Chapter 2

The next morning, Kieran did something he had never done before.

He got up early.

The sounds of clinking dishes echoed from the kitchen.

In all the years we had lived together, this was the first time he had ever made breakfast.

“Well, this is unexpected,” I teased, though a part of me stirred with uneasy hope.

Could it be that he had finally realized something?

Kieran turned around with a bright smile, flashing his teeth. “I made breakfast for you. Consider it a reward for my Luna.”

I picked up a slice of cheese and meat pizza, about to take a bite—

But Kieran suddenly stopped me, pressing down on my hand.

“Wait, not that one. This is the one I packed.” He pointed to another plate of seafood pizza. “That one’s yours.”

“Fresh seafood, just for you. Try it.” He spoke casually while carefully packing the cheese and meat pizza into a box.

My heart plummeted.

He had forgotten.

I was allergic to seafood.

“I’m allergic,” I said flatly.

He froze for a brief second, then shrugged. “Oh, well, that’s a shame. You’re missing out on some good seafood.”

I watched as he carefully secured the food container, treating it with more care than he had ever shown me lately.

“Who’s it for?” I asked, keeping my voice neutral.

Kieran’s hand stiffened for a moment. He hesitated before brushing the question off. “It’s nothing. Just some leftovers.”

A cold realization settled in my chest.

I had my answer.

He remembered Seraphina’s favorite food. But he forgot mine.

“Linda,” I murmured to my wolf. “I used to pray to the Moon Goddess, believing Kieran was my fated mate. That we were meant to be. But I was wrong, wasn’t I?”

“Lyanna, don’t waste your tears on him,” Linda soothed. “Perhaps the Moon Goddess has something better in store for you.”

Just as Kieran was about to leave, a glint of silver caught my eye.

I picked up a delicate earring from the bathroom counter.

A butterfly-shaped earring with long, dangling tassels.

Not mine.

I never wore earrings. I didn’t even have pierced ears.

“Alpha Kieran,” I called out, holding up the earring. “Whose is this?”

He turned to look, his expression momentarily flickering with panic before he quickly masked it.

“I… don’t know. Isn’t it yours?”

My chest tightened.

I let out a slow breath before meeting his gaze, my voice steady.

“At our mating ceremony, I wore clip-on earrings. I never pierced my ears.”

I took a step forward, watching his eyes carefully. “So tell me, Kieran—this belongs to Seraphina, doesn’t it?”

His pupils dilated.

For a second, he looked genuinely shocked that I had figured it out.

Then, scrambling, he forced a casual chuckle. “Oh… Right. Seraphina must’ve dropped it when she was here yesterday. I’ll remind her to be more careful.”

Seraphina had been here.

In my home.

I clenched my fists, but my face remained calm.

His phone buzzed.

He glanced at the screen, and a look of urgency crossed his face.

“Seraphina just mind-linked me. There’s an issue with the pack’s project. I need to head to the office.”

Excuses.

Lies.

And once again, he was running away.

I said nothing as he rushed out the door, leaving me alone in the house that once held so many dreams.

The truth was undeniable now.

Seraphina wasn’t just his Beta.

She was the one he truly cared about.

And I?

I was just an obligation he had long abandoned.

But it didn’t matter.

Soon, I would be free.

I just had to wait a little longer.