Two months into my pregnancy, my health became so fragile that I had to leave my position in the pack to ensure the baby’s well-being. My mate, Alpha Waylon George, insisted that our arrangement to evenly split living expenses must continue, requiring me to cover half of the monthly groceries, around $400, even while pregnant. The next day, his ex-girlfriend, Kendra Parker, a Delta from a rival pack, flaunted on Instagram: “Celebrating six years with someone special who surprised me with a Louis Vuitton bag to brighten my day.” The ring in the photo was unmistakably Waylon’s.

My grip on the phone tightened until my knuckles turned white. Kendra’s Louis Vuitton bag was like a dagger in my eyes. Six years, Louis Vuitton, and what had I gotten from Waylon in our three years as mates? I once jokingly told the Alpha that owning a Louis Vuitton bag would be a dream. He replied, “Gold digging isn’t attractive. We agreed on splitting expenses—you can’t expect to use my money for things like that.”

Waylon walked in, his towering frame filling the doorway. His dark eyes flicked to my pale face, but he remained silent and headed to the closet to change. I threw my phone onto the bed. “Alpha Waylon, take a look at this! What’s going on here?”

He buttoned his shirt slowly, as if savoring every moment. “It’s just something Kendra posted on Instagram. Why are you so upset?”

“Why am I upset? I’m carrying your child! I left my position in the pack to care for this baby, and you’re buying another woman a Louis Vuitton bag? Where’s your conscience?”

“What Louis Vuitton? Is the pregnancy clouding your judgment? Stop causing trouble!” His voice sharpened, the alpha tone cutting through the air like a whip.

I was shaking with anger, tears streaming down my face. “Alpha Waylon, how long do you plan to keep up this charade? Do you take me for a fool?”

“Victoria, enough!” he snapped, his dominance pressing down on me. “Don’t think just because you’re pregnant, I’ll tolerate this! Kendra and I have been over for a long time! Keep making a scene, and we might as well reject the bond.”

I let out a bitter laugh, feeling resigned and heartbroken. “Fine, then let’s reject the bond.”

He was momentarily stunned but soon responded with disdain. “Rejection? Have you thought about it? Are you sure you can find someone better than me in your situation?”

At that moment, my phone rang.

“Is this Victoria Robinson? Your mother is in critical condition at the Central Hospital. Please come as soon as possible...”

It felt like a bolt of lightning. Without hesitating, I turned to Waylon. “My mom’s in trouble. You need to take me to the hospital, now!”

“Why should I? She’s not my mom; it has nothing to do with me. I’m not going,” he retorted, his voice cold and detached.

“Alpha Waylon! How can you say that? She’s your mother-in-law!”

I looked at him, stunned by his heartlessness.

He glanced at me as if I were crazy. “I’m not her child, so why should I go? And remember, we agreed on splitting expenses. You find a way to pay the medical bills yourself—don’t expect me to cover a cent.”

I couldn’t believe his coldness.

“Stop wasting time. If you want to go, go yourself. Don’t count on me.”

Without another word, he walked out the door, his aura of dominance lingering in the room like a suffocating fog.

I wiped away my tears, quickly gathered my things, and called a cab straight to the hospital. Throughout the ride, my mind was flooded with memories of my relationship with Alpha Waylon George, from the time we fell in love to our mate bond.

During our courtship, Alpha Waylon introduced me to the idea of going Dutch, insisting it was fair for both of us. At the time, I admired his independence and modern thinking, so I agreed. Throughout our dating phase, whenever we went out to eat, watched movies, or even traveled together, we split everything evenly.

Initially, my parents weren’t supportive of my bond with Alpha Waylon. They worried about his position as a rising Alpha in the pack and feared I, an Omega, might struggle to meet his expectations. Yet, blinded by love, I was determined to stand by his side. Eventually, my parents relented and approved of our bond.

When we decided to mark each other, Alpha Waylon insisted on splitting all the ceremony expenses equally. There was no traditional Luna’s tribute, and the costs were divided between us. Though my parents were uncomfortable with this arrangement, they agreed for my sake.

After the marking, Alpha Waylon stuck firmly to his splitting philosophy. Pack contributions, den maintenance, utility bills, and even groceries were split down the middle. I believed that since we were mates, we should be understanding and supportive of each other. Besides, Alpha Waylon treated me with kindness—most of the time—and I hoped he would grow into his role as a true mate. However, reality hit me hard—he only ever loved himself.

When I arrived at the hospital, I rushed through the halls, my scent of rosemary mingling with the sterile air. "Dr. Jireh, how's my mom?" I asked, my voice choked with anxiety.

"Are you the patient’s family?" the Healer asked, his tone calm but urgent. "She has had a sudden brain hemorrhage, and her condition is critical. She needs immediate surgery."

My hands shook as I signed the papers and handed over all my savings, but we were still short about $5,500. Distraught and desperate, I mind-linked Alpha Waylon, my voice trembling.

"Alpha, my mom’s in the hospital and needs surgery immediately. Can you please transfer $5,500?"

"I told you, I’m not covering your family’s medical expenses!" His voice was cold, his Alpha tone sharp and dismissive.

Just then, Dr. Jireh stood in front of me, pressing, "Luna Victoria, when are you going to make the payment? The patient is in critical condition, and we can’t delay any longer."

Almost begging, I pleaded, "Just consider it a loan. Please! My mom needs surgery right away!"

"Fine," he replied indifferently, his tone devoid of empathy. "But you’ll need to write me an IOU."

The words stung, but I had no choice. My wolf whimpered in the back of my mind, urging me to stay strong. I swallowed my pride and agreed, my heart aching with the realization that the mate bond I thought would protect me had left me utterly alone.

I gritted my teeth, my hands clenching into fists as I forced the words out. "Fine, I'll do it! Just transfer the money now!"

"Hold your horses, Omega," Alpha Waylon said, his voice calm and unhurried, not a hint of concern in it. "First, make sure the IOU is clear. Write down why you're borrowing, the interest rate, and the payback date. We don't want any hiccups later."

My chest tightened, the weight of his indifference pressing down on me. "Okay, just let me know when you're done, and I'll send the money right away."

"Alpha Waylon, I'm begging you, please send the money first. My mom can't wait any longer!"

"No way, Victoria," he snapped, his tone sharp and unyielding. "What if you pretend this never happened? Do the IOU first, and I'll transfer the money immediately." The authority in his voice, the Alpha tone he so often used to command the pack, cut through me like a blade.

I couldn't hold back any longer. Tears streamed down my face as I opened the note-taking app on my phone, my hands trembling. Painstakingly, I typed the IOU, each word feeling like a betrayal. "Forty thousand dollars to be repaid within three months. If overdue..."

At that point, I choked up, unable to continue.

"What's wrong? Why did you stop? And the interest? You're not planning on ditching this, are you?" Waylon's voice was cold, his Alpha tone slicing through the fragile remains of my composure.

"Do you have any shame, Alpha? That's your mother-in-law!" I finally lost it and shouted into the phone, my voice breaking.

Just then, the door to the hospital room swung open.

"Victoria, what's going on? What happened?" It was Genevieve, my best friend and a loyal Beta of our pack. As soon as she heard about my mom's hospitalization, she had rushed over immediately.

"Genevieve, you're here, I..." I couldn't hold back any longer and collapsed into her arms, sobbing.

"There, there, don't cry. Tell me, what happened?" Her voice was soft but firm, the tone of a Beta who was used to handling crises.

I quickly explained the situation to Genevieve, who listened with growing anger, her fists clenching tightly.

"Alpha Waylon is a jerk!" she fumed, her Beta instincts kicking in. "Don't worry, I'll cover the money for now, and we'll sort things out with him later!" Without hesitation, Genevieve pulled out her phone and tapped away expertly, her Beta efficiency on full display.

"It's done. I've transferred the money to the hospital account. Go take care of the paperwork now!" she said, her voice steady and reassuring.

I looked at Genevieve with immense gratitude, struggling to find the words to express how much her support meant to me.

Just then, a message arrived from Waylon on WhatsApp: "Where's the IOU? Did you finish it?"

I glared at the message, an unprecedented wave of fury rising within me. My wolf growled softly in the back of my mind, a low, angry rumble that mirrored my own emotions. I picked up my phone and typed back a single word, my fingers trembling with barely contained rage: "Buzz off!"