The day the Silver Moon Pack’s stock value soared, Caleb Jensen, the Alpha, stood before the pack and announced his engagement to Vera Wheeler, a Delta in the pack. I, the former Luna who had stood by his side for four years, watched as he stepped onto the stage in the grand hall, his Alpha aura commanding the room.

“The success of our pack today is largely due to Vera’s unwavering support,” he declared, his voice carrying the weight of his authority. “Thank you all for your trust, and moving forward, Vera and I will lead this pack together.”

The room erupted in applause, the pack members showering them with congratulations. I stood at the back, my fists clenched so tightly my nails dug into my palms. Four years of loyalty, of standing by him as his mate, and it was finally time to let go.

When I returned to my quarters, I made a call. “I can’t believe you agreed so quickly,” Sullivan Ross, the Gamma of the Crimson Fang Pack, said eagerly. “Once you join us, I’ll ensure you have the best conditions in our territory.”

“Sullivan,” I replied, my voice steady, “I’ll be there as soon as I finish things here.” Just as I hung up, Caleb walked in, his presence filling the room with his Alpha aura.

“Who were you talking to?” he demanded, his tone sharp.

“There were some issues in the training grounds that needed sorting out,” I lied smoothly, my years as Luna teaching me how to mask my emotions. He placed his ceremonial cloak on the chair, and I noticed the silver ring on his finger—a gift from Vera during the announcement. In our four years as mates, Caleb had never worn the mark of our bond, claiming it interfered with his Alpha duties. Yet here he was, flaunting Vera’s token without hesitation.

“Why did you leave the gathering early? The pack had questions, and your absence left me to handle everything alone,” he accused, his voice tinged with irritation.

“You seemed to manage just fine on your own, Alpha,” I replied coolly, my tone respectful but distant. “Surely, you didn’t need my assistance.”

Caleb’s expression flickered with guilt at the mention of the gathering. “Announcing the engagement strengthens the pack’s unity. We need to secure alliances, and this move will draw more support. You understand, don’t you?”

I didn’t argue. A month ago, neighboring packs had already approached Caleb about forming alliances, and now he was using the pack’s future as an excuse. He knew this was my idea, and he assumed I wouldn’t challenge him.

Thinking I was upset, Caleb sat on the edge of the bed, the faint scent of rosemary—a fragrance I’d only ever associated with Vera—lingering on him. I glanced at him, noticing the smudge of lipstick on his collar. Guilt flashed across his face, and he adjusted his shirt.

“These are the alliance proposals from tonight’s gathering,” he said, placing a stack of papers on the table. “Vera is capable, and I plan to let her oversee this project. You should focus on the pack’s internal affairs.”

He assumed I would be pleased with the stack of proposals. “If Vera’s so capable, why not let her handle everything, including the internal affairs?” I suggested, my tone calm but edged with sarcasm.

Caleb’s expression darkened. “Amelie, you need to separate personal feelings from pack matters. Don’t be unreasonable. You’re suggesting Vera take on tech duties just to make things difficult for her! When did you become so petty?”

He thought I was sulking, as I used to do before. Caleb glared at me, his Alpha tone slipping into his voice. “Amelie, prepare my bath and then give me a massage.”

In the past, after pack meetings, I would prepare his bath and massage his shoulders to help him relax. To Caleb, these were just the duties of a Luna.

Four years of devotion couldn’t compete with a Delta who had been in the pack for only three months. “I’m tired. If you want a bath, prepare it yourself,” I said without hesitation, leaving Caleb momentarily speechless.

“Amelie, are you really making a scene over something so trivial? Everything I do is for the pack, for our future!” he shouted after me, his Alpha tone lashing out.

“Amelie! Are you even listening to me? Are you ignoring me?” Caleb’s voice echoed as I walked to the bedroom, closing the door behind me.

Caleb Jensen, Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, and I had a falling out, and he didn’t return to our shared quarters all night. The next morning, I prepared breakfast as I always did, despite the tension. To my surprise, he offered to drive me to the pack’s headquarters—something he hadn’t done since we bonded as mates. Ever since we marked each other, he had insisted on keeping our relationship private, even within the pack. We never arrived together, and he never let me ride with him in his car, always emphasizing the need to maintain professionalism.

I didn’t refuse his offer.

I thought his sudden change of heart might have been due to the cold shoulder I gave him the night before. But ten minutes into the drive, the car pulled over. Vera Wheeler, a Delta in our pack, stood on the sidewalk, waving us down. Caleb stopped, and Vera slid into the front passenger seat without hesitation.

"Amelie, what a surprise to see you here today," Vera said, her tone bold and confident, as if she had every right to be in that seat.

"I ride with the Alpha every day. It’s the first time I’ve seen you in the car," she added pointedly. It turned out Caleb had been giving Vera a ride to the headquarters daily, something I hadn’t known.

The rainy season seemed endless, with days of relentless downpour. At the headquarters, I approached Caleb, asking if he could drop me home after work since the car I had arranged was unavailable. He sharply reminded me that personal matters shouldn’t be discussed during pack business hours. If I couldn’t find transportation, I should just walk home, he said. Later, I saw Vera climbing into his car. Caleb was willing to go out of his way to drop Vera home but refused to offer me the same courtesy, even in the pouring rain.

"Vera doesn’t own a car and lives quite far from the headquarters. I’m just helping her out," Caleb explained, his tone dismissive.

"Ah, Vera is such a valuable member of the pack. She deserves special treatment," I replied, noting the smug look on Vera’s face.

"The Alpha was planning to get me a pack vehicle, but my driving skills aren’t the best," Vera chimed in sweetly. "Amelie, you don’t mind him giving me a ride to and from the headquarters, do you?"

Caleb interrupted before I could respond. "It’s just a ride, nothing to get upset about."

I stared out the window, ignoring Vera’s smug expression. I simply nodded and didn’t engage further.

Caleb clearly wasn’t pleased with my reaction. As we neared the headquarters, he eyed the towering pack building with irritation and said, "Get off at the corner. It’s not far from the headquarters, and you can walk the rest of the way."

Even today, despite his uncharacteristic offer to drive me, Caleb was still anxious about the pack members discovering our bond.

"We’re almost there. Might as well let Amelie ride with us to the parking lot," Vera said, her voice honeyed and persuasive.

"Fine, you can join us in the parking lot," he agreed.

With Vera in the car, the pack members would likely assume they were simply giving me a lift out of courtesy. I wasn’t interested in listening to whatever Caleb and Vera were discussing. All I could think about was getting to the headquarters and figuring out how to get my resignation processed by the pack’s Gamma.

I stepped out of Caleb’s car, trailing behind Vera, as the morning rush of pack members enveloped us. A few glanced our way, but their attention quickly shifted to Caleb and Vera, who walked into the headquarters arm in arm. The pack had recently taken on several new members, with only a few positions available after their probationary period ended.

I discreetly slipped my resignation letter into the stack of notices for the members being released. Nyla Webb, the pack’s Healer, who often handled administrative tasks, assumed I was simply assisting with routine paperwork. She signed it without hesitation, barely glancing at the document.

"Amelie, you and Vera are practically the Alpha’s right and left hands!" she said, her tone light and complimentary.

I gave her a silent smile, masking the turmoil within. My wolf stirred faintly in the back of my mind, a quiet whisper of unease, but I pushed it aside. This was the beginning of the end, and I needed to stay focused.

As soon as I arrived at the Silver Moon Pack headquarters, my phone buzzed with a notification from Alpha Caleb. He sent over images of two movie ticket stubs. Clearly, he was trying to patch things up, knowing full well that the future alliance with the Armani Pack hinged on the trade agreement I had negotiated.

"We haven’t caught a movie together in forever. How about tonight?" he messaged.

After a moment’s thought, I replied, "The pack’s trade council isn’t swamped tonight. I can meet you at the theater after work."

I planned to use this movie outing to talk about severing our mate bond. But after finishing my duties, I noticed Vera, a Delta, hopping into Alpha Caleb’s car once again. Minutes later, another message popped up: "Something urgent came up at the packhouse. You head to the theater on your own."

I didn’t hang around. I headed straight to the pack’s legal advisor to draft the formal rejection of our mate bond. By the time I made it to the theater district, the film Alpha Caleb had picked was already halfway through. A romantic movie—my least favorite, but I always stuck it out for him.

I snagged a ticket for a different screening and grabbed dinner before heading back to the pack territory.

Flipping through Instagram later, I stumbled on a picture Vera posted. She was at a swanky restaurant—steak and red wine on the table—with two hands clasped across it. Only the hands were visible, but I instantly recognized them as hers and Alpha Caleb’s. The caption read, "Reciprocated love is the best gift. Thanks, love, for the special present."

Not long after I got home, Alpha Caleb returned as well. "I got you a scarf, check it out," he said, his voice carrying that commanding tone he always used when he wanted to assert his dominance.

Whenever he broke a promise, he’d try to smooth things over with a gift. And every time, I’d act thrilled, fussing over it to his delight. Alpha Caleb never tired of this routine.

"Just toss it in the closet," I replied casually, my voice steady despite the tension in the room.

Alpha Caleb bristled at my unexpected response. "Luna Amelie, I messed up tonight, but I got you a gift. Why are you acting like this?"

"Alpha Caleb, isn’t that scarf just a giveaway?" I asked, observing how his face reddened with anger, his Alpha aura flaring slightly.

"What are you implying, Luna Amelie?" he growled, his voice low and threatening.

I used to never question his gifts, interpreting anything from him as a sign of affection. But now, having received the formal rejection papers from the pack’s legal advisor, I didn’t bother to look up. "It’s nothing."

Alpha Caleb thought a tantrum would make me cave, but this time, despite his icy glare and the oppressive weight of his Alpha presence, I remained composed. After verifying the agreement with the legal advisor, I finally shut off my phone.

"Alpha Caleb, the label on that scarf says 'Not for Sale.' Do you really need me to spell it out? I’m not interested in leftover promo items."

"Luna Amelie, who do you think you are? You spend all day tucked away in the trade council, acting like you have a clue! I was being thoughtful with that scarf, but if you’re not interested, fine!" His voice boomed, the Alpha tone reverberating through the room, but I didn’t flinch.

Ignoring Alpha Caleb’s further protests, I got up and headed to the guest bedroom. With the rejection decided, I wouldn’t let his words affect me anymore. My wolf stirred faintly in the back of my mind, a quiet reminder of the bond I was about to sever, but I pushed the thought aside.

I stayed in the guest room the rest of the night, and Alpha Caleb didn’t come looking for me either.