When I stepped into the packhouse, the scent of stew wafted through the air, mingling with the faint trace of Rhys’s pinewood and leather scent—something I used to find comforting, but now it only made my stomach twist. He was in the kitchen, his broad shoulders hunched over the stove, the muscles in his back shifting beneath his shirt as he stirred the pot. Hearing the door close, he glanced up, his dark eyes meeting mine.

"Georgina, you're back," he said, his voice low and smooth, the kind of tone that once made my wolf stir in contentment. Now, it only made her whimper softly in the back of my mind.

I gave a brief nod, swapping into my indoor shoes before walking over to him. He was the Beta of the Blue Moon Pack, a position that demanded respect, but tonight, I couldn’t bring myself to care about titles or hierarchies.

"Today, I made your favorite," he said, offering a gentle smile, his eyes crinkling as if he truly cared. "Sweet and sour pulled pork."

I didn’t respond. My fingers brushed the edge of the plate, and with a light push, it hit the floor, the crash echoing through the silence of the packhouse.

Rhys froze, setting the ladle down with a clatter. His face darkened, the aura of a Beta radiating from him, sharp and commanding. "What kind of nonsense is this now?"

I fixed my gaze on him, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Had your fun with someone else this afternoon, and now you’re here cooking for me. Aren’t you exhausted?"

His brow furrowed, his voice dropping to a growl. "Have you been spying on me?"

I laughed, the sound hollow and bitter. "Why would I need to? Your little girlfriend came boldly to find me herself."

His expression shifted, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Oh, she’s got some nerve, huh?"

I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest.

He walked slowly to my side, his presence overwhelming as it always was. "Is that what’s got you upset? Such a pity about the food." His tone softened, though his eyes remained hard. "Okay, I promise she won’t show up in front of you again. Georgina, you know she’s just a fling. You will always be Mrs. Cruz; no one can replace you." He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face, his touch lingering. "Weren’t you eyeing that jewelry set recently? I’ll have it delivered to the house tomorrow."

His gaze was tender, the kind of look that once made my knees weak. Now, it only made my wolf snarl in disgust.

I muttered a curse under my breath and glanced at the steaming pot of stew behind him. "Dinner’s ready," I said flatly.

I could resist anything, except diamonds.

The packhouse attendant, always perceptive, quickly arranged for the mess to be cleaned up, and the meal was served promptly. Rhys sat across from me, his posture relaxed but his eyes darting to his phone every few seconds, as if waiting for a message that didn’t come.

"By the way," he said casually, though his grip on the fork tightened, "what did you talk about with Lana?"

I cracked a smile, though it didn’t reach my eyes. "Rhys, I’m the pack Healer."

"Is she unwell?" His voice was sharp, his concern for her evident.

"Yeah," I said, my tone flat. "She took quite a beating from you. Ruptured corpus luteum. And I mentioned—"

Before I could finish, he stood up abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor, and rushed out without another word.

I lowered my gaze, a bitter smile tugging at my lips. This wasn’t the first time Rhys had cheated. But it was the first time he showed such concern for his mistress. My wolf growled softly in my mind, a sound of both anger and pain.

It was then I knew, more than ever, that the bond between us was fraying—and there was no way to stitch it back together.

Rhys and I have been mated for seven years. Over the years, he’s been unfaithful five times. Whenever the thrill of a new affair faded, he would use me as his excuse to end things, painting me as the loyal mate he could never leave.

I remember all too well the first night I discovered he was seeing someone else. I was gasping for breath, like a wolf caught in a trap, helpless and betrayed by the side of our bed. I grabbed his collar, confronting him, slapping him hard and spewing venomous words at him and his lover. But he just stood there, letting me vent until I collapsed in tears on the floor.

He calmly said, "Georgina, this is just how alphas are. Life’s too long to be with only one person. You need to understand that. You can't have it all. My heart belongs to you; my body deserves freedom." He reassured me, "I only choose those who are careful. They’re clean, no diseases."

With each betrayal, my heart broke a little more. I would look through the bonding vows he wrote for me, the trinkets he crafted, and the videos of us together. I couldn’t comprehend how he changed so drastically. After all, I was the mate he once swore he would die for. When his parents, both high-ranking in the Blue Moon Pack, opposed our mating, he endured endless lectures from his father, the Gamma. Even when the arguments became heated, he didn’t abandon his desire to bond with me. He locked himself away, refusing food and drink, even resorting to silence to pressure them. He once said that without me by his side, he’d never know happiness. During our marking ceremony, he solemnly vowed, “I, Rhys, Beta of the Blue Moon Pack, accept you, Georgina Cruz, Healer of the Blue Moon Pack, as my mate. I swear to cherish and protect you for as long as the moon shines.”

After we bonded, he cherished me above all else. When a pack member hinted that I wasn’t good enough for him, he used his authority to cut off their privileges, forcing an apology. He never let anyone belittle or disrespect me, even his own family. We agreed to delay having pups for the sake of our roles in the pack, and he didn’t hesitate. He even went so far as to falsify a medical report, claiming low fertility, telling his parents he needed specialized treatment. They felt guilty and treated me with newfound respect.

But within three years, everything changed. He let his mistress openly mock me, ridiculing my appearance. He no longer defended me, even letting his brother, a Delta warrior, suggest I be more understanding. "Georgina, Beta Rhys and those women are just having fun. The other mates envy you because he’s never talked of severance. You should be content."

It was his parents who were outraged, invoking their familiar reprimands. "You fought so hard for her, and now you treat her like this? How dare you keep a mistress? Your grandfather and father never disgraced the Cruz family like this."

Once again, he faced their anger, their disappointment clear, yet he refused to admit his mistakes or change. He’s stubborn, unwavering once he’s made up his mind. I never doubted his sincerity; it just shifted. He once loved me, but now he doesn’t. And my love for him has finally run dry.

My wolf whimpers in the back of my mind, a faint echo of the pain I’ve carried for years. She’s been silent for so long, but now she stirs, her presence a reminder of the bond we once shared. I close my eyes, trying to shut out the memories, but they flood in like a pack of rogues, relentless and unforgiving.

Rhys may be the Beta, but he’s no longer the mate I once knew. And as I stand here, surrounded by the remnants of a bond that’s been shattered too many times, I know it’s time to let go. For my sake, and for the sake of the wolf within me who deserves better.

The next morning, I made my usual rounds through the pack’s medical ward, my steps steady despite the storm brewing inside me. As I approached Lana’s room, I noticed a small, charming cat mug on her nightstand. The words “May my dear Lana always be happy” were scrawled across it in Rhys’s unmistakable handwriting.

My chest tightened, and I quickly averted my gaze, refusing to let the sting in my eyes betray me.

Lana lay on the bed, her expression soft but her eyes sharp. She looked at me with that same elegant smile she always wore, her tone dripping with false sweetness. “Healer Cruz, did you not sleep well last night? You look quite exhausted. And somewhat... aged.”

I clenched my jaw, but I didn’t rise to her bait. She wasn’t the first to mock my age, and she wouldn’t be the last. Still, my wolf stirred in the back of my mind, a low growl of irritation echoing in my thoughts. I silenced her with a mental nudge. Now wasn’t the time.

“Ensure she gets an ultrasound to check her recovery status,” I instructed the assistant, my voice calm despite the tension in the room.

The assistant nodded, but before they could respond, Lana tilted her head, her eyes glinting with mischief. “Healer Cruz, why don’t you handle it yourself? Surely, you’re more experienced.”

The assistant hesitated, clearly ready to decline on my behalf, but I held up a hand. “Alright,” I said, my tone clipped. This was the Blue Moon Pack’s medical ward, and I wasn’t about to cause unnecessary conflict with Rhys over something so trivial.

Lana lay back on the bed, her legs apart, her voice soft and drawn out as if she were savoring every word. “Healer Cruz, be gentle. I’m really scared of pain.”

I bit back a bitter laugh. Afraid of pain? And yet, here she was, carrying Rhys’s pup—a pup that should have been ours. My wolf growled again, louder this time, and I had to force her back into silence.

I inserted the probe slowly, my movements precise despite the tension in my hands. Lana curled her lips into a mischievous smile, her voice dripping with provocation. “Isn’t it delightful? My mate said it’s much better than his wife’s. I heard she leaks when she sneezes, Healer Cruz. Isn’t that just hilarious?”

My hand tightened on the probe, and I increased the pressure slightly. Lana let out a startled cry, her facade of composure cracking for just a moment.

“What are you doing? That really hurts,” she said, her voice sharp now.

I withdrew the probe, my expression cold. “That’s enough. You can get up now.”

She blinked, her smile returning as if nothing had happened. “Healer Cruz, surely you’re not upset? Wrinkles might form if you stress too much.”

Her words were the final straw. My wolf surged forward, and before I could stop myself, I slapped her hard across the face. The sound echoed in the room, and Lana’s eyes widened in shock.

“Not upset,” I said, my voice icy. “Disgusted, perhaps. There’s nothing more shameless than you.”

Lana’s hand flew to her cheek, her expression a mix of surprise and anger. For a moment, neither of us spoke, the tension in the room thick enough to cut with a claw. My wolf snarled in satisfaction, but I quickly reined her in. This wasn’t the place for a confrontation, no matter how much I wanted to tear into her.

I turned on my heel and left the room without another word, my heart pounding in my chest. The mate bond burned faintly in the back of my mind, a constant reminder of the life I had lost—and the life I was determined to leave behind.