When a former pack member relocated to another country and offered me their cabin to do as I wish , I thought it would be a great idea for Astrid to have her own space. You know, for Privacy.
I never expected Astrid tears streaming down her face,to fall to her knees, holding onto me and begging me not to cast her out of the Alpha’s mansion. I was confused.
As I tried to make her understand where I am coming from with the idea , Damian stormed into the room. His sharp gaze darted between us before he stepped in front of her, his stance protective and commanding.
“Ember, have you lost your compassion? How could you bully Astrid like this?” he snapped, his voice laced with anger.
Then, softening his tone, he turned to her. “Don’t worry, Astrid. This is my territory. No one can force you to leave.”
I swallowed my rising frustration, willing myself to stay composed. “Damian, it’s not like that. I only thought it’d be better for Astrid to have her own space. The cabin is close by, and she’d be more comfortable there.”
But instead of understanding, Damian’s eyes narrowed, his voice cold. “Astrid is still adjusting to life in this pack. She’s not familiar with the territory and sometimes loses her way. How can I trust she’ll be safe alone?”
Then he paused, his expression turning sharp and condescending. “Or is this about jealousy, Ember? Are you afraid Astrid will take me away from you?”
His words cut through me like a claw to the chest. This was the same wolf who once swore to cherish me as his mate.
Suddenly, I didn’t recognize him anymore. Damian, the wolf I had trusted and loved, now felt like a stranger.
Our relationship spiraled into a silent war. I moved into the guest wing, while he claimed the Alpha’s quarters.
In the past, these fights never lasted long. Damian would always apologize first, his wolf unable to bear the distance between us. But this time, the silent treatment continued on for weeks.
One morning, as I came out of my room into the passage, I looked up and froze. Damian was stepping out from Astrid’s room, his expression peaceful, as if it was not strange for him to be stepping out of her room this early.
“Astrid wasn’t feeling well last night,” he said casually. “I stayed to make sure she was okay. I didn’t want to disturb you.”
His nonchalance stung. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to walk away.
The cracks in our bond only deepened. Astrid no longer came to me for help; she went directly to Damian for everything, even trivial matters.
And Damian? He was drifting further away, his attention entirely focused on her.
Last weekend, neither of them returned to the packhouse. When I called, I learned from a warrior that Astrid’s mother had fallen ill, and Damian had taken her to her home village.
For two days, they ignored my messages and calls.
On the third day, they finally returned. As I opened the packhouse door, I was greeted by the sight of Astrid sobbing into Damian’s chest.
“Damian, my heart belongs to you,” she wept. “I cannot bear to lose you…”
With his voice soothing. He caressed her hair gently, “ You won’t lose me. I’ll make sure of it.”
They didn’t even notice me standing there, frozen in disbelief.
When they finally broke apart, Damian pulled me aside, his face filled with frustration.
“Astrid’s mother is gravely ill,” he began. “Her dying wish is to see Astrid mated. She was planning to accept a bond with some random wolf just to fulfill that wish.”
His expression darkened. “I couldn’t let that happen. The wolves in her village already think I’m her mate. If I don’t mark her, her reputation will be ruined.”
I stared at him, tears welling in my eyes. “And what about us? What about me?”
His jaw tightened, his tone dismissive. “Ember, you’re being unreasonable. Astrid needs me right now. More than you do.”
He added calmly, as if his words weren’t breaking me apart, “I’m not rejecting you. I’m just giving her a ceremony.”
A bitter laugh escaped me.
He had betrayed me, shattered my trust, and still had the audacity to paint me as the selfish one.
Had he forgotten why he had marked me so hastily earlier this year?
It was because my grandmother, her time running out, had wanted to see me as Luna before she passed.
Damian had knelt before her, his voice filled with promises of love and devotion.
Now, those promises felt like ashes in the wind.
