The Day I Stopped Loving My Alpha

I went to the pack station to report my husband missing, my hands trembling as I clutched the hem of my hoodie.

My husband, Damon Callahan, has been missing for five days. Please, you have to help me.

The officer looked up. Damon Callahan? You said thats your husband? Whats your name?

Arianne Callahan. I twisted the fabric between my fingers. Have you heard anything about him?

His expression changed. He slapped a hand against the desk.

Arianne? Maam, give us your real name. This isnt a game.

I am Luna Arianne Callahan.

He stared at me. Little blind girl, dont think you can fool anyone just because you look like someone important.

My chest tightened.

Then he turned toward the LED screen. A reporter was already talking.

Across the city, everyone is celebrating Luna Arianne Callahans pregnancy. Alpha Damon Callahan has gifted his mate a luxurious mountain retreat and a pack ceremony worth millions. Her social media accounts have exploded with attention, with new posts appearing almost daily.

Then Damons voice filled the station.

This New Year, I only want my mate to be safe, happy, and healthy.

A woman laughed behind him.

Bianca.

My blood went cold.

Bianca. Not me.

Five years ago, I lost my sight in a pack accident. Damon had been devastated, but the elders insisted that no Alpha should be bound to a blind mate. Eventually, they found Bianca Laurent, a woman who looked enough like me to take my place.

I still remembered Damons reaction when he first learned about her.

Get her away from me. Arianne is my mate, and shes the only woman I will ever love.

That night, he came to the infirmary and held me against his chest while tears soaked my shoulder.

Tomorrow, well complete our bond, he promised. Then youll officially be mine, Arianne. My mate for life.

Everyone knew he loved me.

Everyone knew he hated Bianca.

So why was she now standing beside him, wearing my face and living my life?

Had Damon forgotten me?

Before I could find an answer, something crashed down without warning.

A billboard struck me.

Pain exploded through my skull, and darkness swallowed everything. The last thing I heard was Damon shouting my title.

Luna!

Then I blacked out.

**

When I opened my eyes, harsh white light forced me to shut them again. My eyes burned, and for one terrifying moment, I thought I was still trapped in darkness.

Then I opened them.

The room slowly came into focus.

The walls.

The curtains.

The bedside table.

I could see.

After five years, I could actually see.

But before I could understand what had happened, voices reached me from outside the door.

Alpha, how much longer are you going to let Bianca pretend to be Luna Arianne? Its been five years.

I froze.

Beta Maddox.

I dont know, Maddox.

Damon.

His voice was rough, almost exhausted.

The elders refused to accept a blind wolf as my mate. I loved Arianne too much to give her up, so I lied. I told them her sight had returned. Then I let Bianca take her place.

My breath caught.

Maddox sounded furious. Those elders are gone. Why are you still hiding the truth?

Because Bianca is pregnant.

Silence.

Then Damon spoke again, quieter this time.

I dont know when it changed, but I cant seem to breathe when she isnt around. After all these years of pretending, I dont know how to let her go.

Maddoxs voice cracked.

You have feelings for Bianca? After what her brother did? He caused the accident that blinded Arianne. Your mate has lived in darkness for five years because of him!

Enough, Damon growled. Bianca wasnt responsible for her brothers actions. Hes already imprisoned. Hell never return to the pack.

Youre still covering this up, Maddox said. Arianne is isolated in the mountains with no signal and no idea whats happening. She lives in that glass house you built for her, completely protected from the truth.

He paused.

But what happens if she finds out?

My hand covered my mouth.

The glass house.

For years, I had thought it was Damons greatest gift to me. He had designed it so I could live safely, away from the whispers and pity of the pack.

Now it felt like a cage.

I turned toward the bedside table and found the portraits Damon had drawn for me.

The first showed us during a desert hunt, when he broke his leg and I stayed beside him until we were rescued.

Another showed him climbing a cliff during a snowstorm to bring me a rare mountain herb.

One captured the night he brought wolves from the northern clans to dance beneath the full moon because he knew how much I loved it.

Then there was the glass house.

Every detail had been designed around me, the blind mate he promised to protect forever.

I picked up the last portrait.

Damon was kneeling before me, his eyes full of the love I had once believed in.

From now on, Ill be your eyes, Arianne. Youre the only woman in my heart, and you always will be.

I stared at the painting.

Every memory had become a lie.

He had hidden the truth while another woman took my place. He had kept me safe only because my ignorance made the deception easier.

My hands began to shake.

I carried the portraits to the fire.

One by one, I fed them to the flames.

The drawings curled and blackened, our memories disappearing in seconds.

Your love isnt something I want anymore, Damon, I whispered. And your protection was never freedom. It was a cage.

I dropped the final portrait into the fire.

I wont live inside your lies.

The fire alarm suddenly shrieked through the house.

I stood there watching the flames consume everything Damon had once given me.

For five years, I had believed he was the one person who would never betray me.

Now I knew the truth.

He hadnt needed to leave me to replace me.

He had simply hidden me away, built a beautiful cage around my life, and convinced me that it was love.

I stumbled out into the chaos, coughing as smoke burned my lungs. My chest felt tight, but I kept moving until I found an old phone booth by the roadside. With shaking hands, I dialed the number I had kept for years.

Evander, I whispered when he answered. Do you still remember your promise? You said I could return to the northern pack anytime within five years.

There was a pause before his familiar voice came through, deep and warm. Of course, my beloved Arianne. The entire pack has been waiting for you. Everyone keeps asking when their favorite she-wolf is coming home.

I held the receiver tighter. My identity papers will take three days to process, and I cant leave New York without Damon noticing. You know he wont let me go.

Evanders tone softened. How are you planning to disappear without him finding out? You know Damon. Hes territorial, and hell realize the moment you leave the glass house.

I swallowed. Then Ill make sure he only gets my corpse.

The words sounded awful, but I meant them. If Damon could let Bianca live as me, then I could disappear from his life completely.

Before I could say more, strong arms wrapped around my waist.

Wife.

Damons voice trembled as he pulled me against him and buried his face in my shoulder.

Thank God youre alive. If anything had happened to you, I wouldnt have known how to keep living. I thought Id lost you.

I went rigid in his arms, fighting the urge to shove him away.

Luna, are you hurt? Maddox called through the smoke. Alpha went inside after you. That chandelier nearly fell on him. If it had

Enough, Maddox. Damons voice turned into a warning growl. Shes safe. Thats all that matters. I dont care about the chandelier or anything else.

His clothes were torn and scorched, ash covering his skin, and his eyes were red from the smoke. He had risked himself to find me.

I hated him for it.

How could he be willing to die for me while allowing another woman to live in my place?

Then Bianca emerged from the smoke.

She looked untouched, dressed in white and pulling a suitcase behind her.

Alpha Callahan, she said quietly.

Damon stiffened. He reluctantly released me, straightened himself, and walked toward her.

Darling, why did you come alone? I told you Id spend tonight with you and the pups. I wanted to make sure you were safe.

He took her hands and began signing.

Bianca answered, her movements careful. I missed you. I came because I wanted to make amends for what happened to Arianne. I know I hurt her, and I want to help make things right.

Damon shook his head.

You dont have to take the blame. Im the one who wronged both of you. I let you take a place that was never meant to be yours, and I made you carry a life born from a lie. I hid the truth from Arianne because I was too afraid to face what would happen when she learned it.

He pressed his forehead to hers.

I told myself I was protecting everyone, but I was only protecting myself. I couldnt lose Arianne, yet I couldnt let you go either.

Bianca signed again. I only want to protect the baby and help her. Youve carried this guilt long enough.

Damon kissed her, tenderly and with a familiarity that made my stomach twist.

Then he signed, Ive already chosen the names. If its a boy, Damonn. If its a girl, Chanelle.

My chest seemed to cave in.

My Alpha. My mate. The man who once promised that I was his entire world was now planning a future with another woman.

A year earlier, when I discovered I was pregnant, I thought perhaps Damon and I would finally have something that belonged only to us. He had been ecstatic and booked an entire hot spring resort so we could celebrate alone.

I remembered him kissing my belly before his phone rang.

A woman was crying on the other end.

Something in his expression changed.

Wife, theres an emergency at the pack, he told me. Wait here for me. Ill come back as soon as I can.

I believed him.

I waited all day and through the night, certain he would return.

Instead, an avalanche came down the mountain.

Our child was buried beneath the snow.

I miscarried.

When I saw Damon afterward, he was touching Biancas belly with the same tenderness he had once shown mine. His hand moved gently over her stomach, and his expression held the same warmth he had once reserved for me.

I smiled bitterly.

Apparently, I was the only one that winter had left behind.

Then I heard him speaking to her.

Ive been busy with pack affairs, so I hired a nutritionist to look after you. I want to know you and the baby are taken care of while Im away.

His hand covered hers, his gaze soft and attentive.

Hello, Miss Whitmore, Bianca said shyly.

My heart lurched.

Miss Whitmore.

Not Mrs. Callahan.

Not my name.

Damon frowned briefly, but he let it pass without correcting her.

I dug my nails into my palms, fighting the urge to scream.

Then he draped a wool coat over my shoulders.

Its cold. Come on, honey. Lets go home.

I froze.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Bianca smile. Damon leaned down and kissed her, slow and lingering, as though he had been waiting all day for the chance.

That evening, I watched him in the kitchen.

He still treated me with the familiar care I had known for years. He served my soup exactly as I liked it, attentive to every little detail.

Then he turned to Bianca.

When he noticed a smear of sauce near her lips, he wiped it away with his thumb and laughed softly.

He signed with an affectionate smile, How can you be this adorable?

I lowered my head over my soup. My eyes burned, but I couldnt cry.

I knew Damon too well.

I knew the softness in his eyes when he cared for someone, the tenderness in his hands, and the little gestures he made without thinking.

I had believed those things belonged to me.

Now I was watching him give them to Bianca.

For a moment, I wondered whether I had misunderstood everything. Perhaps there was still some explanation I had not heard, some piece of the story that would make his choices less cruel. But the way he looked at Bianca told me more than any confession could.

I remembered how he used to look at me when I was carrying our child. He would kneel beside me, place his palm over my stomach, and speak to the baby as though our little one could already understand him. He had promised that nothing would ever happen to us while he was alive.

Then the avalanche took our child, and Damon never even came back when he said he would.

I had spent months grieving while telling myself he had been forced to choose the pack over me. Now I wondered whether Bianca had been the reason he never returned.

The worst part was that I could no longer pretend his affection for her was an act. His concern, his patience, the way he touched her without hesitationit was the same love I had once been certain belonged to me alone.

I finally understood why his lies had lasted so long.

He had not been protecting me.

He had been protecting the life he wanted with her.

And finally, I understood the truth I had spent so long refusing to see.

Damon hadnt merely allowed her to take my place.

He had fallen in love with her.

And while I was still his mate, still carrying every memory of the life we had shared, I had already become nothing to him.

After dinner, the pack doctor came to check on my eyes, as he did almost every evening. I was passing the room when I heard him speak, so I stopped outside the door.

Alpha Callahan, Dr. Calloway couldnt come tonight, so he asked me to take over. Ive reviewed Ariannes records, and if she continues with the proper treatment, theres a very good chance her eyesight could eventually return.

I stood perfectly still.

For some reason, my chest suddenly felt heavy.

What difference would it make if I could see again?

Would I simply have a clearer view of Damon choosing Bianca over me? Would I finally be able to watch every lie unfold right in front of my eyes?

There was a long silence inside.

Then Damon answered.

No.

The doctor sounded confused. No? Alpha, Im not sure you understand. This is excellent news. Her condition is treatable, and if we increase

Did Calloway not tell you? Damon interrupted. His voice had lost all warmth. For the past five years, Ive only allowed him to prescribe the mildest tonics. Nothing that would actually accelerate her recovery.

The doctor went quiet.

You mean you deliberately withheld her treatment? he finally asked. Alpha, that isnt right. She has the right to know that she could recover. You cant take that choice away from her.

Damon released a slow breath.

And what happens when she can see again? he asked. Have you considered that? What happens to Bianca when Arianne learns everything?

Your mates welfare should come before anything else, the doctor replied firmly. You cannot keep her blind simply because the truth would be inconvenient.

Inconvenient? Damons voice dropped into something colder. This isnt about convenience. Im keeping the situation under control. Im protecting both of them, and I wont have you questioning a decision you dont understand.

My hand tightened around my wedding ring.

So he had known all along.

For five years, Damon had known that my sight might return, and he had deliberately kept me from receiving the treatment I needed.

Why?

Was I really that easy to control? Had he believed that as long as I remained blind, I would never discover what he had done?

A sharp crack sounded in the hallway.

I barely felt the pain until I looked down and realized I had forced my ring from my finger. Blood was already slipping between my fingers.

I turned and ran.

I didn't know where I was going. I only knew I needed to get away from that door, away from Damons voice, away from the truth that had just shattered everything I thought I knew.

I stumbled into my room, shaking so badly that I could barely breathe. My hip struck the bedside table, and the framed photograph from our wedding toppled onto the floor.

I crouched and picked it up.

In the photograph, Damon was leaning toward me, pressing a gentle kiss against my forehead. His expression was full of devotion, as though I were the only thing in the world that mattered.

I stared at his face.

Why? I whispered. Why would you lie to me like this?

My tears fell before I could stop them.

Then, somehow, I started laughing.

It wasn't happiness. It was the kind of laughter that escaped when there was simply too much pain to contain.

Damon, you really are incredible, I murmured. You planned everything, didn't you?

My stomach twisted violently, and I doubled over as bitter liquid rose into my throat.

All those years I thought something was wrong with me. Every day I was frightened and confused, wondering why I couldn't get better. I thought I was broken.

I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.

But it was you.

I cried until my body felt empty. Then I took the photograph from its frame and pushed it into the shredder.

The machine slowly pulled the picture inside.

The grinding sound was harsh and mechanical, but somehow it felt as though it were tearing through something inside my chest, too.

The wedding.

His promises.

Every memory I had protected for five years.

Gone.

Honey, what are you doing?

Damons voice came from behind me.

I didn't turn around. I gathered the shredded pieces from the machine and dropped them into the trash.

Nothing, I said quietly. It was just a corrupted file. I don't need it anymore.

Damon stepped closer.

Corrupted? He looked down at the scraps. Let me see. Why does this look familiar?

His voice changed.

Arianne, what exactly did you

The door opened.

Damon?

Biancas voice was soft and familiar.

He turned toward her immediately.

The change in him was so instinctive that it hurt more than I expected. One second, his attention had been on me; the next, it belonged entirely to her.

Bianca entered carrying a bouquet of white lilies, their strong fragrance filling the room.

I brought these for her, she said with a shy smile. I thought she might like them.

Damons expression softened.

You shouldn't be walking around too much. What if something happens to you or the pup?

Im fine. I just wanted to do something thoughtful for her.

He took the flowers from Bianca and placed them in my arms.

Here. These are for you.

Happy birthday, Miss Whitmore, Bianca added sweetly.

The scent hit me immediately.

It was overpowering.

I began coughing, one fit after another, until my chest tightened and tears streamed down my face.

Damon frowned. Whats wrong? Are you allergic to them? Why didn't you tell me?

Before I could answer, Bianca came up behind me and gently covered my eyes.

Just a little farther, she said, laughing softly. Dont peek. I made something special for you.

I let her lead me.

I no longer had the energy to resist.

What difference did any of it make?

Okay, she announced brightly. Are you ready?

Her hands fell away.

Surprise!

I opened my eyes.

On the white marble table sat a plate of raw meat, still wet with blood, while the vegetables beside it had been burned almost completely black.

I stared at the table.

For a moment, I couldn't tell whether it was supposed to be a joke.

Then I wondered if I was the joke.

Bianca suddenly gasped.

Oh, no. I completely forgot. She brought a hand to her forehead. Miss Whitmore can't really see, can she? I didn't think about how this would look

She stopped herself, covering her mouth as though she had accidentally said something she shouldn't.

Damon immediately took her hands.

It's fine. Don't worry about it, he reassured her, signing slowly. Arianne won't take it personally. She's not that sensitive.

Not that sensitive.

Bianca lowered her head, her fingers moving uncertainly.

Why do I keep getting everything wrong? I only wanted to do something kind for her, but somehow I ruin everything. Maybe I'm just useless.

Damons expression softened at once.

Don't say that. You're not useless, Bianca. You tried, and that's what matters. You don't have to get everything perfect.

She sniffed and looked up at him.

I also made her a mango cake. I thought maybe she'd like something sweet.

Damon finally looked at me.

That familiar tenderness returned to his eyesthe same expression I had once believed was reserved for me.

Wife, come over here. She put a lot of effort into this. At least have a bite.

I remained where I was.

My hands slowly curled into fists.

I was exhausted.

Not physically.

I was simply tired of pretending that none of this hurt.

Damon, I said.

He looked at me.

Do you remember what today is?

His expression changed slightly.

Of course. It's your birthday, isn't it?

I stared at him.

No.

The word came out quietly, but it seemed to drain the warmth from the room.

It isn't my birthday.

For a moment, Damon said nothing.

Its the anniversary of our sons death, I finally told him. The day the snow came down and buried everything, and the day you promised youd return but never did.

Something flickered across his face. Regret, perhaps. Guilt. Once, I would have known exactly what he was feeling, but I no longer trusted myself to read him.

And Im allergic to mango, I added, glancing at the cake in his hands.

Wife, I didnt know. I thought

You didnt think, Damon. My voice remained quiet. You simply forgot.

He moved toward me. Arianne, please. Dont walk away like this. We should talk. I understand that youre hurt, but shutting me out wont make anything better.

I shook my head.

Im not angry. Im just tired of talking.

I left before he could say anything else. Behind me, I heard Bianca begin to cry, followed by the familiar softness in Damons voice as he turned his attention to comforting her.

Once I reached my room, I shut the door and allowed the silence to swallow me.

I had no idea how long I slept. It could have been several hours or much longer when a faint noise from downstairs finally woke me. I opened my eyes slowly and found Damon sitting beside my bed, watching me as though nothing between us had changed.

Wife, he murmured. His voice was gentle, almost painfully familiar. Youre finally awake.

I said nothing.

I made something for you, he continued carefully. Strawberry cake, just the way you like it. Come downstairs and have some with me?

When he reached for my hand, I pulled it away.

Im not hungry.

His fingers remained suspended for a moment before he lowered them.

Youre still angry with me, arent you?

I kept my eyes on the ceiling.

After a pause, he tried again. Once things settle down with the pack, Ill take you somewhere. Theres a concert coming up from an artist you used to love. We could go together, just the two of us. Wouldnt that be nice?

I turned my face toward the window, refusing to answer.

Damon sighed, then reached for my hand again. This time, he held it before I could pull away.

Bianca arranged something for you, he said. She wants to apologize properly. She prepared an animal show. Just go downstairs and watch for a little while, alright?

I dont want to.

He ignored me.

Of course he did.

Without another word, Damon slipped one arm beneath my knees and the other around my back, lifting me as though my refusal meant nothing.

He carried me downstairs and outside.

The night air struck me immediately. I was wearing nothing but a thin nightgown, and within seconds, I was shivering from the cold.

Damon didn't seem to notice.

Or perhaps he noticed and simply didn't care enough to stop.

Ahead of us, he carried a pile of protective clothing, but none of it was meant for me.

He walked straight to Bianca.

With painstaking care, he helped her into a thick protective suit, adjusting the material around her shoulders before securing her gloves and fastening the helmet over her head. Every movement was gentle, almost reverent, as though she were too precious to risk hurting.

Then he leaned down and kissed her cheek.

Bianca, don't push yourself tonight, he told her softly. You and the baby are what matter most to me. Nothing should come before your safety.

The words carried easily through the cold night air.

I stood several steps away, barely dressed and already freezing.

Then Bianca pulled the covering from the cage.

My entire body went rigid.

Two enormous animals were locked inside: a full-grown bear and a shadow lynx. Both were restless, their claws scraping against the metal bars as they paced.

The moment the cloth fell away, they stopped.

Then, almost simultaneously, both animals turned toward me.

A deep growl rolled from the bear.

Its dark eyes fixed on mine.

My heart sank.

Why were they staring at me like that?

I instinctively backed away, and then I remembered the lilies.

That overpowering scent from earlier.

My fingers curled at my sides.

No.

Surely not.

I forced myself to remain calm.

Damon, I called softly, I don't feel well. Can we go back inside? Please. I really don't want to stay here.

Once, those words would have been enough to make him panic. He would have carried me back himself, called the doctor, and demanded to know exactly what was wrong.

But Damon merely frowned.

Arianne, dont do this again. Bianca has spent so much time preparing everything. Can't you stay for a little while? Don't spoil it for her.

Don't spoil it.

I swallowed against the tightness in my throat.

I'm not trying to ruin anything. I really don't feel well. Can we leave after this? Or just go now?

He exhaled impatiently.

Youre worrying over nothing. Nothing is going to happen. Just stand there and watch. It won't take long.

Watch?

The irony nearly made me laugh.

Bianca stepped onto the platform, awkward but determined, and gathered the control chains in her gloved hands.

I practiced for days, she said quietly. I really wanted to do something to make up for everything. Please, Arianne. Just let me try.

I couldn't answer.

The performance began.

The bear moved first, lumbering through the fire rings before climbing onto a narrow wooden platform. The lynx followed, graceful and powerful as it leapt across the logs.

From a distance, everything looked controlled.

Easy, Bianca murmured, carefully guiding the chains. That's it. Stay calm.

Damon applauded.

His entire face brightened as he watched her.

Thats wonderful, Bianca. Youre doing perfectly. I knew you could handle it.

He smiled at her as though she were the only person standing there.

He never looked at me.

Not once.

He didn't seem to remember that this performance was supposedly meant for me.

But that wasn't what frightened me most.

My breathing had become shallow.

My hands trembled uncontrollably.

The animals kept watching me.

Again and again, their eyes found mine.

There was something different in their gaze now. Something instinctive and hungry, as though they were waiting for an opportunity.

I took one cautious step backward.

Then another.

I needed to leave.

Immediately.

No one noticed.

Of course they didn't.

I was almost beyond their reach when Bianca suddenly screamed.

Ah!

I looked up.

She had lost her footing on the platform. Her body lurched sideways, and before she could regain her balance, she fell.

The chains slipped from her hands.

Everything changed at once.

The bear and the lynx froze.

Then both animals erupted into violent snarls.

Bianca!

Damon's voice cracked with panic.

He rushed toward her without hesitation.

Bianca, are you hurt? Talk to me! Where does it hurt?

He didn't look back.

Not even once.

He left me standing there alone.

The animals slowly turned in my direction.

My breath stopped.

No

I backed away.

Wait.

They lunged.

The world became a blur of claws, fur, and pain.

Something struck me with enough force to send me crashing to the ground. Agony ripped through my body as claws tore into flesh, sharp and brutal, leaving me unable to think past the pain.

I screamed.

Damon!

My voice broke as I tried to crawl away, but another blow sent pain shooting through me. Warm blood spread beneath my body, soaking through my clothes as the world began to spin.

I could barely see through the tears.

But I saw him.

Damon stood several feet away, holding Bianca tightly against his chest.

His entire attention was on her.

He was checking her face, her arms, her stomach, making sure she and the baby were safe.

He never turned toward me.

Not even when I screamed.

Not even when my blood spread across the ground.

And in that moment, while my body lay broken beneath the beasts he had brought there, I finally understood exactly where I stood in Damon Callahans heart.

I was no longer the person he ran toward.

I was the person he could leave behind.

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I noticed was the sharp smell of antiseptic mixed with cold metal. The ceiling above me was painfully white, and every breath sent a dull ache through my chest. My legs felt as though they had been crushed beneath something heavy, and a weak groan escaped before I could stop it.

Please, dont try to move, the nurse said, immediately placing a hand against my shoulder. You have three fractured ribs and internal bleeding around your liver. Youre incredibly fortunate to have survived the night.

I blinked several times, trying to make out her face.

She continued speaking, unaware of how difficult it was to process her words.

Last night was hectic. Dr. Carter was the only physician on duty, and the family of another patient kept demanding that he attend to their wife first because she was pregnant. They were making quite a scene.

My fingers moved beneath the blanket.

Pregnant.

But you dont need to worry, she added, her voice gentler. Her injuries turned out to be minor, so the doctor came to you as soon as he could. You received treatment in time.

Of course she did.

The nurse hesitated before asking, Is there anyone we should contact? Your family, perhaps? Your mate? Someone ought to stay with you while you recover.

I lowered my eyes to the blanket.

I dont have anyone.

The words came out so dry and lifeless that they hardly sounded like my own.

The nurse fell silent. I didn't need to look at her to know what was in her expression. Pity.

Then I heard voices outside the room.

Damon, Im so sorry. Bianca sounded close to tears. I swear, I dont understand what happened. They were completely under control before. I never intended for them to turn on her. Miss Whitmore was injured because of me.

Damon answered almost immediately, his voice gentle with concern.

Bianca, you need to stop blaming yourself. None of this was your fault. You were hurt too, remember? You shouldnt even be standing here when youre carrying our child.

I dont care if Im hurt, she sobbed. I just feel terrible about what happened. I need to apologize to her myself. I want her to know that I never meant for this to happen.

My fingers curled into the sheets.

Another apology.

How many more times was I supposed to hear it?

Damon sighed. Youre pregnant. You shouldnt be getting yourself worked up over this. Go back to your room and rest. Ill take care of everything here.

No, please. Her voice became more desperate. I dont want to leave without seeing her. Let me talk to her, even for a minute. I wont be able to settle down until I tell her Im sorry.

Something inside me finally snapped.

I grabbed the cup beside the bed and hurled it at the wall.

The crash silenced the hallway.

A moment later, hurried footsteps approached, and Damon burst through the door.

Wife, what happened? He came straight toward me. Are you hurting? Do you need water? Tell me what you need, and Ill get it.

I looked at him.

Really looked at him.

Concern filled his eyes, the same expression I had seen countless times before. It was the face of the man who had once made me believe I was the most precious person in his world.

And suddenly, I didn't have the strength to hate him.

I was simply exhausted.

Did you investigate it? I asked.

Damon paused. Investigate what?

The animals. The bear and the shadow lynx. Why did they suddenly lose control?

For the briefest moment, something shifted in his eyes.

Then his expression settled again.

It was an accident. Wild animals can become unpredictable. Theres nothing more to it.

I stared at him.

Nothing?

He reached down and carefully adjusted my blanket.

Youre letting your thoughts run away with you again. Right now, your only concern should be recovering. Dont waste your energy worrying about something that has already happened.

Something inside me went completely quiet.

Six years earlier, I had known exactly what Damon was capable of when it came to protecting me.

I had gone beyond the packs outer territory alone during a violent storm to check on the boundary. A group of rogues found me before I could return. They surrounded me, and the look in their eyes told me immediately that they meant to hurt me.

One of them seized me and dragged me toward the trees while the others laughed.

I had been terrified.

Then Damon arrived.

I still remembered the fury on his face when he saw their hands on me.

Touch her again, he had warned, his Alpha voice carrying through the forest, and Ill make you wish you were dead.

The rogues ignored him.

Damon didn't.

He turned to his warriors with a terrifying calmness.

Keep them alive, he ordered. But make certain they remember what they did.

Their screams continued for hours.

That was the man who had once protected me as though my life mattered more than his own.

Now I had nearly died right in front of him.

My body had been torn open, my blood covering the ground, and yet he hadn't questioned anything. He hadn't wondered why those animals had targeted me. He hadn't even considered whether Bianca might have known more than she claimed.

My chest felt hollow.

I understand, I murmured, turning my face away.

Damon became unusually still.

Arianne

Before he could continue, commotion erupted outside.

Nurses hurried past the doorway, and someone called urgently, Alpha! Lunas condition

Damon immediately straightened.

Ill come back, he promised. Ill also bring you something to eat. Just stay here and wait for me, alright?

I gave him no answer.

He left anyway.

He never returned.

I waited until I couldn't tell whether minutes or hours had passed. My body throbbed with pain, my head felt unbearably heavy, and eventually exhaustion dragged me into sleep.

Even then, I couldn't escape the uneasiness tightening around my chest.

I woke to a sharp, burning sensation in my arm.

When I looked down, I saw thick bandages wrapped around it, faintly stained with blood.

What are you doing? I asked weakly.

The nurse continued working without looking up.

Im changing your dressing. You underwent a skin graft, so theres bound to be some pain. Try to keep your arm still.

I stared at her.

A skin graft?

She finally looked at me.

You didn't know?

My mind went blank.

The Luna in the room next door had a minor injury on her arm, the nurse explained. Alpha Callahan requested that some of your skin be used to treat it.

For several seconds, I couldn't understand what she was saying.

Then the meaning sank in.

My skin?

The nurse sighed as she continued replacing the bandage.

It was only a small wound on her arm, but apparently the Alpha was concerned about it. You know how things are. Some people have everyone rushing to protect them over the smallest injury, while others are expected to endure whatever comes their way.

She didn't finish the thought.

She didn't need to.

My entire body went cold.

Even my skin.

Even that could be taken from me and handed to Bianca without anyone bothering to ask.

My lips trembled as I swallowed against the burning sensation in my throat.

Could you help me arrange a transfer to another hospital?

The nurse stopped.

A transfer? Why would you want to

The door opened.

A familiar voice came from the entrance.

Transfer to where?

Damon entered carrying bags of fruit and food, including all the things I used to love. He set them down, removed his coat, and came straight to my bedside.

Why are you asking about a transfer? he asked. Youre still weak. You shouldnt be moving around unnecessarily.

I didn't answer. I only watched him.

He gently wiped my hands and feet before peeling some fruit and holding a piece to my lips.

Eat something first. You havent had a proper meal since yesterday.

I refused to move.

Arianne, you need to eat if you want to recover. Dont make me worry about you.

He picked up the soup, blew on it until it cooled, and offered me a spoonful.

Just a little. Please.

He was so gentle, so patient, just as he had always been.

And that was what hurt most.

Because I knew he would treat Bianca the same way.

Maybe even better.

I had seen him give her the best portions at meals, telling her, Have this one. It tastes better.

I had watched him kneel beside her bed and press his ear against her stomach, his face lighting up whenever he talked about their unborn child.

Soon, youll feel the pup moving, he would tell her excitedly. I cant wait.

He always came back to me after I fell asleep.

Before, I could only suspect where he went.

Now, I had seen it myself.

I saw him slipping into Biancas room at night, the way they looked at one another, the intimacy between them, and the marks they no longer bothered to hide.

During the day, he introduced her openly.

This is my mate and Luna, he would say with obvious pride. Shes pregnant, so make sure shes well taken care of.

Not me.

Never me.

I simply watched and said nothing.

There was no point in asking questions when I already knew the answers.

People who have truly decided to leave don't waste their time explaining their departure.

The days passed slowly, cold and empty.

Whenever Damon was with Bianca, I quietly made the calls I needed to make.

Hello, its me, I whispered. How much longer will it take? When can I leave?

Soon, Ms. Whitmore, the agent assured me. Everything is nearly finished. Just hold on a little longer.

So I waited.

On the day I was discharged, the message finally arrived.

Ms. Whitmore, your documents will be ready the morning after tomorrow.

I stared at the screen for several seconds before a smile appeared on my face.

Finally.

Damon happened to be standing nearby, one arm supporting Bianca. He noticed my expression and looked surprised.

Arianne, youre smiling, he said. Did something happen?

I shook my head. Nothing. I just feel a little better today.

He came closer and pulled me into his arms before I could move away.

Im glad, he murmured. You should smile more often. Dont keep looking so sad. Im here for you, and I always will be.

Always.

I gently stepped away from him.

Im fine.

Something uneasy flickered across his face before he bent down and kissed my forehead.

Alright. Lets go home.

During the drive, he kept glancing toward me.

Are you really okay? Youve barely spoken. If something is troubling you, just tell me. You dont have to keep it inside.

I looked out the window.

Theres nothing to say.

He frowned and reached across the seat for my hand.

Before he could touch me, Bianca suddenly screamed.

Watch out!

A massive black SUV slammed into us.

The crash was deafening. The car spun violently, my body thrown against the seat as everything turned upside down.

Then darkness took me.

I dreamed of five years ago, back when I could still see.

I used to explore the pack borders alone, climbing mountains without worrying about what might happen. That was how I found Damon in a deserted mountain range, lying injured in the snow with a badly broken leg and a terrible fever.

He was an Alpha, but at that moment, he looked half-dead.

I knelt beside him, frightened.

Can you hear me? Please dont die. Im not strong enough to drag a corpse down the mountain.

He didn't respond.

So I stayed.

I gave him my food, water, and medicine and spent three days caring for him until he finally woke.

Not long afterward, exhaustion overtook me.

When I opened my eyes, Damon was holding me. His wrist was cut, and he pressed it against my lips.

Drink, he ordered hoarsely. You saved me. Im not going to let you die now.

I tried to push him away.

Youll weaken yourself.

Im an Alpha. I can handle it. You cant.

He continued feeding me his blood until help arrived.

Later, when he pursued me and refused to let me walk away, he always reminded me of those days.

We survived that mountain together. That wasn't coincidence, Arianne. It means we're bound somehow. Call it fate or a past life, I don't care. I'm not letting you go.

I believed him.

I truly did.

Then the dream changed.

Suddenly, Damon was standing before me with an expression I barely recognized. Instead of protecting me, he threw me toward a group of savage beasts.

He chose Bianca.

He chose her without hesitation.

I screamed and woke up.

My head throbbed. My body felt unbearably heavy, and when I tried to move, I discovered that my wrists and ankles were tied. Something rough covered my eyes.

I couldn't see anything.

Where am I? I whispered.

A man's laughter answered me.

Alpha Callahan, you really have some nerve. You destroyed my pack, took our territory, and left us with nothing. Did you honestly think Id forget?

Damons voice followed, low and threatening.

Malachi Dorian. Rogue Alpha. So youre behind this.

There was no fear in his voice.

You kidnapped me, Malachi. Youve just signed your own death warrant.

Malachi laughed again.

Death? I already lost everything. If I die, Ill take you with me. But killing you immediately would be far too easy.

Someone grabbed me and dragged me across the ground. Stones scraped painfully against my back, and I bit my lip to keep from crying out.

Then I heard Bianca.

Please, let me go! I didn't do anything!

She was dragged toward us before being thrown down beside me.

Leave them out of this! Damon snarled. This is between you and me. Whatever you want, take it from me.

Malachi ignored him.

Why should I? Ive prepared a few games for you, Alpha. You only need to decide who will suffer.

My heart sank.

No. Damons answer came immediately. Tell me what you want. Money, territory, powerIll give you whatever you ask. Just let them go.

Stop wasting my time.

Chains rattled nearby.

Then came the sound of low, hungry growls.

Malachi's voice turned almost cheerful.

Lets start with blood bait. Ill cover one of them in fresh blood and throw them into a pit with starving rogue wolves. They can chase and tear at their prey, and perhaps Ill pull the victim out before they die.

Damons breathing grew heavier.

Youre insane.

Choose.

Silence filled the room.

Then someone seized me.

I was shoved forward, and something cold and wet smeared across my skin.

The smell hit me immediately.

Blood.

No!

The ground vanished beneath my feet.

I fell into darkness.

The snarling erupted around me, coming from every direction. I couldn't see the wolves, but I could hear their paws shifting closer and feel their presence tightening around me. My heart hammered against my ribs.

Damon! I screamed. Please, you have to

His roar cut through the chaos. Enough! Stop them! Ill make the choice!

The wolves hesitated for only a moment. I felt claws graze my leg, and terror shot through me.

Malachi sounded almost entertained. Well, Alpha? Which one will it be? Your wife, or the woman carrying your child?

My breath caught.

For one terrible second, I waited for Damon to say my name.

Even after everything, some foolish part of me was still waiting.

His voice faltered.

Then Bianca began sobbing.

Damon, please! You have to save me. Think about our baby. I cant die like this. Please

The world seemed to fall silent.

Even the wolves stopped growling.

And then Damon answered.

Bianca.

Just her name.

That single word was enough to destroy whatever remained of my hope.

The wolves came at me.

Their teeth sank into my flesh, claws tearing through me as they dragged me across the ground. Pain overwhelmed every thought I had. I screamed until my throat was raw, but no one came. They pulled me away only to throw me back into the pit, and the nightmare repeated itself until I could no longer tell how many times I had been attacked.

When they finally dragged me out, my body barely responded.

Are you trying to kill her? Damon shouted. His voice cracked with fury. She wont survive another attack!

Malachi merely chuckled.

You made the choice, Alpha. Dont blame me for what followed.

I was dumped onto the ground. Every part of me felt distant, numb beneath the pain.

Then Malachi spoke again.

Let's move on to the second round.

Something heavy scraped across the floor. Metal dragged against stone, producing a sound that made my stomach twist.

A silver whip, he announced. Ninety-nine strikes. So, Alpha Callahan, who should receive this one?

Damon said nothing.

I could hear his uneven breathing while I struggled to draw air into my ruined lungs. Blood filled my mouth when I coughed, and I couldn't even raise my head anymore.

Is this really how my life ends?

Then his answer came.

Bianca.

Tears immediately spilled from Biancas eyes. She clutched her chest, looking toward me with an expression of relief and guilt.

Arianne has already suffered so much, she sobbed. I dont even know what to say. I never wanted any of this to happen.

I didn't look at her.

I kept my eyes on Damon.

Why? My voice was barely audible. Why is it always her? Just once, Damon, tell me why you keep choosing her.

He remained silent.

The first blow landed before I could hear anything else.

The crack of the whip tore through the air, followed by a burst of agony across my back. My body jerked forward, and my fingers clawed into the rough earth beneath me. Sharp stones cut into my palms as blood slipped beneath my nails.

One.

The whip struck again.

Two.

I bit down hard, but a broken cry still escaped me.

Three.

The pain grew with every strike, spreading through my body until I felt as though I were being dismantled piece by piece.

Damon I managed to whisper. Does seeing this hurt you at all? Or have I really become nothing to you?

He didn't answer.

The count continued.

By fifty, I had lost almost all sense of time. Blood soaked my back and ran down my sides. My head swayed, and the world around me blurred.

Fifty-five!

Suddenly, Damon's voice thundered through the clearing.

Stop!

The whip halted.

I said stop hurting her! Can't you see shes had enough? She won't survive this!

Chains rattled violently as he struggled free, and then I heard his footsteps coming toward me.

For one foolish moment, my heart lifted.

I thought he had finally chosen me.

Then Bianca screamed.

Damon!

Her voice was filled with panic.

My stomach hurts! Somethings wrong with the baby. Please, I think Im losing our pups!

Everything changed.

I could almost feel Damon hesitate.

Then his footsteps moved away from me.

Bianca!

He reached her, his voice suddenly gentle and frightened.

Tell me where it hurts. Are you bleeding? Look at me. Please, breathe slowly. Im here. Nothing is going to happen to you.

A weak laugh escaped my throat.

It sounded nothing like laughter.

So that was my answer.

The whip came down again.

Blood spilled from my mouth as I coughed, and somewhere beyond the ringing in my ears, Damon shouted my name.

Arianne!

His voice sounded impossibly distant.

Malachi laughed.

This is getting better by the minute, Alpha Callahan. I have a medical team waiting nearby, but unfortunately, they can only save one person.

Another strike landed.

Think carefully, Malachi continued. Are you going to choose her again, or are you finally going to give your other mate a chance?

Another blow.

Then another.

I could barely hear them anymore. My ears rang so violently that every sound seemed buried beneath water.

I forced my eyes open.

Through my blurred vision, I could make out Damon and Malachi speaking to each other. I couldn't understand their words, but eventually Malachi nodded.

Damon immediately went to Bianca.

He lifted her into his arms and held her tightly against his chest.

Then he turned away.

He walked off carrying her.

He never looked back.

Not even once.

A weak, bitter laugh escaped me.

So this is how it ends

Ninety-nine lashes had torn my body apart, yet somehow, none of them had hurt as deeply as watching Damon walk away with her.

Above me, the sunset stained the sky a deep crimson. It looked as though the heavens themselves were bleeding alongside me.

Something soft drifted down from above and landed against my battered body.

A white seabird.

Within seconds, its feathers were stained red with my blood.

I stared at it through fading vision.

Damon I whispered, struggling for every breath. All those things you told me about fate and our bond all those promises you swore were forever

My lips trembled.

They were never worth anything, were they?

The pain was everywhere now. My body, my chest, even breathing felt unbearable.

If there really is another life after this

My voice faded into a whisper.

I hope I never fall in love with you again.

And then the darkness finally took me.

I had no idea how much time passed before I woke to the sound of sirens and hurried voices. People moved around me, checking my injuries and telling me that I was fortunate to have survived.

I didn't feel fortunate.

At the hospital, the doctors treated my wounds and insisted that I remain under observation, but I refused. There was nothing left for me there. So I returned to the glass house by myself.

Damon had built that place for me, down to the smallest detail, because he once believed he knew exactly what would make me happy. Yet when I stepped inside, it no longer felt like my home.

Bianca had lived there for only two months, but somehow her presence had spread everywhere. Her clothes occupied my dressing room, her belongings filled the music room, and her scent lingered in spaces that had once belonged entirely to me.

Even the wooden carving I had made for Damon was lying crooked on the floor. I remembered how carefully he had held it years ago, as though the little handmade gift were something precious.

I stared at it for a long time.

Had he really cried when I gave it to him?

Or had that been another performance?

Outside, the night had already deepened. An entire day and night had passed, yet Damon still hadn't returned.

Of course he hadn't.

He was with Bianca.

I almost laughed at the thought, though there was nothing amusing about it. Slowly, I wiped the dried blood from my lips before taking the documents I had prepared and placing them inside the mailbox at the entrance.

The first report concerned the bouquet Bianca had given me the previous day.

My fingers trembled as I unfolded the paper.

The flowers hadn't been harmless.

They had been infused with intoxicating spices, powerful enough to provoke the bear and shadow lynx into a frenzy. That was why they had suddenly turned on me.

It hadn't been some unfortunate accident.

Someone had planned it.

And Damon had never questioned it. He hadn't noticed the strange scent, hadn't investigated what happened, and hadn't even seemed suspicious when I nearly died.

My fingers tightened around the next document until the pages crumpled.

It was my hospital report.

The miscarriage.

My baby.

The child I had lost while Damon chose Bianca yet again.

Suddenly, the memories came rushing back: the rogue wolves, the freezing cage, the pain, and Damon standing there while I suffered because Bianca needed to be protected.

Then came the silver whip.

He had allowed me to be beaten nearly to death while Bianca stood safely on the other side of his concern, all under the excuse of giving her an apology she supposedly deserved.

And now I understood the pattern.

Twice, because of his choices, I had lost a child.

My hand closed around the third item.

The broken diamond ring.

Damon had chosen it himself in Africa five years ago, taking his time to find the perfect stone and have it polished until it caught the light beautifully. He had once told me that the ring represented his patience, his devotion, and the promise that his love would last forever.

He had sworn that I was the only woman he would ever want.

Now, the ring was nothing more than another reminder of how convincing a lie could look when it was dressed up as love.

I stared at the broken pieces in my palm.

Damon, I whispered bitterly, so it really was you. All of it came back to you.

The roar of a helicopter suddenly broke through the silence.

I looked toward the sky and saw a familiar face leaning out from the aircraft.

Are you coming or not, Alice? Evander called.

I hesitated before forcing myself to smile.

Evander, do you have a lighter?

He whistled and tossed a small box toward me.

Thats the only thing I have.

Thatll do.

I caught it tightly.

My hands were trembling so badly that I nearly dropped it.

Then I began walking toward the glass house.

Every step hurt. My legs still ached from my injuries, and every breath seemed to drag another memory from the past behind it.

This house had once been filled with our laughter, our music, and all the warmth I thought belonged to us.

Tonight, it would hold something else.

Fire.

I thought of Damon's hands, the way they had once touched me so carefully, and the nights when I had believed the bond between us was something sacred. I remembered the Alpha who had claimed me and convinced me that I would always be the only woman in his heart.

My throat tightened.

My eyes burned.

There was a hollow space inside my chest where something precious had once lived, but I knew what I had to do.

I raised the matchbox and touched my fingers to the mark on my neck.

His mark.

The moment I touched it, pain shot through me.

I gritted my teeth and faced the glass house one final time.

My name is Luna Arianne Whitmore, I said quietly. And before this night ends, I reject you, Alpha Damon Callahan. Whatever bond exists between us, I sever it now. You are no longer my mate.

The pain came instantly.

It surged through my body like electricity, burning through my veins and tearing at something deep inside me. My body convulsed as I gripped the mark, but I refused to release it.

I could feel the bond resisting me.

For years, it had tied me to Damon, carrying every promise, every memory, and every piece of love I had given him.

Now I tore it away.

My lungs burned. Tears mixed with sweat and blood along my cheeks, but I kept going until I felt the connection finally break.

Something inside me went silent.

I struck the match.

Then I threw it toward the glass house.

The flames caught almost immediately.

Fire raced through the rooms Damon had designed for me, climbing the walls and devouring everything in its path. Windows shattered beneath the heat, and the roof eventually gave way.

The place where I had once laughed, dreamed, and believed myself loved disappeared behind a wall of flames.

Smoke filled the air, carrying the scent of burning wood and memories.

I watched as everything Damon had given me vanished.

His promises.

His gifts.

Our memories.

His lies.

I let them all burn.

Behind me, Evander's voice remained calm.

Arianne, are you alright?

I nodded.

Im fine.

My voice was quiet, but this time I meant what I said.

Im free.

He didn't try to comfort me or tell me that I was making a mistake.

He understood.

I looked back at the burning glass house one last time.

For a moment, there was only emptiness.

A cold, painful void where my life with Damon had once been.

But I turned away.

One step after another, I walked toward the helicopter.

When I climbed aboard, the engine roared beneath me, and the wind immediately swept through my hair. Behind us, the burning house grew smaller, its flames flickering against the darkness like the final remnants of a life I no longer wanted.

I looked ahead.

Goodbye, Damon, I whispered. And goodbye to every promise you ever made me.

The helicopter rose into the night and carried me toward the ocean.

As the glass house disappeared behind us, I finally let the wind take whatever remained of the woman Damon thought he could keep forever.

I was leaving.

This time, he would never find me.