After scrolling through Clara's posts, I started packing.

When we formed our bond, we agreed: if we ever broke it, we'd split everything in the house fifty-fifty. So I marked my half, called the movers, and set them to come the day our bond was severed.

The next day at the pack office, Alpha Ethan was gone, but the bond-breaking papers were already on my desk. I laughed bitterly at his speed, then signed without hesitation. I called the pack's lawyer to take the papers away.

In the break room, pouring water, a she-wolf colleague sidled up. "Nina, it's Valentine's Day. What's Alpha Ethan getting you?"

My hand froze on the pitcher. Valentine's Day? Every year, Alpha Ethan and I celebrated together. He knew I loved the little rituals. Rich or poor, he always made it special. The first year, he crafted a photo album of our love story. The second, he spent a month learning to blow glass, making me a one-of-a-kind vase. Last year, he gifted me a field of roses he'd planted himself, my favorite kind.

Would he bother this year?

"Old mates like us don't fuss over gifts," I said, swallowing the truth about our breaking bond.

Just then, a shriek came from outside. "Oh my gosh, what a romantic Valentine's gift! Alpha Ethan's outdone himself!"

"I'm so jealous of Nina. She's got it all!"

"Nina, come see! Alpha Ethan's got your Valentine's surprise!"

My colleague beamed, envious. "Old mates, huh? Alpha Ethan loves you too much to skip a gift. Go look!"

Pushed toward the massive windows, I saw it: fireworks outside, bold letters proclaiming, Happy Valentine's Day!

Everyone assumed it was for me. Everyone except Clara, who stood off to the side, muttering, "Actually, that's from my mate. For me."

Someone overheard and scoffed. "Your mate? Clara, get real. You're not even dating anyone, let alone a wolf with that kind of cash."

"Yeah, that's obviously Alpha Ethan's gift to Nina. Don't kid yourself."

Clara's eyes welled up, her voice shaking. "It's true. My mate and I are about to form a sacred bond."

My brows furrowed. Alpha Ethan moved fast, planning to bind with Clara before our bond was even broken.

"Look at the fine print!" someone shouted as the balloon drifted closer.

There it was, in smaller letters: Clara, bind with me!

The crowd fell silent, eyes darting between me and Clara. The air grew thick, awkward. Someone tried to lighten the mood. "Well, Clara's mate is sweet, but Alpha Ethan's on another level. Last year, he gave Nina a whole rose field. This year's gotta be even bigger."

I stood there, heart heavy, saying nothing. The pack could believe what they wanted. I knew the trut that Alpha Ethan's love for me was long gone.

The office buzzed with gossip, and one of my colleagues, who never liked Clara's flashy style, couldn't resist a jab.

"Clara, who's this mate of yours? He real, or did you rent that hot air balloon yourself?"

"It's real!" Clara snapped, her voice defensive.

"My mate sent it, and he's coming any second."

As if on cue, the elevator dinged. Alpha Ethan stepped out, a bouquet of roses in his paws.

The pack erupted, assuming the flowers were for me. "Nina! Alpha Ethan's here! Go get him!"

"Those roses are gorgeous. I'd kill for a bouquet like that."

I didn't move. Then Alpha Ethan handed the white roses to Clara, who'd been waiting with bated breath. "Happy Valentine's Day, Clara."

The room went still, smiles freezing on every face.

A colleague piped up cautiously. "Alpha Ethan. did you give those to the wrong she-wolf?"

"Nope," Alpha Ethan said, wrapping an arm around Clara's waist and kissing her forehead. "These are for Clara. Nina and I are breaking our bond. Once it's done, I'm binding with Clara."

Silence hit the office like a dead calm.

Every pair of eyes turned to me. I forced a small smile. "Congrats."

Clara nodded, shy but smug. "Thanks, Nina."

Alpha Ethan grinned at me. "I'm taking Clara out for a candlelit dinner tonight, so I'm giving her the day off. You cool with that, Nina?"

I shook my head, voice steady. "Not at all."

I didn't care who he spent Valentine's Day with anymore. My heart had already let him go.

After Alpha Ethan and Clara left, the pack scattered, too awkward to say anything, afraid of upsetting me.

My phone buzzed with a text from Alpha Ethan: Nina, thanks for not making a scene in front of everyone. Clara's over the moon. Happy Valentine's Day-your gift's waiting at home. Love you.

I scoffed. Love me? While he's got his paws all over another she-wolf? What a joke.

When I got home, the housekeeper rushed over.

"Ma'am, your mate sent a ton of gifts!"

The living room was piled high with presents, but they looked eerily familiar. I checked Clara's latest post and, sure enough, they were identical to the ones Alpha Ethan got her.

He bought us the same gifts? Did he think he's some kind of pack alpha, splitting his attention between two she-wolves?

"Where should we put these, ma'am?" the housekeeper asked.

"Sort them out," I said, voice icy. "Tomorrow, they go to the office. We've got twenty-nine she-wolves working there."

Clara didn't need one.

"But ma'am, there's only twenty gifts here."

"Then get nine more. I want every she-wolf in the pack office to have a Valentine's Day gift."

The next morning, every she-wolf's desk had a pricey present-designer bags, diamond necklaces, custom heels. All except Clara's, which sat empty.