"Congratulations, you have been accepted into the Royal Guard Academy. Training begins in one month. See you in Silvercrest."

I leaned back in my chair, exhaling slowly. My mind drifted to my Pack’s graduation ceremony.

Instead of standing beside me, cheering me on, my mate, Kian Blackwood, had been thousands of miles away, enjoying the full moon run in another territory.

A neatly wrapped gift and a letter with a short, impersonal ‘I’m proud of you’ had arrived in his place.

When I confronted him, he had just shrugged. "It’s just a ceremony, Selene. Besides, the Bloodfang Alpha invited me personally. You should understand."

Understand? That word left a bitter taste in my mouth. I had spent years understanding him, but not anymore.

Last night, I saw Maya’s post on the Pack’s social feed. She was still enjoying her time in Bloodfang’s territory, and so was Kian.

It wasn’t just a friendly trip—on the third slide of photos, Maya was sitting on Kian’s lap, her arms draped around his shoulders, her lips pressed against his.

It wasn’t an innocent peck—it was deep, possessive.

And worst of all, Kian’s response was just as passionate, his hands gripping her waist like she belonged to him.

Was this the important invitation he had spoken about?

I had always known Maya Ramsey. She had been his childhood sweetheart, always lingering at the edges of our relationship.

Every time I questioned it, they laughed it off. "We’re just friends, Selene." And I, foolishly, had believed them for the past three years.

But not anymore.

I decided I would never tell him about my acceptance. He didn’t deserve to know.

After all, only my mother had been there for my ceremony, her eyes teary as I stepped forward to receive my honors. Only she deserved to know my decision.

As I set my phone down, my mother entered, setting a plate of warm bread and honey on the table.

"You remember the Silvercrest Pack, right?" she asked casually, pushing the plate toward me.

I reached for a piece, hesitating. "Yeah, of course."

"Good. They’ll take care of you while you train," she said with a pleased smile.

I blinked. "Wait, what?"

"You’re not staying alone, Selene." Her tone was firm. "I can only be at ease if you stay with them. Besides, you’ve known Killian since you were pups. No need to be shy."

Here we go again. My mother had always found ways to bring up Killian Stormbane, as if fate had written our names together in the stars.

"Mom, I was planning to stay in the dorms. It’s only a year—"

"No, that won’t do." She waved me off. "The Stormbanes are good people, and Killian is a fine young warrior. Think of it as a chance to reconnect."

"Mom!" I nearly choked on my bread.

She chuckled, clearly enjoying my reaction. "What? It makes sense, doesn’t it? You were accepted into the Royal Guard Academy, and Killian just happens to be there too. Isn’t this like the universe telling you something?"

I sighed, rubbing my temple. "Fine. But don’t bring this up again if it turns out we’re just friends."

"Alright, alright," she said, but I saw the amusement in her eyes.

She still didn’t know I had a mate. Kian had insisted we keep our bond a secret while I trained, promising that once I finished, we would make it official.

But he hadn’t even bothered to show up for me.

What was the point of a promise if it meant nothing?

That evening, I returned home, not expecting to see Kian and Maya in the living room, laughing like they were the most content mates in the world.

Kian’s arm was draped around her waist, his fingers tracing small circles on her hip—too familiar, too intimate.

Even though Maya was gathering her things, she made no move to brush him off. That sight alone made my stomach twist.

"Selene, finally you're back." Kian’s voice was bright, as if nothing was wrong.

He let go of Maya, stepping toward me with that same easy confidence, as if I hadn’t just caught them looking far too comfortable together.

Maya, ever so innocent, smiled sweetly. "I stopped by to drop off some gifts from the trip. Kian let me pack my things in his bag to save space. You don’t mind, right, Selene?"

Her tone was light, as if she wasn’t standing in my home, touching my mate, pretending she wasn’t part of the reason I felt sick to my stomach.

I met her gaze, expressionless. "Yeah, whatever."

Kian barely reacted to my cold tone. "You must be tired," he said smoothly. "Go to bed. I’ll help Maya first."

Maya quickly added, "Yes, don’t worry. I’ll leave soon." Her voice carried a soft, guilty note, as if she was the considerate one, as if she was doing me a favor.

I let out a quiet breath, keeping my face unreadable. "Take your time," I said, my voice colder than before.

Then, without another glance, I turned and walked into my bedroom, shutting the door behind me.

But the walls were thin.

I could still hear their voices, their giggles, their whispered exchanges.

Maya’s soft laughter floated through the air. "Don’t tickle me, it’s late. I should finish packing so I don’t disturb Selene."

Kian chuckled. "Alright, alright. Just don’t take my shirt as a souvenir."

"Kian!" she squealed playfully.

They kept talking, their voices light and teasing, completely at ease. No hesitation—just two people who had long since stopped pretending.

By the time Maya finally left, I was already in bed.

Then, I heard the door creak open. The mattress dipped as Kian climbed in beside me.

"Selene," he murmured, his hand trailing down my arm. "I brought you something from the trip. Do you want to see it?"

There was a time when I would have melted at his touch, let his words soothe my doubts.

But not anymore.

I turned away, my body rigid.

Kian hesitated. "What’s wrong?" He let out a lazy chuckle. "Did the full moon make you moody?"

I didn’t answer. Instead, I grabbed my phone, unlocked it, and turned the screen toward him.

The color drained from his face.

He let out a short, nervous laugh. "Selene, come on. That was just a game of dare. You know how they are."

He reached for me, voice dropping into that honeyed tone. "Don’t be mad, love. You know you’re the only one I—"

I didn’t let him finish. Without a word, I threw off the covers and stood abruptly.

"I’ll sleep somewhere else tonight," I said coldly.

He didn’t chase after me.

Well, it didn’t matter anymore. In thirty days, I would be gone from his world forever.

The morning light filtered through the grand windows of the packhouse, casting a golden hue over the polished wooden floors. The scent of roasted meat and freshly baked bread filled the air, but it did little to ease the tension tightening my chest.

The first thing I saw when I stepped into the kitchen was Maya and Kian.

She stood by the stove, flipping venison strips with practiced ease, her long, dark hair cascading down her back like silk. Kian leaned against the counter beside her, his broad shoulders relaxed, his lips curled into a lazy smile as he chuckled at something she said.

As if last night hadn’t been enough to remind me where I stood, Maya had the audacity to make herself comfortable in our home—the Alpha’s home.

Her fingers grazed Kian’s arm as she turned the meat, a casual touch, almost imperceptible. But I noticed. I always noticed.

Kian hadn’t laughed like that in weeks.

Then, as if sensing my presence, Maya turned, her golden eyes gleaming with something that wasn’t quite innocence.

“Selena, you’re awake,” she greeted, her voice smooth, as if nothing was amiss. “I left my satchel here last night. I only meant to grab it, but since Kian was hungry, I made breakfast.” She lifted a plate of venison and eggs, her smile bright. “Want some?”

How thoughtful. How kind. As if she wasn’t standing in my place.

She had never been the type to acknowledge boundaries, not even when we were younger. Back then, Maya had always found her way into Kian’s space—lingering by his side during training, riding with him on scouting runs, stepping into conversations that weren’t hers.

And I had let it slide every time.

Because I had been raised to be patient. To be kind. To not question the way things were.

Maybe that had been my mistake.

Kian finally noticed me, his deep blue eyes lighting up as if the situation was perfectly normal. He strode over, slipping an arm around my waist with that effortless confidence of his.

“You should try it,” he murmured. “Maya’s cooking is something else.”

I nodded, moving on instinct as he guided me to the long wooden dining table. He took the middle seat, and I sat across from Maya.

She filled the silence with easy chatter, speaking to Kian as if I weren’t even there. She laughed, bringing up memories of their hunting trip last autumn, recounting inside jokes and stories that had no place in this moment.

Every so often, she would glance at me, a flicker of something smug behind her eyes.

I forced myself to eat.

I had spent my entire life here, among the thick pine forests and towering mountains of our homeland, where the rules of the pack were absolute. Kian was the Alpha. His word was law. And yet, in this moment, I felt like an outsider in my own territory.

The silence stretched until I finally spoke.

“Since Maya was kind enough to cook, I’ll handle the cleanup.”

I pushed my chair back, gathering the plates before anyone could protest.

Kian, ever the dutiful mate, rose to help me. “I’ve got it,” he said, setting the dishes beside me.

Maya stretched her arms above her head, sighing lazily. “I’ll freshen up then,” she said, slipping away down the hall as if she belonged here.

The moment she disappeared, I took my chance.

Keeping my voice even, I murmured, “Can you take me to the capital later? My travel documents need renewal.”

Kian, ever oblivious, nodded without hesitation. “Of course. We can go after breakfast.”

He stepped behind me, his hands settling on my waist, his touch warm, grounding. And for a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to sink into it.

Then—

A sharp scream rang through the packhouse.

Kian didn’t hesitate. He was gone before I could even turn.

I stood there, frozen, my skin still tingling from his embrace.

Moments later, he reappeared, carrying Maya in his arms. Her face was twisted in pain, but I caught the quick smirk she shot my way when Kian wasn’t looking.

“Maya’s ankle is twisted,” he said quickly, already reaching for his keys. “I’ll take you to the capital after I make sure she’s okay.”

And just like that, he was gone.

I stood in the empty kitchen, the silence pressing in. But I wasn’t surprised.

This wasn’t the first time Kian had chosen Maya.

I had been a fool to think that claiming my place as his mate would change anything.

Taking a slow breath, I turned away.

I would go to the capital alone.

Sitting in the grand halls of the Council’s administrative offices, I filled out my renewal papers, my pen gliding smoothly over the parchment. But when I reached the section asking for my name, I hesitated.

A thought struck me—cold and final.

In twenty-nine days, I would leave for the eastern territories. A fresh start.

So why not erase everything?

My grip tightened on the pen.

And then, with quiet determination, I signed a second form—requesting the deletion of my current identification and the registration of a new name.

Because I was done waiting to be chosen.

When I returned to the packhouse, the place was quiet. My mate still wasn’t back.

“As expected,” I muttered under my breath.

He must still be with Selene at the pack clinic, whether out of genuine concern or because she had found a way to keep him there, making sure he had no reason to come back to me.

I sighed, too exhausted to care anymore. I dropped onto the couch, intending to read for a while, but something caught my eye.

His phone.

It was lying on the coffee table, abandoned in his rush to take Selene to the clinic.

I scoffed. He never went anywhere without his phone, yet he had forgotten it that day. That only meant one thing—Selene was more important than whatever calls or messages he was expecting.

I leaned back, flipping open my book, but the constant buzzing of his phone was impossible to ignore.

Annoyed, I reached for it, my fingers hovering over the screen. Dozens of unread messages flooded in, one after another.

I wasn’t planning to check, just to silence the notifications—until I saw the sender.

It was his friends’ group chat, the same warriors from the training retreat.

My chest tightened as I unlocked the phone with ease. The password was still the same—our bond date.

“We have nothing to hide,” he had once told me with a lazy smile when I hesitated to check his phone before. I nodded back then, trusting him without question.

But my innocence ended that day. I wasn’t going to live under his lies anymore.

I scrolled through the chat, my eyes darting across the messages. And then, I saw it.

[Damn, bro, that retreat was insane. Can’t believe you almost didn’t come because of that clingy mate.]

[LMAO, just imagine him saying it was an alpha meeting when it was just a getaway with us.]

[You should get her an award. ‘Most Gullible Mate.’]

Even Selene, the one who had been in the clinic, had the nerve to comment: [Nah, ‘Most Pathetic Mate.’]

[I think you should be the one getting an award, maya. Truth or Dare was your idea, right?]

She responded again. [Well, we’re fated, aren’t we? What’s a little fun between future mates?]

[Careful, babe. She might challenge you.]

[Nah, bro, even if she finds out, she’ll just cry, maybe sulk for a few days, and then forgive him like she always does. He has trained her well.]

[Damn, that’s kinda sad.]

I was suffocating as they all laughed at me.

What hurt more was that they had always assumed I would stay with him, that I would cry and forgive him like I always had.

Not only were the messages in the group chat vile, but the photos they shared were just as infuriating.

Maya was glued to him in almost every single picture—laughing, leaning into him, resting her head on his shoulder as if she belonged there.

In one, she had a marker in hand, drawing playful scribbles on his face while he slept. His friends had taken the picture and flooded the chat with laughter, all of them cheering on Selene and his ‘real’ bond.

Meanwhile, I—the supposed true mate—was nothing more than a joke to them.

And him? He never once defended me.

Not long after, my own phone vibrated.

A message notification appeared on the screen. [Hey, are you still doing custom paintings? I’d love to commission one.]

I blinked.

Art had always been my passion. I had majored in fine art, and during my training, I had taken on freelance projects to broaden my experience.

But in the past few months, I was preparing for a leadership trial, so I had taken a break.

I hesitated, then checked my other messages. To my surprise, there were several more inquiries waiting for me.

A sudden resolve settled in my chest.

I would throw myself into work. If he had his distractions, I would have mine.

---

A full week passed, and I barely saw him at all.

Not because I was avoiding him, but because I was too busy to care. My days were filled with one project after another, my sketches and commissions becoming both my shield and my escape.

I didn’t wait for him to come home. I didn’t check if he ate or slept or if he was still spending all his time with Selene. It didn’t matter anymore.

But that night, as I returned from another long painting session, I found him waiting for me.

He was sitting in front of the packhouse entrance, his arms crossed as if he had been there for a while.

The moment I opened the door, his eyes locked onto mine.

“Selena, are you done avoiding me?" he sneered.

I barely spared him a glance as I stepped inside and kicked off my shoes. "I’m not avoiding you."

"Then why do you disappear in the morning and come home when I’m already asleep?"

"Because I’m busy," I replied casually, walking past him.

But before I could reach my room, he grabbed my wrist.

"Fine. If you’re still mad because I couldn’t take you a week ago, then just say it," he snapped. "But Maya was in the clinic, and both of her parents weren’t home. What was I supposed to do? Ignore her?"

I turned to him, my expression unreadable. "I don’t know. Everyone has their priorities. Mine were my commitments. If I had waited for you, my opportunities would have expired, right?" My voice was cold, detached.

His grip tightened. "You always have time to argue with me, but don’t you know I was exhausted too? I had to go to training and take care of Maya.

“The least you could do is welcome me home, make me a meal, or prepare something for me before I leave. Is that so hard?"

I stilled. It turned out he had claimed to me, not so we could be together, but so he could have someone waiting at home while he spent his days out with Maya.

I raised my voice for the first time. "Didn’t I tell you I’m busy too?"

He exhaled harshly and let go of my hand, clearly irritated. "Fine. No need to talk about what happened anymore. Just get ready tomorrow—we’re going to Maya's birthday party."

I snorted, crossing my arms. "After just getting out of the clinic, she’s throwing a birthday party? Amazing."

"It’s also her recovery party," he corrected as if that made it better. "You just hate maya, don’t you? You’re always like this whenever it comes to her."

I scoffed. "I don’t hate her—I just don’t like her. There’s a difference." I turned away. "Go by yourself. I have my own plans tomorrow."

But the irony of the situation slapped me in the face the next morning.

Because when I arrived at my client’s event, I realized my client was Maya.

The moon goddess has indeed a great sense of humor.

It turned out she had booked me through her assistant, which meant I had unknowingly accepted a job for her birthday party.

And so, there I was, brush in hand, forced to paint a live portrait as she draped herself over my mate in front of all their friends.

She fed him the first piece of cake, pressing a kiss to his cheek as she giggled sweetly.

But his friends sneered in my direction, whispering among themselves.

"Isn’t that her mate?"

"Wow, so professional. Watching your mate get kissed by another girl and still painting her."

“Yeah, I bet her kiss tastes bitter!”

“Go Maya…kiss him. He's yours!”