The winter wind bit into my face the second I stepped outside.

It was the only thing that snapped me out of it.

So this was what betrayal felt like — a pain that cut all the way to the bone. And from the person I loved most.

He was the one who had taken my hand and sworn he loved me.

He was the one who had promised he'd never leave, not when I was at my loneliest and most helpless.

When his arms had wrapped around me, I'd felt so safe, so happy, like nothing in the world could touch us. I had sworn to myself we'd be together forever.

And now? All of that was a lie?

When it came down to ambition versus love, love didn't stand a chance.

I wandered the streets in a daze, letting the freezing wind sting my face raw.

Then I stopped. The grief cracked open, and underneath it was something harder — something cold and clear.

Alaric had thrown me away for the advantages Vivienne could offer him.

What he didn't know was that Vivienne was nothing more than an illegitimate daughter with no real standing. I, on the other hand, was the daughter of one of the most powerful Alphas on the continent.

If I hadn't been so reckless, he'd never have been good enough to stand in the same room as me.

A wave of regret hit me. I had resented my parents for arranging my future without asking.

But they had loved me all along. If I hadn't been so stubborn, I never would have ended up with someone like Alaric. I never would have ended up here.

I wiped my tears and swore I would never cry over someone so worthless again.

I pulled out my phone, opened my blocked contacts, and found the number I hadn't looked at in years. My chest ached.

When the call connected, I steadied my voice. "Dad. It's me."

His voice cracked the moment he heard mine.

I took a deep breath. "The arranged mating you mentioned — I agree."

"Yeah. I've made up my mind. I'll come home in a few days."

After hanging up, I booked my flight immediately. For the first time in a long while, the noise in my head went quiet.

But there was one last thing I had to do — submit my formal request to leave the pack.

As I passed the Alpha's office, I froze. Soft sounds were coming from behind the half-open door.

Through the gap, I could see Vivienne draped across Alaric's lap, her face flushed, the two of them all over each other right there in the Alpha's office.

The Alpha hadn't even been chosen yet, and Alaric was already acting like the place was his.

I wanted to turn and leave, but I had to get this paperwork done today.

After a moment's hesitation, I pushed the door open.

The instant Alaric saw me, panic flashed across his face. He shot to his feet. "It's not — Sophie, it's not what you think."

I didn't acknowledge what I'd seen. Stone-faced, I placed the application on the desk. "This is my formal request to leave the pack."

Alaric straightened his collar and forced himself to sit back down. "Give it here. My father said I'm in charge of all pack affairs while he's away."

Vivienne nestled into Alaric's arms and shot me a smug look. "Sophie, you're really leaving? I'll miss you so much when you're gone."

I gave her one cold glance. "Stay out of it."

That single sentence, somehow, made Vivienne's eyes well up.

"Sophie, I'm sorry — I was just worried about you. I didn't mean to —"

Her voice broke into a choked sob. Beside her, Alaric's expression hardened as he turned on me. "Sophie, since when are you this petty? Vivienne was just showing she cared, and you bite her head off?"

"I'm really disappointed in you."

Vivienne tugged at Alaric's sleeve, her lip trembling. "It's fine. I know Sophie's never liked me. Maybe I shouldn't have come at all. I'll just go."

She stood and headed for the door.

Alaric rushed after her, pulled her into his arms, and murmured, "You didn't do anything wrong. Don't blame yourself. If she doesn't like you, that's her problem."

Then he turned back to me, his voice flat and cold. "Your paperwork's signed. If there's nothing else, you can leave."

"And when you get home, think about what you've done. You owe Vivienne an apology."

I held the signed papers in my hand, and despite everything, I felt calm.

Even if he hadn't told me to go, I wouldn't have stayed another minute in this disgusting place.

Over the next few days, I packed my things.

At some point, the bedroom door opened behind me. Alaric wrapped his arms around me from behind and whispered, "I shouldn't have snapped at you last time. Just let me finish up some work, and then I'll file my own paperwork to leave the pack."

"Don't worry. I'd never abandon you."

His voice was soft, but someone else's perfume was all over his clothes, and it made my stomach turn.

I pulled free from his grip and brushed off my sleeve, like I'd touched something filthy.

Alaric's jaw tightened.

I placed the last piece of clothing into my suitcase and looked around the room — the house I had lived in for five years. Every corner held a memory of us.

Against my better judgment, I gave him one last chance. "Becoming Alpha is every male wolf's dream. Would you really give that up for me?"

Something flickered across Alaric's face. He was quiet for a long time before he spoke. "The truth is, I —"

His phone rang before he could finish. Alaric answered, and Vivienne's sobbing poured through the speaker.

He panicked instantly. Still murmuring reassurances into the phone, he grabbed his jacket and bolted out the door without a single word of explanation.

I listened to his footsteps fade down the hall and shook my head with a bitter smile.

I was a fool for holding on to even a shred of hope.

Maybe it was knowing this was my last night in this house, but I slept deeply — dreamless, undisturbed.

The next morning, my phone woke me with a barrage of notifications.

A message from Vivienne. A hotel booking confirmation — a couples' getaway to Moon Forest with Alaric, two months from now.

So his plans for the future had never included me.

Beneath the screenshot, Vivienne had added a message: "Omg Sophie, sorry — that wasn't meant for you lol. Don't get the wrong idea!"

I took a steadying breath and pushed the bitterness down. Then I remembered — there was one thing left to do.

I gathered every item Alaric had ever given me: the necklace from our anniversary, the ring from my birthday, and every love letter I had written for him — years' worth, stuffed into shoeboxes.

Things I had once treasured more than anything in the world — I burned them all.

Watching the black smoke curl into the sky, I felt lighter than I had in years.

Three hours until my flight.

I arrived at the airport early.

Just before boarding, Alaric called.

"Sophie, I can't come with you."

I had expected this, but hearing him say it still sent a jolt through my chest.

His voice was grave. "Vivienne's been poisoned with wolfsbane. She's in the hospital. I can't just leave her."

I almost laughed. He couldn't even come up with a believable excuse.

"Got it." My voice was flat.

Just as I was about to hang up, Alaric cut in. "You know exactly what you did."

I blinked. "What are you talking about?"

His tone turned hard. "We found a letter at Vivienne's place. It spelled out, clear as day, that you drove her to this."

"Sophie, I thought you were just jealous. I didn't realize you were cruel enough to try to kill her."

"If you apologize to her, I might still forgive you. But you need to spend some time away reflecting on what you've done. Otherwise, don't expect me to honor what we had."

My ear was ringing from his ranting. I hung up, blocked his number, and deleted the contact in one smooth motion.

The plane landed at my pack's airstrip. Waiting for me on the tarmac were my parents — and a stranger I had never met.

"Sophie, this is Dorian."

The name stopped me cold. He was the older brother Alaric had always talked about — the true heir to the Alpha title.

When I had first come to Alaric's pack, Dorian had been away, training at another pack. Our paths had never crossed.

I hadn't expected that the man I was arranged to mate with would be him.

Dorian stepped forward and took my suitcase, smiling warmly. "Hi. It's nice to finally meet you. I'm Dorian."

Before I could respond, a phone rang.

An unknown number.

I answered cautiously. Alaric's frantic voice came through the line.

"Sophie, why did you change your flight?"

"And what's this about an alliance marriage in the news?"

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