Alice’s POV
I remained rooted in front of the fireplace, watching the last corners of the photographs twist inward, blister, and finally crumble into soot.
Neither Rylan nor Weston took a single step.
Both stood a short distance away, rigid and coiled like wolves on the edge of a fight, their eyes fixed on me as though they wanted to shake an explanation out of my mouth—demand the reason, force the truth.
Instead, I gave them a small, almost lazy smile, barely a curve of my lips, letting ashes drift and settle like dull snowflakes.
“They’re only pictures,” I remarked with a lightness that didn’t match the moment, almost playful. “And the gifts were old anyway. We can always make new ones. You two can even surprise me with better presents next time.”
They stared at me, momentarily thrown off. I tilted my head, my voice warm and casual.
“It’s been ages since we took a real trip together, hasn’t it? Now we’ve finally cleared the clutter—seems like the perfect excuse to go somewhere and create new memories.”
Rylan seized onto the idea like a lifeline, his expression gentling as he approached me.
“You’re right,” he agreed, sounding steadier. “We should get away for a while. Maybe travel someplace far… just us.”
Weston let out a long exhale, like he’d been bracing himself for a blow.
“Yeah,” he echoed. “That actually sounds perfect. A break would do all of us good. And this time…” He paused, hesitating only a fraction of a second before adding, “We should bring Tessa too. She’s never had the chance to go on a real vacation—everything her family went through… well, she deserves it.”
For an instant, my chest tightened painfully.
I let out a soft, sharp-edged laugh—brittle, the kind that cracks rather than rings. They didn’t hear the bitterness laced through it.
To them, it must have sounded like agreement, or worse, approval.
Both of them immediately eased, shoulders lowering as if my forced smile had absolved them of everything.
Rylan even shot me a relieved half-grin.
Weston scrubbed a hand through his hair and murmured, “I hate it when you’re upset with us.”
They walked farther into the room, the tension they’d carried evaporating like steam—only to halt abruptly.
Their eyes had found the suitcases lined neatly by the wall, packed tight and ready, arranged with deliberate precision.
Those bags hadn’t been there earlier.
“What’s all that?” they demanded at once.
I followed their gaze briefly before answering, keeping my tone breezy, unaffected.
“Oh, those? I resigned from your father’s strategist team. I’m taking a different path now—trying something completely new.” The words fell heavily despite my casual delivery.
Rylan’s brow creased deeply while Weston’s mouth parted in shock. I could see the question forming in their eyes. They knew I loved that role. Everyone did. I had dedicated myself to it fully.
So why walk away now?
Their gazes flicked to each other—uneasy, unsettled—like wolves who had caught the faintest scent of blood but couldn’t yet locate the wound.
Weston inhaled, ready to interrogate me, but before he could speak, Rylan’s phone vibrated sharply against his leg.
He answered with quick fingers.
The moment Tessa’s trembling voice spilled through the speaker, I already knew what would follow.
“Ry… something’s wrong. My wolf won’t respond to me… I-I’m terrified. What do I do?”
I didn’t look at them, but I heard Weston’s breath hitch. He didn’t even wait for Rylan to reply.
In an instant, he burst into his wolf form—muscles shifting, bones cracking, fur tearing through skin. His growl rumbled low before he barked:
“Hold on, Tessa! I’m heading to you right this second!”
Rylan hesitated for a heartbeat, eyes flicking toward me with guilt—or maybe conflict—but the pause was short-lived.
Then he shifted too, golden fur igniting in the glow of the dying fire.
Without another word, they both darted out the door, leaving behind little more than fading pawprints and the lingering scent of their wolves.
Neither bothered to look back.
I stood there long after the sound of their departure faded, motionless, staring at the empty doorway.
So when my phone rang, I already knew who would be on the other end.
I pressed it to my ear.
“Alice,” came Alpha Kael’s deep, steady voice. “Your letter was waiting on my desk.”
Closing my eyes, I sank onto the arm of the couch, letting the silence between us breathe for a moment.
“You’ve served this pack well,” he continued. “Protected us. Helped keep us alive. And you never once asked for more than what you absolutely needed. So tell me… what changed? Why step down now?”
I inhaled slowly, choosing my words with care.
“It’s time, Alpha,” I said quietly. “Time for me to stop avoiding my past… and return to it. Back to Plum Blossom Pack. Back to what I owe.”
I didn’t mention the arranged marriage.
Not yet.
“You’re truly leaving?” His voice carried a weight that made him sound older. “So soon? Have Rylan and Weston been told?”
“They haven’t,” I admitted. “And I’d appreciate it if you could keep it between us for the moment. I don’t want unnecessary complications.”
He let out a long, weary sigh, thick with resignation.
“Alice… you know those two are hopeless when it comes to you. Everyone assumed you’d end up with one of them eventually.”
I gave a soft smile, though it held no warmth.
“There’s nothing tragic about it, Alpha. I am who I am. I’ve always known what that means. No Alpha would genuinely choose someone like me to stand beside him. And as for my mate…”
My voice faded.
That dream had died so long ago it no longer even felt like loss.
He didn’t try to convince me otherwise.
“Come see me before you depart,” he said at last. “It may be a long time before our paths cross again.”
“I’ll be there,” I promised.
Right before the call ended, he added,
“You’ve earned more than respect here. A token of gratitude will be delivered to you today. Don’t reject it.”
A faint smile touched my lips.
“I won’t.”
Later that afternoon, when someone knocked at my door, I expected a messenger or courier from the pack.
But when I opened it…
Tessa stood there, clutching the award meant for me.
