Our mothers, both proud Deltas of the Red Pack, were inseparable, so Sam Burke and I had known each other since we were pups. From as early as I can remember, I was always trailing behind him, calling him "big brother" nonstop. Sam, despite his reserved nature and quiet demeanor around others, always had a soft smile for me. Even as the Beta of the Blue Pack, he never carried that commanding alpha tone with me—his voice was always gentle.

At some point, the tender feelings of a young she-wolf began to take root and grow within me, like wild vines spiraling out of control. But this love never found its voice. During high school, my family had to relocate to another territory due to pack reassignments, taking me far away. When we met again, it was at a pack gathering where Sam stood tall, his muscular frame towering over the crowd as he delivered a speech as the honor student. All those feelings I had buried deep inside rushed back, stronger than ever.

Finally unable to hold back any longer, I confessed my love to him. Sam, his sharp jawline softened by the faintest hint of surprise, looked at me for a moment before ruffling my hair and simply saying, "Okay."

After we got together, we never celebrated the Moon Festivals or any other pack traditions. He always insisted that such things were trivial and that we should focus on our duties as warriors. I cried and argued, but all I got in return was his calm suggestion to end things. From then on, I didn’t dare ask for anything more.

I often told myself that Sam, as the Beta, was just practical, focused on his responsibilities to the Blue Pack, and oblivious to such matters. Besides, there were no other she-wolves around him, so I figured I should be okay with that.

Now I understand that it wasn’t ignorance on his part—it was me who didn’t measure up. Clutching my phone, I sat in my room in the Red Pack’s communal den, completely drained. For three days straight, I hadn’t received a single mind link or message from Sam.

What was I hoping for? I couldn’t help but wonder.

The sound of a WhatsApp notification jolted me from my thoughts. I fumbled to unlock my phone, fearing I was already too late. I was so anxious that I failed the fingerprint scan several times. When the screen finally lit up, it showed only a photo.

I stared at the image of two tightly clasped hands. The sparkling ring didn’t quite hide the red mole on Sam’s ring finger. My wolf let out a low whimper in the back of my mind, a sound I barely registered as I bit my lower lip so hard that I tasted blood.

A cold despair settled deeper in my heart. I slowly typed "Let’s end this," hit send, and then blocked Sam. In the werewolf world, where mate bonds were sacred and breakups carried the weight of a severed soul tie, this felt final.

Once it was done, I realized I was trembling uncontrollably. It’s okay, I told myself. This is where it ends. The bond between us, fragile as it was, had been broken. And though the pain of it felt like fire in my chest, I knew I had to move forward. For myself. For my pack.

Sam Burke returned that evening, the early winter’s chill clinging to him as he stepped into the room. His broad frame, usually so imposing as the Beta of the Blue Pack, seemed tense, his dark eyes scanning the open suitcase on the floor.

“Lucia,” he called, his voice carrying the weight of his rank, though it wavered slightly. The furrow in his brow deepened, and for once, the calm, collected Beta seemed unsettled.

I didn’t respond, tossing the last piece of clothing into the suitcase with more force than necessary. My wolf stirred in the back of my mind, a low whine escaping her as the scent of his distress reached me. I shoved her down, refusing to let her weaken my resolve.

Sam sighed quietly, the sound almost imperceptible. He knew me too well—knew that once I made a decision, I rarely wavered. Even as a Delta in the Red Pack, I had always been stubborn, a trait that both frustrated and endeared me to him.

“Can we talk about this?” he asked, his tone softer now, almost pleading.

I turned to face him, my arms crossed. “Talk about what? You’re already wearing the mate’s mark!” My voice rose, the pain in my chest sharp and unrelenting. “I’m just giving you both the space you seem to need, isn’t that right?”

He moved faster than I expected, his powerful frame closing the distance between us in an instant. He grabbed the suitcase and pulled me into his arms, the force of it sending us both tumbling onto the bed. His scent—musky and familiar—wrapped around me, and for a moment, I hated how much it still affected me.

Taking a deep breath, he spoke quickly, the words rushing out as if he feared I’d stop him. “The mark was meant for you. I asked Sophie to help me because you always say I’m clueless about these things. I wanted to surprise you, to show you that I want you as my mate.”

His voice was earnest, the kind of honesty that only Sam could deliver. He wasn’t one to lie, not to me. And despite everything, I believed him.

“I realize my mistake,” he continued, his hands gripping my shoulders as if afraid I’d slip away. “I was trying not to be too hard on Sophie after hearing about a Delta in another pack who… struggled under pressure. I neglected your feelings and caused you unnecessary pain.”

His words hit me harder than I wanted to admit. Maybe I had misjudged him this time. My wolf whimpered softly, urging me to forgive him, but I pushed her down again, refusing to let her sway me.

I tried to sit up, but his arms tightened around me. His usually calm eyes were now tinged with desperation, the weight of his rank and responsibilities momentarily forgotten in his need to fix this.

After a long pause, I finally spoke, my voice quiet but firm. “This is the only time.”

There was still doubt lingering in my chest, but I couldn’t let a bond that had lasted this long fall apart over an Omega who’d only been around for a short time.

He placed a gentle kiss on my forehead, his touch reverent, as if I were something precious. “Lucia, I promise. You’re the only one I love and the only one I’ll mark as my mate.”

True to his word, Sam moved swiftly to clear things up. The next day, he made a public announcement about our bond in the pack’s gathering hall. The air was thick with the scents of anticipation and curiosity as he stood before the assembled wolves, his presence commanding as always.

“Lucia Griffin,” he began, his voice steady despite the tension in the room. “I, Sam Burke, Beta of the Blue Pack, ask you to accept me as your mate.”

The room erupted into murmurs of congratulations, but my attention was fixed on Sam. He knelt before me, his dark eyes locked on mine, waiting for my response.

“Yes,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper but carrying the weight of my decision.

Just as he slipped the mate’s ring onto my finger, someone bumped into me, causing the ring to slip off and roll away. Sophie, the Omega who had been standing nearby, let out a gasp and ran out of the hall in tears.

Sam quickly stood, his protective instincts kicking in as he shielded me with his body. His brow furrowed as he glanced toward where Sophie had disappeared, his concern for her unmistakable.

And in that moment, despite everything, I felt the cracks in my resolve begin to widen.