The Luna Betrayed by the Dravenwood Alpha

Aria’s POV A bitter taste coated my mouth as I made my way up the stairs, each step feeling heavier than the one before. At the top, the place that was once meant to be ours waited for me, and all that was left to do was gather the last of my things. This house carried both our names. It was supposed to be filled with laughter, the tiny footsteps of pups, and the warmth of a mated bond. The moment I pushed open the bedroom door, the smell hit me first—long before my eyes could take in the scene. My wolf recoiled at once. The air was thick with the sharp scent of sweat and musk, unmistakably tainted by the aftermath of sex. My heart froze, then lurched violently, as if something inside me had been clawed open. No. I forced myself to step further inside, my gaze sweeping across the room. And there—carelessly tossed at the edge of the bed—was a piece of women’s underwear. My hand shot out to grip the doorframe, my nails digging into the wood until it splintered beneath them. My wolf snarled, fur bristling in rage. So this was how far they had gone. I squeezed my eyes shut, a hollow plea echoing in my mind. Goddess, was this truly necessary? This was the room I had designed, the sheets I had chosen, the place where I imagined Kael and I would start our life as Alpha and Luna. Now it reeked of betrayal, tainted by the omega who had wormed her way into his arms. From downstairs, their laughter drifted up—light, carefree, as though nothing was wrong. As though they weren’t destroying me piece by piece. I bit down hard on my lip until the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. My wolf whimpered softly, wounded and humiliated. Memories surged without mercy. From the moment Livia stepped into his life, Kael had given in to her every whim. Always the same justification: a debt he needed to repay. I remembered the time she craved dragon fruit, complaining about how hard it was to find. Kael had turned to me—his fiancée, his future Luna—and asked me to go fetch it for her. “Aria,” he had said, his voice carrying quiet authority despite the gentle curve of his smile, “Livia’s been wanting dragon fruit. You can ride to the next town and get some, can’t you?” It was far, but I went anyway. For him. For us. Because I believed that helping him repay her would bring him back to me sooner. When I returned, exhausted and carrying everything she asked for, Livia only wrinkled her nose in dissatisfaction. “It’s not fresh,” she complained, tossing one aside. “I want fruit straight from the farm. Not something bought at the market.” My jaw tightened as I waited for Kael to correct her, to defend me. Instead, he laughed lightly. “Then we’ll go to the farm,” he said easily, glancing at me as if it were obvious. “Come on, Aria. Let’s all go together.” That drive was the longest I had ever endured. I sat in the back seat, silent and simmering, while Livia sat beside him in front, laughing at everything he said, basking in his attention. That seat should have been mine. I was the one bound to him. Yet she sat there as if she already held the title of Luna. And then, as if fate wasn’t satisfied, it twisted the knife even deeper. Rogues attacked us on the forest road—snarling, vicious creatures driven by bloodlust. Kael’s first instinct wasn’t to shield me. He didn’t reach for his fiancée, the woman who had stood beside him all his life. Instead, he wrapped his arms around Livia, protecting her like she was the most precious thing in the world. I was left on my own. My wolf fought with everything she had, claws tearing through flesh, fangs sinking deep, while Kael called for backup and Livia clung to him, screaming. By the time help arrived, my body was covered in wounds, blood soaking through my clothes. I spent a month in the infirmary, wrapped in bandages, my wolf struggling to knit me back together. And not once—not once—did Kael come to see me. Livia did. She visited me with soft smiles that never reached her eyes. “Kael’s busy taking care of me,” she said sweetly. “You understand, don’t you?” Understand? She had barely a scratch on her arm, while I carried deep gashes across my body. And still, he chose to stay by her side. That was the moment something inside me began to die. Even when I was barely clinging to life, I was never his first choice. The memory burned even sharper now as I stood in that room, staring at the proof of what they had done in the bed meant for us. My chest rose and fell unevenly, my vision blurring as tears streamed down my cheeks. My wolf howled in grief, but I had no strength left to fight anymore. I crouched down and grabbed my luggage, stuffing my belongings inside with trembling hands. I didn’t want to breathe the same air as them any longer. Every inch of this room screamed betrayal. Every object reminded me of how naive I had been to believe in his promises. Under my breath, I made a vow—not for him, but for myself this time. “I will never cross paths with you again, Alpha Kael Dravenwood,” I whispered. “You’ve lost me… completely.”

Aria’s POV I had promised myself I would never face Alpha Kael again. My heart had already been torn apart, and my wolf had cried herself hoarse in the nights that followed. But when Elder Naomi—the woman who had loved me like her own—personally asked me to attend the Dravenwood Crescent Moon Gathering, I didn’t have the strength to refuse. Naomi Dravenwood was more than Kael’s mother. After the war took my parents, she had become my second home, my second mother. Turning my back on her kindness felt impossible. So a few days later, dressed in a flowing midnight-blue gown that fit the theme of the evening, I stood at the entrance of the grand hall. Moonlight in the shape of a crescent filtered through the towering windows, spilling silver light over the gleaming floors. High-ranking wolves filled the room, their conversations weaving together into a low hum of laughter and gossip beneath the glow of chandeliers. And then I saw them. Kael and Livia. Even from across the hall, the sight of them cut straight through me. They stood far too close to each other. Her fingers brushed against his arm as she leaned in to whisper something that made him smile. My stomach twisted painfully. That smile—once, I believed it belonged to me alone. Before I even crossed the threshold, my ears caught the hushed murmurs drifting through the air. “Look at them… the Alpha treats that omega like she’s the real fiancée.” “Poor Aria. She’s the one who was promised to him—the one meant to be Luna.” “Gratitude only goes so far… he looks like he’s in love.” Each word sliced deeper than claws. I clenched my hands and inhaled slowly, my wolf pacing restlessly beneath my skin, torn between lashing out and hiding away. I lifted my chin and stepped inside. At once, the room fell quiet. Conversations faded, replaced by the weight of countless eyes turning toward me. Kael noticed me immediately. For the briefest moment, something flickered across his face—surprise, maybe guilt, maybe something softer. He shifted as if to come toward me. But Livia was quicker. With a practiced ease, she slipped her hand through his arm and held him there with a gentle smile. I didn’t hesitate. I walked past them as though they were nothing more than passing shadows and made my way to a seat tucked away in the far corner of the hall. My wolf whimpered softly, but I forced her still. Kael lingered for a moment, then allowed Livia to cling to him. He didn’t move away. He didn’t try again. That silence said everything. The evening carried on around me, though it felt like time dragged its claws through my chest. Music filled the hall, glasses clinked together, laughter rose and fell—but all I could hear were the whispers circling like vultures overhead. “Why hasn’t the Alpha claimed Aria yet?” “She’s supposed to be the Luna.” My attention snapped toward the sound, and I realized the murmurs weren’t rumors anymore. Kael stood near the center of the room, speaking to a small group of elders, his voice carrying clearly. “It was Aria who chose to end things between us,” he said. A ripple of gasps spread through the hall. Heads turned, eyes darting between him and me. My chest tightened painfully. He didn’t even try to deny it. He declared it openly, making it seem like I had abandoned him. My wolf whimpered in confusion and hurt. The whispers grew sharper. “The future Luna, leaving her mate?” “And the omega who saved his life—two women, two different fates.” “One prayed for him beneath the Moon. The other shed blood for him.” I wanted to shout that it wasn’t so simple. That I had prayed, bled, sacrificed more than anyone could see. But my voice would only be swallowed by the noise. Before the murmurs could grow louder, Elder Naomi’s voice cut through the hall like a blade. “Kael!” She strode across the room, fury blazing in her eyes. “Have you lost your mind? The girl at your side is not your fiancée. Aria is. And you will treat her with the respect she deserves.” The hall fell into stunned silence. Naomi’s anger carried the weight of authority, her presence commanding even without the Alpha title. Kael stiffened under her gaze, his jaw tightening. But before the tension could escalate, I forced a small smile, even though my lips trembled. “There’s no need, Elder Naomi,” I said gently, my voice steady despite the ache. “It’s true. We’re no longer together. Alpha Kael doesn’t owe me anything anymore.” The room erupted into louder murmurs. My wolf whimpered again, but I forced her into silence. I would not fall apart in front of them. The air suddenly felt too heavy to breathe. I slipped away quietly and stepped out onto the balcony, where the cool night air brushed against my skin and the crescent moon hung high above. I rested my hands on the railing and inhaled deeply, trying to quiet the storm raging inside me. But peace never lasted when Livia was nearby. Her footsteps were soft, her perfume unmistakable as she joined me outside. A smug curve tugged at her lips. “You do realize,” she said lightly, “it’s only a matter of time before Kael is completely mine. Naomi can lecture him all she wants, but she doesn’t get to decide who he chooses as his mate.” I said nothing, my grip on the railing tightening until my knuckles turned white. She leaned closer, her voice lowering into something cold and sharp. “The only reason Naomi ever favored you was out of pity. She was close to your late mother, so she felt sorry for you. But pity isn’t enough to keep a man. Nothing is.” My wolf bristled inside me, a low growl building in her chest. I tried to stay calm. Tried to let it pass. Then she struck where it would hurt most. “You don’t even have a real family left anyway, do you?” she whispered cruelly. “They all died like cowards.” My vision went red. The crack of my hand against her cheek rang out across the balcony. Livia stumbled backward, her eyes wide with shock. For a brief, blazing moment, satisfaction surged through me at finally silencing her. Then she began to cry—loud, exaggerated sobs like a wounded child. She clutched her cheek dramatically and turned toward the doorway where people had gathered, drawn by the noise. “She attacked me!” Livia wailed. “I was just telling her not to be upset with Alpha Kael, and she lashed out at me!” Gasps spread through the crowd. Faces turned toward me—some shocked, others already judging. And then Kael appeared. His gaze shifted from Livia’s tears to my trembling hand. His expression darkened instantly. He stepped forward, grabbed my arm hard enough to bruise, and spoke through clenched teeth. “Say you’re sorry. Right now.” I stared at him, disbelief crashing over me. This was the man who once stood in front of me against every accusation, every whisper. The man who once promised he would always protect me. And now he looked at me like I was a problem to be dealt with. “She insulted my parents,” I said, my voice shaking but clear enough for everyone to hear. “She mocked how they died. I will never apologize for defending them.” His eyes grew colder, his grip tightening painfully. But I pulled my arm free, tears finally spilling down my cheeks. Once, he would have believed me. Once, he would have fought for me. Now… I was nothing to him. I turned and walked away, every step heavy under the weight of the stares burning into my back. My wolf howled inside me, a cry filled with grief and betrayal. At the exit, I paused, desperate to escape, to leave the humiliation behind. But a gentle hand caught mine. Elder Naomi. “Please, child,” she said softly, her eyes filled with sorrow. “Stay for a little while longer. For me. Just an hour.” My heart twisted painfully. She was the only one who had never left me, the only one who still saw me as family. I couldn’t refuse her. So I nodded quietly, wiped away my tears, and turned away from the doors. Instead of leaving, I walked back into the hall, searching for a quiet corner where I could breathe—somewhere the whispers couldn’t follow me.

Third Person POV By now, the entire pack had heard the whispers trailing after Alpha Kael of Dravenwood—his broken betrothal to Aria and the sudden presence of the omega girl, Livia, lingering at his side. Elder Naomi, Kael’s mother, saw it all too clearly. She had spent decades standing beside her Alpha husband, carrying the weight of the pack with him, and she understood how quickly honor could be shattered when emotions clouded judgment. What she feared most was simple and devastating—that her son would lose himself completely to the omega and erase Aria from his life as if their bond had never existed. So she kept Kael occupied. She guided him across the hall, placing him among other Alphas, Betas, and council elders, ensuring he was busy with polite conversation and the duties expected of his rank. Meanwhile, Livia found herself alone, her wide, searching gaze drifting over the crowd until her feet led her toward the banquet tables. That was where trouble found her. Ryan, one of Dravenwood’s merchants and a man infamous for his wandering eye, cornered Livia near the wine. His breath smelled of alcohol, his gaze sharp with desire as he leaned far too close. “A delicate little omega like you shouldn’t be standing here by yourself,” he slurred. “Come with me. I’ll show you a kind of luxury that Alpha can’t give you. You’ll forget all about him.” Livia stiffened, panic filling her eyes as tears gathered. “P-please… don’t do this.” Ryan only grinned, his fingers brushing along her arm. The growl came first—low, dangerous—before the hand could move further. Alpha Kael appeared as if summoned by the threat itself, his presence slicing through the crowd like a blade. Wolves nearby immediately lowered their heads as the weight of his aura surged outward. “She belongs to me,” Kael snarled, his voice echoing with power. “No one lays a hand on her.” Ryan, bold in his drunkenness, laughed. “Belongs to you? Isn’t Aria your fiancée? Then why—” Kael’s restraint shattered. “I said Livia is mine!” he roared. The hall fell silent. Conversations died where they stood. Every wolf in Dravenwood turned to witness the declaration. Aria, seated quietly in a shadowed corner where fewer eyes lingered, heard him clearly. Her body stiffened, but her expression remained composed, as if she had expected nothing else. But the next moment still pierced her like a blade. Kael pulled Livia to him and kissed her—hard, possessive, in full view of everyone present. When he pulled away, Livia trembled, leaning into his chest as though that place had always belonged to her. Then Kael lifted his voice again, making sure every wolf heard. “Livia saved my life. Any wolf who dares touch her answers to me. I will kill without hesitation.” Murmurs burst across the hall. Once, those same voices had praised Aria as the perfect future Luna—graceful, noble, worthy. Now they circled Livia instead, offering comfort, whispering that she was safe, that none of this was her fault. Aria watched it all with a hollow detachment. Without addressing anyone, she inclined her head in a shallow bow and turned toward the exit. Her phone buzzed—Elder Naomi’s name lighting the screen. Aria stepped aside, her voice quiet as she answered. “Elder… forgive me. I think it’s best if I leave.” Naomi’s voice wavered with guilt. “Child, I am so sorry.” Aria had nearly reached the outer corridor when a rough hand seized her arm and yanked her back. The smell of wine hit her first. Ryan. “Well now,” he slurred, his eyes gleaming. “Why should I waste time chasing an omega when you’re right here? Noble blood, refined beauty—you’d be far more satisfying.” Disgust twisted in Aria’s stomach. Her voice dropped, cold and sharp. “You dare lay hands on me within Dravenwood territory? Think carefully before you make that mistake.” Ryan only chuckled, leaning closer. “Alpha Kael used to guard you like treasure. Now he barely spares you a glance. That means you’re fair game, doesn’t it?” He leaned in, his mouth lowering toward hers—but Aria shoved him back with all her strength, her wolf snapping beneath her skin. With shaking hands, she pressed the emergency rune on her phone—a direct line to her Alpha. The call connected. “Alpha,” she said quickly, panic threading her voice, “Ryan—he’s trying to force himself on me. I need you—” Kael’s response was a heavy, impatient sigh. “Aria, enough with the games.” Her heart dropped. “I’m telling the truth—” “I won’t be fooled. Livia was just harassed, and now you’re pretending? Stop humiliating yourself.” His tone turned to ice—and the line went dead. She tried reaching him through the mind-link again and again. Silence answered every attempt. Ryan lunged once more. Aria shifted instantly, her wolf sleek and pale, eyes blazing with fury. She darted past him, claws scraping against the stone, and raced up the stairs. Fate placed salvation in her path. Elder Naomi stood near the balcony, turning in alarm as the white she-wolf approached. Aria shifted back into her human form, trembling, sweat dampening her skin. “Elder,” she gasped, words stumbling over fear and humiliation, “Ryan… he tried to—” Naomi’s expression hardened, fury blazing in her eyes. “Enough. You’re safe now.” She wrapped Aria in her shawl and turned sharply to the nearby wolves. “Escort her to the guest chamber. Prepare fresh clothes and hot water immediately.” The maids hurried to obey. Hours passed before Aria’s trembling eased, before the scent of fear faded from her skin. But whatever fragile calm she found shattered the moment she stepped outside and overheard voices drifting from the hall. Kael’s voice. “What if Aria was telling the truth?” Beta Lewis asked cautiously. “She’s in Dravenwood territory,” Kael replied with a dismissive scoff. “Who would dare? Her background is respectable enough, even if she lost her parents early. Ryan wouldn’t risk it.” A brief pause followed. Then Kael added, his tone cold with contempt, “But if he did, then so be it. She deserves it for all her dramatic talk about ending our engagement.” A few of the officials chuckled. “So the future Luna means nothing now,” one of them remarked. Kael gave a short grunt. “She still has her place. But Livia—Livia is my sworn debt to the Moon Goddess, sealed in blood. She comes first.” Aria stood frozen in the hallway, every word carving into her. Important? The word almost made her laugh. Important—yet left to fight alone. Important—yet dismissed as a liar when she begged for help. Important—yet not worth protecting when another woman so much as shed a tear. Her hands curled into fists, nails biting into her palms. The word had never sounded so empty. When she finally descended the stairs, Elder Naomi was waiting for her. The older woman reached out, sorrow etched into every line of her face. “Child… forgive my son. He has lost his way.” Aria shook her head slowly, forcing a faint smile. “Elder… I can’t stay here anymore.” Naomi’s voice trembled. “Please. Stay—for me, if not for him.” But Aria lifted her chin, her wolf steady and resolute behind her gaze. “I’ve already agreed to an arranged match in the capital. My aunt arranged it. Maybe… maybe I’ll find peace there.” Naomi’s shoulders slumped, resignation heavy in her sigh. “If that is your choice, I will not stand in your way. Just promise me one thing.” Aria’s voice softened. “What is it?” “Come visit me,” Naomi said quietly. “I have no daughter but you.” For the first time that night, warmth flickered in Aria’s eyes. She stepped forward and rested her forehead gently against Naomi’s shoulder. “I promise.”

Aria’s POV The drive back to the pack house passed in near silence, broken only by the quiet rumble of the engine and the driver’s occasional exhale. But quiet never lasted whenever fate decided to press its weight on me. The driver’s phone rang. He answered, and before he could lower the volume, Alpha Kael’s voice burst through the speakers, sharp and edged with urgency. “Where are you now? How long until you return?” The driver straightened at once. “We’re on the way back, Alpha.” Kael’s voice sounded tight, almost panicked. “Make it fast. Livia is weak—I need her brought to the healers immediately.” My body went still, my fingers curling against the fabric of my dress. Of course. Even now, it was her. It was always her. The driver hesitated, then glanced at me in the mirror. “Alpha… Luna Aria is shaken. She asked to be taken back to the pack house first.” The title Luna struck like a whip across my skin. I almost laughed at the hollow irony. I had never truly been Luna—not once. There had been no ceremony, no bond, no mark. Just an empty name he forced the servants to use, as if a word could cover the truth. He had once sworn to me—before the Moon Goddess herself—that he would marry me or die trying. And yet here we stood, with nothing but broken promises between us. His answer came quickly, cold and absolute. “Why are you worrying about an outsider instead of following my order?” Outsider. The word tore through me like claws. My chest burned, but when I leaned forward, my voice stayed calm. “Stop the car here,” I said. The driver looked alarmed. “But—” “Please. Just stop,” I insisted. I wouldn’t force him to choose between me and his Alpha. The car slowed, then halted. I stepped out onto the roadside, the night air of Dravenwood wrapping around me in a biting chill. The alcohol I’d had earlier still clouded my head, and my steps felt unsteady as I started down the road. Lanterns flickered faintly ahead, each one too far apart, each step heavier than the last. And my thoughts drifted back. The same gathering. The same night. One year ago. Back then, I had been the one doubled over in pain, my stomach twisting so hard I could barely breathe. Kael had been drunk, his voice slurred, his balance uneven. But the moment he saw me collapse, he didn’t hesitate. He shifted, his wolf lowering so I could hold onto his fur. He carried me all the way to the infirmary, his heartbeat thunderous against me, his scent wrapping me in safety. That had been then. Now, on the same night, he left me to walk alone while he hurried to Livia’s side. By the time I reached the pack house, my hands trembled from the cold. I stood before the door, staring at it as though it no longer belonged to me. My fingers fumbled with the key. Just as I was about to turn it, hands suddenly covered my eyes from behind. “Can you tell who it is?” I recognized the scent immediately. My wolf tensed. Alpha Kael. A scream nearly escaped me, but I forced it down, pulling away from him with a calm I didn’t feel. I no longer played along with his games. He frowned at my reaction, his gaze sharp even in the dim light. “Mother said you left something here.” When I looked down, he held out a box—one I knew instantly, its shape too familiar to mistake. My pulse jumped. I snatched it from him without thinking. “Give that back.” His eyebrow lifted. “You’re hiding things from me now?” I pressed the box to my chest. Once, long ago, we had made a promise—no secrets, no lies. For fifteen years we had shared everything. Until Livia came. Until every vow he made turned to dust. “It isn’t anything you need to know,” I said softly. “There’s no reason to explain it to you.” His expression darkened. He reached for it again. “No reason? Did some man give you this? Is that why you’re keeping it from me?” I turned away, holding it tighter. He let out a low chuckle, as if the moment reminded him of the past—of our childish games, our playful struggles over small trinkets that always ended in laughter. But I didn’t laugh. My throat tightened, and tears spilled before I could stop them. He paused. “You’re crying? Just because you won’t tell me what’s inside?” I shook my head, words trapped in my chest. I wasn’t crying over the box. I was crying because he had reduced me to this—because the man who once carried me to safety now placed another woman above me without hesitation. For a moment, I almost gave in. Almost handed it over, thinking that if he saw what was inside, he might at least return it gently. But then her name filled the silence again. Kael’s phone lit up. Livia. The call rang once. Twice. Again and again, relentless. Kael’s gaze flickered, his body tensing. Without thinking, I caught his arm, stopping him. The movement surprised even me. His eyes widened slightly, a flicker of something like hope passing through them—as if my touch still meant something. But the phone kept vibrating, insistent and urgent. He sighed heavily. “I’m worried. She wouldn’t keep calling unless it was serious.” Of course. My hand dropped away. “Just give it to me,” I whispered. For a moment he hesitated, caught between the two of us. Then he pushed the box back into my hands with little care. It slipped. The lid cracked open as it hit the ground, and a single sheet of paper fluttered out, settling at my feet. I bent down, breath catching the moment I saw it. The engagement papers. The one document that could end everything—cleanly, legally, finally. Kael barely spared it a glance before looking away. His phone rang again. This time he answered, his voice softening instantly as he spoke Livia’s name. Then he turned and walked off, not once looking back. I stood there alone in the cold night, clutching the paper to my chest. My tears blurred the ink, but I could still read every word. This was the end.

Aria’s POV I had spent the entire night packing, folding, and re-folding clothes I no longer wanted, touching keepsakes that had lost their meaning. My room in the pack house looked bare, almost lifeless, and I almost laughed at the irony. The engagement papers lay on the desk, already bearing my signature. The break had to be finalized with his mark, and then everything would truly end. I ran my fingers across the edge of the parchment, feeling the sting in my chest that no tears could ease. Fifteen years of devotion, trust, and bond—reduced to ink on a page. I called him. Once, twice, three times. Silence. Alpha Kael’s voice had once been the only sound that calmed my restless wolf, but now it was the sound he refused to give that drove me restless. With a heavy sigh, I dialed Livia instead. Her voice came sweet, dripping with victory. “He’s here with me. If you need him, come to this address.” The moment she gave it, my chest tightened. That villa. The one he had sworn belonged only to us. The villa where we first gave ourselves to each other, where he swore to protect me until the Moon Goddess herself called him away. So it wasn’t secret anymore. It wasn’t sacred anymore. It was just another den for lies. I told myself to keep my steps steady, but as the car drew closer, my wolf stirred in agitation. I smelled them even before I entered—the heady scent of his musk tangled with her perfume, thick in the air like a mockery. And when I opened the door, there they were. His lips on hers. His hand pressed against her back as if she was the only woman his body had ever ached for. My wolf whimpered, but I kept my chin high. I wouldn’t cry. Not anymore. “Alpha,” I called, my voice sharper than the blade I wished I had. He froze, pulling back with a guilty start, though guilt didn’t linger long in his eyes. Livia smirked, brushing her lips with the back of her hand, triumphant. “I only came for one thing,” I said, holding up the papers. “Your signature. After this, we’re finished.” His gaze flicked to the parchment, then to me. Cold. Detached. He didn’t argue, didn’t ask why. He just took the pen and signed. The finality of his strokes cut deeper than any blade could. “There,” he said, his voice flat. “You’re free.” No, I thought bitterly. You’re free. “I’ll pick up the rest of my belongings here,” I added, forcing my voice to remain steady. “There are things I left behind.” His jaw tensed. “Your things have been moved. To the basement.” I didn’t argue. I only turned and descended, each step echoing louder than my heartbeat. And there they were—my dresses crumpled, boxes torn open, everything coated with dust as if my presence had been erased long before my body had left. I knelt and began to gather them, piece by piece, forcing myself not to break. That was when she appeared. Livia. Her footsteps clicked against the stone floor, her smugness filling the space. “You’re still here,” she said, her voice sweet but edged with venom. “I knew you would be. Still clinging, still hoping. Do you think Kael will change his mind just because you look pitiful down here?” I froze, clutching one of my old dresses tighter. “You can’t let go, can you?” she pressed on, circling me like a predator. “You want him to see you as weak and helpless, so he’ll come running back. But he won’t. He’s mine now. And I’ll show you why you should stop embarrassing yourself.” Before I could reply, she shoved her hands against the heavy wooden cabinet that stood to the side. My wolf sensed the danger too late. The furniture groaned and began to topple. I spun, but there was no space, nowhere to dodge. The weight of it came crashing down. A roar filled the air—his roar. Kael. He lunged forward, his arms wrapping around Livia, pulling her to safety. And me? The impact crushed me to the floor, pain exploding in my body. Darkness swarmed, but even as my breath faltered, one thought steadied me. It’s better this way. Better to be hurt physically than to keep bleeding in my heart. I don’t love him anymore. The world faded. When I woke, soft light filtered through the curtains. I was in a bed, not the basement floor. My body ached, but the healer standing nearby murmured, “The injuries are not grave. Bruises, sprains. You’ll heal.” Beside him sat Elder Naomi, her eyes red from worry. She clasped my hand, her voice trembling. “Aria, my child. I feared the worst.” I tried to sit up, but the pain forced me down again. “I’m fine,” I whispered, though my throat was dry. “You’re not fine.” Her voice cracked, but it carried a strength I had always admired. She reached for her phone, her hands shaking as she called her son. The line clicked. “Kael,” she snapped, her voice sharp. “How could you leave her like that? She could have died! You go and apologize this instant!” The silence stretched. Then his voice came, colder than ice. “I won’t apologize. If she dies, she dies. She’s not my fiancée anymore.” The words stabbed through me, sharper than any wound the cabinet had left. Elder Naomi’s hand trembled around mine as tears welled in her eyes. She ended the call, her shoulders sagging with grief. “I am sorry, Aria,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I raised him better. He was not supposed to be this cruel.” I shook my head. “It’s not your fault.” She sat for a long moment, then finally sighed, her wolf aura pressing heavy with sorrow. “Before you leave for the capital, allow me to give you something. A dowry. I am still friends with your mother, and though my son has failed you, I will not. Let me at least send you away with something to protect you. To remind you that someone in this pack still cares.” Her words pierced through my numbness. I wanted to refuse, but her gaze pleaded with me, so filled with regret and longing to mend what could not be mended. I only nodded, whispering, “Thank you, Elder Naomi.” Her expression softened with relief. She squeezed my hand. “Good. Then you will not walk into the capital with nothing.” The moment was tender, almost fragile—until the door slammed open. “Who’s going to the capital?”

Aria’s POV “Who’s going to the capital?” The voice rang through the room like a whip, sharp and commanding. My heart gave a jolt as Alpha Kael stepped inside, his presence filling the space in that arrogant, unyielding way that always made it hard to breathe. Elder Naomi straightened, her wolf aura firm, but her voice calm. “Aria will go.” Her words made the decision sound simple, almost ceremonial. And so, I lifted my chin and gave a small nod, confirming it myself. “Yes. I will.” Kael’s eyes narrowed, his gaze pinning me as though he could dig into the marrow of my bones. Then, without hesitation, he said, “Then I will accompany you.” The words hit me like a stone to the chest. For a moment, I couldn’t even process them. He wanted to come with me? To the capital? I let out a bitter laugh in my head. How ironic. Just a few months ago, I had asked him to go with me. I had begged him to make time, to walk beside me on that journey. He had promised. But on the day of the flight, I had stood at the airport for hours. Waiting until the terminals emptied. Waiting until my hope crumbled. Midnight had come, but he never had. Later, I found out why. Livia. She had whispered to him about how she wanted to see the world—cities, packs, oceans—anything beyond the poor omega life she came from. And behind my back, he had booked tickets with her, flying across territories, spending nearly a month at her side. And now, here he was. Saying he would accompany me. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I only knew the bitterness sat heavy in my throat. “You don’t have to,” I said quietly, my eyes never leaving his. But Kael, being Kael, smirked as if I were a child throwing a tantrum. “No. I will. Because I know you. You’ll cry later, beg me to come. You’ve always been afraid to travel alone.” His words were sharp with arrogance, laced with the dominance he always wore. Once upon a time, they would have cut me, and I might have clung to him despite the wound. But now, I only stared at him, silent. Inside, my wolf stirred. She wanted to snap back, to tell him we were no longer that fragile, no longer the woman who couldn’t breathe without him. I wanted to tell him that I had learned how to do things alone. That he wasn’t my anchor anymore. But I said nothing. My silence seemed to unsettle him. His eyes lingered on me, searching, testing. At last, he sighed, turning away. “Fine. I’ll check on Livia now. She’s frightened.” Of course. Livia was frightened. Always frightened. Always needing him. I clenched my jaw, forcing myself not to scoff. He could save her, coddle her, shield her from shadows if he wished. She had already taken everything else. But then he turned back, his gaze sliding to his mother. His words, casual yet cutting, fell into the air like a blade, “Mother, take care of your daughter-in-law.” For a moment, I froze. Daughter-in-law. My heart stuttered at the title. It was the first time I had heard it since he’d signed the break-off papers. Did he say it out of habit? Out of cruelty? Or was it his way of pretending Livia didn’t exist for the span of a heartbeat? Elder Naomi flinched, her gaze flickering toward me, filled with sorrow. But I only forced a small smile, my lips curving in a way that wasn’t joy at all. “I’m fine, Alpha,” I replied softly, though the word was for him more than her. His eyes met mine again. A storm brewed there—anger, guilt, maybe even something deeper—but he quickly masked it. “I’ll come with you to the capital,” he repeated, as if declaring it would make it true. I gave him another smile, this one sharper. “Yes.” The air grew heavy between us, our wolves silent in the tension. Finally, he cleared his throat and said, “Tomorrow, I’ll buy you your favorite sushi. The one from the shop near the plaza. You always crave it before a trip.” A shard of memory pierced me, him feeding me that very sushi years ago, when we were inseparable, when he wanted to know every detail of my likes and dislikes. Now, it felt like a cruel echo. I nodded once, curtly. “Goodbye.” The word tasted final, though he didn’t seem to hear it that way. He lingered for a breath, as if waiting for me to call him back, to soften, to let him in again. But I didn’t.