I ended my business trip early and returned home to find my mate, Alpha Titus Reynolds, with another she-wolf. That she-wolf was my best friend, Luna Elaine Powell.

This happened when I was three months pregnant, and Titus and I had discussed completing the mate bond. Seeing them together made me pause in thought. I knew I was just an ordinary Omega, plain and straightforward, while Elaine was a radiant Luna, excelling in her law studies at a prestigious human university. It wasn’t hard to picture whom an Alpha like Titus might prefer.

Elaine and I had been friends since we were pups, and Titus had always seemed like such an honorable Alpha. It never crossed my mind that they would become involved with each other. I hesitated, unsure whether it was the right moment to interrupt them. My upbringing taught me not to disturb others, and even amidst my turmoil, it made me reluctant.

But I interrupted anyway. I tapped lightly on the doorframe, my voice cutting through their quiet whispers like a knife. "So, Alpha Titus, would you call this cheating?" My words seemed too loud, too sharp, in the stillness of the room. Titus jumped, his dark eyes wide with shock when he saw me standing there.

Clearing my throat, I glanced at Elaine, my heart twisting painfully. "Luna Elaine, how many years have we been friends? Haven’t I been good to you?" What I really wanted to ask was if all those years of being her sidekick, her confidante, meant nothing. But I avoided making it confrontational, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me.

Elaine said nothing, but her eyes—those cold, calculating eyes—showed she was ready to sever our friendship without a second thought. I bit my lip, my fingers trembling as I pulled out my phone, startling Titus once again. He jumped off the bed, his muscular frame towering over me as he grabbed my wrist tightly. "What are you doing?" he demanded, his Alpha tone making the air around us heavy.

I frowned, my voice calm but firm. "You’re hurting me." Titus seemed to realize his grip and released my hand, his expression softening as he tried to explain. "Don’t blame Luna Elaine. It’s all my fault."

"Oh," I nodded, lost for words. I’ve always been like this—facing situations wishing I could just disappear, not too angry, not too upset. My mother often said I was as dull as a board, an Omega through and through.

Seeing my lack of response, Titus seemed awkward as he pulled on his shirt, his muscles rippling with the movement. "Since you’ve seen us, I might as well admit it. I want Luna Elaine as my mate."

Elaine looked at him with admiration, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders as she wrapped the sheets around her. I lowered my head, gesturing to my belly, my voice barely above a whisper. "What about the pup then?"

Titus hesitated, his eyes flicking to Elaine before he reluctantly said, "With the relaxed pack policies, if you decide to have the pup, you’ll have to handle things on your own. We’ll share the support."

Behind him, Elaine pursed her lips, her voice dripping with condescension. "Honestly, I’ve been meaning to tell you, even if you have the pup, you won’t hold on to an Alpha like him with your looks."

I sighed, offering a faint smile, though it felt like my chest was being ripped apart. "You talk about me like I’m a clingy adhesive that won’t let go." I continued to fiddle with my phone, my fingers moving mechanically as Titus’s fingers twitched at his sides. I spoke calmly, my voice steady despite the pain gnawing at me. "Don’t worry, I’m just ordering a ride."

After booking the car, I looked up, meeting Titus’s eyes with a seriousness that made him falter. "Alpha Titus, if there’s no mate bond left, then let’s part ways here."

Both Titus and Elaine seemed taken aback. Elaine looked as if she had prepared a whole debate but couldn’t participate, her expression one of frustration. After a moment, she managed to say, "It’s best you understand. A forced mate bond won’t work. Maybe it’s best not to have the pup."

I nodded, saying "Alright," and quickly started packing my things. As I picked up my luggage, Titus and Elaine seemed unable to regain their composure, their silence heavy in the air.

From the moment I knocked to packing my belongings, it took less than ten minutes. No tears, no confrontation—I showed my usual calmness, plain and straightforward. As I opened the door, Titus stopped me, his voice filled with confusion. "You’re just leaving like that?"

"Yes."

"And the pup?" His confusion grew, his Alpha aura pressing against me.

"I’ll figure it out," I replied with a polite nod, turning to leave. Before I went, I reminded Elaine, my voice soft but firm, "Make sure you end things with your current mate. Don’t try to juggle two bonds."

The door clicked shut behind me, and I felt my wolf whimper in the back of my mind, a silent ache that echoed my own. But I didn’t look back.

As I stepped out of the house, I picked up an ice cream cone. I have a strange penchant for savoring ice cream outdoors in the winter. That feeling of freezing to the core and then slowly warming up again is oddly exhilarating. As I took a bite, I sighed inwardly, knowing full well that Alpha Titus Reynolds was slipping away from me, especially after I introduced him to Luna Elaine Powell.

Elaine and Titus were both the kind of golden children everyone admired. They had the same striking looks, excelled in their studies, and achieved success in their pack roles—exactly the kind of werewolves my mom had always dreamed of for me. She often wished for a daughter like Elaine and a son like Titus. They were two of the three massive obstacles in my life, casting shadows that left me breathless.

We had known each other for quite a while. Elaine and I went back to elementary school, and I met Titus in high school. They were always the stars at pack gatherings, adored by everyone. It wasn’t until Titus and I started seeing each other—which was more of a charade, involving a dinner invitation and a few too many glasses of whiskey—that these two obstacles collided, creating a mess.

It wasn’t really love, more like a deal. Get a werewolf buzzed enough, and anyone starts to look like Jennifer Connelly. That was the only way I could get him. Unfortunately, I ended up pregnant.

When my mom found out, she was ecstatic. Even if her daughter wasn’t exceptional, an exceptional son-in-law was something to brag about. She took charge and caught Titus off-guard at his pack’s headquarters. Titus was on the rise in his pack as a respected Alpha, and he was cornered into taking responsibility for me. My mom strategized and cornered him into commitment, while I proudly showcased Titus’s qualities to Elaine.

I flaunted so much that she got curious and wanted to meet him. I should have known better than to agree, to host those dinners—not just one or two—and to let Titus drive Elaine home repeatedly. All while she was constantly bickering with her mate. I even bragged to Titus about Elaine’s allure and how many high-ranking werewolves had failed to win her over.

I remember the gleam of a challenge in Titus’s eyes, eager for the chase. I should have known Alphas love the thrill of pursuit. And now, here we are—they’re together, and I’ve dragged myself back home with my suitcase.

Standing at the base of my building, I took a deep breath before discarding the ice cream stick. There was a bottle of pills in my pocket that was just adding clutter, so I tossed that too.

When my mom saw me dragging my suitcase through the door, her face registered shock. "Where’s Alpha Titus?" she demanded.

Seeing her stern expression, I couldn’t help but flinch. Reluctantly, I explained everything. My mother trembled with rage and slapped me hard across the face.

"Have you lost your mind? Why on earth would you introduce Luna Elaine to him?!"

Furious, she paced the room, her face like thunder. "No, this can’t happen! I have to go find Alpha Titus! We can’t let this go!"

She turned to me, glaring intently. "You’re coming with me! He’s the best chance you’ll ever have, and you can’t let this slip away!"

"I... I don’t think I can go..." I muttered weakly.

My mom’s brows knitted together. "I’ve already told your father about Alpha Titus. Are you trying to let that woman laugh at me?"

The "woman" she referred to was my dad’s long-term mistress, Omega Rose Collins. Dad hadn’t been home in years, practically living a second life with Rose, just short of a mate bond. They even had a son together, which had been the reason for my mom’s heartbreak back then.

Although my dad kept us from meeting Rose or my half-brother, my mom still found out about him—Beta Bryson, bright and handsome, with everyone having high expectations for his future. My dad adored him immensely.

As for me, I could barely remember my dad’s face anymore. That child, who had taken my father away, was the third massive obstacle over my head—another golden child.

Every time my mom learned something new about him, she came home to scold me for not measuring up. This had been going on since I was three, and by now, I was used to it. But there was nothing I could do. I wasn’t pretty, I wasn’t smart, I was socially awkward, and I couldn’t change that.

I just couldn’t.