Aria POV

I was getting married, but my mate of eight years still didn’t know.

Lately, Nicho had been busy with his new secretary, Selena, a rogue wolf who recently joined his pack. They bonded immediately, their laughter echoing down the corridors of the packhouse. For her birthday, he even ordered a ten-layer moonflower cake, despite knowing my severe allergy to moonflower essence. At the party, they smeared cream all over each other, completely forgetting my presence.

When the scent of moonflower hit me, my throat closed up, and I shifted partially in a desperate bid to breathe. My wolf, Nyra, howled in distress as I collapsed, unconscious.

I woke up in the pack healer’s quarters, a bitter feeling blooming in my chest. That’s when I agreed to the arranged mating bond my family had proposed years ago.

Mom wasted no time. As soon as I got back to my quarters and swiped my keycard to enter, my phone buzzed relentlessly. Opening it, I saw dozens of wedding plans flooding the screen.

I scrolled through her messages, stopping at the last one:

“I always knew Nicholas wasn’t your fated mate. If he truly wanted to claim you, why would he delay for eight years? It’s not too late, Aria. I’ve already prepared everything for the ceremony.”

“The bonding ceremony is in three days. Take your time packing. No need to rush.”

The truth was as clear as a full moon now. While I clung to Nicho’s empty promises, the rest of the pack had seen through his lack of commitment.

Sighing, I sent her a voice message. “Mom, pick whatever you think is best. I trust your judgment. Let’s keep it simple.”

I didn’t hear Nicho approach. His sharp hearing must have picked up my words because his voice sliced through the silence. “Wedding? What wedding?”

I stiffened and quickly hid my phone, but Nicho reached for it. Before he could snatch it, his phone rang, the shrill sound cutting through the tension.

A panicked female voice came through, loud enough for my enhanced hearing to catch every word.

“Nicholas! Someone’s following me! I’m so scared. I tried circling back, but I can’t shake them!”

Nicho’s expression darkened, his protective instincts kicking in.

“Selena, stay in a well-lit area near the pack’s patrol routes. I’m coming!”

Without another word, he shifted into his wolf form and bolted into the night.

I kept my face calm, even as Nyra growled low in my mind.

After he left, I dialed my aunt, Lyra, to say goodbye. My parents had left the pack territory ten years ago to lead another pack, leaving me in Lyra’s care.

Nicho and I had grown close as young wolves, especially since he lived next door. When Lyra got mated and moved to her mate’s pack, I chose to stay behind. What was supposed to be a temporary arrangement with Nicho stretched into eight years.

When Aunt Lyra picked up, her voice was warm but surprised. “Married? To Nicho? It’s about time! Eight years is long enough for any wolf to claim his mate.”

I hesitated before correcting her. “No, Aunt Lyra. It’s an arranged bonding. I don’t even know who he is.”

The silence on the other end was deafening before she finally spoke. “Have you thought this through? Nicho cares for you. Maybe he just needs a little nudge to make things official. I could talk to him.”

A bitter laugh escaped me. “No need, Aunt Lyra. If Nicho cared, he wouldn’t have waited eight years while toying with my heart. It wasn’t a true bond—just a shadow of one. If I don’t let go now, I’ll waste my entire youth waiting for a wolf who’ll never mark me.”

She sighed, clearly struggling to understand how we could live together for so long without solidifying our bond. Still, she didn’t push further, promising to support me no matter what.

Before bed, I set a countdown on my phone. Three days to leave the past behind.

The next day, I asked my mom to send some parting gifts to thank Aunt Lyra for caring for me all these years.

That evening, as I waited for the delivery truck, I found Nicho lingering outside the packhouse.

His golden eyes narrowed as he saw me directing the driver. “What’s all this?”

“Just some farewell gifts for Aunt Lyra,” I said, keeping my tone neutral.

“Farewell?” His voice dropped, the faint growl in his tone betraying his unease.

I gave him a soft smile. “I’ll be leaving the pack soon.”

His wolf flickered briefly in his gaze, but he didn’t press further. Perhaps he thought I was bluffing.

Just then, Selena’s scent wafted in on the evening breeze. She trotted toward us in wolf form, shifting mid-step. Her arms immediately wrapped around Nicho’s, her large green eyes wide with mock innocence.

“Alpha Nicho, thank you for coming last night. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you,” she purred.

I stepped away, the sight too much for Nyra to bear. Her furious snarls echoed in my mind, but I held her back.

“We’re better than this,” I whispered to her, turning to leave.

As I walked away, I heard Selena giggle. “She’s always so quiet, isn’t she? Almost like a ghost.”

Nicho’s response was muffled, but I didn’t care anymore. He had helped her get her wolf and she didn't have to go through bullying like other rogues do because of their inability to connect to their wolf.

Aria POV

Just as Aunt Lyra came down the porch steps to greet me, she paused mid-step, her sharp gaze flicking between me and the pair. I knew what she wanted to say, so I cut her off before she could open her mouth. “Mom sent these supplies for you. Be sure to sort them quickly; some of it won’t keep for long.”

I didn’t spare Nicho—my so-called mate—a glance. The man had made his choices loud and clear these past few weeks. But today, he surprised me by speaking up, his voice laced with a feigned calm.

“Aria, don’t misunderstand. Selena’s old den was too close to rogue territory, and I couldn’t leave her there unprotected. So, I found her a safer place nearby. I didn’t realize it was this close to your aunt’s home. By the way, why do you have so much stuff?”

I directed the driver to unload the crates into Aunt Lyra’s kitchen as I replied casually, “You don’t need to explain yourself to me, Nicho. My mom bought these things. We don’t know when we’ll be back, so she sent extra.”

Nicho visibly relaxed at my indifference, though his relief only deepened my irritation.

“No problem. The North Ridge isn’t far from here. Just let me know if you need anything,” he said lightly, as if we were still close enough to share pleasantries.

He didn’t know yet that I was staying here for good—and I had no intention of telling him.

Aunt Lyra, who had been watching silently, finally spoke up. “Nicho, you’ve known Aria for so long. Is this really how things are between you now? It’d be a shame to let misunderstandings ruin what you’ve built.”

Before Nicho could respond, I shook my head, my voice firm. “There’s no misunderstanding, Aunt Lyra. Nicho doesn’t let one linger. If he hasn’t explained by now, then there’s nothing left to say.”

Selena shifted uncomfortably, her tired expression drawing his attention immediately. “You look pale,” he murmured to her, concern softening his tone.

He turned to the driver. “Hold off on the deliveries for now. We’ll use the elevator first.”

Watching him fuss over Selena, I stepped aside to let them pass. Nicho hesitated, his eyes flicking to mine for a brief moment, but when I said nothing, he hurried into the elevator with her.

As the doors slid shut, I caught a fleeting glimpse of their reflection. Selena’s wide-eyed gratitude and Nicho’s protective stance. The image stirred an unwelcome memory—of a younger me, back when Nicho had first marked me as his mate. He’d been just as attentive then, carrying my belongings into his den with a wide grin, calling me “the future Luna of the Shadowclaw Pack.”

Aunt Lyra sighed, her expression tinged with regret. “Are you really okay with this, Aria?”

I turned to her with a tight smile. “I don’t have a choice. If this is where his loyalty lies, then so be it.”

After delivering the supplies to Aunt Lyra, I decided to leave before losing my patience. Yet as I stood outside waiting for the driver, Nicho and Selena were still upstairs, their absence gnawing at me. Out of courtesy to what we once had, I pulled out my phone and sent him a short message.

“When are you heading back?”

The response came almost immediately, though not in the way I’d expected. A voice message.

When I hit play, Selena’s sweet, high-pitched voice filled my ears.

“Aria, Nicho’s helping me fix the wiring in the den. This place hasn’t been lived in for a while, so there’s a lot to sort out. You should head home; don’t let us hold you up.”

I stared at the screen for a moment before closing the chat. I could already feel the pity bubbling in my chest, threatening to spill over, but I swallowed it down.

As I climbed into the waiting car, another message buzzed through.

“By the way, Aria, please don’t take this the wrong way. Nicho’s just helping me out because he feels sorry for me. It’s hard living alone in a new pack.”

The bitterness rose in my throat as her words echoed in my mind. She wanted me to know how closely she relied on him—and how willingly he answered her calls.

I barely noticed when Nicho called moments later. I picked up, his voice sharp with frustration.

“Aria, why were you so cold to Lina earlier? She’s a subordinate, and it’s my duty to ensure she’s safe. Her situation’s temporary until the pack finds her proper accommodation. Isn’t it normal for me to help her?”

I laughed bitterly, though there was no humor in it. “Since when do you go out of your way for your subordinates? At the last full moon feast, you sulked and left early because you claimed you weren’t feeling well. I didn’t even question it. But now, you’re going above and beyond for her?”

I could hear soft sobs in the background—Selena’s sobs.

Her voice was as carefully fragile as she could make it. “Nicho, maybe I should leave. I don’t want to cause trouble between you and Selena.”

Nicho growled low, the protective tone in his voice sharp. “No one’s leaving, selena. Don’t listen to her.”

My chest tightened at the sound of his growl. He hadn’t used that tone for me in years.

I took a deep breath, forcing my emotions down. “Fine, Nicho. You’re right. My mistake for asking. Don’t worry—I’ve already left. You don’t need to come back for me.”

I ended the call, silencing the protests forming on his lips.

Aria’s POV

Nicho’ questioning tone faded as my cool, indifferent response silenced him. His breath hitched, but I didn’t wait for a reply. Ending the call, I leaned back in the passenger seat, staring out at the darkened forest as the car sped toward my pack’s territory.

The moment I stepped out of the car, my wolf stirred uneasily. The moon was high, its glow casting silver light over the treetops. It felt like it was watching me, as if it knew the turmoil in my heart. My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me back. Nicho' work group chat had erupted. The unread message count had skyrocketed.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I opened it. The first thing I saw was a photo Selena had posted—a photo of Nicho kneeling to fix her cabin’s wiring, his shirt clinging to him from the effort. My wolf growled low in my chest.

“Who else has an Alpha this considerate?” Selena’s caption read. “I’d devote my life to the pack’s prosperity! Can I sign a lifetime contract?”

Below her message were a flood of replies from the pack's enforcers and betas.

“I’ve never seen Alpha Nicho like this. The stories about him being a perfectionist don’t hold up here!”

“Look at those arms. I bet he could fix a lot more than just wiring.”

“Selena, quit rubbing it in. We all know you’re the future Luna!”

I clenched my phone so hard it creaked. She was weaving her web so skillfully, tying Nicho to her in every visible way. When I had been by his side, Nicho had done the same—posting little moments of us training, running patrols, or sharing laughs around the campfire. Back then, it had felt like the bond between us was unshakable. Now, I was just a shadow in his past, and Selena stood where I once had, basking in the glow of his attention.

I exited the chat and blocked the notifications. My decision to move forward felt right, even as a pang of loss clawed at my chest. Shaking off the ache, I stepped into the cabin that had been my home for so long. Eight years—an eternity in werewolf years—was packed into this space. Memories clung to every corner, every crack in the wood. But tonight, I will leave them behind.

My wolf whined softly as I started packing my things, and my gaze landed on the large leather-bound book sitting on the coffee table. It was our “album,” a tradition Nicho had insisted on. Each photo inside captured a moment from the years we’d spent together—his promise to give me 9,999 memories before making me his Luna. He’d said he wanted me to choose him, not because of the mate bond, but because of his devotion.

The album was nearly full, with only one blank page left. But all those promises now felt hollow, shattered by the way he had drifted into Selena’s arms. My wolf growled again, a mixture of sadness and anger that mirrored my own feelings.

I picked up the album and carried it outside to the clearing where the pack often held bonfires. The moonlight illuminated the open space as I crouched to build a small fire. When the flames took hold, I placed the album on the kindling and watched it burn, the edges curling and blackening. Smoke rose into the air, carrying away years of love, promises, and heartache.

Nicho arrived moments later, his scent hitting me before I saw him—pine and something uniquely his. He froze at the edge of the clearing, his eyes locking on the burning album. Panic was instantly etched on his face as he sprinted forward.

“What are you doing?” he roared, his Alpha command rippling through the night air.

I didn’t flinch. His authority had lost its hold on me.

He lunged toward the fire, trying to pull the album out, but the flames were too strong. He hissed as the heat seared his hands, the skin reddening instantly. Despite the pain, he stomped on the remains, trying to extinguish the blaze that consumed our past.

“You’re insane!” he shouted, turning on me, his amber eyes glowing with fury. “Do you even realize what you’ve done? Years of memories, gone! Why, Aria? Why would you do this?”

I met his gaze, my wolf rising within me. “Because memories don’t mean anything if the promises tied to them are broken. You wanted to give me 9,999 reasons to choose you, but you let Selena take over before we even reached the end.”

His jaw clenched, his wolf flickering in his expression. “You don’t understand. Selena—”

“Selena,” I interrupted, my voice steady. “Has claimed what you’ve allowed her to. You think I don’t see what she’s doing? The photo in the group chat, the comments, the way she clings to you—it’s all calculated. And you let it happen.”

He took a step closer, his voice softening. “Ellie, it’s not what you think. She’s part of the pack, and as Alpha, I have a responsibility to—”

“Don’t.” I raised a hand to stop him. “Don’t insult me by pretending this is just about pack business. You made your choice, Nicho. Now, I’m making mine.”