When My Alpha Chose Her, I Rejected the Mating Bond

Caylin’s POV

The moonbeast noodle stew I ordered had barely reached the table when Breena Wintermoon started picking the meat out piece by piece, smiling the whole time.

"Caylin, Zevran said you don't eat much. I'll help you finish some of it."

"Perfect."

Zevran Blackwood did not stop her. Instead, he looked at her with amusement and approval.

Yet just last week, I had accidentally taken a sip from Breena's moonberry yogurt, and he had been furious for three days.

The memory made my chest go cold.

I stood up to leave.

"You're getting upset over a few pieces of meat?"

Zevran grabbed my wrist.

"Breena meant well. She didn't want food to go to waste. You should thank her."

"Fine. If it matters that much, I'll pay you back with fifty bowls."

I looked straight into his accusing eyes.

Suddenly, this bond felt suffocating.

Lowering my head, I sent a message through my crystal communicator to an old academy friend, Riven Wildmoor.

[Didn't you ask me to build a trading guild with you before? I'm in. I'll invest five hundred thousand moon coins.]

Then came a reply. [What? Isn't that the money you saved for your mating den?]

I replied back. [I'm not buying it anymore. And I'm not getting mated.]

Zevran noticed me staring at my communicator and frowned.

"Who are you talking to?"

Before I could answer, Breena quickly spoke, "Caylin, you're not planning to run home and complain to your pack over something this small, are you?"

The next second, Zevran's expression darkened.

"You're a grown she wolf. Do you still run to your parents whenever something happens?"

"Our mating ceremony is only a month away. Why are you causing trouble now?"

I almost laughed.

For six winters, I had stayed by his side.

I had survived on simple meals and plain water. I even worked five different jobs across the territories.

When I burned with fever, I would rather endure the pain than spend a single coin on medicine. Not once had I complained to my parents. Not once had I said life was hard.

And after all that, this was how he saw me.

With suspicion.

I pulled my hand free and answered calmly, "I'm just talking to a friend."

"Oh, please." Zevran let out a mocking laugh.

"You think I don't know you? It's only a few slices of meat. I'll pay you back."

He turned to the tavern owner.

"Pack Leader, bring fifty bowls of moonbeast noodles. No takeout. She'll eat every one right here."

The entire tavern fell silent.

Then the owner hurried over, convinced he had heard wrong. But Zevran immediately paid with his communicator crystal.

The payment tone rang out.

It pierced my heart like a needle. My hands clenched into fists.

One bowl after another was placed before me.

The stares around me became harder and sharper.

For six winters, I had never imagined Zevran would humiliate me like this in front of so many strangers.

"Zevran, I can't eat anymore,” Breena spoke again.

The bowl in front of her was almost untouched. She had only taken my meat to provoke me.

"Then don't."

Zevran smiled gently at her before turning back to me.

"Breena and I are heading back to the den first. Take your time."

Soon after that, the two of them left the tavern side by side. Walking closer and closer together. Walking farther and farther away from me.

Just like the bond between Zevran and me.

Gone for good.

I blinked away the blur in my eyes and gave the fifty bowls of noodles to the customers who had just arrived.

On the way home, a light rain began to fall.

I had no umbrella. I did not summon a spirit carriage. I just simply walked back to the rental den.

Through the half open bedroom door, I saw Zevran settling Breena into bed.

He was telling her a gentle bedtime tale. A story he had never once told me.

He must have heard my footsteps when he turned around, placed a finger to his lips, and silently gestured for me to be quiet.

Then he picked up his communicator crystal and sent me a message.

[Keep your voice down. Breena just fell asleep.]

Yet only yesterday, when I was resting with a headache, Zevran had brought Breena to our den. At the time, Breena even played music through her crystal speaker at full volume.

She laughed and skipped around the room. The noise made my head pound.

But Zevran never stopped her.

Instead, he brought her fruit and mooncakes, caring for her as attentively as ever.