The day of the rejection, I left with nothing but my medals.

Alpha Caden was as indifferent as ever. He barely glanced up at me, his broad shoulders framed by the dim light of the pack hall, and asked, "What about our son? No more dreams of him becoming a champion warrior?"

I managed a wry smile and shook my head. "No, he doesn’t want that life, and there’s no point in pushing him."

I couldn’t erase the memory of our son, Wilson, angrily shoving me away, yelling, "All you ever do is make me train! I don’t want you as my mom anymore; I want Aunt Arya!"

Since neither of them wanted my love or my skills, I decided to take them away.

==============================

"Are you serious?"

Alpha Caden tapped the black-and-white rejection papers, looking up at me with the calm demeanor that first attracted me to him.

Back then, his composure was captivating. In my line of work as a Gamma warrior, I was always too competitive, so meeting someone unflappable drew me in.

But now, after seven years of being mates and a six-year-old son, Alpha Caden was still the epitome of calmness and detachment.

I nodded. "Yes, I’m serious."

Alpha Caden furrowed his brows slightly. "What about our son? No more dreams of him becoming a champion warrior?" He mentioned Wilson with a hint of surprise.

I gave a slight smile and shook my head. "No, he doesn’t want that, and there’s no point forcing him."

"So, with the rejection, you don’t want our son either?"

Alpha Caden’s tone took a deeper edge, hinting at displeasure beneath his calm facade.

I raised an eyebrow and chuckled lightly. "Alpha Caden, even if you were willing to give up custody, the Silverclaw Pack wouldn’t agree, so there’s no need to suggest it."

My voice was straightforward and sharp, possibly grating to his ears, but I didn’t care. My intentions were clear—custody of Wilson was not in my plans.

Alpha Caden’s frown deepened, and after some silence, he said, "You know there’s nothing between Arya and me. She’s just a healer in the pack."

His typically cool voice had a subtle undertone of something harder to define. I found myself looking at him.

First, his mention of Arya caught me off guard. Second, I was surprised he felt the need to justify himself to me.

Maybe he thought Arya was the reason for my decision to reject the bond. I had found Arya’s presence bothersome before, after all.

I remember last month on our anniversary as mates. I had spent the day preparing a table laden with dishes, eagerly awaiting both him and our son. They didn’t come home until late that night, full and satisfied.

I sat there, wondering how many times I’d reheated the food, which went cold once more, as I pondered the purpose of our bond.

But when I heard the commotion at the door, instinct overpowered reason, and I rushed to open it.

Instead of the father-son duo, Arya stood there carrying a drowsy Wilson, gently comforting him. Draped over her shoulder was Alpha Caden’s tailored jacket, and around her wrist, the Swiss pearls sparkled—a glaring reminder.

I had seen that bracelet in Alpha Caden’s drawer before, thinking it was a gift for me on our anniversary.

Unbeknownst to me, it was a present for Arya, congratulating her on her international art award.

Alpha Caden paused for a moment upon seeing me, then frowned slightly. "Why are you still up? I mind-linked you that I was taking Wilson to the art exhibit, so you didn’t need to wait for us."

I stood in silence, the dim light casting an awkward glow over the three of them. I was standing in the shadows, not in opposition but certainly out of place.

After a brief pause, Arya spoke up at just the right moment, "It’s completely my fault. Today was the last day of the art exhibit. I should have told Alpha Caden earlier so you wouldn’t have missed your anniversary."

I stared at Alpha Caden, who remained unfazed and oblivious to the issue.

Apparently, he hadn’t forgotten. He just didn’t find it significant.

The ticking of the clock snapped me back to reality. I brushed off Alpha Caden’s remarks and simply reminded him to review the agreement outlining the division of assets. If everything was in order, he should sign it as soon as possible. With that, I grabbed my bag and headed for the door.

"Hold on," Alpha Caden called, his voice low but commanding, the weight of his alpha tone pressing against the room. "You’re only taking your trophies?"

He flipped through a couple of pages of the agreement and glanced at me, his expression anything but agreeable. I nodded, my posture firm despite the tension in the air. "When I became your mate, those trophies were all I brought with me. Now that we’re parting ways, they’re all I’m taking."

Everything else, including Alpha Caden and Wilson, I was leaving behind. Perhaps sensing that I wouldn’t return, he finally broke the silence, his tone softer but still laced with authority.

"Ophelia, whatever your thoughts may be, you’re still my mate and Wilson’s mother. I won’t leave you with nothing. I’ll let you have this house. You’re welcome to stay here if you choose, or..." He hesitated, offering an alternative. "If you don’t want to, the downtown apartment can be transferred to your name soon. As for support, I’ll ensure you receive it monthly..."

"Suit yourself," I replied, my voice steady but cold. "How much you send is your decision. Now, can I leave?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Wilson peeking around the corner. He stood still, his expression a tiny replica of Alpha Caden’s, filled with emotions mixed with a noticeable hint of excitement. My wolf stirred within me, a soft whimper echoing in my mind, but I pushed it down. There was no room for weakness now.

Seeing Alpha Caden had nothing more to add, I waved dismissively and moved toward the door. Just as I opened it, I heard Wilson rushing over, his voice eager and hopeful.

"Dad, after Mom leaves, will Aunt Arya come live with us? I don’t want to train anymore; it’s too hard. Can I spend time with Aunt Arya instead?"

My steps faltered for a moment, the weight of his words pressing against my chest. My wolf growled softly, a mix of pain and anger, but I forced myself to remain composed. Then, I pushed the door open more forcefully and walked out without looking back. The cool night air hit my face, a small relief from the suffocating tension of the house.

As I stepped into the darkness, I felt the bond between Alpha Caden and me stretch thin, the mate bond that once felt unbreakable now a distant echo. My wolf’s presence in my mind was faint, as if even she had retreated into the shadows. I took a deep breath, my fingers tightening around the strap of my bag.

This was my choice. My path. And I would walk it without hesitation.