"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.

Adelina, ignoring her frail state, stumbled and fell to the ground behind me, undeterred as she crawled over, her face streaked with tears and mucus.

"Lilliana, don't get the wrong idea. Alpha Damien and I are just friends. You are, and will always be, his mate. He's just too kind-hearted to let a friend like me suffer, which is why he takes extra care of me. Please, don't misjudge him."

With just a few words, she cast Alpha Damien in a favorable light once more.

I abruptly dropped to my knees, facing Adelina directly. The surrounding crowd gasped at my unexpected gesture. My wolf whimpered in the back of my mind, sensing the tension, but I pushed the thought away.

"Princess Adelina, I can't accept such a grand gesture from you, especially since you're still unwell. I'm a healer, not a miracle worker. If you keep straining yourself like this, even ten lives wouldn't be enough."

Feigning helplessness is a skill anyone can master; I've just never wanted to play that game. But now, as I was about to leave, why should I swallow my pride?

"Get up, Princess."

Adelina was taken aback by my actions. I quickly helped her up, offering a warm smile. "I know it's just your illness speaking. Don't worry; I've arranged for the best healer to take care of you. If you're still unsure, I'll personally oversee your care."

Adelina finally snapped out of her shock as she lay back in the bed.

"No need, no need."

She tried to get up again, but I dropped my smile. "Princess, this is a healing chamber."

I was reminding her to heed the healers, and she quieted down immediately.

"Just because it's a healing chamber doesn't mean you have to act all high and mighty," Alpha Damien defended her indignantly. I gave him a cold stare.

Even knowing that Alpha Damien resented and disliked me, I hadn't expected him to speak such hurtful words repeatedly.

"Lilliana," Emberlynn, my Gamma friend, also heard it and worried I might react poorly.

But I simply carried on quietly, checking on Adelina before heading back to the packhouse.

Alpha Damien didn’t come back. He stayed at the healing chambers with Adelina, which gave me some peace. After all, I was leaving soon and needed to pack my things.

My parents, both Omegas in the Silver Moon Pack, arrived in a rush at eight that evening after receiving my message. They had aged, and they had hoped their only daughter would find a mate and bring joy to their lives. Now, suddenly learning that I was planning to volunteer as a roving healer in a remote pack, their faces were filled with urgency.

"Lilliana, don’t go. If you don’t want to be with Alpha Damien, you don’t have to. Your father and I can support you. We’ve heard about what happened at the healing chambers. Alpha Damien isn’t a good match, but there are plenty of other wolves out there. Surely, they’re not all as shameless as him. Please, don’t leave, okay?"

My mom clutched my hand, her eyes glistening with tears. I paused my packing and looked at her. "Mom, it’s not just about Alpha Damien. You both know my dream has always been to help those in need, especially in struggling packs. For a year, I abandoned my belief because of one wolf, and that's something I regret. That was my mistake, and now I have to make it right. You’ll support me, won’t you?"

Stubbornness had always been in my nature. My mom released my hand and moved to the wardrobe.

"I’ll help you pack."

"Dad can check if there’s anything else you need to take. The border packs aren’t like here."

They didn’t explicitly agree; they just started preparing my things for departure in unison.

That’s what real love is, something Alpha Damien could never offer because he doesn’t truly love me.