The next morning, I turned to Axton, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me. "Let’s go visit the Griffin Pack together."

He hesitated, his Alpha aura flickering for a moment before he regained his composure. "Alright," he said, his tone measured. "We’ll drop off our gift and head back."

I knew why he hesitated. He was worried I’d upset Jenna, his true mate. But I didn’t care. I just wanted to see my family one last time before I disappeared. Tomorrow, I’d be gone.

When we arrived at the Griffin Pack estate, the place was alive with celebration. Guests from neighboring packs had gathered to honor Jenna’s pregnancy and her entry into an international art exhibition—two reasons for the pack to rejoice. Jenna stood at the center of it all, her golden hair catching the light, her smile radiant. She was the perfect Luna, the embodiment of grace and strength. Everyone was certain her painting would win a major award. Someone even mentioned it had been paired with a poem by Roberto Price, a Delta warrior known for his artistic flair. Together, they said, it was a masterpiece.

As I stepped into the grand hall, Jenna’s eyes flickered to me, her smile tightening for a moment before she smoothed it over. "Oh, my sister is here?" she said, her voice sweet but laced with sarcasm. "You seem to have plenty of spare time lately."

I ignored her jab, my gaze drawn to the painting on display. My heart clenched. It was one of my own works, a piece I’d completed years ago and kept hidden in my private gallery. How had it ended up here? How had it become her "competition entry"?

Jenna watched me with a smirk, gliding closer, her voice soft but cutting. "Do you like this painting, sister?"

I shot her a cold look, ready to retort, when she suddenly gasped, clutching her belly. Her face twisted in pain, and she staggered backward. The room erupted into chaos.

"What happened?!" someone shouted.

"Jenna’s pregnant! How could anyone bump into her!"

"Call the healer, quick!"

Amid the commotion, I heard a voice filled with tension: "Jenna!"

It was Axton. His concern was palpable, his Alpha aura flaring as he rushed to her side. The way he looked at her—protective, desperate—shattered the last shred of hope I’d been clinging to. When he noticed my gaze, he quickly schooled his expression, turning to me with a gentle reproach. "Regardless, Jenna’s lost the baby. You shouldn’t have pushed her."

Just then, news broke that the painting had advanced to the finals, with a high chance of winning the gold medal. Axton’s face lit up with pride, a look I hadn’t seen in the five years we’d been together.

I asked him quietly, "Why does Jenna’s painting look exactly like mine?"

He hesitated, his Alpha mask slipping for a moment before he recovered. "Maybe it’s just a coincidence," he said, his tone dismissive. "Perhaps her style mirrors yours..."

I let out a cold laugh. That painting had been locked away in my private gallery, the key held only by a select few. And the poem accompanying it—even under a pseudonym—the handwriting matched Axton’s. There was no doubt who was responsible.

I had intended to give that painting to him as an anniversary gift for our fifth year. Now, it was clear even our mate bond had been a lie, rendering the painting meaningless.

I smiled faintly, my voice flat. "Let’s take a yacht ride," I said. "Sail through the night and catch tomorrow’s sunrise."

Axton hesitated, his Alpha instincts likely sensing something was off. But he nodded, his expression softening. "Alright," he said. "Let’s go."

As we left the estate, I could feel the weight of the pack’s eyes on me. They whispered, their voices carrying through the mind link, but I blocked them out. I had one last night to endure. Then, I’d be free.

Once inside the car, Axton’s deep voice filled the space, his Alpha aura pressing against me even in his calmest moments. "I’ve arranged a surprise for your birthday," he said, his tone carrying the weight of authority. "Once we have some downtime, maybe we should think about starting a family."

I kept my gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside the window, the city lights blurring into streaks of gold. My wolf stirred faintly in the back of my mind, a quiet whisper of unease, but I silenced her. I said nothing in return.

As the car began to move, his phone rang. The sound was sharp, cutting through the silence like a blade. He answered, his forehead wrinkling slightly, his voice carrying a note of apprehension that was rare for an Alpha.

I looked at him, my tone calm but distant. "If you need to take care of something, you should go."

He paused briefly, his dark eyes flickering with something I couldn’t quite place. "Sylvia, I..."

"It’s fine," I said, cutting him off. "I’ll wait for you on the yacht."

I didn’t see the caller ID, but I knew only one person could provoke such a reaction from him. Jenna Dean. His true mate.

Once on the yacht alone, I pulled out my phone and scrolled through Jenna’s Instagram. A newly uploaded photo popped up, captioned: "Success is sweeter with someone by your side, sharing late-night cookies and having conversations just for you. Thanks for always looking out for me."

The comments overflowed with admiration: "Your mate treats you so well!" "That’s what it means to truly pamper your Luna!"

Yet, my eyes were drawn to the hand in the photo. The wrist was adorned with a familiar silver bracelet—Axton’s. The one I’d given him on our first anniversary.

I dialed his number, only for Jenna to pick up.

"So late, what does my dear sister want by calling me? Trying to reach your Alpha, perhaps?" Jenna’s voice was thick with sarcasm, her tone dripping with the confidence of someone who knew she’d won.

"Give it up; he’s not coming home tonight. Looks like my lovely sister can’t keep a mate. I’ve handed him over, and still, you can’t manage."

I hung up without a word and told the yacht staff, "Let’s set sail."

"Aren’t we waiting for anyone else?" one of the crew members asked, his tone respectful but curious.

Softly, I answered, "No need to wait. It’s just me."

The yacht glided forward, cutting through the midnight sea towards the open water. Standing alone at the bow, I stared at the stars above, the chilly wind biting at my skin as starlight danced across the waves.

He never returned that night.

I leaned against the deck, lost in thought, memories of the past five years flooding back. His kindness, his presence, his promises... every memory felt like a shard cutting through my heart, coming together to form only a broken image.

All the pretense, all the lies, seemed absurdly laughable now.

Before dawn, I dialed his number one last time. The phone was off.

Staring at the screen, I set the phone to upload the video evidence of my painting at a scheduled time. Once that was done, I moved to the stern, glancing one final time at the breaking light of dawn.

Then, I jumped, plunging into the icy depths of the sea.

Meanwhile, Axton hurriedly left Jenna’s place, his Alpha aura crackling with urgency. "I have to go. Tomorrow’s her birthday, and I promised her we’d watch the sunrise together."

Jenna blocked him, her voice sharp with frustration. "Axton, I need you now..."

He shook his head, his tone firm. "No, not today."

Just then, his Beta, Emerie, rushed to him, her face pale. "Alpha, your mate jumped off the yacht!"