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.

I dragged my weary feet back to the Healer’s quarters, the weight of Rhys’s betrayal pressing heavier on my shoulders with each step. The familiar scent of wolfsbane and herbs usually brought me comfort, but today it only made my stomach churn. The call came through as I sank into my chair, Rhys’s voice cutting through the silence like a blade.

"Georgina, let it go."

Of course, Lana had complained to him. I leaned back, my fingers gripping the edge of the desk as I spoke with a calm detachment I didn’t feel. "Or what?"

"Your mom taught for her whole life. You wouldn’t want her legacy tarnished at the end, would you?"

His words were calculated, manipulative, and they hit their mark. I let out a heavy sigh, a bitter smile forming on my lips. "You care about her that much?"

Even if it meant dishonoring the one who had saved him, the Omega who had mentored him when his own inner wolf threatened to consume him.

He was quiet for a moment, his voice turning serious. "Yes, I love her."

It felt like my heart was being slowly carved out with a dull knife, each moment of pain spreading through me. I had thought he was just looking for something new, as he always did, never truly loving anyone, not even me. But this time, he really had fallen for someone else.

A wave of rage washed over me, and I yelled, almost hysterically, "Rhys, how can you say you love her? How can you just fall for someone else so easily? How can you throw away the ten years we’ve had together? I can’t let this happen."

Rhys chuckled softly, his tone dismissive. "Georgina, you’re too lonely. Maybe you should find someone else too. Don’t worry, I won’t tell my parents. We’ll just carry on like this, since we can’t exactly sever the bond."

My hand dropped limply, the phone slipping to the floor. Rhys continued talking, but my mind was too overwhelmed to catch any of it. The mate bond between us, once a source of strength, now felt like a chain tightening around my throat.

"Georgina?" His voice echoed faintly from the floor, but I didn’t respond. My wolf stirred within me, a low growl of frustration and pain that mirrored my own. I pressed a hand to my chest, as if I could physically ease the ache.

"Let him go," my wolf whispered, her voice soft but firm. "He’s not worth this."

But it wasn’t that simple. Rhys wasn’t just my mate; he was the Beta of the Blue Moon Pack, a position that carried weight and expectation. Severing the bond wasn’t just a personal decision—it was a public one, a declaration that would ripple through the pack like a storm.

I picked up the phone, my voice trembling but clear. "Rhys, if you truly love her, then do it properly. Don’t drag me through this half-hearted charade. I won’t be your hidden mate."

There was silence on the other end, and for a moment, I thought he’d hung up. But then his voice came through, softer now, almost regretful. "Georgina, it’s not that simple. You know how it is. The pack, my position—"

"Don’t," I interrupted, my voice sharp. "Don’t use the pack as an excuse for your cowardice. If you’re going to do this, then do it right. Sever the bond, Rhys. Let me go."

The words hung in the air between us, heavy and final. For a moment, I thought I heard a hitch in his breath, a flicker of the man I once knew. But it was gone as quickly as it came.

"Fine," he said, his tone resigned. "If that’s what you want."

I ended the call before he could say anything else, my hands shaking as I set the phone down. The mate bond pulsed faintly, a reminder of what we’d once had, but I ignored it. It was time to let go, no matter how much it hurt.

The Healer’s quarters felt emptier than ever, the scent of wolfsbane now sharp and bitter in my nose. I stood, my legs unsteady, and walked to the window, staring out at the pack grounds below. The Blue Moon Pack had been my home for so long, but now it felt like a cage.

"Let’s leave," my wolf murmured, her voice echoing my thoughts. "There’s nothing left for us here."

I nodded, a sense of determination settling over me. It was time to move on, to find a new path. Rhys had made his choice, and now I would make mine.

Two hours later, Rhys walked into the hospital. He came to my office, pushing Lana in a wheelchair beside him. His broad shoulders and towering frame filled the doorway, his Beta aura pressing down on me even before he spoke. Lana, her delicate features framed by her golden hair, looked up at him with adoration, her fingers intertwined with his.

"Georgina, let me introduce you. This is my mate, and I specifically asked him to come and thank you," Lana said, her voice sweet but laced with a smugness that made my wolf stir in the back of my mind.

"Come on, we both know she’s my Luna," Rhys replied, his deep voice carrying that familiar arrogance as he tousled her hair tenderly.

I looked up at them, my hands gripping the edge of my desk. "Here to make my day, are you?"

Rhys frowned slightly, his dark eyes narrowing. "Georgina, Lana was acting rashly, but striking her wasn’t right. Her cheek is still red. You owe her an apology."

My attention was drawn to the necklace around Lana’s neck—a purple diamond that glimmered in the sunlight. It was the one I had coveted for a long time, a symbol of status that Rhys had promised to me during our bonding ceremony.

"Wasn’t it supposed to be sent to our place?" I inquired, my eyes fixed on him, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me.

Rhys’s jaw tightened, his Beta aura flaring slightly. "Pick another one. Lana has her heart set on this."

I lowered my head, my fingers clenching automatically. My wolf growled softly, a low, menacing sound only I could hear. *He’s testing you,* she whispered, her voice a mix of anger and sorrow.

"Georgina, you’re mature enough to not hold grudges against someone younger. It’s just a necklace. If you apologize today, we can leave this behind and move on peacefully," Rhys insisted, his tone condescending, as if he were addressing an Omega rather than his former mate.

"It’s alright, Rhys," Lana said, her voice dripping with false kindness as she tugged at his sleeve. "Georgina’s just showing how much she cares for you. I get it."

Rhys leaned down to kiss her forehead, his lips lingering for a moment too long. "You’re too kind. If I don’t stand up for you now, who knows what she’ll do next time."

Lana turned to look at me, her eyes betraying a hint of victory. "She wouldn’t do that. Georgina’s not like that."

I laughed dryly, the sound harsh and bitter. Stepping forward, I stood in front of her, my wolf’s instincts taking over. With a swift kick, I overturned her wheelchair, sending her crashing to the floor.

"Actually, you’re wrong. I am precisely that kind of person."

Rhys froze for a moment, his Beta aura crackling with anger before he rushed to help Lana, who was now crying on the floor.

"Georgina, are you out of your mind? How could you..."

"Oh, I could," I snapped, my voice sharp as I took advantage of his distraction to slap him. The sound echoed in the small office, and I swung the door wide open, my wolf’s growl now a roar in my ears.

"Take your little drama queen and get out of my sight."

Patients and nurses in the hallway paused and stared, their whispers filling the air. Rhys, his face flushed with anger and embarrassment, picked up Lana, his Beta aura flaring dangerously.

"Alright, Georgina, you’ve got some nerve."

I didn’t respond, just stood there, my chest heaving as I watched them leave. My wolf’s growl softened into a whimper, her pain mirroring my own. *He’s not worth it,* she whispered, though her voice trembled. *He never was.*