Kai did not bother to come home that day but I did not call him unlike the previous times where I would panic and call him

multiple times.

My wolf had been still and quiet, the only thing she did was cry. I had struggled to keep my tears at bay. We could still feel the years of supposed love and affection. The bond between us still pulsed with the little life it had left.

The next day came and we were supposed to have lunch together but he cancelled at the last minute. I almost ended the call the moment he had started with his usual patronizing tone on me. It baffled me how I had never noticed it before. How much he did not want to talk to me.

His excuse was that Celia was lonely and he was going to stay with her for a while. As he was talking, I could hear Celia cackling in the background.

Training started hours later. I stood beside the other officers at the eastern training field while Kai commanded the session.

He was in his element there, confident and loud, barking orders while the younger wolves watched him with admiration.

This was the life he wanted. The Alpha's throne, the power and the respect.

And apparently, me standing beside him was just another piece of that dream.

We were halfway through combat drills when Celia appeared at the edge of the field.

She wasn't supposed to be there like always. Celia hated training or so she said. But every time Kai would be there, she would make up excuses to come and I never questioned it until now.

Kai had seen her almost immediately and his entire expression changed. "Maya, take the next formation."

I frowned. "Why?"

"Celia is here."

I looked toward her and she was standing perfectly straight, wearing a dress instead of combat gear.

"She doesn't look injured."

"She doesn't have to be injured for me to check on her."

And before I could answer, Celia suddenly stumbled. Her hand flew to her ankle. "Kai!"

He dropped his sword and ran across the field with speed he rarely displayed.

Selene fell against him, and he caught her before she could even touch the ground.

"My ankle hurts," she whispered as Kai lifted her into his arms. The entire training field went silent.

I had simply stared at them as a bitter laugh escaped me. He did not spare even a glance at me.

Even with the mate bond between us, Kai had never been once run to me like that.

"Continue the drills," he ordered the soldiers as he carried her away.

One of the officers beside me shifted awkwardly. "Commander?"

I forced myself to pick up my sword.

"Continue."

The training resumed, but everyone had seen it. Everyone had seen my mate abandon me in the middle of his own command because my best friend had pretended to hurt herself.

An hour later, I found out her ankle was perfectly fine. The healer told me herself.

"She only twisted it slightly. There isn't any serious injury."

I smiled. "Of course."

The wedding preparations had been much worse. When I arrived at the planning hall, the wedding coordinator was already waiting with a stack of papers. She looked nervous.

"What happened?"

She hesitated before handing me the list.

"There are a few changes." I noticed as I scanned it.

The traditional Ashbourne entrance had been removed, the ancestral blessing was removed. The Luna ceremony was shortened by almost half, Even the flower ceremony my grandmother had insisted every Ashbourne bride receive was gone.

I looked up. "Who requested these changes?"

The woman swallowed nervously. "Celia."

I stared at her. "Celia?"

"She said some of the traditions were too old-fashioned and that Commander Kai agreed with her."

My laugh came out low and humorless.

"Of course he did."

The coordinator lowered her eyes.

"She also selected the wedding colors."

"She isn't the bride."

"I know."

"Then why are we changing my wedding for her?"

The woman had no answer. Then my phone buzzed, It was Kai.

I answered and the first thing I did was question him. "Why is Celia planning my wedding?"

He sounded irritated. "Because you're busy with your family, and she has been helping me."

"Helping you?"

"Don't make this difficult, Maya."

I closed my eyes. "This is our mating ceremony."

"I know."

"Then why does another woman get to decide what happens?"

There was a pause.

"Because she understands what I want."

The words were so simple that they almost didn't hurt. Almost.

I looked down at the wedding papers. "Fine."

"Thank you." He said, sounding relieved, like I was being an unnecessary fruit fly that needed to be sent away.

I ended the call immediately. That was when I realized I had been fighting for a bond and a love in his life that had never belonged to me.

I left the planning hall and went straight home. By evening, my mother had already contacted the Regent.

She told me the palace had received my answer and that he had accepted it.

But there was one problem. Regent Nightcrest had requested to speak to me personally.

Two days later and it was my birthday. 4 out of 26 years of my life had been wasted by Kai, but that would be rectified soon.

The Regent had asked if he could meet with me today. It was unusual for the wolf with the highest position in the kingdom to go to someone, usually it was the other way around but I thought nothing of it.

Kai was sitting in front of me that morning. We were in the penthouse that I bought for us four years ago. I saw it then that it was clearly a waste. His eyes were stuck on his phone, smiling at what I assumed was Celia's messages. Love must have really blinded me.

“Kai” I called out waiting to see if he could at least spare a Happy birthday to his mate of four years and his ladder to success.

“What Maya, Can you not see how busy I am?”. His voice was full of irritation like I had interrupted him from his life's greatest experience. He had not even been bothered to look up at me.

“It's someone's birthday today,” I said. “Someone very important to you, did you forget”.

There was a bit of silence from him as his face changed from irritation to realization. For a second, I hoped that he had remembered that today was my birthday but his words crushed my hopes to dust.

“Of course I remember, It's Celia's birthday. I am already sorting out gifts for her”.

I could not believe my ears. It was foolish of me to think he would remember. Not that he did in the last four years. The only person's birthday he remembered without fail was Celia's. Celia took my birthday as hers when my parents took her in. Said it would make her closer to me.

His eyes smiled when he called her name. Seeing him cheerful at the mere mention of Celia's name had hurt Nyx, my wolf even more.

His phone suddenly rang and by the way he quickly moved to pick the call, I could tell that it was Celia. Just less than a minute into the call, he was up on his feet.

“Dont wait up or look for me, might not be back this night” He said hurriedly as he put on his leather jacket. She must be bored again.

“Where are you going?” I asked, looking at his frantic state. One would think his uncle was on his way here in seconds.

“An emergency came up, don't worry” He replied as he left. The emergency being Celia did not bypass me. I had not realized that a rogue tear had fallen as the rest of the tears accompanied it. I sat there for a while when the doorbell rang.

My parents were here. I did not know if I should have been happy but seeing them again was soothing.

“Happy birthday Maya,” My mom's warm voice reached me as soon as I opened the door.

“He forgot again, didn't he?” My mom asked as a scowl settled on her face. I knew she must have noticed my swollen eyes and the tear trail.

My father stood behind her with a picnic bag and a warm smile. They had brought me a cake and my favorite food.

“We had told you that boy was up to no good” My father started.

My mother pulled me into her arms and the moment my cheek touched her shoulders, the tears I held came flooding back.

“He left because of Celia right?” My father asked as they stepped inside.

I wiped my face and forced myself to breathe. “He said there was an emergency”.

My father scoffed and shot me a knowing look. My parents never liked how close Kai was to Celia, but had tolerated it because of me and because Celia had been part of the family since we were children. Even Kai.

“Why did you suddenly change your mind,” My mom asked as she cut up the cake.

“You were quite stuck on staying with Kai forever,” my father added.

“Kai is the reason,” I replied as I picked up a plate. “He had been cheating on me with Celia for years now”. I could feel my parents growing furious by the second. And I decided to go all in.

“He only stayed as my mate because he wanted to become Alpha. He was only using me for our family's influence…

A sudden growl from my father interrupted me. He was fuming with anger as his pheromones started to get out of control. My mother had quickly placed a hand on him to calm him.

“I can't believe we let you stay with that ungrateful pup,” My mom intervened. “I never liked him, but because he was and is still your mate, I tolerated him. I did not expect this from Celia”.

My Dad abruptly stood up “I will make sure he loses his position”.

“No don't, he can keep his position. Just finalize the wedding and he and Celia can hold on to their cheating selves. Do not help him anymore”.

A few hours had passed and everyone was doing their own things when the door bell rang. I quickly went to check. My first guess was that it was probably Kai.

Standing in front of me was a 6ft3 tan wolf with emerald eyes. I stood there transfixed for close to a minute.

“Nice to meet you Maya,” his warm and deep voice pulled me out of the trance. “Happy Birthday”.

Asad Nightcrest was standing in front of me. The Regent and my soon to be ex mate’s uncle.

I was not expecting him to come himself. “Please come in Your Highness”.

He entered, and my parents greeted him with the respect his position demanded. Yet he barely acknowledged the formalities before handing me the small box. "For you."

I hesitated before opening it. Inside was a delicate silver necklace bearing the Nightcrest.

My fingers brushed over it. "It's beautiful."

"It belonged to my mother."

I looked up sharply. "Why would you give me this?"

His eyes held mine. "Because if you are going to become my wife, I want you to understand that I am not asking you to enter my family as a stranger."

My heart gave an uncomfortable beat.

Before I could answer, my mother cleared her throat. "Perhaps the two of you should speak privately."

Asad nodded. "I agree."

I led him toward the balcony where we had talked about the ceremony and what was needed.

He needed a Luna and though my family were nobles, marrying Asad and being his Mate and Luna would further stabilize us. Love was no longer on the table for me.

He had an assistant bring in some more jewelry when it was time for him to leave.

Immediately he left and my parents left as well, my phone buzzed.

I glanced down and it was a notification from Celia. Her latest post had just gone live. My smile disappeared.

She was holding a massive diamond bracelet in the picture.

The bracelet was wrapped around her wrist like a trophy, and I recognized it instantly.

Kai had shown it to me three weeks ago.

He had told me he was searching for the perfect gift for me.

The caption beneath the picture made my stomach turn.

"My favorite man always knows how to make me feel special."

There was another picture underneath.

Kai was kissing her cheek.

And beneath it, she had written,

"Thank you for making my birthday unforgettable, Kai."