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.

I hired a reliable caregiver to look after Mom, dragging my exhausted self back to the Alpha residence. The moment I pushed open the bedroom door, an overwhelming scent of Kendra’s perfume hit me—sweet, cloying, and unmistakable. My stomach churned as I walked over to the bed, freezing at the sight on the bedside table. A pair of exquisite earrings, platinum set with tiny diamonds, gleamed under the dim light. They looked like they cost a fortune, and they definitely weren’t mine.

My heart clenched as I noticed several golden strands of hair on the pillow. Rage surged through me, my wolf whimpering in the back of my mind. Waylon George, the Alpha, had dared to bring Kendra Parker, a Delta from a rival pack, into our bed. The betrayal cut deeper than I could have imagined.

Without hesitation, I contacted a moving company and had all my belongings transferred back to Mom's house. As I sat in the now-empty living room of the Alpha residence, a strange sense of relief washed over me, as if a weight I hadn’t realized I was carrying had finally been lifted.

Later that evening, Waylon returned, his Alpha aura filling the room as he stepped inside. “Decided to come back, did you?” he asked, his tone casual, as if nothing had happened. “Is your mother doing better?”

I looked him straight in the eye, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. “I want a rejection.”

His expression darkened instantly, his Alpha tone sharpening. “You come back, and this is the first thing you say to me?”

I tossed the rejection papers I had prepared onto the table in front of him. “Take a look yourself.”

He flew into a rage, his dominance pressing down on me like a physical weight. “Victoria Robinson, have you lost your mind? You talk about rejection at the drop of a hat?”

I met his gaze coolly, throwing the earrings in his direction. “Look at these. I found them on the nightstand in our bedroom! And this!” I flung the sealed bag containing the hair at him. “This was on our bed. What else do you have to say for yourself?”

His eyes flickered, and for the first time, he couldn’t meet my gaze. “She suddenly didn’t feel well that day, so I just let her rest for a bit...”

“Rest?” I laughed bitterly, the sound hollow even to my own ears. “Waylon George, do you think I’m a fool? What do you take me for? Did you really think I was in the dark about your little games?”

“You’ve been bringing her to our home, acting as if I don’t even exist.”

“Darling, don’t get it wrong,” he said, his voice softening in that infuriating way he always used to manipulate me. “I just felt sorry for her being all alone in a foreign pack, wanted to take care of her a bit...”

Waylon was still trying to wriggle his way out with his usual excuses. I was almost amused by how shameless he was. Ever since Kendra moved into our apartment building last year, Waylon had been frequently visiting her, under the pretense of taking care of a ‘fellow pack member.’ He was attentive to her but increasingly indifferent toward me, his own mate.

The irony wasn’t lost on me—the Alpha of our pack, the one who was supposed to protect and cherish his Luna, had instead chosen to betray me with a Delta from a rival pack. My wolf growled softly in my mind, urging me to stand my ground. I clenched my fists, refusing to let him see how much his betrayal had shattered me.

“Waylon George,” I said, my voice firm, “I, Victoria Robinson, reject you as my mate.”

The room fell silent, the weight of the words hanging heavy in the air. His Alpha aura flared, but I stood my ground, my resolve unshaken. He had taken everything from me—my trust, my dignity, even our child. But he wouldn’t take my strength. Not this time.