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.

I glanced out the window, my stomach tightening as I spotted two burly warriors from the Harrison Pack stationed by the entrance. Their presence was unmistakable—Alpha Max was determined to keep me confined. Even if I couldn’t uncover the truth today, I knew it would come out eventually. A bitter laugh escaped me. I didn’t want to trouble Jazmin, our loyal Beta housekeeper, so I simply said, “Alright, I’ll go upstairs to rest. Please only call me if it’s important.”

In my room, I packed the last of my belongings into a suitcase. My hands trembled slightly as I retrieved a gift box I’d bought earlier, placing a ring and bracelet inside with a note: *Wishing you happiness on your wedding day.* The irony wasn’t lost on me. I tore a bedsheet into long strips, tied them together, and used them to climb down from the second-floor window. Alpha Max might have thought he could cage me, but I was never one to be held back.

Once outside the villa, I removed my phone’s SIM card, discarding it in a nearby flowerbed before replacing it with a new one. I made my way to a company I’d quietly shut down, picking up a new identity and the plane ticket they’d arranged for me. As I prepared to hail a cab to the airport, a nearby voice exclaimed, “Look, how romantic!”

I glanced up to see a massive screen in the plaza broadcasting Alpha Max’s wedding live. It was grand enough to be deemed the wedding of the century, with Rebecca Phillips, another Alpha, in a Victorian-style dress and Max in a sharp black suit standing at the center, looking every bit the perfect couple. His muscular frame towered over her, his commanding aura radiating even through the screen.

Murmurs floated around me.

“What a fairy tale! The perfect match!”

“Indeed, and I heard he gave her a fortune as a wedding gift, like a princess! I’m so envious.”

On screen, the couple exchanged rings. The faint mark on Max’s finger from wearing another ring for years was cleverly covered with makeup. My heart twisted as I watched. Moments later, the groom kissed the bride. I lowered my gaze, my neck aching from watching too long. I adjusted my baseball cap, hearing the gasps and whispers around me. I was witnessing his wedding, knowing the bride wasn’t me.

A wry smile played on my lips as I wiped away an unexpected tear. Turning, I hailed a cab to the airport.

At the airport, waiting in the lounge, I glanced at the time as my phone buzzed with a celebrity gossip alert. Curiosity getting the better of me, I tapped the notification, seeing my own name inserted between the newlyweds. The gossip branded me as a homewrecker, accused of seducing Alpha Max and ruining his relationship with Rebecca. The comments were brutal, filled with venom and judgment.

“She’s so shameless!”

“Wow, an Omega trying to snag the Alpha heir of the Harrison Pack? She should take a good look in the mirror.”

The insults stung, though I knew they hadn’t identified me yet. Still, I felt exposed. I had no plans to defend myself. After today, Elyse Garza would cease to exist. I was leaving my past entirely behind.

Half an hour before my flight, I rose and headed toward the boarding gate, the chatter echoing in my ears as I walked.

“Did you hear? The groom just ran out of the reception hall!”

“He left the bride behind? What’s going on?”

Yet I didn’t waver, continuing resolutely toward the gate. The weight of my decision pressed on me, but I refused to look back. As the plane took off, I left everything behind—Alpha Max, the Harrison Pack, and the life I’d once thought was mine. I was ready to start anew, free from the chains of a bond that had never truly belonged to me.