Jade kept her eyes closed when she heard Felix enter the room, pretending to be asleep.

“Jade?” Felix called. She didn’t move. She did not want to talk to him.

“Jade, are you awake?” He called again. No response.

Felix scoffed. “She’s asleep.”

Jade realized that he was on the phone with someone.

“Can you get me a necklace from that cheap store? I need something to appease Jade. I think she’s feeling jealous about Bella.” He murmured so that she wouldn’t wake.

The person on the other line said something.

“No, she doesn’t know anything about the ceremony. She just heard that I and Bella were close during her time at the conference.” he replied.

Then he scoffed. “Don’t go to the other store. The necklaces there are expensive and have more quality. Bella loves that store, but I’m not wasting that kind of money on Jade,” Felix said with a short laugh. “Just get something shiny enough to distract her. She’ll fall in love with it like always.”

Jade clenched her jaw under the blankets. The urge to scream was overwhelming, but she held it back.

Felix chuckled again. “Honestly, I don’t even know why I kept her around this long. She’s convenient, loyal and a good healer, that’s great. But she’s just so damn boring.”

There was a pause.

“Yeah, Bella’s the one. She has a strong bloodline, and she makes me look like the powerful Alpha I’m supposed to be. Jade’s just… comfortable.”

Comfortable. That word burned like acid through Jade’s chest.

“She doesn’t even fight back,” Felix continued. “That’s what makes her perfect for now. No drama, no tantrums. She worships the ground I walk on.”

Tears filled Jade’s eyes, and she struggled to keep herself from crying.

Felix yawned. “Alright, get the necklace for me, and write up one of those heartfelt messages you normally help me write, so I’ll drop the necklace on her nightstand. She’ll probably wake up tomorrow thinking I’m the sweetest mate ever. I need her in her best mood so that she can represent me at the conference coming up next week.”

She sneered. It explained why he was trying to make an effort to ‘placate’ her. Previously, he never made much effort to placate her, but because he needed her for something, that was why he was trying to make an effort.

The other person said something that made Felix laugh.

“Well, that’s how it is done. Every once in a while, I make little heartfelt gestures to make her melt and forget about the past.” He released a mocking laugh.

Jade unconsciously took a deep breath. Felix went silent.

“Hold on.” His voice dropped, she almost didn’t hear him. “I think she moved.”

She froze, keeping her breaths slow and calm. She calmed her heart, and she kept her face blank to mimic sleep.

Felix ended the call, and approached her slowly. She could perceive his scent. It had once been a comforting scent, now it was sour in her nose.

She stayed still, even though she wanted to scream, to see his face when she revealed to his smug face that she knew every ugly truth. But she stayed still.

Felix chuckled in relief after a moment of silence. “Still asleep,” he muttered under his breath. “Perfect.”

He got into bed beside her, and soon after, he fell asleep.

Jade started breathing when she was sure that he was fast asleep.

Tears fell down her face, and on her pillow as she replayed his words over and over.

She made so many sacrifices for him, but he only saw her as a tool. The Healer's Sanctum had seen her potential and offered her a high position in the Sanctum, but because she wanted to be by her mate's side, and help him grow his pack, she had declined.

After the death of his father, Felix had been depressed, and the pack was falling apart. But Jade had pulled everything together, staying beside him through everything. He had promised to mark her as his Luna, but it was all a lie. He paid her back for everything by planning his mating ceremony with Bella behind her back, like she was nothing.

Her phone pinged, it was a message from Rowan. A small smile crossed her lips, and for a moment she forgot about her heartache.

“Hey, Jade!” A familiar voice called from behind her.

Jade took a deep breath, and cleared her face of emotion as she turned to face Bella.

She lifted an eyebrow at her, “Yes? How can I help you?” She asked coolly.

Bella smirked at her, “Oh come on, Jade. Why so cold? I thought we could be friends, or sister-in-laws? Besides, Felix always said that you were like a sister to him.”

Jade barely felt anything at Bella’s words. It might have hurt her before, but now, she was over it. She gave Bella a small smile.

“How is the mating ceremony preparation?” She asked calmly.

Bella paused, that wasn’t the reaction she was expecting at all. “It’s going very well. I can’t believe that in a few days I’ll become the Luna of this pack.”

Jade shrugged, “Good for you,” she said with a flat voice, then she began walking away.

Bella followed her, “Look, see the gorgeous band that Felix got for me. It's pure gold, with diamonds.”

Jade kept walking, completely ignoring her.

But Bella kept talking, “I told him I wanted diamonds this time. I didn't really like the rubies he got me for my birthday last year.”

Jade paused, turning to Bella with surprise on her face. “I'm sorry, what?”

Bella smirked, finally glad that her words got to Jade. “I said that he got me rubies for my last year birthday, but I told him I didn't really like it, so he got me di—”

Jade's hands shook as she ran a hand through her hair. “He got you rubies? For your birthday?” She asked again.

Bella nodded with a smirk. “Yes, why? What did he get you? Some cheap metal necklace?” She taunted.

Jade's heart ached. That was exactly what Felix had gotten for her.

But that wasn't what caused her heart to ache.

Jade remembered Bella’s birthday so well. Her mother had been on her deathbed, but Felix wasn't by her side. Instead, he was out celebrating Bella's birthday.

Her mother had needed a medicine that could save her, but it was rare and expensive. Jade had called Felix desperately in tears.

He didn't pick at first, but when he finally picked, he brushed her off.

“There’s no money right now, Jade,” he had said, “The pack needs money right now. You understand, don’t you?”

She had understood. Or rather, she had forced herself to because of her blind love for him.

She had sold her personal belongings, her late father’s things, some of her mother’s things, just to gather the funds. She had stayed up for nights brewing herbs to sell and get the money.

And now, Bella stood before her, smiling smugly as she boasted about rubies he had bought during that exact week.

Jade took a deep breath to calm herself. There was no use losing control.

“I heard your mother was dying at that time, but you didn't have money to buy her medicine.” Bella added.

Jade clenched her jaw. “Shut up,”

Bella cackled. “He told me you cried like a child, begging for help. That you were so pathetic, he couldn’t even stand to look at you. And all for what? A pathetic dying old woman.”

Jade snapped, and her hand moved so fast, slapping Bella hard.

Bella stumbled backward, gasping as her cheek turned red.

Jade braced herself for Bella's retaliation, but to her surprise, she just smirked, then suddenly, she began to wail and cry at the top of her voice.

“FELIX!” she screamed like she was being murdered. “FELIX, HELP! SHE ATTACKED ME! SHE WANTS TO KILL ME”

Jade gaped in shock at her words. “Wha—”

A few seconds later, Felix burst into the hall, with worry written all over his face.

“What the hell is going on?!” He boomed.

Bella ran to him with tears pouring from her eyes. “She hit me, Felix! I was just trying to be friendly, but she got jealous and began to hit me!”

Felix turned to Jade, eyes blazing. “Is that true?!”

Jade looked him straight in the eye, with a cold look on her face.

“She deserved worse.”

Before she could blink, Felix's fist connected with her face.

Jade’s head snapped to the side from the force of the punch, and she stumbled but she didn’t fall.

Jade slowly turned her head back to face Felix with cold dead eyes.

For the first time, Felix hesitated.

“You hit me,” she whispered, her voice was calm, too calm.

He scowled. “You hurt Bella! Now apologize!”

“Bella is a gamma werewolf, I'm just an omega. How can I hurt her?” Jade snapped.

Felix scowled at her. “Apologize! Now!”

Jade sneered. “Over my dead body.” She spat venomously.

A look of confusion crossed Felix's face. Jade never spoke like that to him. What was going on with her?

“If you don't apologize to her, then you can say goodbye to being head healer in this pack.” He threatened.

Jade smiled bitterly. “Fine,” she said, and Felix relaxed, thinking she was going to apologize.

“I don't want to be the head healer, anyway.” she added with a shrug.

Felix's mouth dropped open as he watched Jade walk away. No, something was wrong.

Before he could call her back, Bella clutched his arm tightly.

“Ow, my head hurts.” She cried, “I think she hit me very badly.”

Felix instantly became worried for her, completely forgetting that she was a werewolf, from a gamma bloodline. An omega like Jade couldn't possibly hurt her.

“Come on, Bella. Let's go to the pack's clinic.” He said softly.

Immediately Jade got back home, she called the head of the Healer's Sanctum.

“Jade! It's so good to hear from you,” Jim greeted. “Please tell me that you have reconsidered our offer. It'll really be a—”

“Yes,” Jade replied, “I have thought about it, and yes, I'll take the position at the Healer's Sanctum. Give me a week so that I can put everything in order.”

Jim was ecstatic that Jade had finally accepted to come work for the Sanctum. “Of course, take as much time as you need my dear.”

When she finished speaking with Jim, she started packing her things.

She picked up those fake meaningless gifts from Felix and threw them into the trash.

When Felix finally came back home, he stared around in surprise. The place looked slightly empty.

Concern flashed through him. Was Jade packing? Why?

Then he snorted internally. It wasn't possible. Jade couldn't do without him.

“What’s going on? What are you doing?” Felix asked, looking around in confusion.

Jade faked a smile. “I’m just throwing away some of my old things. I don’t need them anymore.”

Felix frowned, stepping closer. “Really? All these things? That's a lot”

“It’s just stuff,” she replied, shrugging causally.

He nodded, brushing it out of his mind.

“Bella told me that she forgives you. She said she doesn’t want things to stay this way between you two, she really wants you two to be friends.”

Jade snorted, “She forgives me? I don't need her forgiveness. Bella is just a pretentious bitch.” She spat.

Felix raised his hand again, as if he wanted to hit her again, then he paused.

“Don't talk about Bella like that,” he hissed.

Jade smiled bitterly, “Of course,” she mumbled, turning back her attention to what she was doing.

Felix sighed. “I'm sorry. I wasn't going to hit you. I swear.”

Jade hummed, but didn't say anything in reply.

He sighed again, “You know what, what if I take you to that restaurant that you love so much that serves spicy noodle sauce?”

Jade faked a smile, pretending to be happy at his words. She needed something from him, so she needed him to think she was okay.

“Okay, what time?” She asked softly.

Internally, Felix smirked. He knew he could easily get Jade to soften up. He knew it would work.

“Seven?” Felix suggested, keeping his voice soft.

Jade nodded, still pretending to play along. “Seven is perfect.”

Felix leaned down to kiss her, and she stiffened as disgust coursed through her.

“Don't worry, by next week, I'll make you the pack's head healer.” He promised.

Next week, at the same time he was having his mating ceremony with Bella.

Jade watched Felix leave with a sneer on her face. He had been making that promise to her for ages.

But now, it meant nothing to her, because by next week, she'll be gone.