Chapter 1

After the rain, Marshall held me close, his Alpha aura pressing against me like a weight I could never quite escape. "We’ve been together for three years," he said, his voice low and commanding, "but now it’s time to let you go."

I froze for a moment, my wolf stirring uneasily in the back of my mind. But before I could respond, he continued, "If you have some free time, help me find someone new."

His words hit me like a blow, but I kept my expression neutral. I knew exactly who he was referring to—Lucia Snyder, the new Omega in the Hill Pack. She was everything I wasn’t: vibrant, eager, and unburdened by the weight of three years of his manipulations. She fit his ideal image better than I ever could.

I rose from his embrace, my movements calm and deliberate. I didn’t cry or make a scene. I simply said, "Alright."

When he mentioned setting me free, I felt a strange sense of relief. My wolf whimpered softly, but I silenced her. This was what I had been preparing for, after all. Seeing my lack of reaction, Marshall’s expression darkened. He repeated, "If you have some free time, help me find someone new."

Lucia’s face flashed in my mind—her bright smile, her boundless energy. She reminded me of who I used to be, before Marshall’s control had worn me down. With that thought, I got up, but he pulled me back into his arms, his grip firm and unyielding. "What are you doing?"

"I’m feeling uncomfortable," I replied, my voice steady. "I need a shower."

He smirked, his Alpha tone lacing his words with a teasing edge. "You’re so lazy. Haven’t I always carried you in? What’s different today?"

Perhaps realizing the weight of his earlier words, he got up and said, "I don’t know who’s spoiled you so much that I still have to cater to you. Let me indulge you one last time."

I didn’t argue. I simply accepted, as I always had. Seeing me act as I usually did seemed to ease the tension in his shoulders. There was another playful moment in the shower, and afterward, I was too exhausted to move from the bed.

As usual, he didn’t stay overnight. Just before he left, he turned to me, his dark eyes searching mine. "Did you hear what I said today?"

"Yes," I replied, my voice calm.

"I won’t be coming back."

"Alright, I understand."

My quick response seemed to irritate him, and he left, slamming the door behind him with more force than necessary. I didn’t even have the energy to look up as he walked out.

It was finally over.

In a way, I was free. My wolf let out a soft whine, but I silenced her. This was the beginning of something new, and I wasn’t going to let Marshall’s shadow linger any longer than it already had.