After finalising the last details of my departure, I hung up.
My request to leave the pack would become effective two days later. By then, I’d been long gone, starting over somewhere no one knew my name.
Ethan’s scent, fresh as cut grass, wafted through the door.
I looked up to meet his soft gaze.
“Who were you talking to?”
“A friend. Just random stuff,” I said, smiling and trying to sound as natural as possible.
He kissed my forehead, his voice sweet as always. “Caught a moose in Dark Forest this morning. Saved the best part – the heart – for you. Wanna try it?”
Crimson had been nothing but tender and indulgent throughout our five years of mating.
Everyone claimed that the Crimson Pack’s Alpha heir was the most devoted wolf around.
They did not know the truth.
Ethan only gave me an elaborate mating ceremony.
He never marked me.
I didn’t care. Until now.
It was clear now that this marriage was not bringing me happiness. It was his method of protecting Riley.
I assumed I lived in love.
It turned out to be a fabricated dream created by Ethan to protect her.
Ethan rubbed his hand down my back.
“Shadow Fang Pack’s throwing a banquet tomorrow for Riley. She’s pregnant with a pup and got picked as a Chief Healer candidate. You don’t have to go. I’ll take a gift and come straight home to be with you”
I opened my mouth. “The Chief Healer election-”
Ethan cut me off, his voice soft but solid.
“The election will wear you out. Don’t join. You said you wanted a pup, right? Better to stay home and get your body ready.”
I shut my mouth, choking down the bitterness that was creeping up my throat.
We had been together for years, but I had never carried his puppy.
I used to believe it was fate.
Now I knew better: Ethan never wanted it.
He didn’t want me to run in the election because he didn’t want to get in Riley’s way. Again.
He drew me into his arms, unaware that my heart had already reached rock bottom.
“Day after tomorrow’s our five-year anniversary,” he went on. “Got a gift for you. But here’s an early one.”
He gave me a bouquet of lilies.
“Your favourite lilies. Happy early anniversary!”
I stared at the flowers.
The sweet smell I used to enjoy now felt like a noose around my throat.
He always gave me lilies for special occasions.
It was only now that I realised lilies were not for me.
They were Riley’s favourites.
His blessings were never mine.
“Will you be with me on my anniversary?” I enquired, carefully.
He nodded.
“Of course. My Anniversary is the most important.”
I looked up and smiled, meeting his adoring gaze.
His performance was flawless. In five years, he had never slipped.
Riley has my full support.
That night, I was unable to sleep.
When I rolled over, I accidentally knocked his wolf fang bracelet off the nightstand.
I picked it up because something caught my eye.
I grabbed it closer.
Each bead was engraved with Riley’s name.
In that moment, whatever hope I had for Ethan vanished.
