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.

The manor was eerily quiet; not a sound was to be heard. It was only three in the afternoon, and Whiskers, my cat, should have been frolicking around after lunch. Usually, the moment I got home, he'd dash over to greet me.

Kasen stood at the entrance, slipping off his coat. He expertly donned an apron, embodying the image of a devoted mate. His broad shoulders and muscular frame, typical of a Beta, seemed almost too imposing in the small space.

“What would you like to eat? I can whip up something for you. The auction won't start until later, and I'm concerned you might have a sugar crash,” he said, his voice calm but carrying the faintest hint of authority—his Beta tone.

I brushed past him, ignoring his offer, and made a beeline for the pet room. But after just a few steps, my vision blurred, and I crumpled to the floor, my legs suddenly weak. As the room spun around me, I barely registered Kasen hurrying toward me, panic clear on his face.

He lifted me onto the sofa, his strong arms effortlessly supporting my frail frame, and then turned to grab some candy from the coffee table, pressing them into my mouth. They were sour, lemon-flavored—the taste I disliked—and they carried a trace of Juliet's scent, a faint floral aroma that made my stomach churn.

Once I had gathered some strength, I pushed away from Kasen's arms and continued my search for Whiskers. But Kasen's voice halted me.

He turned his head slightly, a hint of guilt in his uneasy tone. “The cat was just untamable. Yesterday, it nearly scratched me, so I found it a new home.”

“Don’t worry, I gave it to someone trustworthy. It’s in a really good place now.”

I turned away, too drained to keep up any pretense of calm. All I could think about was my cat. I had raised Whiskers for five years, the same length of time I’d known Kasen. Whiskers was affectionate and well-behaved; there was no way he would have scratched Kasen.

The comments streamed endlessly on the pack's mind link, echoing the pit of despair in my heart.

["The cat, just like its owner, is so ornery. The Beta only wanted to pet it, but it lashed out."]

["Luckily, it knew its true owner. When the Beta threw it out, it didn't resist; otherwise, Juliet might have been hurt, and he would have been devastated."]

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. The bond between us, once strong, now felt like a fragile thread, fraying with every word. My wolf stirred within me, a faint whimper echoing in my mind, but I pushed it down. I couldn’t afford to show weakness, not now.

Kasen’s presence loomed behind me, his aura heavy and commanding, but I refused to turn around. He was the Beta of the Silver Moon Pack, respected and feared by many, but to me, he was just Kasen—the man who had promised to stand by my side, yet now seemed so far away.

“I’ll find Whiskers,” I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. “With or without your help.”

Kasen sighed, his Alpha tone softening slightly. “You’re being unreasonable. The cat is gone, and it’s for the best. Focus on your health. The pack needs you strong.”

I bit my lip, holding back the retort that threatened to spill out. The pack needed me strong? Or did he just need me out of the way, so he could focus on Juliet without the burden of our bond weighing him down?

Without another word, I walked away, my frail body trembling with every step. The manor felt colder than ever, the silence a stark reminder of what I had lost—not just Whiskers, but the man I had once believed would be my mate.

I had no idea how I ended up at the pet room door. Every step felt like another dagger to my heart.

The dizziness hadn’t lessened; if anything, it was getting worse. Despite taking my heart medication, my chest continued to throb with a dull, constant pain. I picked up the good luck charm I’d made for Whiskers from the floor, rubbing it gently in my hand. Tears flowed uncontrollably.

Perhaps Beta Kasen hadn’t expected me to be this heartbroken. He approached, puzzled, trying to steady me and gently patting my back to help me breathe.

"It’s just a cat. Does it matter more to you than I do?"

My vision blurred, but when I turned to look at him, everything snapped into focus. Taking advantage of his moment of surprise, I clutched at his throat, my voice sharp and cutting. My nails dug into his skin.

"Beta Kasen, do you even have a soul? A heart?"

"Whiskers has been with us for years, and you just tossed it aside. What gave you the right?"

I pointed at the streaks of blood and clumps of cat fur near the pet room door.

"If no one had hurt Whiskers, it wouldn’t have lashed out."

"You know exactly what happened…"

The candy in my mouth slipped out as I struggled to catch my breath from the chest pain. I staggered towards the bookshelf, hoping to find some medication. But when I opened it, all I found was it crammed with snacks—enough to supply a small store. The life-saving medication I had kept there was nowhere to be found.

Beta Kasen watched as my face went pale, not bothering to argue with me, just desperately searching for the medicine. He finally found it tossed carelessly in the wastepaper bin in the storage room. His hands shook as he fed me the pills one by one.

He was met with my vacant stare and a face full of scornful laughter. He seemed taken aback, following my gaze but seeing nothing but empty space.

"What are you looking at?"

"I admit I didn’t handle this well. If you love cats so much, I’ll take you to get another one."

"Forget about Whiskers; it nearly scratched Delta Juliet. It’s better not to keep it. The poor girl is young and shouldn’t have to deal with such trauma."

"I heard Delta Juliet’s been scared of cats since she was little. Can’t you empathize with that?"

In minutes, his story shifted from him being nearly scratched to Delta Juliet being the victim. But if she is so pitiable, does Whiskers not deserve some sympathy too? It’s been over ten hours since I was hospitalized yesterday. Whiskers was a stray my mother brought home five years ago before she passed away—a timid cat that has been my sole comfort.

Beta Kasen knew how much Whiskers meant to me, yet he still did this. I couldn’t bear the thought of where Whiskers might be hiding now or, worse, if it’s still alive, waiting for me to rescue it.

Beta Kasen had no idea that while he was off searching for the medication, everything became clear to me. Not just the bookshelf, but the fridge, the bedroom—everywhere was filled with evidence of Delta Juliet.

The fridge, once filled with my favorites, was now packed with foods I couldn’t stand. Even my wardrobe had her intimate clothing placed next to Beta Kasen’s pajamas.

Comments on the pack’s online forum celebrated Delta Juliet as the soon-to-be Luna of the Silver Moon Pack. But this was my home—a house I had lived in and decorated for years.

Beta Kasen seemed to understand what I was thinking, awkwardly trying to explain.

"Delta Juliet never had snacks before, so I got her a bunch to try."

"I know you don’t like them, which is why I didn’t bring it up."

"But don’t worry, whatever you want, I’ll have someone buy it for you anytime, okay?"

His words rang hollow, the weight of his neglect pressing down on me. My wolf stirred weakly in the back of my mind, a faint whimper of pain echoing my own.

"Beta Kasen," I said, my voice trembling but firm, "you’ve made your choice. And it’s not me."

He froze, his dark eyes widening slightly as if he hadn’t expected me to say it. But the truth was there, clear as the moonlight streaming through the window. I was done being the supporting girl in his life.

I turned away, clutching the good luck charm tightly in my hand, and walked out of the room. The pain in my chest was still there, but for the first time in a long while, I felt a glimmer of something else—resolve.

Whiskers wasn’t just a cat. It was a part of me, a reminder of the love and comfort I had lost. And if Beta Kasen couldn’t see that, then he didn’t deserve to be my mate.

My wolf let out a soft growl of agreement, and for a moment, I felt a flicker of strength. It was time to take back what was mine—even if it meant walking away from everything I thought I wanted.