I had been with Damon for ten years, and yet here I was, still waiting for a sign that he saw a future with me. No mark, no proposal, not even a serious conversation about us.
But lately, I wasn’t even sure “us” was still a thing. Damon had grown distant, his attention focused on Serena, a stunning she-wolf from our pack. She seemed to always be where he was—at meetings, during training, even now, at the pack party.
The party was supposed to be a celebration for the pack, but for me, it felt more like torture. I stood near the drink table, watching Damon and Serena laugh like they were the only two people in the room.
She leaned in, whispering something in his ear, and he grinned.
I was about to leave when Serena approached me, a plate of food in hand.
“You should try this, Elara…” she said sweetly, holding the plate out to me. Her smile didn’t reach her eyes.
I looked at the food—there were herbs sprinkled all over it. My stomach twisted. “Thanks, but I’m good,” I said, stepping back.
“Oh, come on!” she insisted, pushing the plate toward me. “Damon said you’re too picky. It’s good to try new things.”
Damon appeared behind her, his expression unreadable. “Elara, don’t make a scene. It’s just food.”
“You know I’m allergic,” I said firmly, looking at both of them.
Serena’s smile turned smug as she raised an eyebrow. “It’s just a little herb, Elara. You’re not going to die from one bite.”
Damon sighed, clearly annoyed. “She’s right. You’ll be fine.”
My heart sank. I stared at him, hoping for a hint of the man I once knew, but he just looked bored.
“Fine,” I muttered, not wanting to argue anymore. I took the plate and turned away, setting it down on the nearest table.
But it was too late. The scent of the herbs had already triggered my allergy. My throat tightened, and a wave of dizziness hit me.
“Damon…” I gasped, clutching at my chest.
He didn’t even move. “Someone get the doc,” he said casually, taking Serena’s arm. “She does this all the time.”
The last thing I saw before everything went black was the two of them walking away, laughing.
***
I woke up to the sterile smell of the pack doctor’s office. The faint beeping of a heart monitor filled the room, and my Dad was sitting beside me, his arms crossed and his face tight with anger.
“Elara,” he said sharply, “what the hell are you doing with that man?!”
I didn’t answer. My throat was raw, and my chest felt heavy, but the ache in my heart was worse.
“You need to leave him,” my father said firmly. “I mean it. He doesn’t care about you. He doesn’t even respect you.”
“D-dad…”
“No.” He cut me off. “Listen to me. There’s an arranged marriage proposal on the table. He’s from a strong pack, and he’ll treat you like you deserve. The wedding is in five days.”
I blinked at him, trying to process what he was saying. “Five days?”
“Yes,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “It’s time to move on, Elara. Damon doesn’t deserve you.”
He was right. Deep down, I knew it. But knowing and accepting were two very different things.
He took a deep breath before continuing. “I’ll head back home first. There’s a company meeting I need to attend. Lydia called me when she heard you were in the pack hospital because of your allergy. I only came because I knew you’d never ask for help.”
I winced at the mention of Aunt Lydia’s call, the reminder that my family was watching over me even when I tried to hide everything.
He softened slightly but then reminded me, “End things with Damon as soon as possible, Elara. You need to be on the next plane home. It’s time to move forward.”
His words hung in the air, and I felt the weight of them in my chest. There was no going back.
***
When I got back to my place, my phone buzzed with a flood of messages from my Dad. Venues, dresses, flower arrangements—it was overwhelming. I scrolled through his texts until I found one that hit me hard.
[If he cared, he wouldn’t have let ten years pass without committing. Stop wasting your time.]
I sighed, sending him a quick voice note. “Just pick whatever you think is best for your only daughter, Dad. Let’s keep this wedding simple.”
As I put my phone down, Damon walked in.
“Who were you talking to?” he asked, his tone suspicious.
“No one important,” I said, tucking my phone away.
His eyes narrowed. “What’s this about a wedding?”
My heart skipped a beat, but I forced myself to stay calm. “Nothing. Just family stuff.”
He stepped closer, but before he could press further, his phone rang.
“Damon!” Serena’s panicked voice came through the line. “Someone’s following me. I’m so scared!”
His expression instantly shifted to concern. “Where are you?”
“I’m near the woods. Can you come get me?”
