Isla POV:
The week Damien was away was the quietest week of my life.
But while the apartment was silent, the internet was screaming.
Seraphina posted everything.
*Photo:* Damien peeling an apple for her with a silver knife. Caption: *He feeds me.*
*Photo:* Damien carrying her over a puddle of snow. Caption: *My feet never touch the ground.*
*Photo:* Damien looking at ultrasound scans, a goofy grin on his face. Caption: *Daddy's little warrior.*
I scrolled past them. They didn't hurt anymore. They were just confirmation.
I spent the days systematically erasing myself from the apartment.
Clothes went into donation bins. Books went into boxes to be shipped to storage. My scent, usually woven into the fabric of the sofa and the curtains, was fading.
On Thursday, I drove to my parents' house in the suburbs.
They were Omegas. Gentle, kind people who ran a bakery. They were so proud that their daughter was the Alpha's Mate. They had photos of Damien all over their living room.
"Isla!" My mother hugged me, smelling of yeast and vanilla. "You look thin, darling. Is the wedding planning stressful?"
"A little," I lied. "I came to tell you... I'm going on a trip. Before the wedding. A specialized training course for Healers in Europe."
"Oh?" My father looked up from his newspaper. "Is Damien going?"
"No. It's just for me. It's a great honor. The Guild invited me."
My mother frowned, her motherly instinct picking up on something. "Is everything okay with Damien? We saw the photos... of that girl. The guest."
"She's a patient, Mom," I said, the lie tasting like ash. "Damien is just doing his duty."
I couldn't tell them the truth. If they knew the Alpha had rejected me, they would be terrified. They would worry about their bakery, their safety in the pack.
"I might be gone for a while," I said, hugging them both tighter than usual. "Maybe a year. The course is intensive."
"We will miss you," my mother said, stroking my hair. "But we are proud. Our Isla, the High Healer."
I left before I could break down.
On Saturday, Chloe came over to help with the final sweep.
The apartment was barren. It echoed when we spoke.
"It looks like a hotel room," Chloe said, looking around. "Soulless."
"It is," I said. I was packing the last of my personal documents.
Chloe sat on a box. She looked angry. "I still don't understand, Isla. How can he be so blind? The life debt... everyone knows you were the one in the tent that night."
I froze. "What?"
"The Blood Moon battle," Chloe said. "Five years ago. I was a trainee, guarding the perimeter. I saw you run into the Alpha's tent when he was brought in, guts hanging out. I saw the silver light."
I touched the scar on my chest, hidden beneath my shirt.
Five years ago, Damien had been struck by a Rogue's cursed blade. He was dying. The pack doctors had given up.
I had gone in. I wasn't his mate then, just a young Healer. I knew the only way to save him was to give him my *Wolf Essence*. It was forbidden. It was dangerous.
I had poured my life force into him. It felt like burning alive. I stitched his wounds with my energy.
I had passed out from exhaustion. I was in a coma for three days.
When I woke up, Damien was healed. And Seraphina, a low-ranking wolf who had been bringing water to the tent, was sitting by his side, holding a wet cloth.
Damien had opened his eyes, seen her, and assumed *she* had saved him. Seraphina hadn't corrected him. She had claimed she used an ancient chant.
I had tried to tell him. But I was weak, my wolf nearly dead from the transfer. He looked at me-pale, shaking, powerless-and saw a weakling. He looked at Seraphina and saw a savior.
"I never told anyone," I whispered. "I thought... I thought he would figure it out. When we bonded."
"He's an idiot," Chloe spat. "And she's a thief."
"It doesn't matter now," I said, taping the box shut. "He chose his savior. He chose the lie."
"Does he know?" Chloe asked. "Does he know you almost died for him?"
"No," I said. "And he never will. Because I'm not going to give him the satisfaction of knowing he threw away the person who actually saved his life."
*I grabbed a locked, fireproof pouch from the safe.*
"Chloe," I said. *"This contains the raw medical data from that night. The energy readings. The essence depletion charts. Keep it safe. Don't show it to anyone unless it's a matter of life and death."*
"What is it?"
"The truth," I said.
The elevator chimed.
I stiffened. They weren't supposed to be back until tomorrow.
The doors slid open.
Damien walked in, tanned and laughing. Seraphina was on his arm, holding a giant stuffed bear he had won for her.
They stopped when they saw the boxes. They saw the bare walls.
Damien's smile faded. He looked at the empty shelves where my herbs used to be.
"What is this?" he asked, his voice dropping.
I picked up my purse.
"Just clearing out the clutter, Alpha," I said. "Making room for the new arrival."
I walked past him. He reached out to grab my arm, but I sidestepped him.
"Welcome home," I said.
I walked out the door, leaving him standing in the emptiness he had created.
Two days left.
