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.

“Alpha Angela, what are you doing here? Surely you don’t think... Oh no, don’t tell me you’re jumping to conclusions again.”

A voice feigning surprise came from behind, but I didn’t bother to turn around. I could already smell the faint scent of rosemary—Zendaya’s scent—mixing with Kolton’s usual pine. It was enough to make my stomach churn.

“Alpha Angela, why the silent treatment?”

Kolton’s voice was as cool and detached as ever, and it inexplicably sparked a wave of irritation within me. My wolf stirred faintly in the back of my mind, a low growl of discontent I quickly suppressed.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Are you suspecting something is going on between Zendaya and me again? I’ve explained over and over; you’re really making this exhausting.”

“Or is this about the alliance? I told you, let’s just consider it a favor for Zendaya. There’s no need to…”

He was chattier than usual, which was unlike the typical Kolton. I mused to myself quietly. People always say that when you’re guilty, you tend to babble—much like now.

Only after the tears had dried on my face did I turn around. Kolton was still holding Zendaya’s hand. The two of them stood side by side, comfortably close. Just like when we were kids, I thought wryly.

Despite the three of us growing up together, I was always the odd one out. There was simply no room for me between them.

Surprisingly, I calmly accepted this fact.

When Kolton noticed my gaze lingering on their intertwined hands, he abruptly let go. His face flushed with awkwardness, struggling to find the right words.

“Alpha Angela...”

I gently interrupted him, “About the alliance, discuss it with my Gamma, Hadlee.”

“Let’s keep it professional. Follow the procedures, and arrange for the appropriate breach and damage compensation.”

With that, I turned to leave.

But Kolton stopped me. “Let’s have dinner tonight.”

I didn’t look back. “No, I’m busy.”

Yet Kolton, usually reserved, unexpectedly moved forward and grabbed my arm. I turned my head, our eyes met. There was a complexity in his gaze as he looked at me intently.

“We still need to discuss the mating plans.”

It was the first time Kolton spoke to me so tenderly. I was momentarily taken aback. My wolf growled again, louder this time, but I silenced her with a firm mental push.

By the time I regained my senses, I had already agreed.

Kolton and I arranged to meet at a sleek downtown restaurant, one of those places that catered to the elite of the pack. The air was thick with tension, the kind that made even the waitstaff keep their distance. In the past, I would have filled the silence with meaningless chatter, trying to keep the fragile connection between us alive. But now, I couldn’t bring myself to care. The silence stretched, heavy and unbroken.

Finally, Kolton cleared his throat, his Alpha aura flickering uneasily. "Zendaya is having her mating ceremony soon. We should..."

I cut him off with a calm, icy tone. "Let’s put that on hold for now."

Kolton’s brow furrowed, his expression tightening. "Angela, about what happened this morning, I’m sorry. It was just a moment of impulse. I didn’t mean to—"

I held up a hand, my voice steady but cold. "Save it, Kolton."

His jaw clenched, but before he could say more, both of our phones buzzed simultaneously. The sharp sound cut through the silence like a knife.

"Is this the family of Summer Johnston? She’s experiencing severe bleeding and is in critical condition. You need to come to the hospital immediately."

"The situation is dire. Please notify all family members."

The fork slipped from my fingers, clattering against the plate. My heart pounded in my chest, and my voice trembled as I spoke. "Doctor, please, do everything you can. I’m on my way."

I turned to Kolton, my desperation bleeding into my words. "We need to go. Now."

But he was already standing, his Alpha aura flaring with agitation. "Angela, I can’t. Zendaya’s dealing with the ceremony arrangements today, and she’s upset. I have to go to her."

I grabbed his arm, my nails digging into his sleeve. "Kolton, my mother is in critical condition! You drove us here—please, just get me to the hospital!"

He hesitated, his eyes darting to the door. "But Zendaya needs me."

My grip tightened, my voice rising. "Kolton, have you lost all sense of decency? My mother is dying. Do you understand that?"

Our eyes locked, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of guilt in his gaze. But then his phone rang again, and he answered without hesitation. Zendaya’s tearful voice spilled through the speaker, "Kolton, I feel awful..."

Panic flashed in his eyes, and he yanked his arm free. "Sorry, Angela. Take a cab. I’ll meet you at the hospital later."

He was gone before I could respond, his Alpha aura leaving a void in the room. I stood there, stunned, the weight of his betrayal crashing down on me. My wolf stirred in the back of my mind, a low growl of anger and pain.

I didn’t have time to fall apart. I bolted out of the restaurant, hailing a cab and racing against time to the hospital. The red light above the emergency room doors taunted me as I paced, my hands clasped together in prayer.

But no one was listening.

The doctor emerged, his expression grim. He shook his head, and my heart shattered. "You can see her now."

I rushed to her bedside, tears streaming down my face. My mother’s breathing was shallow, her eyes fluttering open as she reached for me. Her grip was weak but desperate.

She looked past me, her voice barely a whisper. "He... is not good... don’t hold on... let go, my dear... be happy..."

Her words broke me. She had seen it all. She knew everything.

That day, at my mother’s deathbed, I made a silent vow. I would let go. I would stop clinging to someone who had never truly been mine.

And I would never love Kolton Mendez again.