My body felt as if it were being torn apart as I neared Alpha Lucian, my fated mate’s office. Could it really be him? My mate—betraying me?

Sure enough, when I reached the door, I caught a glimpse through the crack. Serena, his Delta, was perched on the edge of his desk. Her legs were crossed seductively, her body leaning into him as she whispered something in his ear. Lucian stood between her knees, his hands resting on her thighs, a smug grin stretched across his face.

The pain hit me like a physical blow, and my legs nearly gave out beneath me. My wolf howled in agony.

Lucian... how could you?

….

The pack house was eerily quiet for a Friday night. Usually, the halls were alive with laughter, footsteps, and the occasional howls of celebration. Tonight, however, silence wrapped around the building like a suffocating fog. I stepped out of my room, pulling my sweater tight around me, as if it could shield me from the strange sense of foreboding curling in my stomach.

Lucian, my fiancé and Alpha of the pack, hadn’t been home all day. He hadn’t called, hadn’t texted—not that he ever did lately. The distance between us had grown like a chasm, but I held on, hoping it was just a rough patch. After all, we were mates, bound by fate. Mates were supposed to be forever.

But tonight, something felt… off.

I made my way down the hallway, the soft click of my boots echoing against the polished floors. The pack house was still lit, which meant Lucian was somewhere inside. My steps quickened, heart pounding harder with each step. I didn’t know what I was walking into, but something told me I wouldn’t like it.

When I reached his office, the door was slightly ajar, a thin sliver of light spilling into the dark hallway. I hesitated, my hand hovering over the doorknob. I could hear faint murmurs from inside—soft, feminine laughter mixed with the low rumble of Lucian’s voice.

My stomach twisted.

No. I shook my head, willing away the doubt creeping into my mind. Lucian wouldn’t betray me. He couldn’t. I pushed the door open, stepping into the room before my courage could falter.

What I saw stopped me cold.

Lucian was there, all right, but he wasn’t alone. Serena, his Delta, was perched on the edge of his desk, her legs crossed seductively as she leaned toward him. Lucian stood between her knees, his hands resting on her thighs, a smug smile playing on his lips.

For a moment, none of them noticed me. They were too caught up in their little world, their laughter filling the room like a cruel melody. My heart shattered, the bond between us straining under the weight of his betrayal.

“Lucian?” My voice was barely above a whisper, but it was enough to cut through the air like a knife.

They froze. Serena’s eyes widened as she scrambled off the desk, smoothing her dress like it would erase what I’d just seen. Lucian turned to me, his expression shifting from shock to annoyance.

“Amelia,” he said, his tone sharp. “What are you doing here?”

“What am I doing here?” I repeated, my voice trembling with anger and disbelief. “I could ask you the same thing.”

Lucian scoffed, running a hand through his hair like I was the one inconveniencing him. “Don’t make a scene.”

“A scene?” My voice cracked, the weight of his betrayal hitting me all over again. “You’re cheating on me with your Delta, and you’re worried about me making a scene?”

Serena took a step back, her eyes darting nervously between us. “I should go—”

“No,” I snapped, glaring at her. “You stay. You might as well hear this too.” I turned to Lucian, my hands shaking as I tried to keep my voice steady. “How long has this been going on?”

Lucian crossed his arms, his expression hardening. “Does it matter?”

I flinched like he’d struck me. “Does it—?” I took a shaky breath, trying to keep the tears at bay. “We’re supposed to be mates, Lucian. You swore to me that I was the only one.”

He laughed, the sound cold and empty. “Mates? Don’t be so naïve, Amelia. The bond might make us fated, but it doesn’t make us compatible.”

My chest tightened, his words cutting deeper than any blade ever could. “You’re unbelievable,” I whispered.

“You’re too weak to be my Luna,” he said, his voice low and cruel. “You don’t have the strength or the fire to lead this pack with me. Serena… she understands what it takes. She’s a warrior. You? You’re just—”

“Don’t you dare,” I cut him off, my voice trembling with fury. “Don’t you dare finish that sentence.”

Lucian held my gaze, his eyes filled with a cold detachment that made my stomach churn. “You should have known this wasn’t going to work out.”

For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. The bond between us—the invisible thread that had once tied us together—felt like it was unraveling, fraying with every word that left his mouth.

I took a step back, the weight of his betrayal pressing down on me like a physical force. “I trusted you,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “I gave you everything, and this is how you repay me?”

Lucian didn’t respond. He didn’t apologize, didn’t explain, didn’t even try to defend himself. He just stood there, staring at me with that same cold, detached expression.

The silence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating. Finally, I straightened my spine, forcing myself to stand tall even as my heart shattered.

“Fine,” I said, my voice steady despite the tears threatening to spill. “If I’m too weak to be your Luna, then I’ll save you the trouble. I, Amelia Green, reject you, Lucian Cross, as my mate.”

The words tasted bitter on my tongue, but as soon as they left my mouth, I felt a strange sense of relief. The bond between us snapped, leaving behind an emptiness that was both painful and liberating.

Lucian flinched, his eyes widening for the first time since I’d walked into the room. “Amelia—”

“Save it,” I said, cutting him off. “You don’t get to humiliate me and then act like you care.”

I turned on my heel, my heart pounding as I walked out of the office. The pack house felt colder than ever, the silence pressing in around me like a vice. But I didn’t stop. I kept walking, my head held high even as tears streamed down my face.

By the time I reached the front door, a small crowd had gathered, drawn by the sound of raised voices. They looked at me with a mixture of curiosity and pity, but I didn’t care. Let them stare. Let them gossip.

I paused at the threshold, turning back to look at them one last time. “For anyone wondering,” I said, my voice loud and clear, “the engagement is off. I’m no longer bound to this pack or to your Alpha.”

…..

By morning, everyone in the pack knew. The whispers started before the sun even rose, spreading like wildfire through every corner of the territory. By the time I stepped outside my temporary quarters—a modest cabin on the pack's outskirts—eyes were already following me.

They didn’t even bother pretending to look away. The stares burned into my back as I walked toward the training grounds, where I usually went to clear my mind. I could hear the low hum of murmured conversations, fragments of cruel speculation reaching my ears.

“Did you hear? She rejected him. Can you imagine rejecting an Alpha?”

“She didn’t reject him. He probably pushed her to it. Who would want her as a Luna, anyway?”

“I heard she walked in on him and Serena. Bet she couldn’t handle the competition.”

The words stung, but I kept my head high and my steps steady. Let them talk. If they thought I was going to crumble under their judgment, they were in for a rude awakening.

When I reached the training grounds, I found an empty corner and started stretching. The tension in my body was unbearable, coiling tighter with every passing second. I needed to hit something—anything—to release the frustration bubbling inside me.

I was midway through a set of punches on the dummy when I heard someone clear their throat behind me.

“Amelia.”

I froze at the sound of her voice. Serena.

Slowly, I turned to face her. She stood a few feet away, arms crossed, a smug smile playing on her lips. She was dressed in her usual training gear, but somehow, she still managed to look immaculate. The glint in her eyes told me she wasn’t here to talk about training.

“What do you want?” I asked, keeping my voice calm.

She tilted her head, her smile widening. “I just wanted to check on you. You’ve been through so much, after all.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Cut the act, Serena. If you have something to say, just say it.”

Her smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. “Fine. If you insist.” She took a step closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

“You really thought you could be Luna? That you could stand by Lucian’s side and lead this pack? Face it, Amelia—you were never good enough.”

The words hit their mark, but I refused to let her see it. Instead, I straightened my spine, meeting her gaze head-on. “You’re awfully bold for someone who has to settle for being second choice.”

Her eyes flashed with anger, and for a moment, I thought she might actually hit me. But then she laughed, the sound cold and sharp.

“Second choice? Please,” she said. “Lucian never wanted you. He only stayed with you out of obligation. You were a placeholder, nothing more.”

My chest tightened, but I forced myself to stay calm. “If that’s true, then why hasn’t he made things official with you yet? Seems to me like he’s still keeping his options open.”

Her smile vanished, and I knew I’d struck a nerve. Before she could respond, the sound of approaching footsteps interrupted us. We both turned to see Lucian walking toward us, his expression unreadable.

“Serena,” he said, his tone sharp. “What are you doing here?”

She straightened, her face softening as she turned to him. “I was just checking on Amelia. I wanted to make sure she was okay after… everything.”

Lucian’s gaze shifted to me, his eyes cold and distant. “Amelia doesn’t need your pity.”

I crossed my arms, glaring at him. “I don’t need anything from either of you.”

“Good,” he said, his voice as icy as his stare. “Then stay out of my way.”