Kasen’s eyes flickered with unease before he finally relented, his voice heavy with reluctant agreement. “I promise, this is the last time.” From the shadows, Juliet’s piercing gaze locked onto mine, burning with defiance. Hearing Kasen’s words, my father, Alpha Mustafa Sullivan of the Crimson Fang Pack, visibly relaxed, his dominant aura softening just slightly. He smoothed things over with Kasen by offering him a lucrative project—a gesture that would secure Kasen’s position as Beta of the Silver Moon Pack and, by extension, my future. Yet, even with this opportunity, Kasen remained distant. He avoided Juliet’s stare and turned to me, his tone earnest. “If you’re upset, I’ll set boundaries with her. I’ll handle everything through my assistant. Does that sound okay?”

I didn’t respond, but Juliet, who had been so confident in her innocence moments ago, suddenly looked at me with tear-filled eyes, playing the victim. She muttered several apologies before running off. Kasen didn’t chase after her, but his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, his inner wolf no doubt wrestling with conflicting instincts.

In silence, he rolled a chair over for me and gently draped his jacket over my shoulders. “Even though it’s spring, there’s still a chill in the air. Be careful not to catch a cold.” He always showed this kind of meticulous care, and despite myself, I felt a small flutter in my chest—a fleeting warmth that was quickly extinguished.

But then I saw the online comments, and a wave of coldness swept over me.

“Poor Kasen, trapped under the antagonist’s thumb.”

“He even had protection ready, but it was all thwarted by the frail girl.”

“If only she realized, Kasen and the protagonist could be happy!”

Tentatively, I reached into Kasen’s pocket and, as expected, found an unopened pack of condoms. Given my health issues and the frailty of my wolf, it had been a long time since we’d been close. The discovery felt like a dagger to the chest, a reminder of how far we’d drifted.

As I continued taking deep breaths, Kasen looked at me, puzzled, asking what was wrong. I simply shook my head calmly, not shedding a tear. It turns out, when your heartache reaches its peak, it leaves you speechless. My wolf whimpered softly in the back of my mind, a faint echo of the pain I couldn’t voice. But I ignored her, focusing instead on the cold, hard reality before me. Kasen might still be here, but his loyalty—his heart—was no longer mine.

The drive back was suffocating. Kasen Ruiz, the Beta of the Silver Moon Pack, sat beside me, his broad frame filling the seat, his muscular shoulders tense. The silence between us was heavy, uncharacteristic for us. He broke it first, his voice low and accusing, laced with the subtle undertone of an alpha command that made my wolf shrink in submission.

“You ruined my chance to make things right with Juliet,” he said, his tone sharp, the words cutting through the air like a blade.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. Juliet Payne, a Delta warrior in his pack, had been the center of his attention for months now, her strength and assertiveness a stark contrast to my frailty. My wolf whimpered softly in the back of my mind, a fragile echo of my own pain. I wanted to scream at him, to remind him that I was his mate, that he had promised me everything. But I stayed silent, my anger simmering beneath the surface.

My thoughts were interrupted by the soft ping of my phone. I glanced down to see a message from Ramona Robertson, the renowned healer and designer of ceremonial attire for the packs. Her words were gentle, as always, but they pierced my heart like a knife.

“Your wedding dress is finished,” the message read. Attached was a photo of the gown, pristine ivory with a train adorned with diamonds, symbols of eternal love. Tears stung my eyes as I stared at it. The dress was exquisite, a masterpiece fit for a Luna. But the thought of wearing it to marry Kasen now felt like a cruel joke.

I began typing a reply, my fingers trembling slightly. I would buy the dress, I decided, but I would keep it for myself. It was mine, after all, a reminder of what could have been—and what never would be.

Kasen’s voice cut through my thoughts, his tone casual, as if he hadn’t just accused me of ruining his life. “The wedding clothes are ready,” he said, holding up his phone to show me a picture of his custom tuxedo. “Let’s try them on soon.”

I didn’t respond. Instead, I reached for the glove compartment, searching for something to distract myself. My fingers brushed against a small box, and I pulled it out, curiosity getting the better of me. Inside was a ring, its design intricate and unique.

Kasen’s expression shifted briefly, a flicker of something I couldn’t place—guilt, perhaps, or regret. But then he smiled, that charming smile that had once made my heart race, and took the ring from the box. He slipped it onto my finger, his touch gentle, his voice soft.

“I know I’ve been absent lately,” he said, his words honeyed, “but we’re meant to spend our lives together. I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

The ring was beautiful, unlike anything I’d seen before. But as it settled on my finger, I realized it was too loose, not my size at all. I adjusted it slightly, my gaze catching on two engraved letters: L and Y. Kasen’s initials—and Juliet’s.

My stomach churned, a sickening wave of betrayal crashing over me. From the back of my mind, my wolf let out a low growl, her pain mingling with mine.

Then, the whispers began, voices from the crowd that seemed to echo in my ears.

“Seriously, did she think the ring was meant for her? It was custom-made for his sweetheart.”

“Taking what belongs to someone else’s love, how shameless.”

The words stung, but I held my head high. I had never taken Kasen’s love from anyone. He was the one who had claimed to love me, who had stood before the pack and vowed to be my mate. But now, as I sat beside him, the ring on my finger a cruel reminder of his betrayal, I knew the truth. His love had never been mine to begin with.

I forced a smile, feeling a bittersweet pang in my heart as if it were gripped tightly. The air around us was heavy with the scent of tension, and I could see the faint flicker of Kasen's aura—his Beta status making it impossible for him to fully mask his unease. He shifted uncomfortably, his broad frame stiffening as he quickly offered an explanation.

"The jewelry store must have made an error," he said, his voice steady but laced with an edge of defensiveness. His inner wolf, Shadow, always so loyal yet conflicted, seemed to stir beneath the surface. "There’s a pigeon blood red ruby at tonight’s auction. I’ll buy it and turn it into a ring for you, okay?"

I slipped the ring from my finger, the cold metal sliding off easily, and placed it in Kasen’s large, calloused hand. "If it was a mistake, give it to the person it was meant for."

The ring didn’t belong to me, and neither did Kasen. The realization settled in my chest like a weight, pressing against my fragile resolve. My wolf whimpered softly in the back of my mind, a faint echo of the bond that had once felt unbreakable. But now, it was time to let them both go.

Kasen pursed his lips, his dark eyes searching mine for something—forgiveness, understanding, I wasn’t sure. His voice was hesitant, almost pleading. "Charlotte, are you upset?"

"If you really like it, I could have it resized," he suggested, his tone softer now, trying to mend the gap that had once been seamless between us. But his actions betrayed his words; he held onto the ring I returned as if it was precious, his fingers tightening around it protectively.

I shook my head, my voice steady despite the storm inside me. "It’s not necessary."

Kasen finally smiled again, though it didn’t reach his eyes. He launched into a rambling monologue about the intriguing items at the evening’s auction, promising to buy me anything that caught my eye. His Beta authority seemed to falter in that moment, his usual confidence replaced by a desperate attempt to keep things normal.

As the car arrived at the estate and the door swung open, I briefly felt like I had walked into the wrong house. The grand halls of the Silver Moon Pack’s territory were as imposing as ever, the scent of pine and earth mingling with the faint trace of Juliet’s presence. The home I had lived in for two years seemed unchanged at first sight, yet every corner felt so unfamiliar, as if the walls themselves had shifted to accommodate the growing distance between us. My wolf stirred again, a quiet reminder of the life I was leaving behind.