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!"

The surgery was a success, pulling my mom back from the brink of death. I clasped her cold hand, unable to hold back my tears. Ever since Dad passed away two years ago, she's been my only family, and I can’t bear to imagine what would happen if I lost her too. Genevieve, my loyal Beta friend, stayed by my side through it all, helping with paperwork, comforting me, and looking after me. Her presence was a small but significant comfort in the chaos.

I lay exhausted on a hospital bench, completely drained. Alpha Waylon never once came by the hospital—didn’t call, not even a message. Not even a flicker of concern from the man who was supposed to be my mate, the man who should have been there to support me through this. Life seems to have a way of kicking you when you're down. The whirlwind of emotions I’ve been through, combined with the physical toll of severe morning sickness, meant that the baby... was gone.

Dr. Jireh, our pack Healer, entered the room with a somber expression. She sat beside me, her voice soft but heavy with regret. "Your pregnancy was already fragile, and with this recent turmoil, it was too much to sustain..."

I lay in the cold hospital bed, feeling like my heart was as empty and chilly as the room around me. I had lost the child and, with it, my last bit of faith in Alpha Waylon. My wolf whimpered faintly in the back of my mind, a quiet echo of the pain that consumed me.

Nala, the Gamma and my closest friend, sat next to me, wiping my tears with a fierce determination. Her voice was low but filled with anger. "He’s a jerk, Victoria. He’s not fit to be a mate, let alone a father. You deserve so much better."

I stared at the ceiling, suddenly seeing the absurdity of it all. How could I have ever believed in him? How could I have thought that a man who couldn’t even show basic decency during my mother’s crisis would be capable of standing by me as a mate?

If everything else could be shared—the responsibilities, the burdens—why was the loss of the child solely mine to carry? The bond between us, once a source of comfort, now felt like a chain, tightening around me with every breath I took.

Nala’s hand found mine, her grip firm and reassuring. "You’re stronger than this, Victoria. You’ll get through it. And I’ll be here every step of the way."

I nodded, though the weight of it all still pressed down on me. But for the first time, I felt a glimmer of something else—not just pain, but resolve. I couldn’t let Alpha Waylon’s indifference define me. I had to find a way to move forward, for myself and for the memory of the child I’d lost.