“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.