Facing the facts, even if Jalen was furious, he couldn’t find a point to counter. But Jalen was far more shameless than I had imagined. Seeing that he couldn’t gain the upper hand in this argument, he quickly shifted the topic back to emotions.

He pointed at me, his voice strained and accusatory. "You’re jealous, aren’t you? Sofia, you’re just jealous that I’ve marked Ariella as my mate."

"All I know is that when I was sick and nearly dying, it was Ariella who stayed by my side. She felt my pain as if it were her own, while you were off in the woods, obsessing over pack remedies."

"You always complain that no one loves you, but do you even deserve love? Someone as cold and unfeeling as you?"

His words hit like a punch to the gut, but I refused to let him see how much they stung. My wolf, *Luna*, stirred in the back of my mind, a low growl of anger and pain. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay calm.

"You think I’m unfeeling?" I shot back, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. "Do you have any idea how many times I risked my life in those woods to find the herbs that saved you? Do you even remember how close you were to death, Jalen? I didn’t stay by your side because I was too busy making sure you *had* a side to come back to."

His expression faltered for a moment, but he quickly masked it with a sneer. "That’s just an excuse, Sofia. You’ve always been distant, always more interested in your pack duties than in me. Even now, you’re defending yourself with logic instead of feeling. That’s why Ariella is better for me. She *feels*. She *cares*."

I took a step closer to him, my scent—earthy and tinged with the faint bitterness of betrayal—filling the space between us. "Ariella cares? Then why is it that every time you needed something, it was *me* who provided it? The herbs, the medicine, the life-saving treatments—all of it came from *me*. But you’re so blinded by her scent, by her sweet words, that you can’t see the truth. You’ve chosen her, Jalen, but don’t you dare act like it’s because I’m unworthy of love. You’ve just chosen someone easier to manipulate."

His face twisted in anger, but I didn’t give him a chance to respond. I turned on my heel and walked away, *Luna* growling softly in agreement. I wouldn’t let him break me. Not again.

Jalen’s voice boomed across the gathering, silencing the dozens of wolves in the courtyard. All eyes turned to me, waiting for my reaction. I didn’t feel the urge to argue anymore. Instead, my mind drifted back to when he had fallen ill—the same time he had betrayed me.

Jalen had always been frail, prone to bouts of weakness that left him bedridden. But the worst was when he had coughed up blood and collapsed, lying unconscious for three days straight. The pack’s healer had said his life depended on a rare plant—one that was not only expensive but nearly impossible to find. His parents had been distraught, weeping and wringing their hands, while no one could come up with a solution.

In that moment, I had to be the one to stay calm. I spent my life savings and moved into the wilderness for a year, dedicating every day to tracking and harvesting the plant that would save him. It wasn’t just about the pack or duty—it was about him. And now, standing here, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of how much I had given, only to be cast aside.

During the days when I was consumed by Jalen’s illness, Ariella also endured her share of hardship.

When Jalen’s condition worsened, she would kneel before him, her tears streaming down her face as she cried. She would bring meals from the kitchen, feeding him with her own hands, her actions tender and meticulous. When I returned from the pack training grounds, I had even felt a sense of gratitude toward her for taking care of him in my absence.

Little did I know, their feelings for each other had already blossomed during that time.

I don’t blame Jalen for falling out of love with me. What truly pains me is that, while we were still bound by our mate bond, he betrayed me, secretly entwined with Ariella for three long years. The mate bond, a sacred connection blessed by the Moon Goddess, had become a lie.

The scent of betrayal lingered in the air, sharp and acrid, a bitter reminder of what I had lost. Ariella’s vanilla scent, once just a sister’s scent, now mingled with Jalen’s dominant Alpha aura, a cruel symbol of their union.

I could feel the bond between us fraying, its threads snapping one by one, leaving behind a hollow ache in my chest. My wolf, Athena, whimpered softly in the back of my mind, her pain mirroring my own.

I had trusted him, believed in the bond that was meant to be unbreakable. But now, it was as fragile as glass, shattered by their deceit. The weight of it all pressed down on me, a constant reminder of the love I had lost and the betrayal I had endured.

Yet, even in the midst of my heartbreak, I refused to let it break me. I would rise above this, stronger and more determined than ever. The bond may have been broken, but I would not let it define me.

Athena growled softly, her voice steady in my mind. *We are stronger than this,* she said, her words a quiet reassurance.

And I knew she was right. Together, we would find a way to heal, to move forward, and to reclaim the life that was rightfully ours.

The pain of their betrayal would linger, but it would not hold me back. I would face the future with my head held high, ready to take on whatever challenges lay ahead.