My heart ached, a sour feeling spreading like an overflowing pond, bit by bit.

Apologize? Why on earth should I apologize?

Since childhood, I’ve watched Kolton rush to Zendaya time and time again. Now, he’s risking everything to protect her, even at the cost of his own well-being.

Even though Zendaya is about to mate with Orion Carter, a Lycan Prince.

Even though I am his rightful mate, the Alpha of the Martinez Pack.

I took a deep breath, forcing back the tears that threatened to escape, stubbornly locking eyes with Kolton.

"Kolton Mendez, don’t forget that I am your mate, and you are bound to me by the Moon Goddess’s decree!"

I turned my head, casting an icy smile at Zendaya—

"For years, you’ve been causing trouble repeatedly; we don’t even need to talk about that."

"You’re about to mate with the Lycan Prince, yet you’re still involved with someone else’s mate. What do you call that?"

"Playing the part of the other woman, shameless!"

Zendaya’s eyes welled up, a mist of hurt in her gaze.

"Alpha Martinez, how could you think of me like that? I’ve always seen Beta Mendez as a brother."

Although her words were directed at me, her eyes were fixed on Kolton.

Tears trailed down her face as she tried to hold back her sobs, saying:

"I understand now, I’m sorry for disrupting you both, I’ll leave right away..."

With her hand covering her mouth to wipe away the tears, Zendaya darted out of the hospital room.

Noticing Kolton starting to follow her, I instinctively grabbed his arm.

The next second, a slap landed hard on my face.

Caught off guard, I was knocked to the ground, a ringing in my head as I looked up—only to meet Kolton’s cold and frosty stare.

"Alpha Martinez, who do you think you are to belittle Zendaya like this!"

Kolton, usually so composed, rarely got angry. Yet now, because of Zendaya’s tears, he lashed out at me, his Beta.

In an instant, my heart felt as if it had been torn open, the cold air rushing in.

Kolton spat out, "Do what you want," then hurriedly left the room.

I crumpled onto the floor, the sting of his Alpha tone reverberating through me, a reminder of the power imbalance between us.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed with a message—"So pathetic."

I squeezed my eyes shut.

Such an obvious charade, yet Kolton always played blind to it.

How ludicrous.

I braced against the wall, struggling to stand.

Just as I got halfway up, a sharp pain shot through my lower back, sending me crashing back down.

I had just remembered, during that slap, I had hit the corner of the nightstand.

... It really hurts.

I bit down hard on my lip, refusing to let my wolf’s whimper escape.

He’s a fool, she growled weakly. He’ll regret this.

But I wasn’t so sure. The bond between us, once unbreakable, now felt like ash in my hands.

And yet, even as I lay there, I knew I couldn’t show weakness. I was the Alpha of the Martinez Pack, and I would not let this break me.

Not now. Not ever.

As I steadied my emotions, a healer informed me that my mother had regained consciousness. By the time I entered her room, I had composed myself, the weight of the Alpha’s aura masking the turmoil within.

"You’re a wonderful daughter," my mother said, her voice frail but warm as she looked at me. I leaned in to adjust her blanket, keeping my demeanor steady despite the ache in my chest.

"Really, it’s nothing. The most important thing is your health and safety," I replied, my tone calm, the practiced ease of an Alpha concealing the storm beneath.

A faint worry creased her brow. "Where’s that Kolton boy?"

My hand hesitated for a fraction of a second, but I quickly resumed smoothing the blanket, forcing a casual smile. "Oh, he was here earlier. He got called away for an urgent pack matter. He said he’ll return later to see you."

She studied me closely, her sharp eyes piercing through my façade. "Be honest, how are things between you two…"

I cut in gently, my smile unwavering. "That’s the truth, Mom. Kolton’s tied up with pack duties, but he feels guilty about not being here."

Feigning busyness, I tidied the room, turning so she wouldn’t notice the flicker of pain in my eyes. In reality, Kolton hadn’t visited my mother, and certainly not me. His betrayal cut deeper than I cared to admit.

After my mother dozed off, I returned to my office. As Alpha, there were always pressing matters demanding my attention. While reviewing the pack’s financial reports, I discovered Kolton had unilaterally terminated a major alliance with another pack.

"Why wasn’t I informed about something this significant?" I demanded, my voice sharp with authority.

"Well, isn’t your mating ceremony to Beta Mendez coming up? And didn’t you authorize him to make decisions on your behalf?" one of my Gammas replied hesitantly.

My anger momentarily froze. It was true, I had passively allowed him that power. After my father’s unexpected passing, I hadn’t yet fully stepped into my role as Alpha. Kolton had offered to help, citing my inexperience as a reason to take on more responsibilities. I thought, since we were to be mates, it would be fine. But I hadn’t realized how far his overreach would go.

I mind-linked him immediately, my tone cutting through the connection. "What happened with the alliance? We’ve been negotiating for months, nearly finalized, and you just decide to end it?"

Kolton’s response was dismissive, his voice cold in my mind. "Zendaya’s mating ceremony is soon. We’re friends, so consider it a gift."

Barely containing my anger, I replied, "That alliance is crucial. We’ve invested so much and are nearly finished. You can’t just dismiss the losses with a simple explanation."

"What kind of gift is so special, Kolton, that you—"

"Enough!" Kolton snapped, his voice cutting through the mind link like a whip. "Alpha Martinez, when did you become so petty? You even made Zendaya cry today—shouldn’t you apologize and make things right? This conversation is over."

Before I could respond, he severed the link, leaving me seething.

Silently, I clenched my fists, my wolf stirring in the back of my mind, a low growl of frustration echoing within me. Fueled with anger, I shifted into my wolf form and ran straight to Kolton’s territory, the forest blurring around me as I moved with the speed of an Alpha on a mission.

As I reached the Alpha’s office door, the faint murmur of voices drifted through the crack. The door was slightly ajar, and I froze when I saw Kolton standing with his back to me, his broad shoulders tense, his voice low but sharp.

“…What makes me not good enough for you? The Alpha is devoted to me, so why can’t you see me?”

“For you, I even got involved with someone I don’t love. I thought you’d care, but all you could say was congratulations?”

My legs buckled, and I leaned heavily against the wall, my chest tightening with a suffocating weight. My mind went blank, and then a wave of despair crashed over me. It was all a lie.

Kolton’s feelings for Zendaya had never wavered. Even back then, his pursuit of me was nothing more than an act of revenge. So what did that make me?

Inside, Kolton suddenly pulled Zendaya into his arms, kissing her with a fervor that made my stomach churn. The sound of their kiss, punctuated by soft moans, echoed in my ears. Through the crack in the door, Zendaya’s eyes met mine. Her initial surprise twisted into a scornful smirk.

She locked her gaze on me, her fingers trailing along Kolton’s back as if encouraging him. Brazen. Provocative.

I clung to the wall, my hand trembling as I fought the urge to push the door open. My wolf stirred in the back of my mind, a low growl of betrayal and pain, but I silenced her. This wasn’t the time.

Kolton, Zendaya, and I had grown up in the same pack. In those early days, I had been captivated by Kolton’s composed demeanor, his natural authority as a Beta. But he only ever had eyes for Zendaya. It was only after she left for another pack that he turned his attention to me.

I took a deep breath, but the suffocating feeling wouldn’t relent, forcing me to clutch my chest and bend over in pain.

I’ve never been the naive and sweet type. Though I was taken aback by Kolton’s sudden interest, my doubts grew as I calmed down. I wouldn’t allow myself to be anyone’s substitute.

But it was him—he who knelt before me, his voice steady as he vowed, “I, Kolton Mendez, Beta of the Mendez Pack, take you, Angela Martinez, Alpha of the Martinez Pack, as my mate.”

He swore with such passion that I was the only one for him. And I, foolishly, believed him.

I glanced up, seeing my tear-streaked reflection in the sleek, modern glass window of the Alpha’s office. At some point, I had started crying uncontrollably. I felt something inside me begin to unravel, slowly letting go.

“Alpha?”

The voice snapped me back to the present. I straightened, wiping my tears with the back of my hand. My wolf growled softly, urging me to confront them, to unleash the fury simmering beneath the surface. But I shook my head, silencing her. This wasn’t the way.

Kolton’s betrayal would not break me. I was the Alpha of the Martinez Pack, and I would act with the strength and dignity that title demanded.