He stood tall, his broad shoulders filling out the tailored white tuxedo, his Alpha aura commanding the room. Beside him, Vivienne Johnston clung to his arm, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders like a Luna in waiting. The sight of them together made my stomach churn.

Upon seeing me, Osman’s brow furrowed, and his voice carried that familiar Alpha tone, sharp and dismissive. “Is today the day you choose to dress like that, deliberately trying to make me look bad?”

The Victorian-style dress I had picked out long ago still hung in the corner of the room, a silent reminder of what could have been. But Osman hadn’t given me the chance to wear it. I forced a smile, gesturing to Vivienne, who was draped in haute couture, and shakily asked, “Alpha Osman, who’s this? Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

At the mention of her, his expression softened, a rare warmth creeping into his voice. “Vivienne Johnston, my mate.” Then he gestured toward me, his tone flattening. “Amaris, my... former Omega.”

My smile froze, tears pooling in my eyes instantly. Osman looked away, his expression serene, as if he were discussing the weather rather than severing seven years of loyalty and sacrifice.

“Amaris, we were never officially mated, were we?” he said, his tone almost casual. “You don’t need to look at me like that. I appreciate the seven years you stood by me, but the Elliott Pack needs an heir. You can’t have children; don’t hold me back, okay?”

His words were a mix of questioning yet assured, as if he were explaining something obvious to a child. I felt paralyzed, unable to move a single inch. The onlookers’ stares were filled with spite, all directed at me. Everyone in the pack knew I had been by Osman’s side through every struggle, every triumph. Yet here he was, humiliating me at such an occasion. The weight of his Alpha aura pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe.

Vivienne watched my discomfort with composed detachment, her lips curling into a faint, smug smile. Suddenly, her hand shook, and she spilled a full glass of red wine all over me. Before I could react, she gasped, her voice dripping with faux innocence, “Sister Amaris, I didn’t mean to.”

Osman wiped away her tears with a kiss, his voice soothing. “No one blames you, Vivienne.” Tears and wine mingled on my face, and I couldn’t stop trembling. Amidst the laughter of the crowd, I heard someone mutter, “An Omega who can’t bear pups is just useless.”

Osman sighed, his Alpha tone softening slightly as he leaned in, his voice low but firm. “I know you’ve worked hard, Amaris. How about I double your year-end bonus? Just don’t make a scene today.”

I pushed him away, staring at him in disbelief. This was the Alpha who once reacted as if the world was ending whenever I cried. How did he change so drastically overnight? I couldn’t understand or accept it.

Seeing my vacant stare, Osman’s patience wore thin. He returned to Vivienne’s side, pulled a check for two million dollars from her handbag, and tossed it in front of me. “Consider it compensation.”

I didn’t pick it up, my gaze fixed on her handbag. It was the same one I’d added to my shopping cart on Amazon two years ago but never bought. Osman had promised to get it for me.

Vivienne took out a lipstick from the bag and handed it to me, her smile sweet but her eyes sharp. “Alpha Osman gave this to me. Since you like it, I’ll give it to you as an apology for what just happened.”

I didn’t take it, and her eyes reddened. Osman, pained, frowned at me, his Alpha tone cutting through the air. “Take it, Amaris. Vivienne gave it to you.”

I accepted it, picking up the check as I went. Seven years ago, when his pack was on the brink of collapse, I sold my family’s den and gave him three million, with the transfer note simply reading [Home]. Is this what differentiates love from a lack of it?

Amidst the revelry, I turned and left. But out of the corner of my eye, I saw Osman kneeling to tie Vivienne’s ballet shoes, something he had done for me seven years ago. On her ankle was a bracelet identical to mine—the one Osman gave me for my birthday last year, claiming it was one of a kind.

Looking up, I met Vivienne’s smug smile. Pain shot through my heart, and I quickened my steps, not even stopping when my earring fell. It was the first gift Osman ever gave me. It pierced the carpet like a thorn lodged in my heart forever.

As I stepped out of the Elliott Pack’s grand hall, thunder rumbled through the sky. Moments ago, it was sunny; now, a torrential downpour drenched everything. I walked in the rain, my white t-shirt stained by mud.

My phone buzzed. Opening it, I saw a message from my mother. [Come home once you’ve had your fun, Jayden has been waiting for you.]

Above my mother’s message was an unread one from John: [I’ll wait for you, always.]

I hadn’t had the chance to respond to the message before everything started spinning, and then I blacked out.

Luckily, a rogue named Faith Austin found me and rushed me to the pack healer’s den. Though I regained consciousness, they insisted on keeping me for observation due to my persistent high fever. I ended up staying for three days, during which the only message I received was from Beta John Walker. Otherwise, my phone was silent.

I suddenly remembered that Alpha Osman’s pack had just secured a major alliance, and I had stepped down from my position as his trusted advisor. He must be swamped with responsibilities. Just as I was about to check in, I dialed his number and instantly realized my mistake. With a bitter smile, I hung up.

Alpha Osman called me back immediately. Before I could speak, he greeted me with a scornful laugh. “Amaris, calling a mated man so late? Aren’t you worried my Luna might get the wrong idea? What happened to respect?”

My throat tightened, and I was about to end the call. But he spoke first: “Come back and clear out your things. Vivienne is a neat freak. We’ve been stuck in a temporary den for three days, and my back is killing me.”

His words stung, but I countered coolly, “Alpha, are you sure it’s the den giving you back pain?”

He paused, then laughed, “Well, that could be part of it, but mainly it’s because my mate’s irresistible.”

I fought back tears and hung up. When he called again, I ended it once more. Perhaps my actions had set him off.

He sent two text messages in rapid succession:

*“Amaris, you’ve got guts, hanging up on your Alpha now!”*

*“Come back here and clear out your stuff immediately, or don’t blame me if I throw it out!”*

Curled up on the cot in the healer’s den, I couldn’t stop the tears.

I thought back to when Alpha Osman and I first met at a pack gathering. That night, some unfamiliar she-wolves cornered me in the restroom just because the male their leader liked had shown interest in me. They wanted to teach me a lesson.

Just as they were about to douse me with cold water, the door flew open. A hand with elegant fingers reached out and knocked the bucket from the lead she-wolf’s grasp.

Alpha Osman, with a cigarette poised at his lips, took in the scene with narrowed eyes, his gaze finally landing on me. After realizing I was unharmed, he spoke, his alpha tone low and commanding: “I don’t usually hit females, but I’m ready to make an exception.”

As he said this, his knuckles cracked menacingly, and he suddenly yanked the leader off balance. Amidst their shrieks, he grabbed my hand, and we ran.

In the chaos, I accidentally tore a mother-of-pearl button from his shirt. When we reached the forest’s edge, he stopped, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he lifted me onto a low stone wall.

“Amaris, can I be your mate?” His cool hand brushed the back of my neck as he leaned closer, his long lashes grazing my forehead.

My heart raced uncontrollably. Gripping the button, I inexplicably nodded.

That marked the beginning of my obsession. I believed Alpha Osman was my guiding light, not realizing he was the abyss.

I had turned that mother-of-pearl button into a pendant, wearing it for seven years without ever taking it off, even during pack runs.

It’s time to move on.

I snapped the silver chain, watching the pendant arc gracefully into the trash bin—a finality, just like part of me dying.

After the fever subsided, I took a cab back to the pack den. I pulled out my suitcase and packed it with the white dresses that filled my wardrobe, then tossed them into the trash bin outside. For seven years, I hadn’t worn anything but white because the Alpha preferred it on me. But now, seeing them again, they felt like mourning clothes—utterly depressing.

While packing my belongings, I accidentally knocked over a vase brought by Vivienne Johnston, the Alpha’s newly announced mate. I scattered some cash over the shards, intending to leave with my essential documents. Just as my hand reached for the doorknob, the door swung open from the other side. The Alpha and Vivienne entered, fingers intertwined, their scents mingling in a way that made my stomach churn.

A wave of bitterness surged within me, ready to overflow. I turned aside to leave, but Vivienne gasped and rushed to the broken vase, crouching down and sobbing, "How could this happen? This was my favorite vase..."

Seeing that I didn’t stop, the Alpha chased after me, his alpha aura pressing down on me like a weight. "Amaris," he said, his voice sharp with authority, "why are you so spiteful? Go back and apologize!"

I pressed my lips together, saying nothing as I looked him over. I once drank until I had a stomach bleed to cover for his reckless behavior during a pack negotiation. For him, I confronted a rogue werewolf threatening the pack and ended up with two broken ribs. I caught severe pneumonia after standing in the freezing rain to guard the den while he was sick from overindulgence. And all that earned me was being branded as spiteful.

A faint smile formed on my lips, even as tears threatened to fall. Clenching my fists, I straightened and met his gaze, forcing myself to stand tall despite the alpha tone in his voice. "I won’t apologize. What are you going to do about it?"

I tried to walk past him, but the Alpha grabbed my arm, his grip like iron. Behind me, Vivienne cried softly, "If I’m causing trouble, I’ll leave right away..."

Her eyes were red, and the Alpha panicked immediately, shoving me aside. My lower back slammed against the edge of the shoe cabinet, sending pain shooting up my spine. But his eyes were only on Vivienne’s distress.

I got to my feet and slowly walked toward the open door, but the Alpha wasn’t finished with me yet. "Apologize before you leave!" he commanded, his alpha tone cutting through the air.

When I kept walking, the Alpha laughed, a cold, mocking sound. Indignant and frustrated, I turned back and shouted at him, "Are you out of your mind, Alpha?"

He looked me over, his expression twisting into something cruel. "Amaris, in such a hurry to leave, it’s hard not to suspect you’re up to something. Dressed so provocatively today, are you trying to catch my eye by playing hard to get?"

I shook with anger, my wolf growling low in my chest. "Do you even hear yourself, Alpha?"

He sneered, his alpha aura intensifying, "What, did I say something wrong? Since you’re still holding onto my pendant, just apologize to Vivienne, and we can still be friends."

The pendant around my neck felt like a chain, heavy and suffocating. I gripped it tightly, my nails digging into my palm. "Friends?" I spat, my voice trembling with rage. "You think we can be friends after everything?"

The Alpha’s smirk widened, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Why not? You’re still useful to the pack, Amaris. Don’t throw that away just because you’re upset."

I stared at him, the weight of his words crushing me. My wolf whimpered in the back of my mind, a sound of pain and betrayal. But I refused to let him see how much he’d hurt me. With a final, defiant glare, I turned and walked out the door, leaving the Alpha and his mate behind.