“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.

When it was seven, Felix was nowhere to be found. Jade sat on the couch, fully dressed and prepared, as she waited for him to show up.

Jade had done this several times. She knew how it always ended—in tears and disappointment—but she had really thought that tonight was going to be different, that maybe he would keep his promise this time.

She had even put on the red dress he once said made her look “dangerous in the best way.” She had curled her hair, and had even applied a touch of makeup. But she had just been fooling herself. She was, and had never been, Felix's.

Jade lost track of how long she sat there, lost in thought, until she dozed off. Her phone buzzed, causing her to jolt awake from her sleep. It was a message from Felix.

“Can't make it. Something urgent came up in the back. We'll do it another time. Promise.”

Jade glanced at the time. It was already 9pm, and he was just sending a message now. He had probably forgotten about it, and had just remembered to send a message to ease his guilt.

She read the message again, and snorted, shaking her head in amusement. Another time. If only he knew that there wasn't going to be a next time.

Her phone buzzed again. This time, it was from Bella.

“Missing your date?” the message read.

Below the message were three photos. In the first, Felix sat beside Bella on the bed, holding a cold towel to her forehead. In the second, he was feeding her soup with a spoon, his face was full of so much concern. And in the third photo, he held her hand, looking at her like she was the only person in the world.

Bella sent another message under.

“He’s just the best, isn’t he? I told him I had a little headache, and he dropped everything for me. He said, ‘Bella, you’re more important than anything else right now.’ Isn’t that just the sweetest? I’m sure your spicy noodles can wait… forever.”

Jade stared at her screen with a blank look in her eyes. Her fingers didn’t shake. Her heart didn’t race. Not anymore. She felt nothing, no rage, or jealousy, just relief.

She deleted the pictures and the messages with any hesitation. Bella thought she was hurting her, but she didn't know that she was doing her a huge favour.

Jade stood up and made her way back to the bedroom to change her clothes. The only thing that caused her annoyance about Felix’s actions was the inconvenience of changing. The red dress hadn’t been easy to zip up.

As she wiped the makeup off her face, she stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes didn’t look as broken as they had looked that day—they just looked calm.

Her phone buzzed again, and she released a sigh of exasperation. But immediately she realized that it was Rowan, all signs of annoyance melted away, and a smile spread across her lips.

Rowan had sent two pictures of dresses.

“Which one do you prefer?” He asked under the photos.

Jade stared at both for a moment before replying.

“The first one,” she replied.

“Okay, I'll send it to you immediately,” he said.

Jade furrowed her eyebrows.

“How will you know my size?” she typed with an amused smile on her lips.

Rowan’s reply came immediately.

“Trust me, I know.”

He added a smirk emoji right after.

Jade blinked at the screen, blushing as she giggled at his reply.

She was blushing over a text. From Rowan.

How long had it been since someone made her feel wanted, and seen, like she mattered?

Alpha Rowan was her true mate, chosen by the moon goddess herself. They had met at one of the conferences that Jade had gone to represent Felix. She had been so proud that day as she spoke on behalf of a mate she believed loved her.

Jade had told him that she already had a mate waiting for her at home. Someone she loved with her whole heart, and who, she believed, loved her too. She had said it with so much confidence, and was about to reject Rowan. Rowan had pleaded with her to think about it first and give him a response a week later.

Before the week was up, luckily, Jade discovered Felix’s lies before it became too late. She gave Rowan her reply. And now, she was incredibly glad that she never made the mistake of rejecting him immediately, because with just a few messages and a smirk emoji, Rowan had warmed her heart far more than Felix ever had.