The moon hung low and full in the night sky, casting an eerie silver glow across the pack house. Its light filtered through the thick forest canopy, dappling the wooden floors of the room where Erwin and I stood locked in an embrace. His lips brushed against mine, and for a moment, it felt as though nothing could break the bond we shared.
But then, the door burst open, slamming against the wall with a force that made me jump. A tall figure, cloaked in the lingering scent of pine and rain, strode in. It was Mina, Erwin's brother’s widow and a beta of the pack. Her presence was a storm unto itself, carrying with it chaos and unwelcome intrusion.
Her voice rang sharp in the room, slicing through the intimate atmosphere we’d built. “Erwin, the pup has fallen ill. I think it ate something it shouldn’t.”
Erwin stiffened against me, his muscles tensing as if summoned by an invisible leash. He didn’t even glance my way before stepping back, the warmth of his body abruptly leaving me in the cold.
“Mina,” I said, struggling to keep my voice steady, “can’t one of the other betas handle this?”
But my words went unheard. Erwin’s golden eyes flashed with worry, and his focus remained wholly on her. He grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair, his movements brisk. “I’ll handle it,” he said, his tone final.
As he brushed past me, I reached out, grabbing his arm. “Erwin,” I began, but my voice faltered when he turned to me, his gaze devoid of the tenderness I had grown to love.
“Stay here, Elena. I’ll be back soon.”
And just like that, he was gone, leaving me standing there with shards of broken glass scattered across the floor from the wine I’d knocked over in my shock. One jagged piece had pierced the skin of my palm, but the sting paled in comparison to the ache blooming in my chest.
As I wrapped my bleeding hand, the reality of my situation came crashing down. Erwin wasn’t just my mate; he was the future alpha of the pack. His responsibilities came with weight and duty, yes, but this wasn’t about duty. This was about Mina.
At last night’s gathering, Mina had been shameless, pressing herself close to Erwin and whispering things I couldn’t hear. Her scent—cloying and sweet—had clung to him even after she left.
“Elena,” she had said to me when we were briefly alone, her tone laced with mock sympathy. “You’re strong, but do you really think you can handle the bond Erwin and I share? I’ve known him far longer than you have.”
Her words had stung, but I had dismissed them as petty jealousy. Now, though, they echoed in my mind with cruel clarity.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to steady the whirlwind of emotions threatening to consume me. I began to pack my belongings, one piece at a time. If Erwin couldn’t see my worth, then perhaps I didn’t belong here at all.
As dawn broke, I found myself walking along the beach. The salty breeze carried with it a sense of freedom, but my heart felt heavy. Farther down the shore, I spotted Erwin’s uncle, Ryker. Shirtless and carrying a worn backpack, he exuded an air of calm confidence that seemed to mock the turmoil in my soul.
“Trouble in paradise?” he asked as I approached, his voice rough but not unkind.
I shrugged, not trusting myself to speak. Ryker had always been a mystery to me, a rogue by nature who had only recently rejoined the pack.
“You know,” he said, his gaze fixed on the horizon, “loyalty isn’t about who’s been around the longest. It’s about who you’d bleed for.”
His words struck a chord, but before I could reply, the faint sound of footsteps reached my ears. I turned to see Erwin approaching, his expression unreadable.
“I’ve been looking for you,” he said, his voice softer than I expected. “The ceremony is set for tomorrow. Everything’s ready.”
The ceremony. Our mating ceremony. It was supposed to be the day we officially bonded as mates, solidifying our place in the pack. But now, the thought of it felt hollow.
I didn’t respond, and after a moment, Erwin sighed. “I know things have been tense, but you’re my mate, Elena. That’s all that matters.”
“Is it?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “Because it feels like I’m second to everything else in your life.”
His jaw tightened, but he didn’t deny it.
That night, as I lay awake in the pack house, Erwin’s scent lingering on the sheets, memories of our time together played in my mind. I had loved him fiercely, but love wasn’t enough if it wasn’t returned in kind.
The sound of footsteps outside my door broke my reverie. I opened it to find Ryker standing there, his expression serious.
“You’re stronger than you think,” he said simply before turning to leave.
His words stayed with me long after he was gone. Maybe it was time I started believing them.
As the first rays of sunlight streamed through the window, I made a decision. The mating ceremony would go on, but it wouldn’t be the declaration of love and loyalty everyone expected. It would be the start of something new—a life where I would no longer be second to anyone.
