Alexander’s hands were swollen red while trying to save the remnants from the fire. After realizing it was too late to save our memories, he stood up, disappointed.

“Do not do this ever again…” he had said, the hurt visible in his eyes. I wondered why.

He had humiliated our bond by mating with Layla and planning to have babies with her. He had disappointed me in ever possible ways he could, destroyed everything we built in past six years.

Then why clutching to the memories of the past?

“I won't do it again!” I said, my voice flat.

‘Because there would be no memory of us in the future’. I had added to myself.

Alexander smiled, his expressions careful as he asked, “Isadora, everything is okay between us, right?”

He seemed to guess there was something off about me. I didn't reply. He walked closer, trying to win me with his soft manipulative voice,

“I lost my mind seeing you hurt Layla. Everything will be okay once you apologize to her.” He said. As if doing some favour on me, he added.

“Once you apologize to Layla, our mating ceremony will be held on the scheduled time just as you planned.”

I sensed a cold threat in his words despite his softened expression. He made it loud and clear he was going to postpone our mating ceremony if I didn't apologize to Layla.

Counting this one, he had postponed our mating ceremony for a hundred times, always agreeing for a date and then ghosting me on the day of the mating ceremony, letting me face the whispers and snickers of his people.

But, this time I was going to ditch the ceremony, not him!

I looked Alexander straight in the eye, my gaze unwavering. "You want me to apologize to Layla?" I asked, my voice dripping with disdain. "You want me to grovel at her feet, to beg for your forgiveness?"

Alexander's smile faltered, and for a moment, I saw a glimmer of uncertainty in his eyes. But he quickly regained his composure, his expression hardening into a mask of determination.

"Yes, I want you to apologize to Layla," he repeated, his voice firm. "It's the least you can do after what you did to her."

I laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "You really don't get it, do you?" I said, my voice laced with venom. "I'm not going to apologize to Layla. I'm not going to apologize for something I didn't do. And I'm certainly not going to beg for your forgiveness."

Alexander's face darkened, his eyes flashing with anger. But I didn't back down. Instead, I took a step closer to him, my voice dropping to a whisper.

"Our mating ceremony?" I said, a sly smile spreading across my face. "You can forget about it. I'm not going to waste my time waiting for you to decide when and if we're going to mate. I'm done waiting, Alexander. I'm done being strung along."

The words hung in the air, a challenge issued. And for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of surprise in Alexander's eyes.

“This time, I’m serious, Isadora.” He had replied before holding my hands.

“Trust me.” He urged. He shot a glance at the burning box before he turned to look at me.

“Don't do anything stupid! Let's go on a dinner date tomorrow and talk about whatever is running in your head, okay?” He said, his tone seemed genuine.

I slowly nod my head in agreement, not that I trusted him. But, I had to tell him about my departure and that I was going to mate with someone else, someone my family decided for me.

A dinner date to say goodbye for forever- not a bad idea of parting with someone you loved for six years.

Seeing me not rebelling anymore, a smile spread beneath his lips. But, soon his phone rang.

Despite his attempt to hide the name on his phone screen, I could see “Lay” written with a heart emoji as he picked up the call.

“Alex, I just had a bad dream! I can't sleep. Can you please come and sleep over here? I’m scared.”

Layla's voice sounded from the other end, laced with desperation and urgency as usual.

“Don't worry! Keep the lights switched on. You won't feel scared. I’m coming right now.” He said, turning his back to me.

Without a word, he left the room, left the conversation we were having a moment ago. I could see the urgency in his movements for Layla.

As he left, I smiled at the hollow promises he just made before leaving before I dialed a number.

“I want to resign from the post of Alexander commander in the army.” I declared.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Elder Victor’s voice sounded from the other hand, shocked.“Does Alexander know about it?”

“Not yet!” I replied, “But he will be known by next weekend.”

“Next weekend?” I could sense the urgency in Elder Victor's tone as he asked, “It's your mating ceremony with Alexander next weekend. Isadora, what the hell are you planning to do?”

I smiled to myself as I ended the call with Elder Victor.

“Not that would disappoint your Alpha!”

I had said before hanging up the call. I know the happiest person in the world after knowing I was leaving, had to be Alexander.

As I wrapped my things up, I laid down on my bed, trying to sleep. Soon after my phone buzzed with notification.

It was Layla. She texted me. “Check my recent story.”

A desperate move to provoke me. I knew there wouldn't be anything good waiting for me yet I click opened the link she shared with me.

There showed an intimate picture of her lying leisurely on her bed, her breast half exposed. Alexander laid beside her, shirtless. His hands rested on her belly.

There was also a caption that read

[Thanks for this beautiful gift, Alpha. There could never be any birthday present better than this]

There were also two emojis of little cubs. She seemed so desperate in announcing her pregnancy to everyone that I couldn't help laughing in despair.

I didn't cry this time, neither did I scream. I simply liked her post and made a comment “Congratulations” before I tossed my phone aside.

I lay in bed, my mind numb as I stared at the ceiling. The image of Alexander and Layla's intimate moment lingered in my mind, but it no longer sparked the anger and hurt it once would have.

Instead, I felt a sense of detachment, a sense of freedom from the toxic emotions that had consumed me for so long.

It helped me in realising the decision I had made for myself was indeed right.

It was time to leave Alexander, and to leave the false dream I had been dreaming for all these years. Alexander and I, we were never meant to be mated.

By the morning, my phone buzzed several times. I checked the phone only to find there were dozens of missed calls from Alexander.

He hadn't mated with me yet, so he couldn't talk to me through mindlink. Mortal instruments were the only tool he could talk to me with.

He had left me several messages, asking why I wasn't picking up his calls and that he had to leave for urgent work.

“Wait for me, tonight! I’ll pick you up for our date.” His last message read, “Don't misunderstand Layla’s post. I’ll explain everything to you tonight.”

I only smiled in sarcasm as I read his last text. What was needed to explain now?

Everything was clear! He had mated with Layla already, and had put his babies in her belly. He had stolen my rights and given them to her.

He had shown what he valued- Layla over me.

I tossed my phone aside, neither replied to his texts nor called him back. I was done with him. Whatever he does now, had nothing to do with me.

He had treated me kindly these past few days, but I knew—it was only out of guilt.

The thought of him not arriving at home, only made me relax. Now, I could finish everything quite peacefully before leaving.

I had already burned old memories with Alexander, wrapped up my belongings. The only thing left was dumping all the things I had once handcrafted to decorate his home—which meant everything.

Within a few hours Alexander’s home turned to its previous state– empty and cold.

I stood back and surveyed the empty, cold space that was once Alexander's home. It was a reflection of my own emotional state - numb, hollow, and devoid of any warmth.

Then I took out the golden ring from my fingers, the same ring he had placed in my finger when he discovered I was his mate, a symbol of our bond.

I wrote a simple note, wrapped it around the ring and carefully placed them inside a small box.

That was my last gift to Alexander.

He had postponed our mating ceremony for ninety nine times, and rejecting it a hundredth time was my decision!

After tidying everything up, I grabbed my suitcase, placed the villa’s keys on the dining table, and dumped everything that contained my presence in the villa.

After everything is done, I turned and left, leaving the painful past in the past, and I will officially welcome my new life!