occasional howl of a distant wolf the only sound breaking the silence.

The next morning, Lincoln finally strolled into the packhouse, his presence as commanding as ever. He found me in the kitchen, sipping a steaming cup of coffee and enjoying a slice of spiced honey cake.

“Alice,” he said, his voice tinged with annoyance, “why didn’t you wait to have breakfast with me?”

I looked up, meeting his gaze with a calm indifference. “I didn’t see the point,” I replied simply, taking another sip of my coffee. “You had more important things to attend to.”

His jaw tightened, but he said nothing, the weight of his choices hanging heavy in the air between us.

"Where’s the report I asked for?"

In the past, I’d always wake up before dawn to prepare breakfast and organize Alpha Lincoln’s work documents and training gear. I took a bite of my sandwich and mumbled, "What report?"

Lincoln’s golden eyes narrowed, his Alpha aura rippling with irritation. "The one I mind-linked you about."

I didn’t budge from my seat at the kitchen counter. "I didn’t check my mind-link. You’ll have to find it yourself."

For four years, I had always responded to his mind-links instantly, dropping everything to cater to his needs. He didn’t expect me to brush him off so casually this time. I gestured to my phone plugged in at the outlet. "It’s charging."

Lincoln placed the pastries he’d brought on the table, the scent of freshly baked bread mingling with his Alpha presence. "Your favorite, from the bakery downtown."

I unfolded the packaging, the smell of fish filling the air. As I lifted my head, I met his self-satisfied gaze, his broad frame towering over me.

It didn’t take a genius to figure out where he’d gotten these. I’m allergic to fish, and Sienna, the pack’s Gamma, loves the bakery’s fish special. The thought of him sharing breakfast with her made my stomach churn.

"Thanks, but I don’t care for these," I said, my voice detached. "You should take them to the training grounds and give them to someone else."

Earlier, I’d seen Sienna’s hunting post: "It’s a pleasure when someone is willing to share a warm breakfast with you." The picture showed her smiling at the camera, holding a pastry with a fork, her fur scarf draped over her shoulders—the same scarf Lincoln had gifted her last winter.

Lincoln crouched down, his muscular frame blocking the light as he reached for my injured ankle, his Alpha tone softening. "Let me see your foot."

Instinctively, I pulled away, my Delta instincts flaring. "It’s fine."

He sat back on the ground, rubbing his face with a cold sneer. "Alice, just because I asked you to handle the healer visit yourself, you’re throwing this tantrum. Really?"

I continued eating my breakfast, my voice steady. "I’m not angry."

Lincoln clearly didn’t believe me. He stood, his Alpha aura flaring as he pointed at me with disdain. "Alice, even tantrums have limits. You don’t seem ready to be Luna if you’re always overthinking like this."

Every time we argued about Sienna, he’d accuse me of being paranoid, watching as I spiraled into defending myself, proving it was his fault with tears and shouting. But this time, I stayed silent for a long while before speaking, "Why don’t we just call it quits?"

Lincoln paused, his Alpha aura flickering as if caught off guard. "What do you mean, 'call it quits'?"

I looked up at him, my voice calm but firm. "I mean, let’s end the mate bond. This isn’t working anymore. You and Sienna should give it a shot."

His eyes darkened, and he kicked the trash can across the room, the metal clattering against the wall. He leaned over the table, his Alpha tone sharp. "Alice, enough is enough. Don’t test my patience."

In the past, when he got this close to anger, I’d drop my grievances and rush to placate him, my wolf whimpering in submission. But this time, I didn’t consider his feelings. "Think whatever you want."

I tidied up my breakfast, picked up my training bag, and took the trash with me as I headed for the elevator.

Lincoln had never chased after me during these exchanges before, but this time he followed, his Alpha tone commanding. "Where are you going if not to the training grounds?"

I looked at him coolly, my Delta pride keeping my voice steady. "I have errands to run."

His lips twitched as if he had more to say, but the elevator doors closed slowly, cutting him off.