Leon Rivera's face registered surprise when he saw me, his brows knitted in a tight line. His Alpha aura, usually so commanding, seemed to falter for a moment as he stood there, his broad shoulders tense under the weight of the unexpected encounter.

"Are you following me?" he blurted out, his voice carrying the sharp edge of his Alpha tone, drawing curious looks from the nearby pack members. I showed him the messages on my phone: "This is the address you sent."

Yasmin Gilbert, his Beta, quickly clutched Leon's arm, her voice sweet and comforting, "Alpha, I was just worried about you getting home alone, so I asked your mate to pick you up. I hope I didn’t make an honest mistake." Her use of his title, "Alpha," was deliberate, a reminder of his status—and hers.

Leon’s expression softened at her explanation. Watching Yasmin’s concerned expression, he smiled warmly at her, the kind of smile that used to be reserved for me. She shot me a challenging glance from behind his shoulder, and Leon's silent approval seemed to imply I should feel something. Yet, I remained unfazed, merely nodding coolly, my demeanor detached and distant. My Omega status might have made me lower in the pack hierarchy, but my pride was intact.

Perhaps my calm attitude, so different from past reactions, unsettled Leon. He gently freed his arm from Yasmin’s grip and explained, "Amber, we were just having a pack gathering; everyone here is either a pack member or an ally."

I handed him the bottle of sparkling water I’d brought along: "I know."

Perhaps my presence had disrupted the atmosphere, as people began to drift away in pairs and small groups. Leon fussed over Yasmin, making sure she got a cab, then joined me in the car, taking the passenger seat. His imposing frame seemed to fill the space, his Alpha aura pressing against me like a physical weight.

We drove in silence, with him nodding off as I navigated the roads. When we reached the underground parking, I exited first, heading towards the elevator. As I turned a corner, Leon suddenly grabbed my arm, pulling me into his embrace as a car sped past, missing us by inches. My heart raced.

"You need to be more cautious. Imagine if you got hurt," he said urgently, holding my hand tightly and leading me forward. His grip was firm, his Alpha strength undeniable, but it no longer felt comforting—just possessive.

The moment reminded me of our early days together, when he used to shield me just as he was now. But over time, those gestures faded, and I’d forgotten what it felt like to be cared for. Back then, I’d believed his strength was for me, but now I knew it was just part of his nature as an Alpha.

Thankfully, the elevator was close. As soon as we stepped inside, I discreetly withdrew my hand while he selected the floor. Leon glanced at me, as if he wanted to speak, but ultimately remained silent. The tension between us was palpable, the mate bond that once connected us now a frayed thread, barely holding on.

Unexpectedly, the next morning, he offered to drive me to work.

"I’ll give you a ride," he said as I yawned and nodded in agreement. I hadn’t slept well, tossed around by restless dreams the night before, and the idea of a quick nap was inviting.

However, upon opening the car door, I was greeted by a sight of glittery decorations, cute stickers, and pink hanging ornaments. Even the passenger seat had a custom pillow with a photo of Leon and Yasmin making a heart shape with their hands. It was a clear display of ownership, a not-so-subtle reminder of where his loyalty now lay.

"Who would have guessed that the mighty Alpha's car would look like a teenage girl's dream room?" My sarcasm wasn’t lost on Leon, and I saw embarrassment flicker across his face.

"Yasmin's just a young woman, cut her some slack," he replied awkwardly, his Alpha tone softening, as if trying to excuse her behavior.

I gestured to the pillow, "You mean the young woman who takes couple photos with you?"

But what I really wanted to ask about was the post he made on social media the day I filed for divorce—the picture of a candlelit dinner, hands intertwined. The caption still lingered in my mind: "Just the two of us, through meals and seasons. For the rest of our lives, you and I are each other's only." It was a declaration meant for Yasmin, not me, and it cut deeper than any physical wound.

As we drove, the mate bond between us felt like a ghost, haunting every silent moment. My wolf stirred within me, a quiet whimper of pain, but I shut her out. I had to stay strong, even if it meant burying the part of me that still longed for him.

Leon Rivera’s face tightened at my words, his Alpha aura flickering with unease. I felt my energy drain away, my wolf whimpering faintly in the back of my mind. Whether it was out of pride, spite, or something deeper, Leon’s heart had strayed, and there was no going back.

I stopped questioning him and silently slid into the back seat of his car, closing my eyes to avoid the sight of the girly decorations that now filled the space. The air was thick with awkward tension, and Leon handed me a sandwich, his voice strained. “Eat something,” he said, his Alpha tone softening just enough to sound like a suggestion rather than a command.

My gaze drifted to where he stored the sandwich—a spot filled with cookies, candies, and even spicy snacks with a pungent smell. “Wow,” I remarked, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. “It’s rare to see you loosen up your cleanliness standards, Alpha.”

For years, I’d been too busy to eat properly, always carrying bread or snacks with me. There was a time when I was so hungry my stomach cramped, leaving me trembling. I had barely managed to take out my only piece of bread when Leon snatched it and tossed it out the window. That day, he’d strictly warned me not to eat anything in his car, not even drink water. His Alpha tone had left no room for argument.

Now, it seemed, another woman was granted privileges I’d never been allowed. Those who are cherished are given endless freedom.

My cutting words darkened Leon’s expression, but I didn’t care. I turned my head away, closing my eyes and pretending to sleep.

As soon as we arrived at the pack office, I couldn’t wait to get out of the car. While Leon parked, I hurried ahead to the elevator, my Omega status making me invisible to the bustling crowd of Deltas and Gammas. I reached my desk first, greeted by a deluge of emails. I was so busy I barely had the chance to lift my head.

It’s not that I wanted to stay at the Silver Fang Pack. It’s just that I believe in finishing what I’ve started. I still had tasks to complete, and even if I planned to leave, it would have to wait until I wrapped up the work at hand.

Engrossed in my work, I didn’t realize it was already four in the afternoon. I hadn’t even ordered lunch, and it wasn’t until my stomach started to ache that I realized I hadn’t eaten all day. I quickly grabbed a cup of hot coffee and returned to my desk, eating a piece of bread while continuing my work.

Just then, the pack security guard came in, carrying two large bags of snacks, coffee, and cupcakes. “Alpha Leon ordered afternoon tea for everyone. Come and help yourselves,” he announced.

The room erupted into cheers, and a swarm of pack members surged forward. “Alpha Leon’s the best! Caramel macchiato’s my favorite!” someone exclaimed. “Oh, and no mango…”

“Well, you’re lucky to have anything. Beta Yasmin’s allergic to mangoes, don’t you know?” someone else added.

Everyone around me smirked knowingly, and some curious eyes turned my way. The new Omega intern, Stella, blurted out, “I heard Alpha Leon rejected his mate. Is he going to mark Beta Yasmin now? He’s spoiling her way too much!”

Someone quickly pulled her aside, whispering, “Keep it down, Amber’s right there.”

Stella’s face turned red with embarrassment.

Darwin, a seasoned Delta, placed a coffee and a piece of cake in front of me with a sheepish grin. “Young pups are just messing around. Don’t mind it.”

I pushed the spiced honey cake away. “Sorry, I’m allergic to honey. You have it.”

His face turned awkward.

Everyone knew about my honey allergy, especially since Leon had used the same tactic on me before. Back then, to show his affection, he would bring in my favorite vanilla cake for the pack and ban anything honey-related because of my allergy. He would even order lunch for everyone, making sure I ate while he watched over me.

Now, it’s just a different wolf enjoying that privilege. Because Yasmin is allergic to mango, the entire pack office is now mango-free.

The grand gestures he once made for me, he’s now making for someone else. The pack isn’t short on gossip; as many wolves who used to admire our mate bond are now invested in Leon and Yasmin’s story.

I don’t feel uncomfortable about it; my work is too demanding for me to waste energy on trivial matters.

The project I was handling for the Silver Fang Pack was nearing its end, and communication with the client pack had become increasingly frequent. Within an hour, the proposal might need revisions two or three times. I’d been working overtime for nearly a week, and today marked the peak of my efforts. If I could just push through, the project would be completed.

I stretched my arms, deciding to reward myself with a nice dinner out tonight. Just then, I accidentally bumped into someone, making me jump. When I turned around, I found Alpha Leon standing behind me. When did he get there?

“Burning the midnight oil again?” Alpha Leon asked casually, unfazed by my startled expression.

I tried to collect myself, unsure of his sudden appearance. “Anything you need, Alpha?”

A flicker of irritation crossed his face at my formal tone, but he kept it together. “Why not let Beta Yasmin handle the client and the project you're working on? She needs the experience.”

A chill ran through me. Alpha Leon could be unreasonable, but this was beyond belief. Seeing my silence, he stepped closer, resting his hands on my shoulders. “There's always gossip around the pack. Beta Yasmin’s just starting out; she can't handle that kind of pressure. If she takes charge of this project, the doubters will quiet down. As someone with more experience, you should help the newcomers.”

I couldn’t help but give a dry laugh, rolling my eyes. Alpha Leon knew how many nights I’d devoted to this project, to the point of ending up in the hospital from exhaustion. Yet when I entered the emergency room, one call from Beta Yasmin had him rushing off. My life seemed less important than her coat.

And now, he wanted to hand the project I’d poured myself into over to Beta Yasmin, just like that.

Alpha Leon was considerate of Beta Yasmin, eager to protect her reputation, without thinking about whether this was fair to me. “Fine, have her come tomorrow to take over,” I said. I might as well hand in my resignation too. I’d given this pack more than enough.

Alpha Leon seemed surprised by my calm response. But quickly, he was overjoyed, pulling me into a hug. “I was wrong before. I always thought you were petty and stubborn. It's great to see you’re understanding now. Let's have dinner at that lakeside revolving restaurant. You've wanted to go there for ages, haven't you?”

The lakeside revolving restaurant—the chic Italian spot. Once, I dreamed of spending our anniversary there, but now it felt hollow.

Alpha Leon’s voice softened as he draped an arm around my shoulder. “After all our years together, isn’t there anything we can't overcome? Just adjust your attitude a bit. We’ll withdraw the rejection soon. Then I'll go with you to visit your family. You haven’t been back in years, right? Let’s stay a few more days this time.”

As Alpha Leon painted this rosy picture, I stayed silent. He assumed I was in agreement, chatting enthusiastically until I finished saving my files and joined him in the car.

Sitting in the back seat, I scrolled through social media and stumbled across Beta Yasmin’s post. She was in an elegant evening gown, enjoying a candlelit dinner at a spacious open-air restaurant. The picture was taken an hour earlier.

Noticing the river behind her in the photo, I couldn’t help but scoff at myself. She had already enjoyed the evening, and Alpha Leon, ever so considerate, finished that date only to come running to set up another with me—without even bothering to change the venue.