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.

The night I lost my child, I came across a social media post from Kendra Parker while scrolling through my Facebook feed. In the photo, she and Waylon George were sitting at my dining table, surrounded by an impressive spread of dishes. Waylon wore a soft smile, one I had never seen before.

The caption read: "Someone's culinary skills are as impressive as ever!"

Waylon, the Alpha of our pack, had never once cooked for me. Even when I was curled up in pain from cramps, all I asked for was a simple cup of ginger tea. He'd dismissively remark, "Can't you just order something? Stop bothering me."

Yet, here he was, cooking for Kendra, a Delta from a rival pack, and looking so pleased. A wave of nausea hit me, not just at Waylon's hypocrisy and cruelty, but at my own naivety and blindness in the past.

That's when I decided—I needed to reject our mate bond, for myself and for the child I lost.

When Nala Lawson, a Gamma and my closest friend, heard about my decision, she was incredibly supportive. She reassured me confidently, "Don't worry, Victoria. I have a friend who's an excellent pack lawyer. They'll make sure you leave that jerk with nothing."

Her words warmed my heart. Having a friend like Nala in my life was truly a blessing amidst my misfortune. Despite the pack hierarchy that often dictated our interactions, Nala had always treated me as an equal, never letting my Omega status diminish the strength of our friendship.

As I stared at the photo of Waylon and Kendra, my wolf whimpered softly in the back of my mind, a faint echo of the pain I felt. She had been silent for so long, her presence a constant reminder of the bond I once cherished but now despised.

"I can't believe I let this happen," I whispered to myself, the weight of my grief pressing down on me.

Nala placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, her touch grounding me in the present. "You didn't let anything happen, Victoria. He’s the one who betrayed you. He’s the one who broke the bond. You’re just standing up for yourself now."

Her words were a balm to my shattered heart. I knew the road ahead would be difficult, navigating the pack’s politics and the legalities of a mate rejection, but with Nala by my side, I felt a glimmer of hope.

For the first time in months, I allowed myself to feel something other than despair—determination. I would reclaim my life, my independence, and my future, no matter how many obstacles stood in my way.

Thinking about the significant amount of money needed for my mom's ongoing treatment, I decided to reach out to Ezrah, the Lycan business partner I had invested in a while back. Though he held a higher status as a Lycan, he had always treated me with respect and gratitude for my early support. Taking a deep breath, I dialed his number, my fingers trembling slightly.

"Hello, is this Ezrah?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite the knot in my stomach. "It’s Victoria Robinson. You know, the Victoria who invested in your company a while back. Do you have a moment? I need to discuss something with you..."

Ezrah’s voice came through the phone, warm and surprised. "Victoria! It’s been a while. How have you been?"

We exchanged a few pleasantries, but I quickly got to the point. I explained that I needed to advance some of my investment dividends due to an urgent situation. My heart raced as I spoke, unsure how he would respond. After all, his company was still growing, and finances were likely tight.

Ezrah didn’t hesitate. "Of course, how much do you need? I’ll transfer it to you right away."

His immediate willingness to help caught me off guard. I felt a pang of guilt for asking, knowing my investment had been modest compared to others. "Ezrah," I said hesitantly, "how about this? Could I advance $10,000? Once my situation improves, I’ll pay it back."

He laughed, a rich, comforting sound that eased some of the tension in my chest. "Victoria, don’t worry about it. You supported me when I was just starting out. Let me send you $100,000 instead. Use it without any hesitation—consider it my way of saying thanks."

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I struggled to hold them back. When I had first invested in Ezrah’s company, it had been a leap of faith, a belief in his vision and potential. I never expected him to remember my support so vividly, let alone repay it with such generosity.

"Ezrah," I managed to say, my voice trembling with emotion, "thank you. Truly. I can’t express how much this means to me."

"Victoria, it’s no trouble at all," he replied, his tone gentle but firm. "If there’s anything else you need, just let me know. I’ll do whatever I can to help."

As I stared at the bank notification confirming the transfer, I felt a whirlwind of emotions. Here was a Lycan, someone of such high status, willing to help me without hesitation in my time of need. And then there was Waylon, my former Alpha mate, who had refused to lift a finger even when I was at my lowest. The contrast was staggering, and I couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret for ever believing he was the one I was destined to be with.

My wolf stirred within me, a quiet, somber presence that echoed my thoughts. *He was never worthy of you,* she murmured, her voice tinged with both anger and sorrow.

I nodded to myself, clutching the phone tightly. Ezrah’s kindness reminded me that not everyone in this world was like Waylon. There were still good people, still kindness and loyalty to be found. And for that, I was more grateful than words could express.