Chapter 3

Once inside the car, Axton’s deep voice filled the space, his Alpha aura pressing against me even in his calmest moments. "I’ve arranged a surprise for your birthday," he said, his tone carrying the weight of authority. "Once we have some downtime, maybe we should think about starting a family."

I kept my gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside the window, the city lights blurring into streaks of gold. My wolf stirred faintly in the back of my mind, a quiet whisper of unease, but I silenced her. I said nothing in return.

As the car began to move, his phone rang. The sound was sharp, cutting through the silence like a blade. He answered, his forehead wrinkling slightly, his voice carrying a note of apprehension that was rare for an Alpha.

I looked at him, my tone calm but distant. "If you need to take care of something, you should go."

He paused briefly, his dark eyes flickering with something I couldn’t quite place. "Sylvia, I..."

"It’s fine," I said, cutting him off. "I’ll wait for you on the yacht."

I didn’t see the caller ID, but I knew only one person could provoke such a reaction from him. Jenna Dean. His true mate.

Once on the yacht alone, I pulled out my phone and scrolled through Jenna’s Instagram. A newly uploaded photo popped up, captioned: "Success is sweeter with someone by your side, sharing late-night cookies and having conversations just for you. Thanks for always looking out for me."

The comments overflowed with admiration: "Your mate treats you so well!" "That’s what it means to truly pamper your Luna!"

Yet, my eyes were drawn to the hand in the photo. The wrist was adorned with a familiar silver bracelet—Axton’s. The one I’d given him on our first anniversary.

I dialed his number, only for Jenna to pick up.

"So late, what does my dear sister want by calling me? Trying to reach your Alpha, perhaps?" Jenna’s voice was thick with sarcasm, her tone dripping with the confidence of someone who knew she’d won.

"Give it up; he’s not coming home tonight. Looks like my lovely sister can’t keep a mate. I’ve handed him over, and still, you can’t manage."

I hung up without a word and told the yacht staff, "Let’s set sail."

"Aren’t we waiting for anyone else?" one of the crew members asked, his tone respectful but curious.

Softly, I answered, "No need to wait. It’s just me."

The yacht glided forward, cutting through the midnight sea towards the open water. Standing alone at the bow, I stared at the stars above, the chilly wind biting at my skin as starlight danced across the waves.

He never returned that night.

I leaned against the deck, lost in thought, memories of the past five years flooding back. His kindness, his presence, his promises... every memory felt like a shard cutting through my heart, coming together to form only a broken image.

All the pretense, all the lies, seemed absurdly laughable now.

Before dawn, I dialed his number one last time. The phone was off.

Staring at the screen, I set the phone to upload the video evidence of my painting at a scheduled time. Once that was done, I moved to the stern, glancing one final time at the breaking light of dawn.

Then, I jumped, plunging into the icy depths of the sea.

Meanwhile, Axton hurriedly left Jenna’s place, his Alpha aura crackling with urgency. "I have to go. Tomorrow’s her birthday, and I promised her we’d watch the sunrise together."

Jenna blocked him, her voice sharp with frustration. "Axton, I need you now..."

He shook his head, his tone firm. "No, not today."

Just then, his Beta, Emerie, rushed to him, her face pale. "Alpha, your mate jumped off the yacht!"