In her past life, Kyson Baker, the Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack, had been diagnosed with a rare illness that weakened his inner wolf. Desperate to shield Olivia Lewis from the pain of his decline, he concealed the truth, resorting to emotional cruelty and public humiliation to push her away. He took Nalani Wheeler, a Gamma warrior and Olivia’s closest friend, as his mate, hoping Olivia would leave him. But the weight of his betrayal and the secret of his illness proved too much for Olivia to bear. In her despair, she took her own life, unaware that she was carrying his child. After her death, Kyson’s health improved, and he was eventually saved. Yet, at her graveside, he wept bitterly, consumed by guilt. Urged by his pack, he eventually married Nalani, though his heart remained haunted by Olivia.

At the gathering, held in the lavish private dining room of the Blood Moon Pack’s estate, Kyson had jokingly suggested they divorce. His tone was light, almost teasing, but the glint in his eyes hinted at something darker. Instead of reacting with the expected fury, Olivia responded smoothly, "Sure."

Her words hung in the air, met with stunned silence. The room, filled with the pack’s elite—Betas, Gammas, and Deltas—froze, their expressions shifting from amusement to unease. Olivia, unfazed, continued enjoying her slice of spiced honey cake, her demeanor calm and collected. Kyson’s hand, which had been clasped around Nalani’s, gradually loosened its grip. His cheerful mask slipped, replaced by a tense, almost unpleasant expression. It was clear he hadn’t expected her reaction. Perhaps he had been confident in her love for him, certain that even as a jest, she would take it to heart, become infuriated, and create a scene. How could she possibly agree so calmly?

Around them, his friends—loyal pack members who each had their own interests and agendas—exchanged bewildered glances. The anticipation of witnessing Olivia’s wrath and a dramatic outburst had been dashed. The situation had taken an unexpected turn, leaving them all unsettled. Yet Olivia derived no satisfaction from their confusion. She calmly scanned each face in the room, her gaze lingering briefly on Nalani’s strikingly beautiful features. In her past life, Olivia had considered Nalani her best friend, overlooking the fact that she and Kyson had been childhood companions. While Nalani had always seemed to be Olivia’s protector, her betrayal during critical moments felt all the more painful and profound.

Nalani’s expression wavered under Olivia’s scrutiny. She instinctively glanced at Kyson, who was glaring at Olivia, his face tense and his jaw set. Her eyes darkened momentarily before she quickly adopted a cheerful demeanor and approached Olivia. "Oh, don’t be mad, don’t be mad," Nalani said, her voice sweet and conciliatory. "It was Mathias Rodriguez’s silly idea. We were just teasing you."

Olivia stepped back, avoiding Nalani’s outstretched hand, her face serious as she addressed Kyson. "But I’m not joking," she stated, her voice firm and unwavering. "Seriously, let’s get a divorce, Alpha Kyson."

The use of his title—Alpha Kyson—struck a chord, emphasizing the formal severance of their bond. The room fell silent once more, the weight of her words settling over the gathering. Kyson’s eyes narrowed, his alpha aura pressing down on the room, but Olivia stood her ground. She had made her decision, and there would be no turning back.

Nalani Wheeler stood between Olivia Lewis and Kyson Baker, glancing from one to the other, her usually confident demeanor faltering. As a Gamma warrior of the Blood Moon Pack, Nalani was accustomed to holding her ground, but this time, even she seemed disoriented. Olivia, the daughter of a former Gamma warrior from the Silver Moon Pack, had always admired Nalani’s poise—until now. If Olivia hadn’t caught a glimpse of Nalani’s disdain in a fleeting vision, she might never have seen the darkness hidden beneath her best friend’s cheerful facade.

The tension in the room was palpable. Olivia wasn’t directly responsible for the awkwardness, yet the weight of the pack’s judgment seemed to fall squarely on her shoulders. Mathias Rodriguez, a Delta warrior of the Blood Moon Pack, shoved his chair aside and marched over, his irritation sharp and biting. “Olivia,” he snapped, his tone laced with barely concealed disdain, “don’t push it too far. It was just supposed to be a joke, but you’ve turned it into something awkward, haven’t you?”

Olivia’s lips pressed into a thin line. This was their idea of a joke, and she was the one who had borne the brunt of it. Yet here she was, being chastised for not being able to shrug it off. Mathias’s remarks always had a cutting edge, filled with sly digs meant to undermine her. Initially, Olivia had thought it was just his way of interacting, but she soon realized he reserved this treatment solely for her.

As the Luna of the Blood Moon Pack, Olivia had never truly been embraced by Kyson’s inner circle. Ignoring Mathias’s harsh tone, she kept her focus on Kyson. The Alpha, towering and commanding, finally grasped the gravity of her words. A sardonic laugh escaped his lips, cold and mocking.

With icy precision, Kyson seized Nalani’s arm and drew her into his embrace. His dark eyes locked on Olivia’s, a vindictive gleam shining through. “Alright,” he said, his voice dripping with venom, “if that’s what you want. Don’t come to regret this.”

Then, he leaned down and kissed Nalani passionately, his lips claiming hers with a raw intensity that left no room for doubt. The chandelier above cast a dramatic spotlight over the scene, illuminating every detail. Nalani’s initial resistance melted away as her arms wound around Kyson’s neck, her posture surrendering to his dominance.

The room erupted in gasps, followed by the eager sounds of pack members reaching for their phones to capture the moment. Olivia, standing closest, saw every intimate detail—the way Kyson’s hands gripped Nalani, the way Nalani’s body bent backward under the force of his kiss. It was a display of power, of possession, and it cut Olivia deeper than any words could.

Her lips trembled slightly, and she wanted to say something, but the words caught in her throat. Deep inside, a tender part of her shattered quietly. Something precious she had kept hidden broke when Kyson kissed Nalani, disregarding her completely.

With a sharp intake of breath, Olivia braced herself. Her eyes closed tightly, her face stripped of emotion as she turned and walked out of the room, leaving behind the whispers and judgment of the pack. The weight of her mate’s betrayal pressed heavily on her chest, but she refused to let it break her. Not here. Not in front of them.

A gentle drizzle began to fall outside, casting a veil over the world where shadows blended seamlessly with light. Street lamps emitted a soft, yellow glow, while the wind whipped the tree branches lining the road, their shapes indistinct in the darkness. Nearby, a couple stood close together, whispering softly. Before long, the young man—an Alpha from his commanding presence—shrugged off his tailored jacket and wrapped it around his mate, a graceful Omega. Together, they braved the rain, dashing towards a sleek car parked on the street. Watching them, Olivia felt a vague sense of confusion sweep over her, as if she had forgotten something important but couldn't quite remember what.

When she finally arrived home and began sifting through her belongings, she discovered it—a forgotten item nestled at the bottom of a box. As soon as her fingers touched it, tears flowed uncontrollably. It was a transparent folding umbrella, decorated inside with her favorite fairy tale characters, drawn with black marker. The umbrella was a relic from her school days, a time when the world had seemed simpler, and her heart had been lighter.

One afternoon after school, the skies had opened up, unleashing a downpour. Olivia was about to leave with Paige, her fellow Omega, when she noticed her classmate standing alone at the edge of the shelter, staring at the gray skies with an expression of detachment and melancholy. It was Kyson Baker, the Alpha heir of the Blood Moon Pack, though at the time, Olivia had only known him as the tall, quiet boy who always seemed to carry himself with an air of quiet authority. He seemed to have forgotten an umbrella, and with no family nearby, he looked stranded. Moved by unexpected compassion, Olivia hesitated briefly before thrusting her cherished umbrella into his hands.

"Don't worry about returning it! Think of it as a thank you for helping me with that project!" she said, trying to hide her teenage awkwardness with feigned indifference. Without waiting for his reply, she darted under Paige's umbrella, urging her friend to hurry away. Paige teased her about her flushed cheeks, her laughter blending with the sound of raindrops. Embarrassed, Olivia playfully swatted at her friend but couldn't resist glancing back through the rain. There he stood, tall and graceful in his navy and white school uniform, a striking figure in the crowd, clutching the umbrella tightly.

The next day, the rain carried on its relentless beat. Olivia couldn't recall her exact emotions upon seeing him again, but she remembered vividly his entrance from the back of the classroom. The transparent umbrella, standing out among the colorful ones lining the hallway wall, was held in his pale, graceful hands. He gently wiped the raindrops from its surface with a soft handkerchief. Then, he carefully folded the umbrella and stored it inside his desk, nestled alongside his textbooks. When he lifted his gaze, catching Olivia's eyes before she could turn away, he smiled, his eyes curling like crescent moons. He said he would treasure it forever. Though their youthful crush had yet to fully blossom, amidst the rapid, constrained beats of their young hearts, both understood. He was vowing to always cherish her.

The rain had finally stopped. Olivia wiped away her tears, regaining her composure. She picked up the umbrella, left behind long ago by its original owner. Its once vibrant colors had faded to a dull yellow, the fairy tale characters now indistinct, its frame rusted and brittle, emitting a stale odor. She sat by the window, as night unfolded around her, and stayed awake until dawn pierced the clouds, casting her shadow in stark relief. As her cold, stiff limbs began to loosen, she rose, took the old umbrella, and disposed of it in the trash. Then, with determination, Olivia dialed Kyson Baker's number.

The summer rain of their youth needed to finally come to an end.