Mael was out, and I settled for a bowl of pasta, the simplicity of the meal a stark contrast to the chaos in my life.

Back when we had a pack cook, I never had to prepare meals. Since becoming Luna of the Silver Pack, I’ve learned to cook, though my hands bear the scars of my efforts. Mael’s favorite is the spiced honey cake I make, and he’d often boast to the pack that my baking could rival the finest patisseries in the city. I used to take pride in that, in the way his eyes would light up when he tasted something I made. But now, the burns and cuts feel like reminders of a time when I still believed in us.

That evening, while scrolling through my phone, I noticed Mael had updated his profile on the pack’s private network. The photo showed a cozy scene, with half of Presley’s face visible in the frame, and the table laden with dishes that looked far more elaborate than anything I’d made in months. His caption read, *"A blissful evening."*

My chest tightened, and I quickly closed the app, my fingers trembling as I scrolled through my contacts. I found the number buried in my blocked list—my father’s. Taking a deep breath, I pressed call, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill.

"Dad," I choked out, my voice barely above a whisper. "I’m sorry… I want to come home."

There was a pause on the other end, and then his voice, firm but gentler than I remembered, replied, "Alright, in a few days, Philip will fly over and bring you back."

His next words brought a fresh wave of tears. "My daughter, Sapphire, doesn’t deserve to suffer."

Around midnight, Mael returned, slipping into bed beside me. His arms wrapped around me in the darkness, but my mind was still fixated on that photo, on the way he’d looked at Presley in it. I turned away from him, unable to stomach the closeness.

Annoyed by my rejection, he pulled me up, his voice sharp with irritation. "What’s with the attitude? Why are you throwing a fit now?"

I looked at him, my vision blurred by tears. It was only then I realized I was crying.

"I’m done with this charade," I whispered, my voice breaking. "Tears every day, such a performance."

The bedroom door slammed shut, and the noise woke Emmie. I wiped my tears away, no longer pleading for Mael to stay like I once did. The sound of his footsteps retreating down the hall felt final, like the closing of a chapter I’d been clinging to.

The next morning, I was awakened by voices in the kitchen. Walking out, I found Presley seated at the table, using *my* mug, sipping coffee as if she belonged there. Mael stood by the stove, apron on, frying eggs, his gaze fixed on her every move.

Presley saw me and feigned concern, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "Oh dear, Luna, you look absolutely exhausted. Could give someone outside a fright."

She gestured to the table. "Alpha made breakfast; you should join us."

Her audacity was infuriating. As I reached for my mug, Presley suddenly let go, and the glass shattered on the floor. A small cut appeared on her hand, and she whimpered dramatically.

Mael immediately turned, his face contorted with rage. Before I could react, he slapped me hard enough to make my ears ring. His voice was venomous.

"Curse of a woman! Marking you as my mate was the worst decision of my life."

I stood frozen, watching Mael lift Presley up, his movements frantic as he applied alcohol to her wound. He glanced back at me, his eyes blazing with anger. It was a care I hadn’t seen from him in ages. I couldn’t even recall the last time he smiled at me.

I watched their close-knit frame as Presley leaned against Mael’s shoulder. He blew on her wound, his voice gentle, "I’ll blow it away, let the pain fly away."

My cheek throbbed, and I turned away from them to finish the eggs, my hands trembling as I stirred the pan.

Mael ignored me the entire time, attending to Presley, feeding her breakfast. Presley coyly mentioned wanting cupcakes, and Mael ordered me to go buy them. When I refused, his demeanor shifted instantly. He dragged Presley out, slamming the door behind them, leaving me alone in the kitchen with the remnants of a meal I no longer had the appetite to eat.

For the next couple of days, Alpha Mael was nowhere to be found. Philip, my brother and the Future Beta of the Red Pack, messaged me, saying he’d be picking me up to go home the following afternoon. With Alpha Mael away, I took the opportunity to quickly pack my things. I rolled up my clothes and stuffed them into the suitcase, leaving it half empty even after packing.

When Alpha Mael returned, he found me sitting in the living room with my suitcase beside me. The closet was empty, the clothes all packed. He brushed past me impatiently, his towering frame and broad shoulders casting a shadow over me. "Are you trying to scare me by threatening to leave? You hurt Presley, and I haven’t even called you out for it. Yet you act like you’re above it all?"

I remained silent, staring at him, my wolf stirring uneasily in the back of my mind. Realizing something was amiss, he eventually sat down next to me, his Alpha aura pressing down on me like a weight.

"Alright, let’s just forget it ever happened. Go make dinner," he said, dismissing the issue as if it were trivial.

I stepped back, my tone detached. "If you want dinner, have Presley hire a top chef. What I cook doesn’t meet your high standards."

Alpha Mael paused, his expression icy. "I’ve been leading patrols for the pack lately, worn out. Is this how you repay your mate?"

"Jealousy should have boundaries," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside.

I refused to argue further and went to the kitchen to prepare a couple of dishes. When Alpha Mael saw the food on the table, his disdain was obvious. He took a few bites and grimaced. "I can’t believe I used to eat this," he muttered. "You can’t even make a meal without souring my mood."

He then proceeded to throw the entire meal in the trash right in front of me. That night, Alpha Mael didn’t leave. I lay in bed, ignoring him, while he sulked and turned his back to sleep.

In the middle of the night, I got up to tend to Emmie, causing Alpha Mael to grumble in irritation. "Take that outside, and stop disturbing my sleep."

Sleeping on the couch was uncomfortable, and I woke up before dawn. Beneath my head was one of Alpha Mael’s shirts, its pocket feeling awkward. I pulled out a small box containing a gold locket meant for a pup.

Thinking it was for Emmie, I tried it against her neck when Alpha Mael stormed out and swatted my hand away. "Who said you could touch my things?"

With one look, I could tell the locket wasn’t meant for our pup. Alpha Mael cleaned it off and returned it to the box. "This locket is way too expensive for you to wear."

Soon after, his phone rang with Presley’s familiar ringtone. "Hey, Alpha Mael," her voice rang out, "aren’t you supposed to join me at the pup’s first-month party today? Hurry up."

Alpha Mael glanced at me briefly, his eyes cold and unfeeling. "Want to join? Might help with your paranoia."

Before I could refuse, he grew impatient and pulled me outside. It was freezing, and I was only wearing a light blouse, but Alpha Mael acted as if he didn’t notice.

At the restaurant, he criticized my shabby appearance and avoided meeting my eye. As soon as Presley arrived, he let go of me and went over to her, cradling the pup in his arms. I watched from the sidelines as he smiled, surrounded by admirers in the center of the room, while I was pushed to the edge, feeling completely out of place amidst the celebration.

The pack members around me whispered, their voices carrying the weight of their judgment. "She’s not Luna material," one said. "Alpha Mael deserves better," another added, their words cutting deeper than any physical wound.

Presley, the Omega, stood beside Alpha Mael, her smile triumphant as she glanced my way. The scent of her dominance filled the air, a cruel reminder of my diminished status. My wolf whimpered softly, the pain of rejection and betrayal searing through me.

But I stood tall, my head held high. I was still the daughter of the Lycan King, and no matter how Alpha Mael and his pack tried to diminish me, I would not break. Not yet.

Presley’s pup celebration was in full swing, the grand hall of the Silver Pack’s estate buzzing with activity. Guests from neighboring packs had gathered, their laughter and chatter filling the air as they presented gifts and offered their congratulations. Mael, the Alpha of the Silver Pack, stood at the center of it all, his towering frame commanding attention as he clasped a delicate gold locket around Presley’s pup’s neck.

Presley, an Omega in Mael’s pack, was radiant, her hand resting possessively on Mael’s arm. “Thank you, Alpha,” she cooed, her voice dripping with gratitude. “I’m so thrilled.”

I stood apart from the crowd, Emmie nestled in my arms. I expected to feel a pang of jealousy, a flicker of bitterness, but there was nothing. Only a strange, hollow calm.

Presley noticed my silence and sauntered over, her smile sweet but her eyes sharp. “Just because Alpha Mael gave my pup a gold locket, don’t read too much into it,” she said, her tone light but laced with mockery. “There’s no need to be upset.”

I met her gaze evenly. “Wearing something so lavish only cheapens its worth.”

Mael, ever watchful, stepped forward, his hand gripping my arm tightly. His dominance pressed against me, a silent warning to behave. His touch was firm, almost painful, but I refused to flinch.

I pushed him away, my voice steady. “I’m not upset.”

“If I want something, I’ll buy it myself.”

Presley laughed, her voice carrying through the hall as she leaned into Mael. “You just can’t save face,” she sneered. “Even a smaller locket would be out of your league.”

Mael remained silent, his expression unreadable as he allowed Presley’s mockery to hang in the air. It was clear there was no reason for me to stay any longer.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the only cash I had—a crumpled $60 bill—and tossed it onto the table in front of them. “Consider this my gift. I’m leaving.”

Mael’s brow furrowed, irritation flashing in his eyes. “Why are you throwing a tantrum again? Come back!”

But this time, I ignored him. I turned on my heel and pushed through the crowd, the whispers of the pack members trailing after me as I walked out.

Returning to the Alpha’s house—it had never truly felt like my home—my suitcase was already packed and waiting in the living room. I looked around the lavish space, filled with expensive furniture and decor, and realized how little of it actually belonged to me.

Five years of being Luna, and what did I have to show for it? No designer clothes, no shoes that fit, not even a spiced honey cake to celebrate Emmie’s birth.

I picked up the framed photo from the bedside table. It was from our marking ceremony, Mael’s arm around me, his smile warm and genuine. I remembered the vows we’d exchanged, the way he’d looked at me like I was his world.

Now, he said marking me was his biggest regret. How had it come to this?

I grabbed a hammer from the drawer and smashed it against the glass frame. The sound of shattering glass echoed through the room, the photo splitting in two, just like Mael and me.

There was nothing left to hold onto. I grabbed my suitcase and made my way to the helipad where Philip, the Future Beta of the Red Pack and my brother, was waiting.

When Philip saw me, his eyes softened with relief. “Miss Sapphire, you finally came to your senses.”

He took in my appearance, his gaze lingering on the suitcase in my hand. “You’re nothing like the Luna you once were. It breaks my heart,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.

I knew Philip meant well. When he saw Emmie in my arms, his eyes widened in surprise.

“The Lycan King will be thrilled. Let’s head back right away,” he said eagerly.

But I hesitated, thinking of Presley’s smug expression and Mael’s indifference. “Philip, could you watch Emmie for a bit? I need to pick up something before we leave, okay?”

After Philip agreed, I found myself at the jeweler’s in the heart of the city, selecting a protective charm for Emmie. The sales assistant, Ainara, a Delta from the Red Pack, helped me customize the design, her respect for my title evident in every word.

As I turned to leave, Mael appeared in the doorway, his presence looming as always. His dark eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, the air between us crackled with tension.

Without a word, he approached me. “Step outside with me. I can’t afford to buy you anything,” he sneered, his Alpha tone sharp and cutting.

I shook off his grasp, my gaze steady and cold. “No need. I can manage on my own.”

I met his eyes, unflinching. “Have fun shopping with Omega Presley, won’t you, Alpha Mael?”

His jaw tightened, but I didn’t wait for a response. I turned and walked away, my head held high, the weight of his dominance fading with every step I took toward freedom.