The holiday season was in full swing, and our pack had planned a small gathering at one of the city's upscale lounges. Running late, I stopped to pick up some antacid for Alpha Colter Cox of the Cox Pack—the mate I had once thought was destined for me. As I approached the entrance to the private room, I overheard snippets of conversation drifting through the door.

"Alpha Colter, between the two Grant sisters, who do you prefer—the older one or the younger one?"

I peeked through the slightly ajar door just in time to see Colter light a cigarette, his Alpha aura filling the room with an intimidating presence. He smirked but remained silent, his towering frame exuding dominance. The questioning persisted.

Before I could step inside to diffuse the awkward moment, my sister Zora, who always seemed to be at the center of attention, leaned in to kiss him.

"Of course, he only likes me," she declared boldly, her voice dripping with confidence.

Colter raised his eyebrows in playful agreement, his muscular arms flexing as he leaned back casually. Their packmates erupted into laughter, teasing them about how perfectly matched they were—an Alpha and the daughter of the Grant Pack's Alpha. The hierarchy was clear, and no one dared to question it.

Seething, I pulled out my phone and texted my grandmother, Carolina, a respected elder in our pack:

[Grandma, I'm on board with the mating ceremony arrangements with Hayes Mitchell from the Mitchell Pack.]

After pocketing my phone, I couldn’t resist glancing back through the door. Zora stood up to pour drinks, and one of the packmates playfully nudged her. She stumbled right into Colter's arms. His protective reflexes kicked in, his Alpha instincts commanding the room as he secured her waist with ease. Another round of cheers followed.

Zora flashed a coy smile and perched herself on his lap, raising her glass in a toast to him. "To the Alpha," she said, her voice smooth and alluring.

Colter stubbed out his cigarette, his Alpha tone lowering as he leaned closer to her. "You smell amazing, Zora. No wonder I'm so drawn to you."

Zora's cheeks flushed, and she playfully swatted at him. "Alpha Colter, stop talking like that—everyone's watching!"

"We can pretend we're invisible if you want," someone quipped. "Or if we're really bothering you, we can make ourselves scarce, right guys?"

"Sure thing!"

The room was filled with laughter and teasing, the energy rising and falling with their banter. Zora and Colter locked eyes, the tension between them palpable. Just then, a waiter passed by and opened the door to deliver the food, catching Colter's attention. His piercing eyes flickered with surprise as he noticed me standing there.

"Arianna, when did you get here?"

A hush fell over the room as everyone turned to look at me, their expressions shifting from amusement to awkwardness. With a calm smile, I walked in, placed the antacid in front of Colter, and said, "Here's the stomach medicine you wanted, Alpha Colter. Have fun—I'm heading out."

"Arianna, just because you're here, must you act all high and mighty?" Zora interjected before Colter could respond, her tone sharp. "Do you really have to ruin the mood for everyone? Just stay."

Their packmates quickly backed her up, their voices overlapping in a chorus of agreement.

"Come on, Arianna, they're just fooling around. No need to be a killjoy, right?"

I stopped and looked directly at Colter, my gaze unwavering despite the Alpha aura he radiated. "Is that really what you think too, Alpha Colter?"

Colter's earlier panic transformed into calm as he poured a glass of wine, his Alpha tone commanding the room. "Arianna, be reasonable. Have a drink and let it go. No one's judging you."

All eyes were fixed on me, entertained by the unfolding drama. But I was focused only on Colter's reaction, my heart pounding despite my outward composure.

"Alpha Colter," I said, my voice steady, "if you don’t come with me right now, we’re finished."

Barely had the words left my mouth when Zora let out a mocking laugh. Colter's frown deepened, his Alpha tone sharpening. "Arianna, cut it out."

The tension in the room rose again, with everyone criticizing me for overreacting. Feeling my anger intensify, I turned on my heel and left it all behind, the weight of the pack's judgment heavy on my shoulders. My wolf stirred within me, a quiet presence that whispered, *You deserve better.*

I didn’t look back.

As I stepped out of the upscale club, the cool night air brushed against my skin, carrying the faint scent of pine from the nearby forest. My phone buzzed in my hand—it was Grandma Carolina.

"Don’t worry, Arianna," her voice, warm and steady, came through the line. "I’ll reach out to the Mitchell Pack immediately and ensure you become the happiest Luna."

A lump formed in my throat, and my vision blurred with tears that soon spilled over. We talked for a while, her words grounding me as she steered the conversation toward mundane things—the pack’s upcoming hunt, the new healer she’d recommended, the weather. When I finally ended the call, I felt a mix of relief and sorrow.

Despite being the daughter of Alpha Francisco of the Grant Pack, my relationship with my parents was nothing like the one my sister, Zora, shared with them. My parents, deeply superstitious, believed that my presence would bring misfortune to the pack. So, from a young age, they left me in the care of Grandma Carolina, a respected elder in the pack.

Except for major pack gatherings like the Moon Festival or the Alpha’s decree ceremonies, I rarely saw my parents or Zora. Even when I was accepted into the prestigious academy in Boston, they refused to let me return to the pack territory. At first, I yearned for their acceptance, for the familial bond that seemed to come so easily to Zora. But over time, I grew indifferent. The pack’s hierarchy, the unspoken rules of deference to my father’s title, and the weight of their expectations felt suffocating.

Grandma Carolina, however, was my anchor. She doted on me, her love unwavering, and she had arranged a promising mate bond for me—her old friend’s grandson, Hayes Mitchell, a Beta from the Mitchell Pack. Yet, in my youthful defiance, I had rejected her proposal, longing for a love I could choose for myself. That’s how I ended up with Colter Cox, an Alpha from the rival Cox Pack.

At the time, I thought I had found my safe haven, a place where I could belong. But now, standing alone under the moonlight, I realized how gravely mistaken I had been. My wolf stirred within me, a low growl of regret echoing in my mind.

*You knew better,* she whispered, her voice tinged with both reproach and sorrow.

I did. And yet, I had ignored the warnings, both from her and from those who cared about me. The memory of Colter’s controlling nature, his possessive grip on my life, sent a shiver down my spine. He had promised me the world, but in the end, he had only taken pieces of me away.

The night stretched on, the silence of the forest pressing in around me. I took a deep breath, the scent of damp earth and distant pine filling my lungs. I had made mistakes, but I was determined to rebuild, to find my place in this world—not as the daughter of an Alpha, not as Colter’s mate, but as Arianna Richards, a wolf in her own right.

I took a taxi back to Colter’s territory, the weight of the day pressing heavily on my shoulders. As soon as I stepped inside, I pulled out my suitcase and began packing. The air in the room felt thick, suffocating, as if the walls themselves were closing in on me. It was late when Colter returned, his presence filling the space with an alpha’s commanding aura. He strode in, his broad shoulders tense, and barked his first order before he even fully crossed the threshold.

“Arianna, get me some honey water,” he demanded, his voice sharp and impatient.

I glanced at him, my expression cold and distant. He sank onto the couch, massaging his temples, but I didn’t move. The urge to rush to his side, to soothe him like I used to, was gone. The silence stretched between us, heavy and unyielding, until Colter finally noticed my lack of response.

“Arianna?” His tone softened slightly, though it still carried an edge. “Are you still mad at me?”

“No,” I replied, my voice flat and emotionless. It wasn’t anger I felt anymore—it was resignation.

But Colter wasn’t satisfied. His alpha instincts seemed to bristle at my detachment. “Arianna Richards, enough!” he snapped, his voice rising. “I just joked around with Zora, and you’re still making a fuss? She’s your sister, for the Moon Goddess’s sake. Do you really think we’d do anything inappropriate behind your back?”

I placed the photo frame I’d been holding onto the table and turned to face him. My wolf stirred faintly in the back of my mind, a quiet growl of frustration, but I silenced her. Before I could speak, Colter kicked the coffee table aside with a growl, the wood scraping against the floor. He stormed off toward the bedroom, slamming the door behind him with a force that made the walls shudder.

I stood there for a moment, letting out a bitter laugh. The photo frame caught my eye again, and I picked it up. It was the only picture we had together, a moment frozen in time when things had seemed simpler. I pulled the photo out and carefully cut my side out of it, tossing my half into the trash. His half went back into the frame. I used to treasure that picture, but now, it felt like a relic of a life I no longer wanted.

Packing was almost done, and I did a final check. My ID was still missing. After a moment of hesitation, I headed to the bedroom. I didn’t expect to walk in on Colter and Zora in the middle of a video call, both of them in nothing but their skin.

I froze in the doorway, my heart pounding. Zora noticed me first. She gave a playful, reproachful smile as she ended the call. “Colter, you don’t even lock the door when you’re chatting?” she teased.

Colter turned, his eyes widening when he saw me. He grabbed a pillow to cover himself, then hurled it at me with a growl. “Arianna Richards, didn’t anyone teach you to knock?”

The pillow hit me in the head, but the pain in my heart was far worse. “Get out!” he shouted, his alpha tone lashing at me like a whip.

I blinked back tears, refusing to let him see me cry. “I just came to get something. I’ll be gone soon,” I said, my voice steady despite the ache in my chest. I walked over to the nightstand, my movements deliberate.

Colter watched me approach, his temper flaring. He pulled on his shorts and jumped off the bed, grabbing my wrist with a force that made me wince. “Arianna Richards, you’re so pathetic! Do you really have to hang on to me?” he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt.

The pain in my wrist brought tears to my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “Let go!” I cried, trying to pull away.

His grip tightened, and he shoved me onto the bed. “You wanted to end things, and I agree! Now get out!” he roared, his alpha aura pressing down on me like a weight.

Grasping my swollen wrist, I got off the bed, grabbed my ID, and headed for the door. My wolf growled faintly in the back of my mind, a mix of anger and hurt, but I pushed her down. I couldn’t afford to let her take control now.

“Stop!” Colter called out suddenly. I paused, but I didn’t turn around.

“Take everything you’ve used out of this house when you leave. I don’t want to see it!” he snapped, his voice cold and final.

I kept my head down, my voice quiet but firm. “I’ll have someone come by to clean up. You won’t have to see a thing.”

Colter’s face darkened with anger, but he didn’t try to stop me again. I walked out the door, my suitcase in hand, and didn’t look back. The mate bond between us felt like a frayed thread, barely holding on, but I knew it was only a matter of time before it snapped completely.