I Walked Away When My Alpha Betrayed Me

When morning came, the first thing that greeted my eyes the moment I woke was the sight of Selara and Kael in the kitchen, moving around as though they were a perfectly mated pair running their own little household. As if what I had seen the night before wasn’t already enough to make my wolf restless with anger, Selara had the nerve to come back to our den again. She stood by the stove, flipping eggs as if she had always belonged there, her movements smooth and confident. Kael leaned beside her against the counter, close enough that their shoulders brushed from time to time. He laughed at whatever she was saying, his expression warm and relaxed—an ease I hadn’t seen from him in a long while. The moment Selara noticed me standing there, she nudged Kael lightly with her hip, almost playfully, before turning to me with a bright, almost sugary smile. “Oh, Railey, you’re already up?” she greeted in a light, friendly tone, as though nothing at all was strange. “I’m sorry, I was in a rush when I left last night and accidentally forgot my bag. I just came back to get it, but Kael said he was hungry, so I cooked him some sunny-side up eggs. Would you like some too?” She made it sound so innocent, so considerate, as if she were merely a thoughtful she-wolf taking care of a friend’s Alpha. But I knew her far too well. Selara had never once been mindful of my place, not even back when we were still at the university within the same territory. Every time Kael picked me up from class, she would somehow end up slipping into the front passenger seat, leaving me in the back as though I were the outsider. There was always something she needed from him, some favor, some excuse, and I never said anything. I kept telling myself I didn’t want to become the jealous, possessive girlfriend, so I swallowed my discomfort again and again. Looking back now, maybe that was my mistake. Maybe my silence made her believe she had every right to cross boundaries that should have been mine. Kael finally turned toward me, his face brightening as though everything in front of him was perfectly normal. He walked over and took my hand, his grip warm and familiar. “You should try some,” he said encouragingly. “Selara cooks her eggs so well they taste like they came from a professional chef.” I let him lead me to the table, nodding faintly as if my body was moving on its own, disconnected from the storm building inside me. Soon enough, the three of us were seated for breakfast. Kael chose the middle seat, placing himself between us, while Selara and I faced each other across the table. As expected, Selara filled the air with her lively chatter. She laughed easily with Kael, recounting stories from their Bali trip, reminiscing about moments they had shared that I knew nothing about. Listening to them felt like standing outside the pack circle, watching from a distance. From time to time, she would throw a comment in my direction, acknowledging me just enough so it wouldn’t seem rude, yet each word only made it clearer how out of place I was. I wasn’t part of this. I was the third one at the table. When the conversation dragged on, I finally cut in quietly. “Since Selara was kind enough to cook, I’ll handle the dishes.” I stood up right away, collecting my plate and heading to the sink before either of them could object. Kael, ever the attentive boyfriend in appearance, followed me. “Alright, I’ll help you with that,” he said, gathering the other plates and placing them beside me. Behind us, Selara stretched her arms with a lazy yawn. “I’ll just go freshen up in the bathroom,” she announced casually, excusing herself like she belonged in every corner of this home. The second she disappeared down the hall, I took the chance. Keeping my voice as even as possible, I spoke softly, “Can you take me to the U.S. embassy later? My passport is going to expire in a week.” Kael nodded without even thinking about it, completely unaware of what lay beneath my words. “Sure, we can go right after we’re done here.” He stepped closer behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me into a warm embrace as if nothing was wrong between us, as if he had never given that same closeness to someone else just hours ago. For a moment, I let myself stand there, trapped between the comfort I once knew and the truth I could no longer ignore. But before we could even continue our conversation, a sharp scream suddenly echoed from the direction of the bathroom. Kael reacted instantly. He let go of me and rushed away without a second thought, as though I had never been in his arms at all. I stood there, frozen, the warmth of his embrace still lingering on my skin, while the person who had held me moments ago had already chosen someone else again. A few moments later, he came back out, carrying Selara in his arms. She looked distressed and fragile, but when Kael’s attention shifted away for a split second, I caught the faint smirk she threw in my direction. “Selara sprained her foot—it’s already swelling badly,” Kael said in a rush as he grabbed his car keys from the counter. “I’ll take you to the embassy after I make sure she’s alright.” Without waiting for my reply, he hurried out, leaving the house filled with nothing but silence. I remained where I was for a long time, staring at the empty space he had just left behind. And yet, I wasn’t shocked. This wasn’t the first time Kael had let me down. From the very beginning of our relationship back in college, Selara had always been his priority. I once believed that when he asked me to move in with him, when he started working for his family’s company and taking on more responsibilities within his pack, things would change. I thought he would finally choose us. But reality proved far harsher than the hopeful dreams of a foolish she-wolf. Whenever I tried to tell him how unhappy I felt, he would dismiss it as if my emotions were just another minor inconvenience. Then, as if to make up for it, he would send money to the card he had given me. “I’m sorry. Just use this to cheer yourself up. Go shopping, go out with your friends,” he would say, like I could be soothed with material things. But I wasn’t like that. I didn’t want expensive gifts or shopping trips. I wanted a partner who saw me, who valued me, who chose me. And Kael had never truly done that. After taking a steadying breath, I left the house and went to the U.S. embassy on my own. Sitting in the waiting area, I filled out the forms to renew my identification, my pen moving automatically across the paper. But when I reached the section asking for my name, my hand stilled. A thought rose inside me, clear and undeniable. In twenty-nine days, I would be leaving for Melbourne to start a new life, away from this territory, away from him. So why not erase everything that tied me to this place? My grip tightened around the pen. Then, with quiet resolve, I filled out another form—requesting the cancellation of my current identification and registering a new name for myself, a new identity, and a new beginning.

When I stepped back into the apartment that afternoon, the silence greeted me immediately. The place felt empty, untouched—Kael still hadn’t returned. “As expected,” I murmured quietly to myself. He was most likely still at the ER with Selara—whether because he was genuinely worried or because she had found yet another way to keep him by her side, making sure he had no reason to come back to me. I let out a tired breath, too drained to even feel angry anymore. Dropping onto the couch, I reached for the book I had been reading, hoping to distract myself for a while—but then something on the coffee table caught my attention. Kael’s phone. It lay there carelessly, left behind in his hurry to rush Selara to the hospital. I gave a soft, humorless scoff. Kael never went anywhere without his phone. The fact that he had forgotten it now only proved one thing—Selara mattered more to him than anything else, even the calls or messages he might miss. I leaned back and tried to focus on my book, but the constant vibration of his phone buzzing against the table made it impossible to ignore. With a sigh of irritation, I reached over and picked it up, my fingers hovering over the screen. Message after message kept pouring in, the notifications stacking up without pause. I had no intention of snooping. I only meant to silence the noise. But then I saw the sender. It was his friends’ group chat—the same pack of people he had gone with to Bali. My chest tightened. Without thinking further, I unlocked the phone. The password was still the same—our anniversary. “We don’t have anything to hide from each other,” Kael had once said with a lazy grin when I had hesitated to touch his phone in the past. Back then, I had believed him without question. That naïve trust died that day. I was done living under his carefully crafted lies. I scrolled through the messages, my eyes racing over every word—until one message made my stomach drop. [Damn, that Bali trip was wild. Can’t believe Kael almost didn’t go because of that clingy girlfriend.] [LMAO, imagine him having to use the ‘client meeting’ excuse just so he could vacation with us.] [Kael, you’re a legend. You should give her a trophy—‘Most Gullible Girlfriend of the Year.’] My breath caught. Even Selara, who was supposed to be injured at the ER, joined in. [Nah, call it ‘Most Pathetic Girlfriend.’] [I think Selara deserves an award instead. Truth or Dare was her idea, right?] Selara replied again, shameless as ever. [Well, he is my childhood sweetheart. What’s a little fun between us?] [Careful, babe. Railey might suddenly go feral and attack you.] [Nah, even if she finds out, she’ll just cry for a bit, sulk for a few days, and then forgive Kael like always. He’s trained her well.] [Damn… that’s actually kind of sad.] Their laughter seemed to echo in my ears even through the silent screen. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. What hurt the most wasn’t just their mockery—it was how certain they all were that I would stay, that I would forgive him again like I always had. The chat wasn’t the only thing that made my chest ache. The photos they shared hurt just as much. In nearly every picture, Selara was pressed close to Kael—leaning into him, laughing beside him, resting her head on his shoulder as if she had every right to be there. In one photo, she held a marker and doodled all over Kael’s sleeping face while his friends snapped pictures and filled the chat with laughing emojis, praising how cute they looked together—like the perfect couple. And me? The real girlfriend? I was nothing but a joke to them. And Kael never once spoke up for me. Not even once. A moment later, my own phone buzzed in my hand. A new message appeared on my screen. [Hi, are you still accepting freelance photography jobs? I’d like to book you for an event.] I blinked in surprise. Photography had always been my passion. I had taken Fine Arts in college, and I used to accept freelance shoots to build my portfolio. But over the past few months, I had stopped to focus on finishing my degree. Curious, I checked my inbox—and found several more inquiries waiting. Something shifted inside me then. A quiet, firm resolve settled deep in my chest. If Kael could pour his time and attention into everything else, then I would do the same. I would bury myself in my work. If he had his distractions, I would have mine. --- A week passed in a blur, and during that time, I barely saw Kael at all. Not because I was avoiding him—but because I was too busy to even think about him anymore. My schedule filled quickly with one event after another, and my camera became both my shield and my escape from everything I no longer wanted to face. I stopped waiting for him to come home. I stopped checking whether he had eaten, whether he had slept, or whether he was still spending all his time with Selara. None of it mattered to me anymore. But that night, when I returned from another long shoot, I found him waiting. Kael sat right outside the apartment door, arms crossed, looking like he had been there for quite some time. The moment I opened the door, his gaze snapped to mine. “So, are you finally done avoiding me?” he said with a sharp, mocking edge. I didn’t even look at him as I stepped inside and slipped off my shoes. “I’m not avoiding you.” “Then explain why you leave early in the morning and only come back when I’m already asleep,” he demanded. “Because I’ve been busy,” I answered simply as I walked past him. But before I could reach my room, his hand shot out and grabbed my wrist. “Fine. If you’re still upset because I couldn’t take you to the embassy last week, just say it,” he snapped. “Selara was in the hospital, and both her parents were away. What did you expect me to do? Ignore her?” I turned to face him, my expression calm and distant. “I don’t know, Kael. People have different priorities. Mine was my passport. If I had waited for you, it would have expired, wouldn’t it?” My voice came out flat, almost emotionless. His fingers tightened around my wrist. “You always have time to argue with me, but don’t you realize I’ve been exhausted too? I’ve been working and taking care of Selara at the same time.” Then his tone sharpened further. “The least you could do is welcome me when I get home, cook me breakfast, or prepare something before I leave for work. Is that really so difficult?” I went still. So that was the truth. He had asked me to live with him not because he wanted to build a life with me—but because he wanted someone at home waiting for him while he spent his days with Selara. For the first time, I raised my voice. “Didn’t I already tell you I’m busy too?” Kael let out an annoyed breath and released my hand. “Fine. Let’s just drop what happened before. Tomorrow, get ready. We’re attending Selara’s birthday party.” I let out a short, incredulous laugh and crossed my arms. “She just got out of the hospital and she’s already throwing a birthday party? That’s impressive.” “It’s also a celebration for her recovery,” he corrected, as if that justified everything. Then he frowned. “Railey, you really hate Selara, don’t you? You always act like this when it’s about her.” I scoffed. “I don’t hate her. I just don’t like her. There’s a difference.” I turned away. “Go by yourself. I already have plans tomorrow.” Without waiting for his response, I walked into my room and shut the door firmly behind me. But the irony of everything hit me the very next morning. Because when I arrived at my client’s event, camera in hand, I realized that my client… was Selara. It turned out she had booked me through her butler, which meant I had unknowingly accepted a job for her birthday celebration. And so there I was, forced to do my job while watching her cling to Kael in front of everyone. She fed him the first slice of cake, leaning in to press a kiss against his cheek as she laughed sweetly. Around them, their friends whispered and smirked in my direction. “Isn’t that Kael’s girlfriend?” “Wow, look at her. So professional. Watching her boyfriend get kissed by another girl and still taking their photos like nothing’s wrong.”

Kael barely spared me a glance the entire time, his indifference as sharp and cold as a winter wind in the packlands. It was obvious he was still irritated that I chose work over attending his precious Selara’s celebration. The irony of it almost made me laugh—how could he possibly be upset with me when he had spent months making me feel like I did not belong by his side? Of course, Selara had to step in and play the gentle mediator. “Kael, Railey had a job to do tonight, so you shouldn’t be upset with her,” she said softly, her voice laced with that perfectly rehearsed concern, as though she truly cared about our bond. Then she turned her attention to me, her smile sweet and flawless. “It’s actually a good thing she’s here working as the photographer for my event. Why don’t you both take a picture together too, like the rest of our guests?” My grip tightened around my camera. It was a performance. A carefully staged act meant to make it seem like she was bringing us closer, when in reality, she wanted to place me in the center of a humiliation I could not escape. At that moment, I stood there in my simple shirt and faded jeans, my plain clothes making me look painfully out of place among the elegantly dressed wolves gathered in the hall. Meanwhile, Selara shone like the Luna of the night in her designer gown, styled to perfection, her presence commanding the entire room. Kael, dressed in a tailored suit that marked his status as a future Alpha, looked like he belonged right at her side. Before I could refuse, Selara had already taken my camera from my hands with a playful laugh. “Come on, just one shot,” she insisted lightly. I stepped beside Kael, my body stiff, and the moment Selara lifted the camera, the murmurs began to ripple through the crowd like gossip carried on the wind. “Kael must be ashamed to have Railey as his mate.” “Obviously he prefers Selara.” “Did you see their Bali pictures? He kissed her like she already belonged to him.” “Well, if I had someone as stunning and seductive as Selara, I’d choose her too.” Soft laughter followed those whispers, each cruel word pricking into my skin like silver needles. Kael remained silent. He did not say a single word to defend me. I stepped forward, taking my camera back from Selara, my face carefully blank. “This is your celebration, Selara. You should be the one in the spotlight.” I lifted the camera slightly. “Just tell me if there’s anything else you want me to capture.” My voice was steady, stripped of all emotion. Selara tilted her head, as if trying to read what lay beneath my calm expression, but before she could say anything, the grand doors opened. Kael’s parents had arrived. They entered the hall with effortless elegance, their presence immediately drawing attention as they approached Selara’s parents and greeted them warmly, as though they were already one family. Selara’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. She looked back at me with a bright smile. “Then take a photo of Kael and me with our parents, okay?” Kael did not hesitate for even a second. He stepped beside Selara and wrapped his arm around her waist as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Their parents stood beside them, all of them forming a picture-perfect family. I raised my camera. Through the lens, I saw everything clearly—the way Selara leaned into Kael, the ease with which he accepted her closeness, the proud smiles of their parents who looked at them as though they were already bound as mates. And in that moment, it struck me… It had always been this way. I had always been the outsider. When the photo session ended, Selara walked toward me again, pulling out her phone to show proof of the partial payment she had already sent, her smile knowing and controlled. “The rest of your payment will be transferred after I review the final photos,” she said lightly, though there was a sharp edge hidden beneath her tone. Then she added, as if it had just slipped her mind, “Oh, and originally I only booked you until the main celebration ended, but since Kael’s parents are here, we’re having another small gathering afterward. Stay a little longer, okay?” She smiled wider. “Don’t worry. I’ll include an extra bonus for you.” There was amusement dancing in her eyes, as if she was aware of something I had yet to discover. I simply nodded and turned back to my work, focusing on my camera. But because I kept following Selara to capture candid moments, I inevitably overheard the conversation between our parents. And that was when my heart shattered completely. They were discussing Kael and Selara’s mating bond. Not just that—they openly announced that Selara’s birthday celebration had now become the day of their engagement. My hands tightened around the camera, trembling slightly as I pressed the shutter. I forced myself to keep working, to stay professional, even as everything inside me collapsed. Around me, the crowd erupted in cheers. Some guests clapped excitedly while others shouted in delight, “Kiss! Kiss!” I turned toward the voice and recognized one of Kael and Selara’s friends from Bali—the same wolves who had mocked me behind my back, who had celebrated Selara as though she was already the Luna of Kael’s pack. Selara blushed, lowering her gaze with a soft laugh. “Everyone, don’t tease us like that. Our parents are right here.” But Kael only tightened his arm around her waist and leaned closer, his voice playful as he murmured, “Why not, my love?” The cheers grew louder. Some guests covered their eyes in mock embarrassment, while others tapped their glasses against the tables, urging them on. Their parents simply laughed, clearly pleased by how perfect the two of them looked together. And then it happened. With a shy giggle, Selara leaned in—and right there, in front of everyone, Kael kissed her. It was not a brief, harmless peck. It was deep, lingering, and intimate. And the crowd roared in approval. To celebrate them, everyone raised their glasses in a toast. So did I. I walked toward the towering pyramid of wine glasses arranged on the table. Instead of taking one from the top like everyone else, I reached into the middle and pulled one free. The entire structure collapsed instantly. Glass shattered across the floor, fragments scattering in every direction as gasps filled the hall. I did not even flinch. Raising my glass calmly, I let a faint, knowing smile curve my lips. “Congratulations,” I said coolly. “Two shameless wolves—what a perfect pair.” Then I drank the entire glass in one swallow, set it down, turned my back, and walked out of the celebration without another glance. --- When I returned home, Kael was already waiting—and he exploded the moment I stepped inside. “What the hell was that, Railey?” he shouted, his face flushed with anger, his Alpha aura pressing down heavily. “Do you have any idea how humiliating you made me look in front of everyone tonight?” I let out a cold, humorless laugh. “Really? And you kissing your so-called childhood sweetheart right in front of me wasn’t humiliating at all?” Kael dragged a hand through his hair and exhaled sharply. “It was just an act, Railey. Our families are close, and our packs are tied through business. We had to play along for them.” I scoffed and folded my arms, tilting my head slightly. “An act?” I met his eyes directly, my voice turning sharp. “Then explain this to me, Kael.” His jaw clenched. “Explain what?” I held his gaze, my tone cutting through the tension like a blade. “Then why did you lie about the Bali trip?”

“You seriously want to bring this up again?” Kael snapped, the frustration in his voice raw and dangerous, the way an Alpha snarls when another wolf challenges him. “Fine. If it bothers you so much, I’ll tell Selara to take down the post. Satisfied now?” I let out a quiet, bitter laugh that barely rose above a whisper. He still didn’t understand. “It’s not about the post, Kael,” I said, my voice steady on the surface, though beneath it, my chest burned with anger and betrayal. “It’s about why you lied. It’s not about meeting Selara, not about kissing her… or even sleeping with her.” “Oh, now I get it,” Kael interrupted, smirking like he’d just solved some riddle. “You’re jealous. That’s all this is about, right?” He folded his arms, his posture casual, but his tone was sharp, almost mocking. “Now it makes sense why you’ve been avoiding me this past week. Jealousy of Selara. Typical.” I had always avoided conflict, always told myself to be patient, understanding—the good mate who didn’t overreact. But ever since he broke his promise on my graduation day, a crack had formed inside me, growing steadily until it finally split wide open. “What if I am jealous?” I shot back, my words slicing through the tension, my chest tight with fury and heartbreak. “Are you finally going to do something about it? Are you going to stay away from her?” “No, right?” I pressed on, my voice cracking but refusing to weaken. “You never even met your so-called client in Bali, did you? You lied. Work was just an excuse for a vacation, a reason to be with Selara.” Tears rolled down my cheeks before I could stop them. I didn’t fight them—they were a small release, a bitter acknowledgement of everything I’d held inside. “So… I think it’s better if we end this,” I whispered, my voice barely recognizable even to me. “Besides, our packs don’t even know about us properly. And soon, you’ll be bound to your perfect mate anyway.” Kael’s face went pale, the first real crack of panic appearing in his amber eyes. He stepped toward me, desperation in every motion. “No! Railey, don’t say that,” he pleaded, hands gripping my shoulders firmly, voice breaking. “I can’t live without you. Don’t leave me, please.” “I know it’s confusing now,” he continued, his hands trembling as they rested on my arms, “but Selara and I only acted for our parents’ sake. The one I care for… the one I truly want… is you. Only you.” “I’m sorry,” he whispered, voice softer now, almost fragile. “I’m sorry for missing your graduation. I’m sorry I didn’t go with you to the embassy. I’m sorry for everything, Railey. I know I let you down, but from now on… you’ll be my first thought, my priority. I swear it.” ‘Another empty promise,’ I sneered silently, but then I caught myself. Why was I still angry? In less than three weeks, I would be gone, far from this pack, far from him. Why waste my strength on a wolf who had spent years proving he didn’t deserve me? So I did what I always did—I forgave him. But this time, it was only a pretense. Kael sighed with relief, wrapping his arms around me in a warm, deceptive embrace, as if everything were back to normal. “Then tonight… will we…” he began, hope shining in his golden eyes, “be together again?” I pulled away immediately. “No.” Without another word, I turned and retreated to my room, shutting the door behind me. Outside, his low chuckle drifted under the wood, casual and careless. “Alright, alright. Take your time to think, my wolf,” he called softly. The next morning, I prepared breakfast and packed a lunch for him, playing the part he always demanded of me. Kael’s expression softened when he saw it, and he grinned, sharp fangs glinting in the morning light. “Thanks. If this is how it’s going to be, everything will run smoothly between us,” he said, his tone smug but satisfied. I returned his smile, perfectly practiced, hollow. I kept up the act for five days, all the while quietly packing my belongings, my heart already halfway across the ocean. I even attended my friend’s wedding alone. Once I reached the bridal room, I shared my plan with her. She cried and clutched me tightly. “Don’t cry today—your happiness matters,” I whispered, struggling to hold back my own tears. She nodded. “Promise me we’ll hang out one last time before you leave for Melbourne.” “Of course.” But as I watched my friend walk down the aisle, a strange, sharp pang of jealousy twisted through me. Kael could have been the one by my side if he had honored his promises, if he had shown up for my graduation. But he didn’t. I shook my head and forced myself back into the celebration, forcing down my feelings. Later that evening, as I was about to leave the party, my phone rang. It was Selara. “Railey,” her voice silky and sharp, “Kael’s completely drunk at our friend’s party. Could you pick him up?” I went—not out of concern, but because this was the final time I would perform the role of the understanding, obedient mate. As I waited outside the party’s private box, I overheard their conversation clearly. “So, what happens to Railey if you marry Selara, Kael?” one of his friends asked. Kael laughed, lazily, the sound carrying the casual cruelty of a wolf who believed everything was his. “Railey? She’s just here to obey me, to be by my side when I want her. Isn’t it amusing, having a little puppy waiting at home?”

Kael’s friends erupted into laughter, their voices carrying a cruel edge that made my blood run cold. “Right, Selara’s perfect if you want a mate for life,” one of them teased. “So… when’s the wedding?” another chimed in, grinning like it was already written in stone. I froze outside the private room, my heart hammering in my chest. Kael had never really seen me as a partner, as someone worthy of care. To him, I had always been convenient—a presence to summon when needed and discard when it suited him. I refused to step inside. I refused to give him even an inch of my attention anymore. But as soon as I returned home, my phone buzzed with a notification. Selara had posted photos from the party. One slide showed the two of them laughing together, another captured Kael leaning heavily on her shoulder, drunk and completely at ease with her. Fury surged through me, sharp and scorching. I packed not just my essentials, but stripped the apartment of every trace of myself. In two weeks, I would be gone, and nothing of me would remain. Over the next few days, I ignored him entirely. By daylight, I immersed myself in photography, chasing shutter clicks and angles. At night, I lost myself in editing, in the rhythm of my own life—one that didn’t include him. Whether he returned home or remained out with Selara, whether he noticed my absence or not, it didn’t matter to me anymore. A week before my departure, my room had become nearly empty. If Kael had even the slightest shred of sensitivity, he would have noticed the absence of my presence in the apartment. But I doubted he had. That evening, I slung my bag over my shoulder, ready to deliver a client’s photo files and meet a friend afterward. Just as my fingers curled around the doorknob, Kael entered, a plastic bag of beer dangling from one hand. For the first time since that night at the bar, we were face-to-face. His amber eyes darkened as they settled on me, and a bitter laugh escaped his throat. “Well, well. We finally collide. Even though we share this space, we haven’t crossed paths all week. Not once.” I didn’t answer. I refused to play his game. “Haven’t we already forgiven each other a week ago?” he continued, voice sharp and dripping with sarcasm. “You even made me breakfast, like you always do. But after that… nothing. You act like the whole week vanished. How long, Railey? How long are you going to avoid me?” “I’m busy,” I said flatly, adjusting my bag and preparing to leave. Before I could step out, his hand shot out, grabbing my wrist and yanking me back. My breath caught as he pressed me against the wall, his presence heavy and suffocating. “Railey,” he murmured, the alcohol heavy on his breath. “If you keep behaving like this… I will end up marrying Selara for real.” I turned my face to the side, avoiding his heated gaze. My wrist throbbed under his grip, but I refused to show weakness. “Then do it. I don’t care.” Kael’s eyes darkened further, frustration coiling through his tense posture. “Don’t care?” he growled. “Since when did you stop caring about me? Avoiding me doesn’t prove that you don’t—you’re jealous, and it’s obvious.” He leaned closer, the menace in his voice sharp as a claw. “Oh, right. I haven’t shown enough of my love for you, have I? Fine. I’ll fix that… so you’ll never dare avoid me again over something so trivial.” The bag slipped from his hand, spilling beer cans across the floor with a metallic clatter. Before I could react, he seized both my wrists, pressing them above my head against the wall. “Kael, let go! You’re drunk!” I warned, voice steady, but he ignored me. His left hand reached for my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. His fingers dug into my skin as he leaned in, claiming my lips in a possessive, bruising kiss. I struggled, kicking and twisting in his grasp, but my strength was nothing compared to his. For the first time, Kael’s roughness broke through, leaving me shocked and trembling. “Kael… it hurts,” I sobbed, my voice shaking. “Was your promise not to hurt me… also a lie?” Something inside him shattered. His body tensed, his drunken haze giving way to the stark clarity of realization. His grip slackened, his breathing erratic, eyes wide as if finally seeing what he had done. “Railey… I…” he began, voice cracking. I didn’t let him finish. The moment I was free, I shoved him back and fled the apartment, my heart pounding in my ears. I caught my reflection in the elevator mirror and froze. My hair was disheveled, my face pale and raw. “Bastard,” I muttered under my breath, scowling at the reflection of the man I had loved for too long. Thankfully, meeting my friend afterward eased some of the tension. Her laughter, the warmth of normal conversation, grounded me back in reality. I was genuinely happy for her honeymoon, secure in the knowledge that her joy had nothing to do with Kael. But my relief was fleeting. One of my clients for the day was… Selara. I couldn’t hold her final photo rolls any longer, so I made my way to meet her. She greeted me with her trademark easy smile, flipping through the images. “These are really good. You’ve got talent.” She tapped her phone. “Oh, I’ve already transferred the payment, including the bonus.” “Thanks,” I muttered, ready to leave. But then she added, casually, yet deliberately: “By the way… since you didn’t pick him up that night, I brought him home. Not yours—mine. We… enjoyed that night together, Railey.” I froze, eyes narrowing. Selara tilted her head, watching me with mock sympathy. “That night, when he stayed at my place, he… mistook me for you,” she continued softly, almost tauntingly. “He was… out of control. He seemed desperate for you.” My body went rigid. Selara’s sweet smile didn’t falter. “So… I’m sorry, Railey. But an accident happened between us. I hope Kael explained it?” My heart slowed in my chest, hollow and heavy. She leaned in, voice dropping to a near whisper. “I know our… arrangement is only for our families’ sake. I know you’re the one he truly loves. But Railey… I saw how much he enjoyed that night. The next morning, he laughed about it, saying it was the most incredible night he’d ever had.” I swallowed hard, every breath bitter and uneven. Selara’s eyes gleamed, cruelly triumphant. “So… why don’t you just give up? Your relationship is already crumbling.” She smiled again, soft and poisonous. “Oh, and one more thing… I want to hire you as my wedding photographer. Awkward, isn’t it, considering you’ll still be dating him by then?”

Finally, Selara dropped the mask entirely, revealing her true intentions. “You’ve always loved him, haven’t you?” I asked, my voice calm but steady, carrying the weight of years of unspoken frustration. Selara met my gaze without hesitation, her confidence radiating like a challenge. “Well,” she said lightly, tilting her head as if she were admitting to some innocent truth, “I’ve always thought of him as a friend, someone I grew up with. But after these last few days… I think I might feel something more than just friendship.” I inwardly scoffed. “Love isn’t wrong, right?” she continued, her tone deceptively casual, as though life had forced her into this position. “Even if you’re still dating him, it’s not a guarantee that you’ll end up married. So… why not let me have him now?” I couldn’t help but snort. Finally, she was being honest. No games, no pretenses—just pure selfishness wrapped in polite words. “Funny,” I said, a smirk tugging at my lips, “I was planning to. Go ahead, take him.” After all, people like Kael were meant to be with people like her. Nothing more, nothing less. Her confident smile wavered for a fraction of a second, but I gave her no chance to recover. “However,” I added smoothly, tilting my head with deliberate calm, “I get to choose my own clients, too. So you’ll need to find another photographer for your big day.” I didn’t wait for her response. I turned and walked away, leaving her standing there, speechless. --- After everything Kael had done that morning, I hesitated to return to the apartment. I had even blocked his number. Selara’s words had confirmed what I already knew—I had no reason to stay there anymore. Seven days remained before I left, and most of my things were already packed or sent ahead, leaving only essentials behind. That night, I decided to go back to my mother’s house. When she opened the door and saw me standing there with my bags, her surprise quickly melted into a warm, welcoming smile. “I missed you,” I whispered, wrapping her in a tight hug. “Can I stay with you before I leave for Melbourne?” Her arms tightened around me immediately. “Of course, my dear. You’ll always be my little girl.” Her warmth, her gentle voice, reminded me of something I had forgotten I needed. Since college, I had insisted I was independent, capable of standing on my own. Yet, here I was, seeking comfort in my mother’s arms. The next morning, over breakfast, I finally told her everything. “I’m going to start over, Mom. A new identity. I’ll even take your last name. Is that okay?” She listened quietly, her eyes soft and understanding. Without a second thought, she smiled and nodded. “If this is what you’ve thought through, I won’t question it,” she said gently. “Thanks, Mom,” I murmured, grateful for her unwavering support. --- Three days later, my mother had to leave for a sudden business trip. “Since you’re home, can you stay and watch the house while I’m gone?” she asked, sipping her coffee. “The maid will be here, but I need someone to help feed the puppies.” Her two tiny, energetic wolves—her pups—barked and yipped playfully from their corner, spoiled beyond belief. I laughed softly. “Of course, Mom.” She nodded, satisfied, then added another task. “Also… I need your help relocating your father’s grave.” I paused, taken aback. “The cemetery is being renovated. I thought it would be better to move him to a larger plot, in the city center,” she explained. I thought for a moment. Originally, I had planned to stay in Melbourne for only a year, but maybe I could settle there long-term. “Should we move him to Melbourne then?” I asked cautiously. My mother reached over, squeezing my hand gently. “No, dear. This is where he was born. He would want to stay here. If you ever miss him, you can always come back.” I nodded, feeling a bittersweet weight in my chest. After dropping her off at the airport, I drove straight to my father’s gravesite. I carefully gathered his urn, framed photos, and the small keepsakes left with him. With my mother’s car, I decided to swing by the apartment one last time to collect a few remaining items. I also wanted my father to see where I had lived during college, even if only in memory. But as soon as I opened the apartment door, I ran into them. Kael and Selara. Kael’s eyes widened the moment he saw me. He stepped forward, curiosity written across his face. “Railey… where have you been staying these past few days? Your room is empty. What does that mean?” I shrugged casually, my tone deliberately indifferent. “Oh, I heard from Selara that you two have already set a wedding date. Isn’t it about time for me to move out?” Kael snapped toward Selara, confusion crossing his features. Selara lowered her gaze immediately, feigning innocence. “Sorry, Kael. My butler was planning to hire her as our wedding photographer. Maybe that’s how Railey found out.” She turned back to me, putting on her sweetest apologetic smile. “But I already told Railey our marriage is only an act.” I smirked. So this was how she lied to Kael—both of them perfect in their deception. Kael exhaled sharply, turning back to me. “Railey, I’ve already explained. Everything is just an act. Why won’t you believe me?” “Oh, I understand perfectly,” I replied, tilting my head innocently. “That’s exactly why I made it easier for you to act. If your parents walked in and saw you still living with me, imagine the chaos that would cause.” Kael ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “Railey, my parents would never come here. I would never let them. What more do you need to believe me?” His desperation was almost comical. “Right now,” he continued, attempting to regain composure, “Selara and I are figuring out how to get out of this arranged marriage. Can you just calm down?” Selara took the opportunity to step in, voice dripping with calculated sweetness. “That’s right, Railey. We’ve even been thinking of going abroad with you,” she said, her eyes glistening with faux sincerity. “That way, you can marry Kael in secret, without his parents knowing.” I blinked, unable to hide my incredulity. “We?” I asked, my voice dark with humorless disbelief. Kael answered quickly, as though it had all been planned. “Yes, the three of us. My parents will think I married Selara, but in reality… it’ll be you.” I couldn’t help the dark chuckle that escaped my throat. “The three of us go together?” I repeated, voice dripping with mockery. “How… convenient.” Selara’s usual confidence crumbled, replaced by melodrama. She dropped to her knees before me, clutching my hand in feigned desperation. “Railey… if it’s only the two of you, what about me?” she whimpered, her voice thick with calculated distress. “My parents would be furious. I’d have nowhere to go.” As she spoke, she shook my arm deliberately, gripping it tightly. I yanked my hand back instinctively. The urn I had been holding slipped from my grasp.

Time seemed to stretch and warp as the porcelain vase hit the floor, shattering violently into countless jagged fragments. The ashes inside scattered across the tile like drifting shadows, carried on invisible currents. For a fleeting moment, everything froze. Even the noise of the city beyond the apartment felt muted. Then Selara let out a high-pitched, theatrical scream as she flailed backward, landing directly on the sharp shards. “Argh!” she shrieked, her voice laced with pain—and maybe a little satisfaction. A few slivers of glass had pierced her wrist, a thin line of blood trailing down her skin, and I barely had time to flinch before a searing pain shot through my own foot. A shard had found its way to me as well. But nothing hurt more than seeing the remains of my father’s urn scattered across the floor, his ashes now strewn like wind-blown dust. Before I could move, Kael lunged toward Selara, his arms wrapping around her in frantic protection. “Selara! Stay with me! Are you okay?” His tone was sharp, panicked, desperate. And then, in an instant, his gaze snapped toward me. Rage twisted his handsome features. “Why would you bring something so dangerous into this house? Look at what you’ve done! Did you mean to hurt her, Railey?!” I froze. Did he just call my father’s urn “dangerous”? He didn’t ask what had happened. He didn’t even glance at me to see the pain etched into my own skin, the glass embedded in my foot. He didn’t care that Selara had fallen on it deliberately. He only saw the opportunity to blame me. Selara whimpered softly, curling closer to him. Her breath hitched and her eyes rolled back before she fainted entirely. “Selara? Selara!” Kael’s voice cracked as he shook her gently, then lifted her into his arms without even a look at me. He stormed toward the door, the weight of urgency propelling him forward. But before he disappeared from the apartment, he shot me one last, searing glare. “If anything happens to her,” he hissed, “you’ll pay the consequences, Railey.” I stood frozen, surrounded by shards and my father’s scattered ashes, the cold of the tile pressing against my knees, and yet Kael didn’t care. He didn’t see me, bleeding and shaken. He only cared about Selara, the girl who had engineered her fall for attention. A hollow emptiness spread through me. I crouched slowly, my fingers trembling as I began to gather the broken pieces of the urn, handling each shard as though it could somehow absorb my sorrow. Tears blurred my vision, hot and relentless, my throat tight with unspoken grief. “I’m sorry, Dad,” I whispered, the words barely audible. I couldn’t decide which hurt more—the fact that my father’s urn lay shattered at my feet or that Kael had betrayed me once again. After everything I had endured, why did it still sting to watch him choose Selara over me? Why did the old, familiar ache of disappointment still gnaw at my chest? As I collected the ashes and pieces, the bitter truth struck me like a jagged stone. I had been gone for days, hiding at my mother’s house, yet Kael had never once sought me out. He knew exactly where I was, but he didn’t come. He never cared to. From the beginning, I had known—he never intended to formalize what we had. That was why he had insisted we hide our relationship from my mother. But I had been foolish enough to believe him. I had trusted that he would do the right thing on my graduation day, that he would finally claim me properly. But the past twenty-four hours had made it clear: it had always been me doing the reaching, the calling, the mending of things that were already broken. And this time, I was done. Hands trembling, I scooped up the urn fragments and ashes, inhaling shakily before straightening. I gathered my remaining belongings, loaded them into the car, and prepared for the final trip to move my father’s grave. The next day, I went to the U.S. Embassy to collect my approved visa, passport, and new identification. Stepping out of the building, a lightness washed over me, a fraction of the burden I had carried for years lifting away. Yet why did my chest still ache? Night fell, and with it came a gnawing emptiness. All the years I had wasted on Kael’s whims, the blind loyalty, the silent compromises—they came crashing down all at once. For the first time in my life, I went to a club. I had spent years performing the role of the good girl, the perfect girlfriend, and in the end, none of it had mattered. Kael had abandoned me too many times. Tonight, the roles were reversed—I was the one leaving him behind. At first, I was cautious. Every man who approached, I kept at arm’s length, instinctively wary. But as the hours passed, as the alcohol warmed my veins and dulled my edges, I let myself loosen, allowing the music to take over, to blur the sharp angles of the day. Someone moved closer. A tall figure with dark, unreadable eyes and a smirk that seemed both mischievous and knowing. He didn’t touch me, only watched, gauging, waiting. “Are you new here?” he asked finally, his voice low, casual. I turned toward him, eyes narrowing slightly. “Why do you ask?” “You’re looking around too much,” he said, a chuckle tugging at his lips. “People who come here often don’t do that.” “Maybe I like to observe,” I replied, tilting my head, keeping my tone neutral. “Or maybe you’re trying to forget something,” he offered, his gaze sharp, almost penetrating. A humorless laugh escaped me. “Aren’t we all?” Understanding flickered in his eyes, subtle but undeniable. He extended a hand. “Then how about we forget together?” I hesitated briefly, then, without thinking, took it. Even tipsy, I maintained a sense of control, knowing my boundaries. When the room began to spin faster than I could handle, I stepped back carefully. The last thing I remember was him asking if I needed a ride, his voice calm, patient, offering. The next morning, I awoke in a bed that wasn’t mine, the sunlight cutting across unfamiliar sheets.

I slowly lifted myself up, rubbing at my temples, trying to make sense of the fragmented memories of the previous night. My dress was still clinging to me, a little wrinkled, and my heels had been abandoned near the doorway, evidence of my late-night fatigue. Clearly, I had booked the room myself, so I had no one to blame. Still, the pounding in my head made it impossible to stay idle, so I dragged myself toward a nearby café, craving something warm to soothe the lingering fog in my mind. By the time I arrived, the lunch crowd had filled the tables, the hum of chatter almost oppressive. A steaming bowl of soup was set before me, the aroma sharp and comforting, and I stirred it slowly, hoping the warmth would revive me. Just as I brought the spoon toward my lips, a familiar voice cut through the din. “Railey,” it said, low and unreadable, carrying a weight I didn’t want to reckon with. “What are you doing here?” I snorted, not looking up. “Eating. What else does it look like?” He ignored the sarcasm, scanning me with an expression I couldn’t read. “You don’t look well. Are you sick?” “Why do you even care?” I muttered, stirring my soup with deliberate indifference. Kael sighed and slid into the seat next to me. “Railey, I…” “Save it,” I interrupted, my tone sharp. “Go back to your colleagues. You don’t have to pretend to care here. Everyone already knows you’re marrying Selara. Don’t waste your fake concern on me.” His jaw tightened, ready to retort, but the words died in my ears as a wave of dizziness hit me. My vision blurred, my spoon slipped from my fingers, and the last thing I registered before everything went black was the panic etched across his face. When I finally opened my eyes, I was in a place I knew—the apartment. A cool, damp towel rested against my forehead, carrying the faint scent of Kael’s cologne. Slowly, I turned my head, only to find him sitting close by, brows knit with worry. “You’re awake,” he murmured, reaching out to adjust the cloth. “What…?” I croaked, confused. “You fainted at the café,” he explained softly. “You had a fever, so I brought you home.” I frowned, attempting to push myself upright, but his hand pressed gently against my shoulder, stopping me. “Don’t move too much. Just rest, alright?” I wanted to argue. I should have. But the softness of the blanket around me, the gentleness of his touch, and the exhaustion dragging at my bones made resistance impossible. He tended to me for hours. He coaxed me to drink warm water, dabbed my forehead with a damp cloth, and tucked the blanket around me whenever I shifted. And despite my own fury at him, a small, dangerous part of me felt safe again. He prepared a bowl of porridge quietly, blowing on the spoon before lifting it toward my lips. “Here, eat a little,” he coaxed. I hesitated, then took a small bite. Relief softened his features, and for a moment, I felt it again—that intoxicating, perilous pull that had kept me bound to him for so long. That lingering sense of being loved, of being wanted. But which Kael was this? The one who treated me with care, whose gaze held me as though I were everything to him, or the one who had always abandoned me for Selara? A part of me yearned to believe in the Kael sitting before me, the one I had first fallen in love with, the one I had trusted so completely. “Railey, you’re burning up,” he murmured, worry thick in his voice. I shivered on the campus bench, despite the warm afternoon sun. “It’s just a mild cold,” I replied, trying to downplay it. “Just a mild cold?” he muttered, crouching in front of me. Without hesitation, he shrugged off his hoodie and draped it over my shoulders. I laughed weakly. “And what about you? Don’t you get cold?” He smirked. “Do you think I’d ever let my mate freeze while I’m warm?” Back then, I had been his priority. He would pick me up after class, leaning against his car with a lazy grin, always waiting. We’d wander aimlessly through the city, steal kisses when no one was looking, lose ourselves in cafés for hours, as if the world existed only for us. I blinked back to the present when he brushed a stray lock of hair from my face. “You should rest,” he whispered. “I’ll be here when you wake up.” My body surrendered, the exhaustion weighing too heavily to resist. I closed my eyes, unsure whether I was drifting into sleep or slipping back into the dangerous orbit of his gravity. Morning arrived. I found myself curled against him, his arm somehow having become my pillow. His eyes fluttered open as I stirred, a small gasp escaping him. “Railey,” he murmured, still thick with sleep. His hand instinctively reached for my forehead, checking for a fever. Feeling it had broken, he exhaled sharply, then pulled me into a tight embrace. “Thank God,” he whispered into my hair. “You scared me yesterday.” I searched his eyes, craving the truth in them. Did he still love me? Could I trust him again? Then, the ringing of his phone shattered the fragile calm. The name on the screen twisted my stomach into knots. Selara. I clenched my jaw, words slow and deliberate. “Kael… can you stay here with me and ignore her?” He didn’t hesitate. “Sorry, Railey. I need to answer this. She probably needs me at the hospital.” Grabbing his jacket, he rushed toward the door, phone to ear, and left me staring at the empty room. There it was. His true nature—unchanged. I let out a bitter, humorless laugh. “I must have lost my mind yesterday,” I muttered. Then, curling my fingers into the blanket, a small, grim smile spread across my lips. “Well… there’s nothing left to regret about leaving him.” I reached for my bag, pulled out a sheet of paper, and wrote the final words I would ever speak to him. Placing the letter neatly on the nightstand beside the old bank card he had once given me, I felt a strange weight lift. That afternoon, I headed to the airport, meeting my mother, freshly returned from her business trip. “You parked the car?” she asked, checking with her usual carefulness. “Yes, Mom. Valet,” I replied. She smiled, reaching out to adjust my coat as though I were still a child off to school. “Take care of yourself. Don’t forget to call me regularly, okay?” I swallowed the lump in my throat, hugging her tightly. For all the years I had been moving, chasing dreams, it had always been her—my mother—who had stayed by my side. As I stepped back, her eyes glistened with tears, reminiscent of my graduation day. But this time, I didn’t cry. This time, I felt relief. Because I had finally, irrevocably erased him from my life. From this moment on, I would chase my own sun, free from the shadow of Kael.