Albert had always chosen Hailey over Cecilia. She had known from the beginning that his heart wasn’t hers, despite being his mate, the one the Moon Goddess had chosen for him. Yet, from the moment they married, it was clear she was only a second thought, a placeholder where Hailey, his first love, truly belonged.
As Cecilia walked back to the pack house, the emptiness of it struck her harder than the winter chill. Albert was the Alpha, but he rarely spent time in the place he called home. For years, it had only been her and Evan in the echoing halls, his laughter filling the spaces Albert left vacant. Now, Evan’s laughter was only a memory. His presence, which had been the light in her life, lingered in the shadows, in the portraits on the wall, and in every object that he had touched. Cecilia felt the weight of his absence pressing down on her with every step.
In a daze, she moved through the house, collecting his belongings. Each small piece of him that she packed away felt like ripping apart her own heart. His clothes, his favorite toys, even the blanket he used to cling to during thunderstorms—all of it had to go. She couldn’t bear the reminders, yet couldn’t bring herself to let go entirely. Her hands shook as she carefully folded his last shirt, tears slipping down her cheeks in silence. This was her farewell, the goodbye she hadn’t wanted to say.
Dragging her suitcase to the staircase, she paused, steadying herself. Just as she prepared to descend, the front doors opened, and Albert walked in. For a brief moment, surprise flickered in his gaze as he noticed her, but it quickly turned cold. He was carrying Hailey, his face full of worry. Albert brushed past Cecilia, barely sparing her a glance, as if she were no more than a shadow.
Cecilia stood frozen, her heart pounding. She had grown used to being invisible when Hailey was around. Since her youth, she had watched Albert’s gaze drift to her sister, his eyes lighting up in a way they never did with her. When their packs had first allied, Cecilia had hoped for a connection with Albert, but his attention had always been on Hailey. She remembered the shock on his face when he discovered that Cecilia, not Hailey, was his destined mate. And ever since, he had treated their bond as if it were a burden.
Finally, he paused, noticing the suitcase at her feet. “Cecilia, what are you doing?” His voice was low, distant, lacking the warmth she’d once wished for.
Hailey, nestled against his shoulder, looked at her sister with a faint smile. “Cecilia, I wasn’t feeling well, and Alpha Albert thought it’d be best if I stayed here to rest.” She leaned closer to him, her voice light, almost mocking. “I’m sure you don’t mind.”
Cecilia clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. She kept her gaze steady, though her heart ached. “It was just a slight dizziness, wasn’t it?” She asked, her tone calm, though bitterness edged each word.
Albert ignored her question, instead guiding Hailey gently to the sofa. He looked at her as though she were something precious, his hands brushing her forehead as if tending to her every discomfort. Cecilia’s thoughts drifted to the many times she had needed him, only to be met with his indifference.
There had been that day when a rogue had attacked her on the pack border, leaving a deep gash on her arm. She had returned, bleeding and in pain, seeking comfort from her mate. Because ever since they mated, his neglect rendered her wolf weak, making it hard for both her and her wolf to use their healing abilities.
Albert’s response had been as cold as the winter wind. “It’s just a scratch,” he’d said dismissively, not even looking up from his paperwork. “Why are you bothering me?”
She’d wanted to shout at him, to demand to know why he treated her as if she were less than nothing. She was his Luna, his mate, the one meant to stand by his side. Yet none of it seemed to matter to him. Hailey had always been the center of his world, and Cecilia was simply...there.
