The ring was a gift from Alpha Max, given on a day when he had knelt on one knee, looking up at me with a nervous intensity. His dark eyes held nothing but me, and his voice trembled, "Elyse, would you spend the rest of our lives together? I, Max Harrison, Alpha of the Harrison Pack, accept you, Elyse Garza, as my mate. I love you so much; I can't imagine mating with anyone else."

Those words had felt like a dream, and anyone thinking rationally might have doubted them. Yet, I chose to believe.

The excitement I once felt was now met with heartbreak. I regained my composure and left the room. My finger was bare, marked only by a faint band where the ring had been, while the exquisite ring sat untouched on the bathroom sink.

It wasn't until ten that night that Alpha Max hurriedly opened the door. As soon as he entered, he knelt before me, who was seated on the couch. Before I could react, he slid the ring I had left behind back onto my finger. He held my hand and looked up at me tenderly.

"Sweetheart, did you lose the ring and not even realize it? You really should be more careful. This is our mating symbol."

The affection in his eyes was unchanged, but for me, the feelings from those days were now irrevocably tainted.

Instead of answering his question, I asked, "Where were you today?"

I fixed my eyes on his, catching a fleeting hint of guilt. It disappeared almost instantly as he replied, "I had some pack matters to take care of. By the time I got back to the office, you were already gone."

Hearing this, I felt a deep fatigue and turned my attention to the television without a word.

Alpha Max assumed my silence was due to annoyance at being left uninformed and coaxed me gently, "Darling, how about we go to the countryside tomorrow for some fresh air? You've always wanted to, and the healer did say you should get more sunlight."

I remained noncommittal to his offer, too weary of his deceit. I just wanted to wait for the right moment to leave.

The next day, Alpha Max took me to a horse stable in the countryside. Upon arrival, I discovered Rebecca Phillips was there. It was my first time meeting Rebecca, whom I had only heard about from others. Rebecca's elegance suggested she was from a powerful Alpha family, and standing next to Alpha Max, they made quite the pair.

Bitterness surged within me. I thought that with Rebecca present, Alpha Max would ignore me, but to my surprise, he kept me close. "Elyse, come, I'll teach you how to ride a horse," he said, acting as if Rebecca was invisible.

He helped me choose a gentle horse and guided me closely. My interest in riding soon dispelled my earlier feelings. After about half an hour, I said I was tired, and Alpha Max immediately stopped to take me back to rest. We had barely sat down when I saw Rebecca leaving. A few minutes later, Alpha Max said, "Elyse, wait here a moment; I'll get you some coffee."

The care with which Alpha Max attended to me stirred my heart momentarily, but it swiftly calmed when he walked a few meters away. Quietly, I stood and followed him.

I discreetly trailed him to a quiet spot where Rebecca was already waiting. As soon as she saw Alpha Max, Rebecca rushed to him. Alpha Max caught her and frowned, "Didn't I say we should pretend not to know each other until after the mating ceremony? If Elyse makes a scene, it won't be good for either of our packs."

He had indeed mentioned this before. Rebecca, however, pouted, "I just wanted to see you. Besides, she hasn't noticed, has she?"

'She' obviously referred to me. As soon as Rebecca finished speaking, I watched Alpha Max's frown soften, and he appeared resigned before they kissed, completely oblivious to their surroundings.

Witnessing this, I felt as if my heart was being torn apart. My hands clenched into fists, nails digging into my palms without my realizing. The sound of their kiss echoed in my ears, but I refused to continue torturing myself by listening further. My steps were unsteady as I headed back to the rest area.

Half an hour later, Alpha Max returned with coffee, placing it before me with an apologetic tone, "Darling, I had to take a call, so it took a while. You weren't waiting too long, were you?"

Hearing him call me 'darling' brought back the image of their recent kiss, and I felt a wave of nausea. I sipped the coffee to quell my disgust.

Alpha Max noticed the bruising on my palm immediately, taking my hand in concern, "What happened here?"

Only then did I realize my palm was bruised from my own grip. Surprised, I subtly withdrew my hand and casually deflected, "Must have been from holding the reins too tightly."

Alpha Max insisted on treating my hand, but I didn't want him to touch me anymore and pulled away again, saying, "No need. I'll go ride."

Seeing Alpha Max's intention to follow, I quickly added, "I want to ride alone."

He didn't press further.

I rode slowly, lost in thought, barely noticing Rebecca Phillips until her horse bumped into mine. The sudden jolt startled my horse, and it reared, threatening to bolt. Instinctively, I let go of the reins and rolled to the ground, the impact knocking the air from my lungs. I looked up just in time to see Rebecca falling, only to be caught by Alpha Max.

My chest tightened as he glanced at me, his hands already loosening around Rebecca. But she clung to him, her hand pressing against her stomach, and whispered, "The baby..."

Alpha Max hesitated, his conflicted gaze flickering to me, then back to Rebecca. He sighed, pulling her closer. "Elyse," he said, his voice pleading, "Rebecca’s pregnant. I need to get her to the hospital first, alright?"

A bitter smile tugged at my lips as I nodded silently. With my permission, he scooped Rebecca into his arms and hurried away, leaving me alone in the dirt.

I watched them go, the sting of betrayal sharp in my chest. Kyro Rose, the stable’s trainer, approached and helped me to my feet. "Miss, are you hurt anywhere?" he asked, his voice laced with genuine concern.

I shook my head. I’d managed to avoid serious injury, though the ache in my heart far outweighed the physical pain. I thanked Kyro quietly and limped to the edge of the stables, only to find the car Alpha Max had driven already gone. The sight was familiar, yet this time, it didn’t shatter me. I’d expected it, hadn’t I?

I pulled out my phone and booked a ride home. Exhausted from the emotional turmoil of the past few days, I fell asleep early that night, not waiting for Alpha Max. I didn’t care if he returned or not.

The next morning, I woke to find him sitting by the bed, watching me intently. He smiled at my drowsy confusion, but as my eyes dimmed, his expression faltered. An uneasy fear seemed to settle over him. He reached for a small box on the bedside table, pulling out a delicate bracelet.

Gently, he clasped it around my wrist, his touch lingering as if it were something precious. Then he pressed a soft kiss to my hand, his eyes filled with a tenderness that felt hollow now.

"I’m sorry, darling," he murmured, his voice heavy with guilt. "For not taking you to the hospital first yesterday. Rebecca’s expecting, and I felt I had to take care of her. You understand, right?"

A friend? I almost laughed. My lips curved into a mocking smile as I glanced at the bracelet. I recognized it—the extravagant piece I’d casually complimented weeks ago. Remembering the whispers I’d overheard in the suite, I whispered, "Not worth it..."

Alpha Max’s eyes widened, and he leaned closer, panic flickering in his gaze. "What are you saying? It’s not worth what? Darling, you’re worth everything. The whole world’s wonders are yours."

I chuckled softly, meeting his eyes with a calmness that belied the storm inside. "I watched a show yesterday," I said, my voice steady. "The lead couple were dating, but the woman secretly got engaged to someone else. Everyone was discussing whether the man should forgive her. What do you think?"

He absentmindedly played with my hand, his reply careless. "Of course, he shouldn’t forgive her."

I nodded, gently withdrawing my hand. "I agree. He shouldn’t forgive her."

Before he could reach for me again, I mentioned I was hungry. Alpha Max brightened immediately. "I’ll make breakfast today," he offered, standing. "You go freshen up, and I’ll call you when it’s ready." He left the room with a cheerfulness that felt misplaced, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I took off the bracelet, setting it aside. I didn’t deserve such opulence, just as I didn’t deserve for him to sacrifice his family’s interests.

Two days later was my birthday. Alpha Max, who usually made a point of spending the day with me, suddenly announced he had plans. Instead, he celebrated with me a day early. I didn’t ask what the plans were—I wouldn’t have celebrated at all if I could. But when I mentioned it, he insisted, "I promised to celebrate your birthday with you every year. We can’t skip it."

I chuckled to myself. *This is the last time,* I thought. *After this, my birthdays will no longer involve you.*

He brought out the cake, lit the candles, and sang the birthday song, just like every other year. I closed my eyes and made a silent wish: *May I start a new life after leaving Alpha Max Harrison.*

As I blew out the candles, Alpha Max smiled, asking what I’d wished for. I cut the cake, silently answering in my heart, "To leave you."

That evening, with Alpha Max out of the house, I began packing my belongings. The photos that once held meaning now felt like relics of a life I no longer recognized. I carried them to the backyard, where I set them ablaze. The flames consumed the memories, leaving nothing but ash. There was no point in holding onto what was already gone.

I left behind everything Alpha Max had given me. The jewelry, the clothes, the trinkets—none of it was truly mine. Just as he no longer belonged to me, these things didn’t deserve a place in my new life. I wouldn’t carry the weight of his lies with me.

When I was done, I swapped out my SIM card. The old one held no purpose now. There was no one left to call, no one left to hear from. I sat in the garden, scrolling aimlessly through my phone, when a live interview caught my eye. On the screen was Rebecca, radiant in a Victorian-style dress, her waist encircled by an arm just out of frame.

So, Alpha Max’s “important matter” was helping Rebecca try on dresses for their wedding.

The host’s voice broke through my thoughts. “The groom wants to stay off camera, so let’s respect that, shall we?”

The first question came. “How did you two meet?”

Rebecca smiled sweetly. “An arranged marriage.”

The host raised an eyebrow. “You both seem so in love, it doesn’t feel like an arranged marriage at all.”

Rebecca glanced to the side, her expression shy, and Alpha Max’s voice filled the room. “Can’t an arranged marriage become true love?”

The host quickly apologized and asked when the wedding was.

Alpha Max turned slightly, his profile visible as he looked at Rebecca with deep affection. “In four days. It will be the most spectacular wedding, and you’ll all witness it.”

The comments section flooded with “99,” a sea of congratulations. Each one felt like a knife, slicing through the fragile calm I’d managed to maintain. The sunlight, warm against my skin, now felt harsh and exposing. I had no place in this story—only a gilded cage, hidden away from the world.

I laughed at myself, the sound hollow.

When Alpha Max returned that evening, he carried a box. Inside was a dress—one I immediately recognized as a bridesmaid’s. I pushed down the ache in my chest and asked calmly, “Do you want me to be a bridesmaid at your wedding?”

My question startled him. “What?”

“Isn’t this a bridesmaid’s dress?” I replied with a light laugh.

He let out a relieved sigh and tossed the dress aside. “I’m sorry, darling, I didn’t realize it was a bridesmaid’s dress. I’ll get you another one soon.”

He pulled me into his arms, his voice soft. “If you’re the bridesmaid, then who will be my bride? You’re the only bride for me.”

I stayed silent in his embrace, my thoughts adding, *Of course, Rebecca is your bride.*

In the days leading up to the wedding, Alpha Max stayed home with me. At first, I didn’t understand why, until I overheard him on the phone.

“Okay, Becca, I need to keep her calm, right? So nothing goes wrong on the wedding day. Can you manage?”

I curled my lips in silent amusement. So, he was worried I’d ruin the wedding. They were overthinking it.

The night before the wedding, he held me close, his voice gentle. “Elyse, be a good girl and stay home tomorrow. I’ll have a surprise for you in the evening.”

I didn’t respond, but he insisted I promise out loud, so I did.

The next morning, Alpha Max left early. Before he went, he kissed my forehead, his touch lingering. Once the sound of the engine faded, I opened my eyes and lay still, gazing out the window until dawn broke.

I reached for my phone, only to find the internet down. When I tried the TV, the signal was out, too. Jazmin, the housekeeper, approached, her nervousness evident.

“Ma’am, the neighborhood network is under maintenance, so there might not be internet today.”

I nodded, my expression neutral. “Then perhaps I’ll go for a walk later.”

Jazmin hesitated, wringing her hands. “The Alpha asked you to stay home and wait for him.”

I didn’t argue. I already knew the truth. The walls of this house, once a sanctuary, now felt like a prison. But soon, I’d be free.