At his words, Jade’s eyes brightened, and she forced a smile. “Hey Felix, I just remembered that there are some documents that you need to sign for the conference.”

Felix smiled in response. Finally, He thought to himself. Everything was falling back into place.

He thought he had pacified Jade. His smile widened.

“Okay then, bring them, let me sign.” He replied eagerly.

Jade grinned in excitement as she rushed upstairs and gathered the files. Felix was happy when he saw how excited she was. Things were perfect, he knew he had nothing to worry about.

Just as he was about to read through the papers, his phone buzzed in his hand. It was Bella. He smiled. He needed to finish quickly, and get back to her.

Felix absentmindedly grabbed a pen, and without thinking, he began signing the papers she had handed him quickly so he could reply to Bella.

Jade stood there silently, watching him sign the documents, with a hidden smile on her face. It was almost too easy. She had everything she needed now.

Felix signed the last document, then tossed the pen down.

“Done,” he said, his eyes were still on the phone. “I’ll take care of anything else later. Something came up, I’ll be back later.” He muttered.

“Thank you, Felix,” Jade said softly, giving him a warm smile.

Felix looked up at her, furrowing his eyebrows for a moment as he finally noticed the strange look in her eyes. But he brushed it off. Everything was fine now.

He hurried off, slamming the door too loud behind him.

Jade stared at the door with a smirk on her face. She silently thanked Bella for distracting Felix, because now, the last part of her plan was done. Everything was set.

~

On the morning of Felix’s mating ceremony to Bella, Jade watched as Felix dressed up with an energetic grin on his face. He adjusted his tie in the mirror, with a smug expression on his face.

Felix felt like everything was falling into place just as he had planned. The conference was for a week, so Jade would be out of the picture for a week. By that time he would have thought about what to say to pacify her. It would be easy, he was sure of that.

“Hey,” Felix told her, “The conference starts today, and will last for a week. So you need to leave early. Don’t delay, okay?”

Jade nodded slowly.

Felix grinned. He didn't notice the coldness in her eyes. “Good. I have something urgent to do, but I'll call you later, alright?”

Jade didn’t respond, only watching him silently as he dressed.

When he was about to leave, he paused and glanced back at her with a soft expression on his face.

“Look, Jade… I know things have been a little shaky. But you’ve been by my side for so many years, and I appreciate you, and love you, I really do,” he said, his voice was gentle.

Jade forced a small smile as she nodded. “Good luck, Felix. Have a good time,” she said, instead of telling him ‘I love you too.’

Felix smiled back. He hadn't even noticed. Without another word, he walked out of the door, leaving her alone in the house.

Jade sat there for a moment, watching the door and listening to his footsteps as he walked away.

She took a deep breath, and stood up. She had already packed her bags, just a few things were left, but Felix hadn't noticed.

She glanced around the house one last time, then she smiled.

Outside, a car was waiting, Rowan had sent the driver to drop her at the same place Felix was having his mating ceremony, Rowan was going to meet her there. Felix had invited other alphas to be present for his mating ceremony.

It would be rude of Alpha Rowan and his Luna to not honour the invitation. Right?

Jade laughed to herself.

Jade’s heart raced in her chest as the car drove towards the venue of the mating ceremony.

As the driver dropped her at the hall, he rushed to open the door for her. Jade was dressed beautifully in the dress that Rowan had bought for her, and true to his word, it was her exact size.

Everyone outside turned to stare at her in surprise. She looked very different from the Jade that everyone else knew. She looked like royalty.

They began to whisper amongst themselves in surprise.

“Wait… is that Jade?”

“She looks like a Luna…”

“Wasn’t she supposed to be with Alpha Felix?”

“I heard he chose Bella…”

“No, it can’t be. Jade has been by the Alpha’s side all these while, he can’t do that….”

Jade stood tall, keeping her chin lifted. Their whispers did not hurt her anymore. They only proved how blind she had been.

Jade ignored the whispers as she looked around. She realized that Rowan hadn’t yet arrived. She glanced at the time, she was a few minutes earlier than they had planned. She shrugged, she would just wait outside for him to come, so that they could walk in together.

Some of the pack members approached her with warm smiles, to congratulate her, assuming that she was having her mating ceremony with Felix, because they all knew how close she had been with Felix.

“Congratulations, Jade! So it’s finally happening?”

She chuckled lightly, shaking her head. “Actually, I’m just waiting for my—”

A screech cut through the crowd like a dagger.

“What the hell is she doing here?!” It was Bella’s voice, and she sounded pissed.

The crowd parted as Bella stormed forward, her hands clenched and her face twisted in disbelief.

Jade turned slowly with an unreadable expression on her face. “Bella,” she said with a slight smile. “You look... unhappy to see me.”

Bella’s eyes bulged. “This is my day. Did Felix call you? Are you here to beg again?”

Jade laughed softly. “Oh, sweetie... I’m not here for Felix.”

The crowd’s whispers increased.

Bella scoffed, looking her up and down. “Then why are you dressed like that? Who even invited you?”

Jade’s tone was calm and steady. “Felix sent the invitation himself. It would’ve been rude not to come.”

“You’re lying!” Bella snapped. “You’re still just a desperate omega throwing yourself at someone who doesn’t want you!”

Jade opened her mouth to reply, but Bella didn’t stop.

“Let me guess—you heard about the ceremony and dressed like this to ruin it. It’s pathetic.”

“Is this true?”

“Did Alpha Felix really reject Jade?”

“What is she then doing here?”

“…Oh, poor Jade. She was dumped”

Jade could hear the mocking laughter among the crowd. Someone even muttered, “Maybe she really did come to beg.”

“Maybe she’s trying to crash the ceremony...”

Bella smirked, happy at what she could hear the people around saying. “Look at them. No one believes you. You’re making a fool of yourself.”

“What’s going on here?!”

The crowd fell silent as Felix approached them, dressed for the ceremony, with annoyance written all over his face. His eyes darkened when he saw Jade.

“Jade? Why are you here? Weren’t you supposed to be at the conference?”

She met his gaze without blinking. “I was invited.”

Felix frowned. “Invited? By who?”

She didn’t answer.

He stepped forward, voice low. “Get whatever you need and go. You shouldn’t be here.”

He reached for her arm.

Jade pulled back sharply. “Don’t touch me. I know today’s your mating ceremony with Bella.”

Felix’s face paled, and panic flickered through his face.

“Jade, just go. We’ll talk later. I can explain—”

“I don’t want your lies,” she snapped. “Not anymore.”

“Stop humiliating yourself,” he muttered. “Just go home.”

Jade tilted her head stubbornly. “I told you. I was invited.”

Felix raised his voice. “No one believes you! Just leave with the little dignity you have left.”

More laughter. Bella grinned, she was enjoying the show.

Jade released a breath, her eyes were filled with disappointment.

“How could you do this to me, Felix?” She asked.

“All these years,” she said quietly. “All these years I stood beside you. You were nothing when I met you. You were bitter and depressed trying to rebuild a pack that was falling apart.”

Her voice rose. “I helped you. I supported you. I sacrificed everything for you. And this is what I get?”

Felix’s face hardened. “You’re just a pathetic omega, Jade. Know your place. There could never be anything between us. I was doing you a favour to even associate myself with you.”

Jade clenched her jaw, but her voice didn’t shake. “Even when I took care of you through your nightmares. When you locked yourself away for days, who kept the pack from crumbling?”

He didn’t answer.

She stepped forward, voice low. “Did you ever love me?”

Silence.

Then, flatly he said, “No.”

The world spun for a moment. But then... she smiled a soft, bitter smile.

“Good,” she whispered. “Thank you... for finally saying it.”

Jade finally felt free, like a huge weight had been taken off her shoulders.

Felix scowled. “I’m done with this. Guards! Get her out.”

Everyone gasped as two guards moved forward.

Jade struggled as they grabbed her. “Let go of me!” She yelled.

“Throw her out!” Felix snapped.

But suddenly, several sleek black cars pulled up to the venue. Everyone turned.

Jade stopped fighting, and a wicked little smile tugged at her lips.

Because finally… he was here. Alpha Rowan.

“What the hell is going on here?!” Rowan’s voice rang out with authority and power as he stepped out of the car.