After sliding into the passenger seat, Mathias handed me a few tissues to wipe the rain off my face, his movements casual, almost dismissive. The scent of his Alpha aura filled the car, sharp and commanding, but it no longer brought me the comfort it once did.

“If you’d mentioned earlier that today was your mom’s anniversary, I would have driven you there,” he said, his tone flat, as if he were discussing something trivial rather than the day I visited my mother’s grave. His voice carried the weight of his Alpha tone, but it lacked the warmth it used to have when he spoke to me.

“You don’t drive like Vanessa, and it’s not exactly convenient for you to get around,” I replied, my voice steady despite the tightness in my chest. I had once considered getting a driver’s license myself, but he had dismissed the idea with a scoff, saying, “What does an Omega need a license for? Even if you got one, you wouldn’t have time to drive.” His words had stung then, and they still did now.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” he asked when I stayed silent, his grip on the steering wheel tightening as he accelerated. The car jerked forward, and I felt my stomach churn. He knew I got carsick easily; if he didn’t drive smoothly, I’d end up nauseous. It felt deliberate, a subtle way to assert control.

“There’s nothing I want to say,” I replied, my voice calm but firm. In the past, I would have explained myself endlessly, trying to prove that I wasn’t angry. But now, none of that mattered. The bond between us, once a source of strength, now felt like a chain.

“Alright, then where do you want to eat…” He was interrupted by his phone, which rang loudly from its holder. The name flashing on the screen was: [My Dearest Vanessa.]

Mathias’s eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of unease crossing his face. “Vanessa changed that herself; I’ll fix it later,” he mumbled, his Alpha tone softening as if he were trying to reassure me.

“No need, the name fits well,” I said, a hint of irony in my voice, as I turned my attention to my phone. I began searching online for prominent legal advisors specializing in pack disputes. The name Bridget Lewis kept appearing in my search results, and I made a mental note to contact her.

“Hey, Vanessa, what’s up?” He had already answered the call, his voice shifting to a softer tone, one I rarely heard directed at me anymore. The voice on the other end was sickly sweet, dripping with false concern.

“Alpha, I just saw some fresh shrimp at the grocery store. I bought some and thought I’d make dinner for you and Lucia tonight.”

“This…” Mathias looked a bit troubled, his eyes flicking to me as if seeking permission.

“Sure, you’re welcome to join us,” I answered for him, my tone polite but distant. He looked at me, astonished, as if he couldn’t believe I had said that. It wasn’t surprising that he was taken aback; I used to loathe Vanessa. I didn’t like her coming over, and I disliked Mathias spending time with her. Women’s intuition is usually spot on, and I knew Vanessa had a particular interest in him.

Every time I tried to stop him from seeing Vanessa, Mathias would get furious, and over the years, we had fought about this countless times. He seemed to have forgotten the promise he made to my mother to take care of me well. The distance between us, once a small crack, had now widened into a chasm, and I wasn’t sure if it could ever be bridged.

When I got back to the pack house, Vanessa was already bustling in the kitchen, preparing dinner. Mathias, my mate and the Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, had given her the access code to our private quarters, allowing her to come and go as she pleased. I changed the code daily just to maintain some semblance of control, but today I hadn’t bothered. It didn’t matter how often I reset it—Mathias would always hand it over to Vanessa again. Constantly switching the code wasn’t a solution, so I let it slide this time.

"Lucia, you’re back! Dinner’s almost ready," Vanessa called out, her voice dripping with false cheerfulness. She acted as if she were the Luna of the pack, not me. Two years ago, she and Mathias had crossed paths during a pack celebration. I’d heard he’d overindulged in the ceremonial wine, and she’d stepped in, brewing some herbal concoction to soothe his hangover. Mathias had been so moved by her care that he’d declared her his "adopted sister" without even consulting me. Just brought her home one day and announced it to the pack as if it were nothing.

"Mm-hmm," I answered curtly, barely acknowledging her as I slipped into the bedroom to change out of my day clothes. Mathias followed closely behind, his presence as commanding as ever. Even in private, his Alpha aura was impossible to ignore.

"Why do you keep giving Vanessa the cold shoulder? She’s here cooking for us," he said, his voice tinged with frustration.

“Should I roll out the red carpet for her?” I shot back, fixing him with a glare that could freeze the moon itself. His eyes flickered with concern, but he avoided my gaze. Instead, he pulled me into a gentle embrace, his arms wrapping around me as if to soothe the tension between us.

"I’m sorry, alright? I know Vanessa isn’t your favorite person. I won’t ask her over anymore," he murmured, his tone softening. "Let me make it up to you tonight, okay? Let’s sleep together."

We’d been mates for six years, but we hadn’t shared a bed in almost a year. He’d suggested separate sleeping arrangements, claiming he tossed and turned too much and didn’t want to disturb my rest. I knew the real reason—it was so he could mind-link with Vanessa every night without interruption. I hadn’t called him out on it, simply accepting his explanation. But for the past year, we’d lived like strangers under the same roof.

This was the first time he’d proposed sharing a bed again.

"I’m not feeling well," I said firmly, leaving no room for negotiation. His expression darkened, but he didn’t argue. I brushed past him and walked out of the room, my heart heavy with the weight of the unspoken truth between us.

At the dinner table, Vanessa had already laid out the steaming dishes. She was impeccably dressed, wearing elegant makeup and adorned with a striking necklace that complemented her carefully chosen designer dress. As the Gamma of the Crimson Fang Pack, she carried herself with the confidence of someone who knew her place in the world—and it was far above mine.

Unlike me, an Omega from the Silver Moon Pack, I had no parents, no career, just the role of a mate to the Alpha. Maybe that’s why Mathias was willing to swallow his pride and bend over backwards for her. He had always been drawn to power, and Vanessa radiated it.

"Lucia, you know I’ve been swamped with pack duties lately. Usually, I have the servants handle the meals, but today is the first time in years that I’ve prepared the feast myself. Please don’t be too critical of the taste!" Vanessa teased, her voice dripping with mock humility as she stuck her tongue out playfully.

I grasped her motive; it was nothing more than a dig at my lower status. I stayed silent and took a seat on the side of the table, where an Omega like me belonged.

Mathias, the Alpha, tried to sit next to me, but I stopped him with a firm gesture. "It’s rare for Vanessa to visit. You should sit with her and ensure she’s comfortable."

Both he and Vanessa were taken aback by my words. I grabbed a large piece of spiced honey cake and took a bite, savoring the rich flavor. "Why are you all staring at me? Is there something on my face? Let’s dig in."

For me, enjoying the meal was more important than Mathias’s company. With such a feast today, why shouldn’t I indulge? In the past, I was always cutting costs for the pack, never indulging in these luxuries. Mathias never liked me purchasing them either.

Once, I bought some for him, and when he returned, he assumed I intended to eat it all myself. He immediately snapped, "Our pack is already going through financial hardships, and you’re spending resources on frivolous treats!"

But he seemed to forget that when he marked me as his mate, he promised, "I, Mathias, Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, take you, Lucia, as my mate. I’ll protect you and provide for you, forever."

The words that once stirred my heart now made me cringe. No one can truly support someone else indefinitely. Not even an Alpha. The only one you can truly rely on is yourself.

And Mathias didn’t really provide for me. All these years while he led the pack, I ran the household. He’d come home to find meals ready, his clothes freshly laundered, and the den in order. To outsiders, being a mate might seem straightforward, yet it’s undeniably a role in its own right—one that I’ve fulfilled without recognition.

As I chewed, I felt the sting of Vanessa’s gaze, her sharp eyes assessing me like a predator sizing up its prey. But for once, I didn’t care. Tonight, I would savor the meal, and tomorrow, I would begin to rebuild the life I had lost.