I didn’t realize I was pregnant until I lost the baby.

That morning, I was attacked by five omegas of our pack, the Growling Wolves pack, who claimed that a mysterious she-wolf had paid them to attack.

Even though I lost my baby, I didn't lose the fight.

The omegas ran away after I fought back.

Covered in blood, I was lying in the ambulance – on my way to the pack hospital when my stomach turned, making me gasp in pain.

I dialed my Alpha mate's number.However, Kaden didn't pick up. I tried calling him again and again, but the call kept being rejected.

I resorted to texting him, [Pick up the call, I need you.]

Just then, a notification came through as my phone beeped. I checked it to see that it was from Kaden’s ex-mate, Penny.

It was a voice note in her Facebook channel, so I played it, “My love is so sweet! He postponed all his appointments just to go to the movies with me ‘cause I told him I was feeling lonely.”

He was at the movies with Penny? Was that why he wasn't picking up my calls?

I drew in a deep breath and let it out as I called our Beta and my boss, Lucas, “Hello, Beta Lucas. I've thought about your offer and I want to take it. I want to be transferred to our overseas branch to work on the Wilson project.”

***

Kaden didn't return home until after seven days, and he has no idea that I had a miscarriage.

A grin was plastered on his face as he walked into the house. However, it disappeared when his eyes found mine and instead, a nervous look showed on his face.

I decided not to ask him any questions since he didn't care to pick up my calls or reply my texts.

I only glanced at him once then turned back to the novel in my hand.

He cleared his throat to get my attention, but I didn't look up, “Leanne, I'm sorry that I didn't answer your calls or reply your texts. I was invited to Alpha Caleb's pack to form an alliance, and it was confidential, so I couldn't use my phone while I was there.”

I nodded without looking at him and he sounded more nervous as he murmured, “I’m really sorry. I promise it won't happen again.”

He couldn't have been in a meeting for seven days.

How shameless of him to lie like that!

Even though I was hurt by his actions, I didn't let it show as I gave him a cool look and replied, “Don't worry about it.”

Kaden’s mouth dropped open in shock since I usually I fought with him whenever he neglected me.

He closed his mouth as he said, “Is this reverse psychology? Are you angry, but you're pretending not to be? Please forgive me, especially since I bought you this.”

He pulled out a burger pack from inside the duffel bag that was in his hand as he said, “It's ham burger! I know how much you love burgers.”

I didn't take the box, instead, I rolled my eyes as I sighed, “I'm allergic to ham and anything pork related.”

His eyes widened in surprise as he asked, “How come? You've never told me this in our eleven years of marriage!”

“Yes, I have!” I exclaimed, feeling agitated.

“I swear I didn't know, but I'll make sure to buy you a beef or chicken burger next time.” He replied as he ran a hand through his blonde hair.

I nodded in a curt manner and watched as he pulled out a squeezed blue dress.

He raised his brows in question as he asked, “What do you think about this? It's pretty, right?”

A gasp left my lips as I felt surprised that he could be so shameless!

He has gifted the dress to Penny last night, but she didn't accept it, so he decided to give it to me.

How did I know this?

I heard Penny's voice note in her WhatsApp channel where she sent pictures of the dress along with other dresses.

In the voice note, she said, “My love is the best! He bought me so many dresses and I love them, except for this blue dress. It looks so ugly that only a hobo would look good in it.”

So Kaden took me as a hobo that begs for money.

I felt tears fill my eyes, but I blinked them back.

Kaden usually did this to me. He gifted me what Penny found ugly.

I used to be happy whenever I received these gifts, but that changed after I saw Penny's channel.

“You love it, right?” He asked me when he saw that I didn't take the dress.

I nodded as I took the dress from him.

“Why did you call and text so many times while I was away? Did something happen?” He asked me as a frown fell on his brows.

“It's nothing to worry about.” I muttered curtly, feeling my stomach drop as I thought of our lost child.

He cared about Penny more than he cared about me, so how could he care about my baby?

“It can't be noth-” He started, but was cut off when his phone beeped.

He checked the text without looking at me, then said, “Listen, I have to deal with some pack business.”

“Okay.” I replied, but he didn't look like he was listening as he typed on his phone, making his way to the pack house’s backyard where he usually took calls or texts.

He didn't even notice how I've lost weight. All he cared about was Penny.

I mind-linked Beta Lucas and said firmly, “I'm ready to be transferred to the overseas branch.”

Ever since I started working with Beta Lucas, he has been suggesting that I try working in our overseas branch as it paid more or at least take on the Wilson’s project, but I kept saying that I would think about it because Kaden didn't want to relocate.

“Have you thought about it well? The Wilson project might take you four years to complete, and you can't come back home until you complete it.” He explained in a soft voice.

“Will our Alpha approve you leaving the pack?” He asked before I could reply.

“I've thought about it and I'm sure that Kaden wouldn't mind me leaving the pack.” I answered him.

He didn't ask anymore questions and I was glad that he didn't.

Accepting Kaden Heath as my mate was the biggest mistake that I've ever made.

I didn't realize that he didn't love me until it was too late.

I have always dreamed about becoming Kaden's Luna mate since we were just pups.

I thought he was cool and handsome, but I didn't know his attitude and personality very well.

Kaden only ever cared about Penny since he asked her to be his mate while we were in high school.

Everyone in our pack talked about how they loved each other and how they have never seen a love greater than theirs.

Kaden didn't get his wolf until he was twenty two even though we usually get our wolves by age twelve.

Before he got his wolf, rumours went around the pack about how he might not be able to become Alpha because of that. So Penny rejected him and transferred to another pack.

However, I didn't leave Kaden like Penny did. I was there for him whenever he and Penny fought, and when she finally left him.

On the day that she left, he locked himself in his room for days without eating. He wanted to punish himself for that which wasn't his fault.

It was only after coaxing him for almost an hour that he finally left him room and ate

As he ate in the pack house’s dining room, he glanced at me and said in a drained voice, “I’m a failure! I don't even have a wolf and I can't be an Alpha like my Dad. No wonder Penny left me.”

I placed my hand on his and caressed it in a comforting manner, “You’re not a failure, and you'll get your wolf; some people get their wolves late.”

“But Penny left me. Everyone will leave me.” He muttered as he ran a hand down his face in frustration.

“No one will leave you. It's just Penny, and look, I'm still here. I'll never leave you.” I replied as I gave his hand a comforting squeeze.

His lips lifted up into a smile as he finally started seeing me.

“Will you be my mate?” He asked as he took my hand and interlaced our fingers.

“Yes!” I exclaimed as I hugged him tightly.

I was so happy and I thought that I have finally achieved my goal in life.

That day changed my life.

Kaden wasn't one to show much emotion nor was he the romantic type, but he still said that he loved me every day, so I thought he loved me so much.

However, he stopped doing that after he got in touch with Penny again.

I found out it was because of her due to her messages in her WhatsApp channel.

I saw her message asking me to join her channel with the link pasted in the message, and I agreed to join it.

I soon regretted joining Penny's WhatsApp channel since all her messages there were either about my mate or her life in another pack.

She would send pictures of them together whenever he went to visit her along with pictures of gifts he had sent her.

That was when I understood why she had asked me to join her channel. She wanted to show everyone that she was Kaden's true mate while I was just a backup.

Kaden didn't get over her and from the looks of it, he couldn't.

On the night of our mating ceremony, Kaden didn't show up to my room. He traveled to the pack that Penny had transferred to just to go running in wolf form with her because she wanted to run with him.

I waited all night for him until sleep finally washed over me.

He marked me after he returned and then we mated.

Five years after we mated, I fell sick and was admitted into the pack’s hospital, but then Penny called him, claiming that she was also sick.

Kaden left me alone in the hospital and went over to Penny's new pack to take care of her.

He explained that she didn't have any family to take care of her in the new pack, so that was why he had to leave.

I had to call my sister to come to the pack’s hospital to take care of me.

Three months ago, Kaden stood me up again.

It was on the day of my promotion at work when Mr. Lucas called Kaden to give a speech as the Alpha and my mate, but he was nowhere to be found.

I found out where he was when I checked Penny's channel.

She had sent a video of the two of them at a picnic outing and he looked elated to be there with her.

That was when I realized that Kaden would never change – Kaden will always love Penny.

How did I end up mated to a he-wolf that didn't love me back? It was a question that I kept asking myself everyday.

I regretted accepting him as my mate and wanted nothing to do with him anymore.

I was attacked and I lost my baby because of him, yet he didn't care to pick up my calls or reply my texts because he was with Penny.

This would never happen again because I was done with him.

“Since you love Penny that much, you can be with her because I've had enough of you!” I declared as I made up my mind.

Since I lost my baby, I've been experiencing these bad headaches and that was what I was suffering from that night.

As I tried to fall asleep, I heard Kaden murmur, “Some rogues just breached the border of our territory, I have to go and investigate the situation, and I might not come back tonight, so don't wait up for me.”

I turned to him to see that he was already making his way towards the door.

My heart raced as I thought about getting attacked by rogues. It reminded me of the time that those omegas attacked me which led to my miscarriage.

However, I remembered how Penny would send pictures and videos of the two of them together whenever he said that there was a rogue attack or that he has a meeting with another Alpha.

Did he think I was a fool?

He wanted me to worry just because he wanted to sneak out to see Penny.

My chest bubbled with anger, but I stayed calm as I replied, “Alright.”

He stopped and turned to me, looking anxious as if he didn't expect me to easily accept that he was going out this late.

It must have been because I usually acted suspicious whenever he would bring up an excuse to go out.

Kaden walked back to the bed and wrapped me in a hug.

He pulled back and stared into my eyes, “A few rogues can't keep me away from you – I'll be back soon. You must still be angry with me for not answering your calls or replying to your texts. I swear I'll treat you better than this from now on.”

I merely nodded and watched as he made his way out of the bedroom.

I knew that he wouldn't treat me better than this since Penny was his priority.

I wouldn't let those words sway me from my decision – I must leave Kaden.

***

The next evening, I was reading a novel on my phone when I heard Beta Lucas's mindlink, “Hi, Leanne. Do you know where Alpha Kaden is? I haven't seen him since two days ago and he's not answering my mindlinks.”

“Wasn't there a rogue attack last night? That's what he said before leaving the pack house.” I asked him, feeling my heart drop as I realized what I had thought was true.

There really wasn't any rogue attack. He just needed an excuse to see Penny.

Beta Lucas replied in a nervous tone of voice, “Oh, well, I don't know what you're talking about. Just let him know I'm looking for him about pack business.”

“Sure.” I replied as I sighed.

My phone beeped at that moment and I checked it to see a notification from Penny's WhatsApp channel.

I felt anxious as I checked it because I already knew what I would see.

There was a video, so I played it.

Kaden and Penny were holding hands while sitting on a couch as she narrated, “My love is my hero! Even though I arrived back home late at night, he came out to welcome me. He even took me out to dinner and he stayed with me throughout the next day.”

“You're also my hero, Penny!” Kaden replied as he pecked her cheek.

The video ended and saw many heart reactions on the post.

Most of the people in the channel were our pack members.

She must have added them just to show everyone how much she disrespected me.

Why was I even still in the channel?

I was curious, but I decided to leave the channel on the day that I would leave the Kaden and move overseas.

Even though I had expected that he was going to see Penny, it still hurt to see them together.

I called Kaden, but he didn't answer, so I sent him a voice note on WhatsApp, “When are you coming back?”

He sent a voice note, and I wasn't surprised to hear Penny's voice, “After I'm done with him.”

The audacity! I felt so angry that I growled, and before I could reply, another voice note came through.

“I might not be coming home tonight since there's still so much more investigation that I need to do about the rogue attack.”

I felt so frustrated that I wanted to cry, but I didn't want to cry over someone that didn't value me.

So I drew in a deep breath and let it out as I tried to calm myself down.

Did he let her reply to me just to make a fool out of me? It seemed so.

Then there was the lie he kept using. He said it without any shame.

Was this the man that I fell in love with?

Penny posted so many videos and pictures of her and Kaden.

I checked each one of them and my heart broke every time I saw them together.

There was one picture which she sent with a message under it that read, [We all know the werewolf saying; Werewolf mates that run together, grow old together.]

The picture of the two of them in wolf form as they ran through the woods.

How could he go running with her?

Running was very intimate with werewolves. There was the pack run then running among a few pack members and running with your mate.

Two people only went running together when they have feelings for each other.

“All I can say is happy mating, Kaden.”