"Are you really okay with leaving the pack-owned company after everything you’ve invested in it?"

Scarlett, who had been under my guidance for years as my trusted Delta, was clearly upset by my decision to leave. Her loyalty was unwavering, but even she couldn’t understand why I’d walk away from something I’d built from the ground up. I rested my chin on my hand and took a light sip of bourbon, the sharp burn grounding me.

At peace?

After a decade tangled in love and hate with Alpha Kohen Rice, I’d once envisioned a different future. A future where I stood by his side as his Luna, where our bond was unshakable. But when faced with a critical choice—when he’d chosen Miriam Meyer, a Beta, over me—there were no victors in this situation. You can’t turn back time; the best move in such a dire predicament is to cut your losses and move on.

Seeing my resolve not to revisit the past, Scarlett began to vent her frustrations. Kohen, in an effort to placate Miriam, had given her a cushy executive position at the company. Miriam, paranoid and suspicious, interrogated every unmated female in the pack, creating absurd rules and even banning makeup and dresses at work. Her paranoia extended to clients too, resulting in the loss of several accounts. The pack’s reputation was suffering, and Kohen seemed blind to it.

I hadn’t seen that coming. The usually composed and dependable Alpha allowing such irrational behavior. Maybe the Kohen I thought I knew never existed. Or perhaps Miriam was the exception for him. But none of that mattered to me anymore. I was done with the pack politics, done with the hierarchy that had always made me feel like an outsider.

The day I left the territory, a light drizzle was falling, the kind that clung to your skin and made everything feel heavier. My mother, ever the social climber, was busy nurturing her relationship with her new mate’s son. She ended our phone call with a few hurried reminders, her voice distant, as if she’d already moved on from me.

Just before I boarded the plane, Luciano Gordon, a Delta and one of Kohen’s childhood friends, called me. We’d met a few times during pack gatherings and were on good terms. Somehow, he’d heard about my plans to move abroad.

"Brooklyn, you don’t have to run away," he said, his voice steady but tinged with concern.

"I’ve arranged a get-together, and the Alpha will be there," he continued, as if that would change my mind.

"Let’s clear the air; we can still be friends."

I almost laughed. Friends? After everything? After he’d rejected me in front of the entire pack, after he’d chosen Miriam over me, after he’d let her turn the pack into a paranoid nightmare? There was no friendship left to salvage. The bond between us was broken, and I was done pretending otherwise.

"I’m not running away, Luciano," I said, my voice firm. "I’m moving on. Tell the Alpha that."

I ended the call before he could respond, the weight of my decision settling over me like the rain outside. It was time to leave the past behind, to find a life where I wasn’t just an Omega, a pawn in someone else’s game. I had a future to build, one that didn’t involve Kohen Rice or the pack that had never truly been my home.

In the dimly lit private room of the pack house, Luciano Gordon, a Delta and one of Kohen’s childhood friends, held his phone tightly, frustration etched on his face. I had just ended the call from my end, and his next attempt to reach me resulted only in a recorded message. The room’s atmosphere turned icy, the tension thick enough to suffocate.

Kohen Rice, the Alpha of our pack, sat across from Luciano, his towering frame dominating the space. His dark eyes were stormy with barely contained anger. The call had been his idea, a desperate attempt to offer an olive branch, hoping that by giving a little, I might relent and return. Had he not done enough for me? His jaw tightened as he leaned back in his chair, his muscular arms crossed over his broad chest.

Sure, he first noticed me for my looks—a rare compliment for an Omega like me—but it was my spirit and determination that had kept his attention. He vividly recalled the day I stood on the stage during a pack meeting, challenging the Beta on the fairness of resource allocation—a small figure defying the status quo. He admitted I was impressive, even if only to himself. But in a pack like ours, there was no shortage of strong and ambitious wolves.

He had provided me with resources, introduced me to influential members of the pack, elevated my status from a mere Omega to someone with a voice, and even acknowledged our mate bond among the higher ranks. What more did I want? His fingers drummed against the armrest of his chair, the rhythm sharp and impatient.

"Alpha," Luciano said, his tone earnest, "if you can’t let it go, then go after her. This back-and-forth isn’t helping anyone."

Kohen lit a cigarette, the smoke curling around his sharp features as he exhaled slowly. "It’s just a game," he said dismissively, his voice tinged with bitterness. "She really thinks she’s something special."

He might have acted indifferent, but his recent erratic behavior gave him away. Allowing Miriam Meyer, the Beta he’d bonded with after our separation, to stir up rumors and gossip, hoping it would reach me. Frequently asking about my well-being, often lurking near my cabin only to leave quietly without a word.

Luciano had repeatedly tried to make him confront his true feelings. But Kohen couldn’t care less—why should he soften? He believed I was just using his affection, his position as Alpha, to climb the pack hierarchy. He could give me everything, and he could take it all away.

His family ties were mending, and a single word from him could set many things in motion. What would it be like for someone so adept at manipulation to lose everything? He waited for that day—the day I would have nowhere to turn and finally come crawling back. On that day, for old times’ sake, he’d reluctantly take me back. But that day would never come.

I had built a life for myself, far from the pack’s politics and Kohen’s games. And now, as I stood outside the pack house, the cool night air brushing against my skin, I felt a strange sense of calm. Kohen’s anger, his desperation, his pride—it was no longer my burden to bear.

I turned and walked away, my steps steady and sure. The past could haunt him, but it wouldn’t define me. Not anymore.

After shutting down my devices, I finally experienced a rare moment of tranquility. For the first 27 years of my life, I hadn’t stopped moving, never daring to pause. I felt that if I stopped, the world would leave me behind. *Brooklyn, what are you pursuing?* I asked myself. My heart felt empty, with no answers. They say that those who have seen the Northern Lights find their wishes come true.

Upon arriving in Scandinavia, I checked into a charming bed and breakfast. Alpha Kohen and I had been here for business once before. Back then, we were caught in a blizzard and had to rush back to the pack. Many others had the same goal as me, and by chance, we all ended up staying at the same quaint inn. There was a mix of friends, families, and couples. We formed a spontaneous sightseeing group.

The small town had no skyscrapers, only endless snow-capped mountains and fjords surrounding it. The sunset painted the peaks with a fiery glow as a plane flew into the golden horizon, causing flocks of seagulls to circle and sing in the sky. As night fell, clouds gathered, hiding all but a few stars. Yet, someone suggested we go in search of the lights. We rented a car, hired a local "Aurora Hunter," and embarked on our naive quest to find the lights.

The car drove through the misty night until a shimmer appeared on the horizon. "It’s the Northern Lights!" someone cheered. The ethereal glow stretched across the mountains, reaching into our souls. "Aren’t you going to make a wish?" someone asked me. I was silent. Perhaps I once had many desires, like hoping my mother would show more care or dreaming of endless years with Alpha Kohen. But in that moment, I couldn’t find a single wish.

"I wish for my mother’s illness to heal," a young man nearby prayed sincerely. I clasped my hands together and silently wished, "May I stay healthy and my dreams come true."

Around the campfire, travelers held mugs of hot coffee, sharing their stories. Some wished for lifelong love, others prayed for their family’s safety during hard times. I found myself peacefully immersed in the moment. In the past, my mind was always calculating risks and potential returns. Making emotionally driven decisions felt like a luxury to me, because if I fell, no one would help me, and some might even push me further.

Alpha Kohen’s presence allowed me to explore emotions I was afraid of. I often pointed out my flaws to him—my Omega status, my family issues, my inadequacies—hoping he would back off. I didn’t feel like someone worth investing in. But he kept coming closer, affirming everything about me, only to tear it all down in the end, leaving me heartbroken. It was painful yet freeing.

The snow surrounded me, and tears turned to ice in my eyes. I spread my arms wide, dancing with the snow, finding comfort in my own company. *It’s not that big of a deal, Brooklyn.*

When dark clouds loomed, disappointment filled the air. "Such a shame, it’s snowing. Let’s head back." On the way back, disaster struck unexpectedly. The car flipped several times in a blinding snowstorm.

"Avalanche!" Panic, blame, and despair surrounded us. I had often imagined pack outings to amusement parks. I dreamed of wearing a pretty bow, sitting on my father’s shoulders, softening my tough exterior, acting like a true pup, pointing to a plush toy and saying, "Mom, I want that one!" But facing life and death, I realized that the bonds between people are always temporary. Be it family, friendship, or mate bonds. In this moment, what was once resentment turned into mutual encouragement. "We’ll all make it!" someone shouted, and we began to break the windows with all our strength.

Before this trip, we were strangers. Because of this journey, we supported each other. After today, these shared paths would make us fleeting acquaintances. After being rescued, I collapsed onto the ground. In the soft snow, I drew a small sun. A symbol just for Brooklyn. As time passes, my traces might fade. But I was here, truly and unmistakably. *To love someone, I must first love myself. When trapped in difficulty, self-redemption is the only way out. I believe my journey has just begun.*