Outside, snow had begun to fall, covering everything in a blanket of white. I pulled my suitcase behind me, resolutely heading for the door without looking back. The icy air bit at my skin, but I barely felt it. My mind was too focused on the weight of the decision I was making—the decision to leave Colter Cox, the Alpha of the Cox Pack, for good.

Colter probably didn’t expect me to actually leave. The moment I opened the door, he rushed over and grabbed my suitcase. I glanced at him, and he took that chance to drag me back into the room, his grip firm and unyielding. His towering frame loomed over me, his Alpha aura pressing down like a heavy weight.

“Arianna, have you lost your mind?” he growled, his voice laced with that commanding Alpha tone that always made my knees weak. “It’s snowing hard, and you still want to leave. If something happens to you, how am I supposed to explain it to your father, the Alpha of the Grant Pack?”

I looked into his furious face, his dark eyes blazing with anger, and dropped my gaze, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’m not Zora. They don’t care about me.”

Colter’s expression faltered for a moment, his brow briefly relaxing before furrowing again. He knew well how little I mattered in the Grant family hierarchy. It was only a year ago that I discovered the alliance between the Cox Pack and the Grant Pack. I also found out that my parents, the Alpha and Luna of the Grant Pack, intended to pair Zora with Colter as his mate.

When they learned that Colter and I had formed a bond, they didn’t say much, but their attitude towards me grew even colder. They kept urging Colter to take good care of Zora, right in front of me. True to their wishes, Colter looked after her splendidly—so much so that even their conversations seemed excessively intimate.

Perhaps noticing my despondency, Colter pulled me into his arms, his scent—a mix of pine and something distinctly Alpha—enveloping me. It was a scent that had once comforted me, but now it only made my chest ache.

“Alright,” he said, his voice softer now, though still edged with authority. “I admit I messed up tonight. Zora had an embarrassing moment at the coffee shop, and while trying to cheer her up, I probably overdid the drinks. I promise, it won’t happen again.”

I suppose I should be grateful. Though Colter didn’t promise to distance himself from Zora, at least he showed some willingness to make things right, didn’t he? I pushed him away, speaking calmly, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. “There’s no need to force things. Let’s just go back to being regular packmates.”

A dangerous look flashed in Colter’s eyes, his Alpha aura flaring, making the air around us thick with tension. “Arianna, are you trying to test me?”

Seeing that I continued to avert my gaze, he shoved me roughly on the shoulder. I stumbled backward against the shoe cabinet in the hallway, my lower back hitting it painfully and causing tears to spring to my eyes. The sharp sting grounded me, though, reminding me of the reality of the situation.

Seeing my tears, Colter finally reined in his anger, his Alpha tone softening slightly. “You’re not thinking straight tonight. Go back and sleep; we’ll talk about it tomorrow.”

I forced myself to stand tall, squaring my shoulders despite the ache in my back, and met his eyes. “There’s no need. I’m about to mate with Hayes—”

Before I could finish, the door swung open. When Colter saw who it was, he quickly released me and stepped forward, his demeanor shifting instantly. “Zora, what are you doing here?”

Zora rubbed her hands together, her delicate features framed by her golden hair. She spoke in a sugary voice, “Father said the power’s out at home, so he told me to stay here for the night.”

Colter naturally took her hands, warming them up, his touch gentle and attentive. Zora smiled sweetly and looked past him to address me, her tone dripping with faux innocence. “Sister, you don’t mind, do you?”

Colter’s gaze also landed on me, his eyes dark and unreadable. I swallowed my tears before turning away, my voice steady despite the ache in my chest. “No, I don’t mind.”

Colter Cox, the Alpha of the Cox Pack, had imprisoned me in his territory without my consent. The front door was locked, and no matter how hard I tried, it wouldn’t budge. He tossed me onto the couch in the living room, while he and Zora Morales, my sister, each took over a bedroom. It was beyond me why he would demean me like this if he didn’t care for me at all. My wolf whimpered in the back of my mind, but I silenced her, refusing to let her see me this broken.

I spent a restless night curled up on the couch, the scent of pine and dominance—Colter’s scent—filling the air, making it hard to breathe. In the morning, I woke abruptly as Zora splashed cold coffee on me. I sat up and quietly tried to dry myself with tissues, my hands trembling.

"Arianna, I heard you're allergic to coffee?" she mocked, sipping from her mug with a smirk, her voice dripping with false sweetness.

When I first became Colter’s mate, he had quickly learned about my allergy and made sure the kitchen avoided it in all our meals. But with Zora’s arrival, he had his assistant deliver fresh coffee overnight just for her, because she had a morning coffee ritual. All the attentiveness he once showed me was now showered on someone else. My wolf growled faintly, a low sound of frustration, but I pushed her down.

Zora settled herself in a clear spot on the couch, her smile deceptively sweet, her eyes glinting with malice. "Arianna, guess who’s more important to Colter, you or me?"

I frowned at her, my chest tightening. “Zora, I'm not trying to compete with you. Please, just stop...” Before I could finish, she shoved her mug into my hand and then used my hand to pour the coffee on her own head. She slumped to the floor dramatically, producing a loud thud.

Just then, Colter stormed into the room, his presence as overwhelming as ever, his Alpha aura pressing down on me. His eyes were full of worry as he rushed to Zora’s aid, his voice soft but commanding. "It's okay, Zora, my sister didn't mean it," she said weakly, her voice trembling with fake innocence.

I hoped Colter would see through her act, but instead, he turned to me, his dark eyes blazing with anger. Without a word, he slapped me across the face, the sharp sound echoing in the room.

“Arianna, how could you be so spiteful? Apologize to Zora!” he ordered, his Alpha tone leaving no room for argument. I bit my lip, my cheek stinging, and retorted, “Colter, are you blind? Can't you see that she—”

He slapped me again, harder this time, the force of it making my head snap to the side. “Arianna, you always find a way to astonish me! No wonder your father, Alpha Francisco, won’t let you come back home; you deserve it!”

Tears streamed down my face as I turned away to wipe them, my wolf howling in pain inside me. Until now, I had only regretted getting involved with Colter. In this moment, I wished I had never met him.

“Let it go, Colter. I'm fine, she probably just didn't sleep well last night,” Zora said, pretending to be weak, her voice soft and understanding. Colter’s focus remained squarely on her, and he shot me a furious look before carrying her out, slamming the door shut behind him.

I sank back onto the couch, my body trembling, my wolf’s grief mingling with my own. The mate bond between Colter and me, once so strong, now felt like a chain, heavy and suffocating. I whispered to myself, “I can’t do this anymore,” my wolf echoing the sentiment with a low, mournful whine. But deep down, I knew this was only the beginning of the storm.

My skin burned with the telltale signs of a flare-up, the hives spreading across my arms and neck like a wildfire. My gluten allergy had struck again, and I needed medication fast. The thought of running into Colter Cox at the hospital made my stomach twist, so I opted for a small clinic nearby instead. The place was quiet, sterile, and blessedly free of any familiar scents. After picking up my prescription, I realized I’d left my things at the Cox Pack’s territory. There was no avoiding it—I had to go back.

I scheduled five cleaning services on my way, determined to erase every trace of my presence. By the time I arrived at the Cox Pack’s estate, the air was thick with tension. I pushed the door open, only to find Colter standing there, his broad frame blocking the entrance. His alpha aura pulsed, sharp and commanding, making my wolf whimper softly in the back of my mind.

“Where have you been?” he demanded, his voice low and edged with irritation.

I didn’t answer. My focus was on the suitcase by the stairs. I moved past him, determined to grab it and leave before he could say more. But his hand shot out, catching my arm. His grip was firm, his dominance pressing down on me like a weight.

“Lulu was worried about your gluten allergy,” he said, his tone cold. “So we came back to check on you. Is this how you show your gratitude?”

I tilted my head, revealing the angry red hives that marred my skin. His expression shifted, the hardness in his eyes softening just for a moment. “Is it really that bad?” he murmured, his hand reaching toward my face.

Before he could touch me, a soft groan came from the couch. Zora was sprawled there, her golden hair fanned out like a halo. “Alpha,” she said, her voice sweet and pained, “I’m relieved Arianna is alright, but my back is killing me. I think I might have hurt my tailbone when she bumped into me this morning.”

Colter’s attention snapped to her instantly. His concern for her was palpable as he crossed the room in three long strides. He scooped her up effortlessly, cradling her against his chest like she was something precious. My stomach churned as he carried her out, not sparing me a single glance.

My wolf growled softly, a mix of frustration and hurt. I grabbed my suitcase and headed for the door, my skin still burning, but the sting of his dismissal hurt far worse.