Lysa
Today, I turned twenty-seven, and like any other healer, it was nothing special for my pack, the Crescent Pack. However, every year, I convinced myself that Alpha Kade's feelings toward me would change, that he would notice me and claim me as his mate.
I had loved Alpha Kade since I smelled his pine mixed with earth scent five years ago. I knew, without a doubt, he was my mate. However, there was something wrong with the mate bond because he didn't claim or reject me. I simply existed as a healer who would tend to a member's wounds. But that didn't stop me from hoping for Alpha Kade to fall for me.
I decided to wear my blue floral dress and favorite flats, tie my dark and beachy waves hair into a high ponytail, and wear a little makeup. The pack may not care about my birthday, but what if the Alpha does? At least I was dressed well before I headed for my duty at the healer's clinic today.
But when I entered, my heart stopped at the sight before me. A bouquet of pink roses, meticulously arranged in a vase, sat on the healer on duty's table. Pink roses were my favorite because they were beautiful and a symbol of deep love and loyalty in our pack. My heart raced when I approached the bouquet.
Could Kade have remembered? Could he...?
Before I could reach out, Kara, a healer, my best friend, and the only person who knew how much I loved Alpha Kade, sidled beside me.
"Is someone trying to court you?" she asked with a grin.
But when she noticed the roses, her facial expression looked confused.
"Wait...Lysa, those aren't..."
I held my breath, touched the flowers, and noticed the small card nestled among the petals. My fingers started trembling as I read the message in bold and cursive ink: To Mia, with love - Kade.
My heart breaks. The roses weren't for me. They were for her - Mia, the former Beta's daughter, and the newly appointed war advisor. She had recently returned after years of studying and training in the UK, and it seemed the woman who caught Alpha Kade's heart.
"Lysa... I'm sorry. I didn't know. I thought because you are the only one on shift today that..." Kara whispered while she placed her hand on my shoulder to comfort me.
I forced myself to smile, feeling foolish for harboring such feelings toward an Alpha.
"Don't worry about it, Kara. I think I was just... being ridiculous. Maybe that day, I smelled him; I must have overanalyzed it."
Kara looked at me with brows drawn with worry.
"Ridiculous? Lysa, no. You had every reason to think…the mate bond, that was exactly how it should be. Alpha Kade, for sure, has felt it, too. And if he didn't want it, he should have rejected you; shouldn't have given you those looks every time he came here for treatment."
I shook my head, choking from the lump in my throat and the pain in my chest.
"Looks aren't enough, Kara. I guess I had read too much into things that were never there. I was the only one holding on to something that never existed. The Moon Goddess would never make the mistake of being the only one to feel the mate bond. I'm sure I had made a mistake."
Kara's face softened, knowing that I had a point. She pitied me but had that fire in her eyes, telling me not to give up.
"Mia had just returned, Lysa. Sure, she was the former Beta's daughter, but that doesn't really mean that Alpha Kade hadn't felt that mate bond."
"Maybe... but that doesn't change anything. If Alpha Kade had wanted me, he would have made it known. And Mia, being the war advisor, would always be by his side. And I'm... well, just a healer."
Just then, the faint sound of voices approached and passed the hall outside the clinic. When I turned, it was Alpha Kade and Mia holding hands as they walked. Kade looked at Mia as if he were in full admiration. While Mia was laughing at what Alpha Kade whispered to her.
Kara grabbed my hand in a tight grip before whispering, "Lysa, you don’t have to stay here. Let’s go..."
"No. I'm fine, Kara. Really. I'll just go on with my duties," I replied."
But as the day went on, the wound inside deepened. There was never a moment that I didn't see the two sharing glances together and whispering like lovers. They made me jealous when I didn't have the right.
That evening, Alpha Kade called for a special pack dinner, which I knew was not because of my birthday. As we took our seats, Alpha Kade stood at the head of the table, holding the same bouquet of pink roses. My heart pounded when he raised his glass, looking at Mia.
"Tonight, I would like to announce that Mia is not only my war advisor but also my chosen mate. I'm proud to claim her as my partner in all things. Together, we could lead this pack strong and improve," Alpha Kade said with a smile.
The room erupted in applause and cheers, but I felt like floating and disconnected. The pain burst raw and uncontainable until I couldn't bear it anymore and ran outside.
I ran as far as I could from the dining hall until I reached the river outside. I cried so loud, knowing that no one was going to hear me. After thirty minutes, I decided to head to my quarters to sleep. When I reached the door, I noticed an envelope tucked under it. Frowning, I picked it up and turned to find it was from the Red Crest Pack. I opened the letter and was shocked to read: Tomorrow, you are formally invited to attend the Council Assembly in Red Crest to serve as an honorary guest and a healer.
