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!”

Alpha Kian barely acknowledged my presence, his cold indifference a clear sign that he was still irritated with me for choosing my duties over attending his precious Luna-to-be Maya’s ceremony.

It was almost laughable—how he could be angry at me when he was the one who had made me feel so unwanted all along.

But of course, Maya had to play her role.

"Alpha, Selena didn’t come because she had responsibilities. You should understand her," she said with a perfectly practiced tone of sympathy, as if she truly cared about my standing in the pack.

Then she turned to me with that sweet smile. "Luckily, it turns out she’s here now, fulfilling her duty as the event’s photographer. So how about you two take a picture together, just like the other honored guests?"

My fingers tightened around my camera.

She was putting on a show, pretending to bring us closer, but I knew what she was really doing. She wanted to humiliate me.

At that moment, I stood there in my simple attire, my practical outfit making it painfully obvious that I did not belong among the adorned elites of the pack.

Meanwhile, Maya was radiant in her ceremonial gown, perfectly styled, as if she were already reigning as Luna. Kian, in his formal Alpha attire, looked every bit the leader meant to stand beside her.

Before I could refuse, Maya reached for my camera with a giggle.

"Come on, just one picture," she insisted.

I stepped next to Kian stiffly, and the moment Maya raised the camera, the whispers began.

"The Alpha must be embarrassed to still have Selena around."

"Of course, he prefers Maya. She’s perfect for him."

"Did you see them at the last Pack Gathering? The way he held her?"

"Well, I’d do the same if I had a Luna as beautiful and strong as Maya."

Soft laughter rippled through the crowd, their cruel words like tiny needles piercing into my skin.

Kian said nothing. Not a single word in my defense.

I reached forward and took my camera back from Maya, my expression unreadable. "This is your event, Maya. You should be the center of attention."

“Let me know if you need anything else for me to shoot." My voice was calm, devoid of any emotion.

Maya tilted her head slightly as if trying to read me, but before she could say anything, the grand doors of the hall opened.

Kian’s parents had arrived.

They walked in with effortless grace, immediately heading toward Maya’s parents, greeting them warmly like old allies.

Maya’s eyes gleamed.

She turned to me, smiling sweetly. "Then take a picture of me and Kian with our parents, okay?"

Kian did not even hesitate—he stepped beside Maya, wrapping an arm around her waist like it was second nature. Their parents stood beside them, all of them looking like the perfect family.

I lifted my camera.

Through the lens, I saw everything—the way Maya leaned into Kian, the way he allowed it, the way their parents beamed as if they fully approved of their union.

And then I realized… they had always been like that since then. While I was the outsider.

Afterward, Maya sauntered over to me and pulled out a proof of half payment on her mobile phone with a knowing smile.

"Anyway, the full payment will be made according to the agreement after I see the results of the photos," she said smoothly, her voice light, but there was something sharp beneath it.

Then, as if she had just remembered something, she added, "Oh yeah, initially, I only hired you until the main event was over, but since the Alpha’s parents arrived, we’re having another celebration. Stay a little longer, okay?

“Don’t worry, I will add bonus payment for it."

Her eyes sparkled with amusement, as if she knew something I did not.

I simply nodded and turned my focus back to my camera.

But because I kept following Maya to capture candid shots, I inevitably overheard their parents' conversation.

And that was when I felt my heart shatter.

They had already discussed Kian and Maya’s mating ceremony. Not only that, but they confidently announced that this ceremony was actually their engagement.

My grip on the camera tightened, my hands shaking slightly as I clicked the shutter. I forced myself to remain professional, but inside, everything was crumbling.

The pack erupted in cheers. Some clapped excitedly, while others shouted with glee, "Kiss! Kiss!"

I turned toward the voice and recognized one of Kian and Maya’s closest friends. The same people who had mocked me behind my back, who had celebrated Maya as if she was already his Luna.

Maya, ever the perfect actress, blushed and laughed lightly. "Guys, don’t be like that. Our parents are here."

But Kian, his arm still wrapped around her waist, leaned in closer. His voice was teasing as he said, "Why not, love?"

The pack cheered louder, some covering their eyes playfully, while others howled in excitement. Their parents just laughed, delighted by how perfect their children were together.

And then, it happened.

Maya, with a shy giggle, leaned in and in front of everyone, Kian kissed her. Not a quick peck, not something that could be dismissed as friendly. But deep, lingering, intimate.

And everyone cheered.

To congratulate them, everyone raised their goblets for a toast, so did I.

I walked over to the towering pyramid of wine goblets stacked on the table. But instead of taking one from the top like everyone else, I reached for one in the middle.

The moment I pulled it out, the entire structure collapsed.

Glass shattered against the floor, shards scattering in every direction. Gasps rippled through the crowd.

I did not flinch. I simply raised my goblet high and, with a small, knowing smile, said, "Congratulations. Two shameless wolves, what a perfect match!"

Then, without hesitation, I downed the entire drink in one gulp, turned on my heel, and walked out of the ceremony.

---

At home, Kian exploded.

"What the hell was that, Selena?" he shouted, his face red with fury. "Do you have any idea how embarrassing you were at that gathering? You humiliated me in front of the entire pack!"

I laughed coldly. "Oh? But kissing your so-called childhood friend in front of me wasn’t embarrassing, right?"

Kian exhaled harshly, running a hand through his hair. "It was an act, Selena! Our families are close, and they do business together. We had to put on a show for them."

I scoffed. "An act?" I folded my arms, tilting my head at him. "Then explain something to me, Kian."

His jaw tightened. "What?"

I met his eyes, my voice sharp. "Then why did you lie about the Pack Meeting Trip in July, huh? Why did you say you were leaving for an important Alpha gathering, but instead, you left with her?"