The office buzzed with gossip, and one of my colleagues, who never liked Clara's flashy style, couldn't resist a jab.
"Clara, who's this mate of yours? He real, or did you rent that hot air balloon yourself?"
"It's real!" Clara snapped, her voice defensive.
"My mate sent it, and he's coming any second."
As if on cue, the elevator dinged. Alpha Ethan stepped out, a bouquet of roses in his paws.
The pack erupted, assuming the flowers were for me. "Nina! Alpha Ethan's here! Go get him!"
"Those roses are gorgeous. I'd kill for a bouquet like that."
I didn't move. Then Alpha Ethan handed the white roses to Clara, who'd been waiting with bated breath. "Happy Valentine's Day, Clara."
The room went still, smiles freezing on every face.
A colleague piped up cautiously. "Alpha Ethan. did you give those to the wrong she-wolf?"
"Nope," Alpha Ethan said, wrapping an arm around Clara's waist and kissing her forehead. "These are for Clara. Nina and I are breaking our bond. Once it's done, I'm binding with Clara."
Silence hit the office like a dead calm.
Every pair of eyes turned to me. I forced a small smile. "Congrats."
Clara nodded, shy but smug. "Thanks, Nina."
Alpha Ethan grinned at me. "I'm taking Clara out for a candlelit dinner tonight, so I'm giving her the day off. You cool with that, Nina?"
I shook my head, voice steady. "Not at all."
I didn't care who he spent Valentine's Day with anymore. My heart had already let him go.
After Alpha Ethan and Clara left, the pack scattered, too awkward to say anything, afraid of upsetting me.
My phone buzzed with a text from Alpha Ethan: Nina, thanks for not making a scene in front of everyone. Clara's over the moon. Happy Valentine's Day-your gift's waiting at home. Love you.
I scoffed. Love me? While he's got his paws all over another she-wolf? What a joke.
When I got home, the housekeeper rushed over.
"Ma'am, your mate sent a ton of gifts!"
The living room was piled high with presents, but they looked eerily familiar. I checked Clara's latest post and, sure enough, they were identical to the ones Alpha Ethan got her.
He bought us the same gifts? Did he think he's some kind of pack alpha, splitting his attention between two she-wolves?
"Where should we put these, ma'am?" the housekeeper asked.
"Sort them out," I said, voice icy. "Tomorrow, they go to the office. We've got twenty-nine she-wolves working there."
Clara didn't need one.
"But ma'am, there's only twenty gifts here."
"Then get nine more. I want every she-wolf in the pack office to have a Valentine's Day gift."
The next morning, every she-wolf's desk had a pricey present-designer bags, diamond necklaces, custom heels. All except Clara's, which sat empty.
