The tenth time Damien Anderson stood me up for the marking ceremony.

Once again, he found an excuse to prioritize Adelina Stone, the Lycan Princess. I was finally fed up and decided to volunteer as a roving healer, traveling between packs to offer my services. Yet Damien, as if in a frenzy, pleaded with me to come back home. Too bad for him, I was done.

After waiting outside the pack’s ceremonial grounds for an hour, shivering in the cold autumn air, I finally decided to give up on Damien Anderson. People often say never to repeat something more than three times, but he had bailed on me regarding this marking ceremony ten times—ten whole times. Each time, he would nonchalantly say, "Adelina isn’t feeling well. It’s just a ceremony; we can do it anytime. But Adelina is different. If I don’t go, and something happens to her, can you handle that responsibility?"

With a few words, he completely absolved himself, leaving me feeling as if I were the culprit. How absurd.

I returned to the Silver Moon Pack’s healing quarters, still chilled to the bone. Arthur Porter, our head healer and my mentor, noticed my disheartened state and gave me a puzzled look. "Lilliana, isn’t today supposed to be your big day with the Alpha? Why are you still here?"

I’d handed out wolfsbane flowers yesterday, taken a day off, all for today’s ceremony. Everyone in the pack found it odd, Arthur especially so.

"Did something happen?" Seeing my trembling lips, Arthur quickly brought me a cup of warm herbal tea, his gaze freezing over. "What’s going on in this cold weather?"

"Arthur," I addressed him more familiarly, rubbing my hands together as I spoke. The reason I came here in the first place was because Arthur had been my esteemed mentor during my training—he was so proud of me, his best student. Now, this student was being treated poorly.

"What happened? Tell me slowly. I’ll help however I can," Arthur said, sitting beside me, his face filled with the warmth only a parent could have.

I swallowed hard. "Arthur, I want to participate in the roving healers’ program."

It wasn’t just a wish—it was a necessity. I had initially been selected for this program, but Arthur had thought better of it since I’d just found my mate and wanted to avoid separating newly bonded pairs. So he let someone else take my place.

"Did you have a falling out with the Alpha?" Arthur asked, momentarily taken aback, and then he reached for his phone to call Damien.

"Arthur," I quickly stopped him, shaking my head firmly. "Damien and I failed to complete our marking ceremony ten times, which means we’re not meant to be together. Without a reason to continue, it’s time to move on."

"Please, Arthur, help me. Right now, I just want to serve and make a difference. Matters of the heart aren’t enough to hold me back."

As I said this, I lifted my head with determination, my gaze distant yet focused. Arthur seemed to see the spirited Lilliana from my training days once again and couldn’t help but give a nod of approval.

"Alright, alright. You have ambition. By rights, I should support you, but let me make one thing clear: conditions as a roving healer are tough. If you decide to go, know this—there’s no turning back before the mission is complete. Can you handle that?"

His last words were strong, scattering the clouds of my sadness and reinforcing my resolve. "Rest assured, Arthur, I’ll stand firm until the end. I won’t disappoint you or break my healer’s oath. This is my dedication."

"I believe in you. Head home. You leave in two days."

I couldn’t tell if it was my imagination, but Arthur seemed pleased with my determination. Yet as I left, I noticed him wiping a tear from his eyes. Maybe it was the worry of a mentor, maybe the care of a parent. But I felt grateful for his support.

"Thank you," I said, bowing deeply to his retreating figure. He paused for a moment and waved nonchalantly, not turning back. Just like the path I was about to take—there’s no turning back once the bowstring is pulled.

"Lilliana, what are you doing here? The Alpha has been searching high and low for you."

After watching the healer from the neighboring pack leave, Emberlynn approached me with curious eyes, her tone laced with concern. "Isn't today the day you’re supposed to complete the mate marking ceremony? But the Alpha showed up this morning with the Lycan Princess, insisting you should tend to her. I’m not sure what he’s up to, but you should stay alert. A lot of wolves enjoy seeing you lose your composure."

Emberlynn, my closest friend and the Gamma of the Silver Moon Pack, stood by me, her loyalty unwavering.

I wasn’t surprised by Damien’s actions, but I appreciated her warning. "Thanks, Emberlynn."

Perhaps I looked particularly worn out because she stepped closer, her hand resting gently on my shoulder. "Lilliana, maybe you should just take a break. You’ve already shifted back to human form after the pack run. The Alpha can’t deny a healer some rest, can he?"

"Besides, everyone in the pack knows about your ceremony today, yet he pulls this kind of stunt. How dare he come here and flaunt her?"

Emberlynn’s outrage on my behalf made me smile faintly. "Don’t worry, Ember. I’ll handle this. No point in you getting worked up over it."

With that, I headed toward the healing quarters, where I found Damien pacing, his Alpha aura radiating impatience. Even from a distance, I could hear his commanding tone. "Where’s Healer Morgan? I’ve already requested her personally. Can’t you follow simple orders?"

"Do I need to use my Alpha tone to ensure I’m taken seriously? Have you all forgotten who I am?"

He was acting like he was royalty, though he was just an Alpha, albeit one with a commanding presence. Where did he get off behaving like that?

"Healer Morgan."

Raelyn, the young Omega caught in his tirade, spotted me and let out a sigh of relief as she hurried over. "Healer Morgan, the Alpha insists that you attend to the Lycan Princess. I’ve explained it’s not standard procedure, but he won’t back down. What should I do?"

Raelyn’s words were a clear plea for assistance, and Damien bristled at her tone, pointing at her accusingly. "How dare you speak like that? Lilliana is my mate. What’s wrong with asking her to look after my guest? I’m not abusing my authority."

Damien was relentless, his voice carrying the weight of his rank. Raelyn was on the verge of tears, so I quickly stepped in front of her, shielding her from his gaze. "Alpha, there’s no need to involve others in our issues. Besides, Raelyn’s right. I’ve already shifted back and taken time for myself today. Why are you causing a scene? If you needed something, couldn’t you just mind-link me?"

Faced with my calm questions, Damien’s expression faltered for a moment before he regained his composure. "I was worried you’d be upset today. I wanted them to inform you."

He continued, his tone sharp as he glared at Raelyn. "She’s so inept. Can’t even relay a message without causing confusion."

Ah, so he knew I might be upset. Even he felt a twinge of guilt.

Despite the turmoil churning inside me, I forced a smile, my voice steady. "Why would I be upset? I understand, Alpha. The Lycan Princess isn’t well. Of course, you couldn’t leave her to complete our ceremony today. I was being foolish before."

I willingly offered to tend to Adelina, and Damien shot me a wary glance. After all, I used to despise her.

Especially since she disrupted every attempt to solidify our mate bond. There was a time I wanted nothing more than to challenge her dominance.

So, my sudden offer seemed to catch Damien off guard, and he became defensive immediately.

"Lilliana, let me make one thing clear—Princess Adelina’s condition is delicate. If you so much as raise your voice near her, you’ll have to answer to me."

Damien’s voice was sharp, his Alpha tone cutting through the air like a command. His broad shoulders were tense, his towering frame blocking the doorway as if he expected me to barge in and harm her. It was almost laughable. Just a week ago, this same man had been on one knee, vowing to mark me as his Luna. The irony wasn’t lost on me.

"Alpha Damien," I said, keeping my voice steady despite the frustration churning inside me. But I couldn’t afford to lose my composure—not now, not when I was so close to leaving. "You were the one who insisted I personally oversee Princess Adelina’s care. How am I supposed to do that if you won’t even let me near her?"

Damien’s expression faltered for a moment, and he shook his head, relenting. "Fine. We’ll go together."

I knew what he was doing. He wanted a witness—someone to ensure I wouldn’t cause a scene or upset Adelina. Five years as his mate, and he still saw me as unpredictable, as someone who needed to be controlled.

"Lead the way," I said, stepping forward, burying my thoughts deep where they couldn’t surface.

Damien moved quickly to walk ahead of me, his presence commanding as always. "I’ll show you the way. You don’t know which room she’s in."

If he hadn’t been so hostile moments ago, I might’ve believed he was simply concerned I’d get lost. But now, it was just another layer of his charade.

"Princess Adelina, look who’s here," Damien announced as we entered the room.

Adelina was reclined against the bed, her delicate frame looking even more fragile than usual. Her clothes seemed to swallow her whole, and her face was as pale as the moonlight filtering through the window. She looked every bit the Lycan Princess—ethereal, untouchable.

"Lilliana," she said softly, her voice wavering. "I’m so sorry. It’s because of me that you and Alpha Damien couldn’t complete the marking ceremony. If you need to blame someone, blame me. My weak constitution keeps causing trouble for everyone."

She clutched her chest, breaking into a coughing fit. The healer in the room rushed to her side, his voice firm. "The Princess mustn’t get worked up. Please, keep the conversation calm."

Damien’s anger flared, his Alpha aura pressing down on the room. "Didn’t I warn you, Lilliana? Princess Adelina’s health is fragile. Why do you insist on provoking her? Can’t you just let this go? You’re a healer, for Moon’s sake. Shouldn’t you know better?"

His voice drew a crowd, pack members gathering at the doorway, their gazes shifting between us. Whispers filled the air, some accusing, some sympathetic, but all of them felt like knives.

Emberlynn stepped forward, her Gamma presence radiating authority. "Enough," she said, her voice firm. "Healers are pack members too. And let’s not forget—Lilliana was Alpha Damien’s chosen mate. Now he’s here, defending another woman against her? What kind of Alpha does that?"

The room fell silent, the weight of her words sinking in. Damien’s expression darkened, but he said nothing. The crowd’s murmurs shifted, some now casting disdainful looks his way.

"Say something, Alpha Damien," I said, my voice quiet but steady. "Or are you too busy protecting someone who doesn’t need it?"

"I’m sorry, Lilliana," Adelina whispered, her voice trembling. "This is all my fault."

I looked at her, then at Damien, and for the first time, I felt nothing but exhaustion. The bond between us—once so strong—felt like a frayed thread, ready to snap at any moment. And maybe, just maybe, that was for the best.