My mate, Alpha Ulric Lancaster, made a spectacle of himself, publicly declaring his love for Ophelia, the she-wolf adored by his sworn rival, just to prove a point. The whole of Joravia-pack was buzzing with the news.

Alpha Ulric swore it was all a charade, just a game to get under his rival's fur, but his actions cut me deeper than I could bear, leaving my heart cold and heavy.

"Luna Julia, just let her slap you back, and I'll make it up to you, I swear," he said, his voice smooth as ever.

I didn't flinch when her hand struck my cheek. Even when he later spoke of breaking our bond, I just replied, cool as ice, "If that's what you want."

"It's not real, Luna Julia. It's just for show. When this game's over, I'll bring you back home, okay?" he pleaded.

Alpha Ulric, Joravia-pack's notorious playboy wolf, had once fallen for me at first sight. He chased me relentlessly, swore he'd change his wild ways, and our sacred bond became the stuff of legends in the pack. A true tale of a rogue wolf tamed.

But now, he was pulling the same stunt with another she-wolf. Everyone pitied me, whispering about my misfortune, but I just brushed it off with a smile.

What he didn't know was that his gamble was also mine.

Six months later, Alpha Ulric's eyes lit up when he saw my rounded belly, his wolfish grin wide with joy. But then it hit him-he hadn't shared my bed in the three months before we became unbound.

The needle pricked my fingertip, but the sting was nothing compared to the ache in my chest. Three months of hearing the same news, day after day-Alpha Ulric and Ophelia, Alpha Ulric and his rival, Alpha Ulric and his games. At first, it felt like a blade twisting in my gut, but now? I was starting to go numb.

Still, the hurt lingered. My maid, catching the grief in my eyes, clammed up. I just murmured, "Got it. You can go."

Stepping into the courtyard, I heard Alpha Ulric's laugh-a sound I hadn't heard so bright in ages. It crashed into me, stirring memories of better days.

"If it's not a top-tier den, I'm not staying," Ophelia's voice rang out, smug as she shot me a taunting smirk.

"You'll stay in the Sycamore Den, right next to mine. I set it up myself," Alpha Ulric said, his tone warm with pride.

I stumbled back a step, fighting the sting in my eyes, and ignored the voices trailing behind me. The courtyard filled with the sounds of crates being hauled in, furniture shuffled around.

"Julia, that she-wolf's gone too far, and Alpha Ulric? He's back to his old tricks," my maid muttered, shaking her head.

Alpha Ulric burst in, all nervous energy, crouching before me with that boyish charm he wielded like a weapon. " Luna Julia, I told you, it's because she's Marcus Chandler's chosen mate. I have to steal her away. Once I do, I'll send her packing, I swear."

I lowered my gaze, my voice flat. "That den-every tree, every stone-you planted it for me. You called it my sanctuary. Now it's hers."

He grabbed my hand, pressing a quick kiss to it. I flinched, but he held on tighter, his warm palm engulfing mine. "I'll build you a new den, better than before. But I can't let Marcus win. Anything he claims, I take."

"Like you did three years ago?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

His eyes widened, catching the hurt in mine. "No, Luna Julia, that was different. I fell for you-hard. It wasn't about Marcus."

His eyes brimmed with sincerity, and for a moment, I couldn't tell if he was lying or if I just wanted to believe him. Before I could respond, a packmate burst in.

"Alpha Ulric, Ophelia's saying she'll rip out all the lilies-Julia's favorite flowers!"

I bolted outside, but it was too late. The lilies I loved, their roots torn from the earth, lay scattered across the ground.

Crack. My hand flew before I could stop it, connecting with Ophelia's cheek. "Those were mine. Who said you could touch them?"

Ophelia's maid gasped. "Ophelia, let's tell Marcus they're ganging up on you!"

Alpha Ulric stepped in front of Ophelia, his voice soft, coaxing. "Easy, now. Don't go running to Marcus. I don't like that."

"Then I'm hitting her back," Ophelia snapped.

My mate, Alpha Ulric Lancaster, made a spectacle of himself, publicly declaring his love for Ophelia, the she-wolf adored by his sworn rival, just to prove a point. The whole of Joravia-pack was buzzing with the news.

Alpha Ulric swore it was all a charade, just a game to get under his rival's fur, but his actions cut me deeper than I could bear, leaving my heart cold and heavy.

"Luna Julia, just let her slap you back, and I'll make it up to you, I swear," he said, his voice smooth as ever.

I didn't flinch when her hand struck my cheek. Even when he later spoke of breaking our bond, I just replied, cool as ice, "If that's what you want."

"It's not real, Luna Julia. It's just for show. When this game's over, I'll bring you back home, okay?" he pleaded.

Alpha Ulric, Joravia-pack's notorious playboy wolf, had once fallen for me at first sight. He chased me relentlessly, swore he'd change his wild ways, and our sacred bond became the stuff of legends in the pack. A true tale of a rogue wolf tamed.

But now, he was pulling the same stunt with another she-wolf. Everyone pitied me, whispering about my misfortune, but I just brushed it off with a smile.

What he didn't know was that his gamble was also mine.

Six months later, Alpha Ulric's eyes lit up when he saw my rounded belly, his wolfish grin wide with joy. But then it hit him-he hadn't shared my bed in the three months before we became unbound.

The needle pricked my fingertip, but the sting was nothing compared to the ache in my chest. Three months of hearing the same news, day after day-Alpha Ulric and Ophelia, Alpha Ulric and his rival, Alpha Ulric and his games. At first, it felt like a blade twisting in my gut, but now? I was starting to go numb.

Still, the hurt lingered. My maid, catching the grief in my eyes, clammed up. I just murmured, "Got it. You can go."

Stepping into the courtyard, I heard Alpha Ulric's laugh-a sound I hadn't heard so bright in ages. It crashed into me, stirring memories of better days.

"If it's not a top-tier den, I'm not staying," Ophelia's voice rang out, smug as she shot me a taunting smirk.

"You'll stay in the Sycamore Den, right next to mine. I set it up myself," Alpha Ulric said, his tone warm with pride.

I stumbled back a step, fighting the sting in my eyes, and ignored the voices trailing behind me. The courtyard filled with the sounds of crates being hauled in, furniture shuffled around.

"Julia, that she-wolf's gone too far, and Alpha Ulric? He's back to his old tricks," my maid muttered, shaking her head.

Alpha Ulric burst in, all nervous energy, crouching before me with that boyish charm he wielded like a weapon. " Luna Julia, I told you, it's because she's Marcus Chandler's chosen mate. I have to steal her away. Once I do, I'll send her packing, I swear."

I lowered my gaze, my voice flat. "That den-every tree, every stone-you planted it for me. You called it my sanctuary. Now it's hers."

He grabbed my hand, pressing a quick kiss to it. I flinched, but he held on tighter, his warm palm engulfing mine. "I'll build you a new den, better than before. But I can't let Marcus win. Anything he claims, I take."

"Like you did three years ago?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

His eyes widened, catching the hurt in mine. "No, Luna Julia, that was different. I fell for you-hard. It wasn't about Marcus."

His eyes brimmed with sincerity, and for a moment, I couldn't tell if he was lying or if I just wanted to believe him. Before I could respond, a packmate burst in.

"Alpha Ulric, Ophelia's saying she'll rip out all the lilies-Julia's favorite flowers!"

I bolted outside, but it was too late. The lilies I loved, their roots torn from the earth, lay scattered across the ground.

Crack. My hand flew before I could stop it, connecting with Ophelia's cheek. "Those were mine. Who said you could touch them?"

Ophelia's maid gasped. "Ophelia, let's tell Marcus they're ganging up on you!"

Alpha Ulric stepped in front of Ophelia, his voice soft, coaxing. "Easy, now. Don't go running to Marcus. I don't like that."

"Then I'm hitting her back," Ophelia snapped.

I stared at Alpha Ulric, waiting for him to defend me. He hesitated, just for a second, before saying, "Fine, let her hit you back. Don't be mad, okay? Luna Julia, you slapped her first. Let her even the score."

My eyes burned, disbelief choking me silent. Ophelia didn't hold back-her hand cracked across my face, leaving my cheek swollen and stinging.

"There, you happy now?" Alpha Ulric asked her, his tone light, like he hadn't just watched me take the hit.

I stood right there, but it was like he couldn't see me. All his attention was on soothing the she-wolf in his arms. Was this really just a game, like he claimed?

As they walked away, my tears finally broke free. All that talk of a rogue wolf turning over a new leaf? Nothing but a fleeting dream, gone like a flower wilting in the frost.

"Julia, don't wait up. It's past midnight. The pack says Alpha Ulric's already crashed at Ophelia's place."

I pressed a hand to my aching chest, trying to hold myself together.

A month later, Ophelia officially moved into the Sycamore Den. Alpha Ulric was all over her, hauling her stuff, tending to her every whim like a devoted mate. It was like I didn't even exist.

"Alpha Ulric, you know Julia can't stand the smell of those dishes. They make her sick," my maid pointed out, her voice sharp.

Alpha Ulric barely glanced at me. His eyes flicked to Ophelia, who was already tearing up, and he snapped at the maid. "What, my word's not good enough anymore?"

I hid in my room during dinner, clinging to a shred of hope. I waited, and waited, until the dead of night when footsteps finally echoed outside. Alpha Ulric's voice came, soft and warm, so different from the wolf I'd seen earlier.

"Making me worry again, huh?" he said, his eyes brimming with affection, like he was a whole different wolf from the one in the daylight. My tears spilled over, and he pulled me into his arms, his grip tight and reassuring.

"You know you're the only one I love, Luna Julia. All this? It's just to get under Marcus's skin," he murmured.

He told me not to worry, promised we'd take a trip to Norlan-pack to clear my head once this mess was over. He even said he had a plan to help me escape the drama if it was too much. His words felt heavy, like there was something he wasn't saying, but he kept soothing me with that low, honeyed voice.

Then a packmate burst in. "Alpha Ulric, Ophelia's sick-says the pup in her belly's acting up. You gotta come quick!"

I froze, my heart stopping. I must've misheard. But Alpha Ulric was already bolting out the door, panic in his eyes.

I grabbed his arm, my voice shaking. "Alpha Ulric, you... you didn't really..."

I couldn't finish. I was too scared of the answer.

"Luna Julia, I was drunk that night, I swear. It was just one time. When the pup's born, I'll let you raise it, okay? No worries," he said, his voice pleading.

I stared at his face, all sincerity and lies, and my strength drained away. As he turned and left, I collapsed to the floor, my body trembling.

Whatever love we'd had was gone, scattered like ashes.

I picked up a pen and scrawled three words: I lost.

"Send it," I whispered to the maid. "Not many peaceful days left."

If I was leaving, I had nothing left to lose.