Chapter 3

The day after tomorrow, I'm catching a flight, so I'm tidying up my apartment. This place was a gift from my parents before they moved overseas to join the Nightshade Pack. Isaiah, Beta of the Crimson Fang Pack, tried to convince me to sell it: "Since you're moving into the pack house with me anyway, this apartment is just going to be empty. It would be such a hassle to keep up with cleaning, and I don't want my mate to stress over it."

I promised I'd think about it, but ultimately, I couldn't bring myself to sell. As an Omega of the Silver Moon Pack, it's my only comfort now—at least I didn't sell it, or I'd have nowhere to go after the arguments. Everything here is mine, with just a few mementos from Isaiah scattered about.

Those items, all gifts from our academy days, may not be expensive, but they hold significant meaning. After graduation, when Isaiah became Beta of the Crimson Fang Pack, he didn't give me anything else. No birthday presents, no marking ceremony. He was always too busy—consumed by pack duties, too preoccupied to even share a meal.

Once a crack appears between mates, it leads to a chasm without end. Was he truly busy with pack responsibilities, or was something else keeping him occupied?

I scroll through Freya's Instagram. As an Omega in the Crimson Fang Pack, over the past two years, every Valentine's Day and special occasion, she'd post pictures of sweet gifts, often accompanied by a male silhouette embracing her. It seemed protective, almost possessive—the way only a mate's scent could be.

I felt a lump in my throat, tears involuntarily trickling down onto the photo album Isaiah had given me. It contained candid shots from when he was courting me—different times, different places, different settings. Perhaps he genuinely loved me then; the photos were undeniably beautiful. But now, those images are evidence of his betrayal.

I took a bucket and began to pull out each picture, tender memories captured on paper. I set them ablaze. Long after, Isaiah showed up with another identical album, his eyes red with anguish. I looked at it coldly and tossed it aside—things had irrevocably changed.

With the transfer paperwork completed, I called a few packmates. My job was now relocated to the Lunar Crescent Pack's territory, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, I wouldn’t be returning.

Before my parents left, they wanted me to go with them, but I stayed because of Isaiah.

"Mom, I'm sorry. I don’t want him to be here alone. As his mate, I want to be there for him."

My mother, though hesitant, just sighed, "I hope you won't regret this in the future, pup."

"What’s the use of regrets? Sweetheart, if he ever mistreats you, come to your dad. He’ll sort him out for you," my father growled, his Alpha instincts flaring even through the phone.

At the pack restaurant, my packmates stared at me with curiosity.

"This is a surprise. Araceli hosting a dinner party? Where's your superstar Beta?"

"He let you out? You've finally stopped revolving around him?"

I chuckled at myself. Everyone knew how much I loved Isaiah. My heart was solely for him. He always said he wanted to see me the moment he got back from pack duties, so I'd skip gatherings.

Whenever packmates invited me, I'd find excuses to decline. Gradually, they understood and wouldn't bother asking, maybe just making a lighthearted jab here and there.

"So, another date night for Araceli and the Beta?"

I solemnly announced to them, "I'm transferring packs. I've accepted a position with the Lunar Crescent Pack, so this dinner is my treat to you all."

Their faces suddenly turned serious, asking cautiously, "What happened between you and the Beta?"

"I..." I fought back the lump in my throat, holding back tears, "I've decided not to revolve around him anymore."

They were stunned for a moment but then burst into laughter. "Hey, perfect timing. Us Omegas hanging out beats those Alphas any day!"

Elora, a Gamma in our pack, raised a glass, leaning in with a grin, "Way better than the musky scent of those males."

They hugged me tightly, "Araceli, we're always here for you."

It had been forever since I'd felt this free while drinking. Isaiah didn't like it. Now, to hell with his preferences. Who does he think he is?

They drank until slightly tipsy. "Yes! We'll find you the best."

"Alphas may be rare, but there are plenty of eager males out there!"

Elora glanced around the restaurant, drink in hand, "We'll find you a good mate."

She soon locked onto a target, moved in with her glass, and brought him over. "How does he look? Better than the Beta, right?"

The other ladies glanced over, their eyes glazing but soon sparkling at his appearance. He was undeniably handsome, with a powerful build that screamed Alpha status, unfazed by Elora's bold approach.

I was still relatively sober, gently pulling Elora aside and apologizing to him.

He smiled warmly at me, his Alpha aura carefully controlled.

But it seemed he was familiar to some at the table. After a moment of clarity, someone jolted awake, quickly sobering up and grabbing Elora.

"Wake up, we might be in trouble. Elora, it's your Alpha!"

Elora was clearly drunk and slurred, "My Alpha, well that's even better."

"Looks good, powerful, and in shape. A perfect match for Araceli."

I quickly sat Elora down, but she stubbornly shot up, pointing at her Alpha, "Phones! Get them out!"

"Hurry, exchange contacts."

Elora grabbed my phone and added his contact details.

Will she want to bury her head in the sand when she's sober?

The Alpha wasn't impatient; instead, he looked at me, added his contact, and sent a greeting emoji.

[Long time no see.]

One of the Omegas whispered conspiratorially, "Araceli, there might be something there. He kept glancing at you when he was sitting."

"When Elora brought him over, he couldn't take his eyes off you."

I struggled to keep my eyes open, looking at him assuredly, "I don't know him."

But I still offered a friendly greeting.

After dinner ended, we met again at the restaurant entrance.

Since we'd been drinking, driving was out of the question, so we were calling cabs.

The breeze sobered Elora up a bit, and she let out a mournful cry, only to hush when her Alpha came out.

"I'm sacrificing so much to find you a mate, you'd better not let me down."

She took a deep breath, "I'll risk it."

Then she dragged me over, stopping her Alpha with a smile, "Alpha Hansen, are you busy?"

Alijah Hansen stopped in his tracks, looking at her, "Not busy."

Elora grinned. "We all drank, can't drive, and Araceli's headed a different way—you could give her a lift."

Alijah turned to me, his dark eyes holding an emotion I couldn’t quite decipher, his Alpha aura wrapping around me in a strangely comforting way.