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.”

Aria’s POV

The ash still smoldered faintly at my feet as Nicho’ anger melted into what looked like regret. His eyes, so familiar yet distant, dimmed under the fading moonlight. He adjusted his shirt collar, trying to regain the calm aura of an Alpha, but I wasn’t fooled. His erratic heartbeats betrayed him, it kept pounding so fast.

I brushed the soot from my hands and stood, meeting his gaze. My voice was steady, devoid of any warmth. “It’s fine. I saw bugs crawling in the album, maybe cockroaches, so I burned it.”

Nicho’ brows furrowed as he stepped closer, his wolf stirring just beneath his skin. “You burned it? That was ten years’ worth of memories! How could you—” His words faltered as he realized he was growling.

I held my ground, raising an eyebrow. “Are you done?”

The sheer indifference in my tone seemed to hit him harder than any insult. He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. I overreacted,” he said, his voice softer now. “But that album meant a lot to us. Why didn’t you wait for me?”

I let out a humorless laugh. Us. There was no “us” anymore. Not since he chose Selena, the rogue girl with the sickly-sweet scent of artificial perfumes and crocodile tears.

“You’ve been too busy with pack matters—or whatever it is you’ve been doing with her. I didn’t want to bother you with something so trivial.”

His wolf growled faintly at my words, but I didn’t flinch. Let him get mad. I was past caring.

Nicho stepped closer, his voice softening, trying to coax me back. “I’ve been neglecting you. I know that. But we can fix this, can’t we? Once the pack stabilizes, we’ll retake those photos. We’ll fill another album.”

There was a time those words would’ve melted my heart. I would’ve believed him. But not anymore. I couldn’t unsee the way he looked at Selena or forget the scent of her lingering on his clothes.

“Sure,” I said, my tone flat. “If you really want to make it up to me, throw me a proper birthday party for once.”

The request seemed to catch him off guard. For years, my allergies to dairy and certain ingredients meant I’d never been able to enjoy my own celebrations. And Nicho had always been too “busy” to arrange anything special.

His eyes flickered with hesitation, but he nodded. “Of course. Whatever you want.”

Before he could say more, his phone buzzed. The distinctive tone he used only for Selena. He glanced at the screen, his expression tightening. “It’s something urgent from the pack. I’ll be back soon. Don’t wait up.”

The lie was so blatant it almost made me laugh. “Go ahead,” I said, waving him off. “I’m used to it.”

He hesitated for a moment, as if he wanted to say something, but instead, he turned and left, leaving me alone with the dying embers of our past.

The next morning, the mansion buzzed with activity. Party planners filled the space, arranging decorations that felt oddly familiar. By midday, the truth was impossible to ignore—the setup was nearly identical to Selena’s birthday party from two months ago.

And then, as if summoned by my thoughts, she arrived. Dressed in a sleek red dress, her scent wafted through the room, an obnoxious mix of vanilla and floral notes that made my wolf recoil.

Selena sauntered over, a smug smile curling her lips. “I hope you like the decorations,” she said, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. “I designed them myself. Thought they’d suit your… style.”

I stared at her, my wolf stirring under my skin. My eyes flicked to the necklace she wore—a crescent moon pendant encrusted with diamonds. My necklace. The one Nicho had given me on our fifth anniversary but had mysteriously gone missing weeks ago.

“A recycled setup for a recycled person,” I said coldly. “It suits you.”

Her smile faltered, and anger flashed in her eyes. Without another word, she grabbed a crystal ornament from a nearby table and smashed it to the ground. A shard nicked her foot, drawing blood. She gasped dramatically, clutching her ankle.

Before I could react, Nicho stormed into the room, his wolf bristling with rage. “What the hell is going on here?” His sharp gaze landed on Selena’s bleeding foot, then on me.

“She—she did this,” Selena whimpered, tears welling up. “I was only trying to help, and she—”

The slap came before I even registered anything. My head snapped to the side, a sharp sting blooming across my cheek. My wolf growled low in my chest, but I held her back, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.

“Enough!” Nicho roared. “Selena took time out of her day to help with your party, and this is how you repay her? If you don’t like it, then do it yourself!”

He didn’t wait for a response. Scooping Selena into his arms, he carried her out, leaving me standing alone in the wreckage of what was supposed to be my celebration.

That evening, no one showed up for the party. Not that I expected anyone to. Over the years, Nicho had alienated my friends, replacing them with his allies and sycophants. The pack knew better than to cross him—or his new favorite.

I opened the cake box, cutting a small slice despite the fact that I couldn’t eat it. Sticking a single candle into the frosting, I lit it and closed my eyes.

“I wish we never meet again,” I whispered before blowing out the flame.

The next morning, I packed my things. A single suitcase was all I needed to leave behind the life I’d once cherished. On the way to the airport, I sent Nicho a single message:

“Let’s end this here. Don’t contact me again. Never in your miserable life.”

As the plane took off, I turned off my phone, cutting off the incessant calls from Nicho.