Chapter 2
I moved fast.
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Within a single day, I had scrubbed every trace of my existence-and my scent-from the estate we were supposed to share.
When the Pack Housing Manager came to check the place, there was no sign I had ever lived there.
It was just like my life with Alpha Silas. I had spent years by his side, yet I hadn’t managed to leave a single mark on his world.
Harper, are you sure about this?” the manager asked, looking over the territory papers. “This estate is right next to the Alpha’s main house. Giving it up is a huge loss.”
I’m sure,” I said. My voice was flat as I signed the paper. “Give it to someone else.”
had chosen this house with such hope.
Now that I was leaving the pack, there was no reason to keep it.
The Elders required me to finish my work handover before I could leave. So, I still had to stay at the Headquarters for another two veeks.
On the day Silas and Chloe returned from the summit, a heavy rain fell over the pack territory.
was in the pack office organizing border patrol logs when my phone lit up.
It was a message from Silas:
Landed.]
n the past, no matter how late it was or how bad the weather got, those one word would make me drop everything to rush to him.
because my inner wolf was broken, my immune system was weak.
Once, I had a terrible fever. But I still forced myself to drive to the airport in a storm. I ended up passing out in the car while waiting or him. In the end, Silas just took a pack car back to the Headquarters without me.
When he found out later, he only said one thing. His voice was completely cold, “If you’re sick, don’t come next time.”
here was no concern. It was just a statement of fact. He didn’t like weakness.
had spent a long time crying over that “don’t come.”
thought I had messed up and annoyed my Alpha.
Now, I just locked my screen and went back to my logs.
hat evening, the pack held a welcome banquet for Silas and Chloe.
didn’t want to go, but the Head Elder personally invited me. I couldn’t find a reason to refuse.
arrived late and took a seat in a quiet corner of the dining hall.
The dinner was already halfway through. Silas sat at the head of the long table. Chloe was sitting right next to him-in the seat eserved for the Luna.
Chloe was happily sharing stories from the summit, making the whole table laugh.
ven Silas, who was usually cold and quiet, sat there without showing any impatience. Sometimes, when Chloe got excited and ouched his arm, he would only frown slightly. He didn’t pull away.
Oh, yesterday was such a mess,” Chloe said. Her eyes swept across the room until they landed on me in the corner.
Our flight was delayed, and it was pouring rain. Silas and I waited forever and couldn’t get a ride. Our bags got completely soaked.”
she tilted her head, looking at me with fake innocence. “Harper, I remember you usually handle airport pickups for the Alpha. Why
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< Chapter 2
didn’t you show up this time?”
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In an instant, the dining hall went quiet. Every wolf at the table turned to look at me. Their eyes were filled with curiosity and silent udgment.
I put down my fork. I took a napkin to wipe my mouth, then looked up to meet Chloe’s eyes.
Arranging airport pickups is not part of my pack duties.”
The smile on Chloe’s face froze.
Silas, sitting at the head of the table, finally looked at me.
His face was expressionless, but I saw a flash of surprise in his golden eyes.
Of course. He was used to it.
He was used to me handling every tiny detail of his life. He was used to me acting like a servant just to please him.
I was like the air around him. You don’t notice it when it’s there. You only feel uncomfortable when it’s gone.
The dinner ended in an awkward silence.
As the pack members left the hall, Silas stopped me in the corridor.
What’s wrong with you?”
He spoke in his usual, cold Alpha tone.
I stopped and looked at him.
The wall lights cast shadows over his sharp, handsome face. There was a time when I thought looking at him like this for the rest of ny life would be a blessing.
What do you mean?” I asked.
Chloe was just asking a question, “Silas said. He paused, as if trying to find the right words. “She helped a lot with the pack business at the summit. You are my assistant. These menial tasks should be…”
knew what he was thinking. He thought I was throwing a jealous tantrum over Chloe. He thought I was trying to embarrass her in Jublic.
Alpha Silas Vance.”
t was the first time I had ever called him by his full title with such coldness. My voice wasn’t loud, but it made him stop
nid-sentence.
He stared at me. He clearly didn’t expect me to interrupt him.
I’m not throwing a tantrum.”
And this isn’t about who you went to the summit with.”
I looked right into his eyes. My chest ached, but my mind was clear.
I took a deep breath and finally said the words I had kept in my heart.
‘Our Mating Ceremony-I’m calling it off.”
< Chapter 3
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Chapter 3
Alpha Silas’s brow furrowed. “What did you say?”
While he stood there in shock, Chloe came running down the hall.
Alpha! There’s a problem with the new border defenses!”
Silas turned to her instantly. “What happened?”
The rogues triggered the traps. You need to come see!” Chloe grabbed his sleeve. She looked very worried.
He cast a quick glance back at me. His voice was cold and commanding. “It’s a pack emergency. We’ll talk after I handle this.”
Without giving me a chance to reply, he turned and hurried down the hall with Chloe.
stood frozen in place, watching them leave. My face was blank. I wasn’t surprised. To him, everything was more important than I
vas.
And his “talk later” usually meant we would never talk at all.
He had never cared about the Mating Ceremony details anyway. He just paid for it. I gave him the notice. My duty was done.
had already given up the estate meant for our mating. I suddenly realized I had nowhere to go.
Half an hour later, I found myself standing in front of my parents’ house in the pack territory.
My mother, Linda, opened the door. The moment she saw me, a warm, eager smile spread across her face. “Harper? What are you loing here so late? Where’s Alpha Silas? Didn’t he come with you?”
walked past her into the living room. “He didn’t come,” I said flatly.
My father, Robert, and my younger brother, Carter, were sitting on the sofa watching TV. Hearing my voice, Robert looked behind
Where is the Alpha? Is he parking the car?”
I canceled the Mating Ceremony. We’re done.”
The air in the room froze.
What did you say?”
The smile vanished from Robert’s face. He jumped off the sofa, his voice rising to an angry roar. “Canceled? What the hell do you nean, canceled!”
The Mating Ceremony is off. I am leaving him,” I repeated. My voice had no emotion.
Robert kicked the glass coffee table over.
The hot tea splashed all over my legs. A sharp, burning pain hit my skin.
You useless girl!” Robert’s face turned red with anger. He pointed a finger right at my face. “Do you have any idea who Alpha Silas s? He is the most powerful wolf in the Alliance! Female wolves would kill to be his Luna, and you just walk away?”
Carter crossed his arms. His voice was full of mockery. “Harper, look at the facts. What is Alpha Silas’s status? He is surrounded by lite, high-ranking wolves every day.”
He gave a cruel laugh. “Look at Chloe Miller-an Elder’s daughter. A pure white wolf. THAT is a perfect match for an Alpha.”
He looked at me from head to toe with disgust. “You can’t even shift into a wolf! Your inner wolf is broken. You should be thanking he Moon Goddess that he even looked at you. So what if he likes someone else?”
He scoffed. “Alphas always have other females. It’s normal. If you break up now, who’s going to pay for my mating gift? I need his noney to mate with a high-ranking she-wolf! You’re ruining my life!”
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