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.”

His words stung, but I refused to let him see it. Instead, I turned back to the training dummy, driving my fist into it with renewed force. I could feel their eyes on me as they walked away, Serena’s laughter ringing in my ears like a taunt.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Everywhere I went, I could feel the weight of the pack’s judgment. Some were openly hostile, glaring at me as if I’d committed some unforgivable sin. Others were more subtle, their pitying looks cutting just as deep.

By the time evening rolled around, I was emotionally drained. I retreated to my cabin, locking the door behind me and collapsing onto the bed. For the first time since last night, the tears came.

I cried for the mate I’d lost, for the bond that had been shattered. I cried for the humiliation I’d endured and the future I’d dreamed of that was now gone.

But as the tears slowed, a new emotion began to take their place. Anger.

I wasn’t angry at the pack, or even at Serena. No, my anger was directed squarely at Lucian. He had betrayed me, humiliated me, and left me to face the fallout alone. And for what?

The more I thought about it, the more my anger grew.

…..