Chapter 1After nine years together, my boyfriend - an Alpha in his own right - suddenly changed his Instagram handle to "Tiny Little Love."
I asked him why.
He said nothing.
Until his assistant - a she-wolf named Vera - sent me a photo using the same nickname: "Tiny."
The two of them, cuddled up like mates.
That's when I understood.
I calmly saved the photo, then opened my mom's contact.
One sentence: "Mom, I've decided to come home and go through with the mating ceremony."
She video-called instantly. "Sweetie, then we'll set the ceremony for the end of the month!"
Alright.
That means Alpha Jonathan Chapman and I have exactly fifteen days left.
"Great, sweetheart!"
"We'll set the mating ceremony at the end of the month."
"I even had a spiritual coach pick the date - it's supposed to bring good pack energy!"
My mom - the Luna of a powerful pack back home - was over the moon.
I just nodded and mumbled, "Okay."
After we hung up, I sat there staring at my phone.
Jonathan walked out of the bathroom, towel around his neck. Anxious.
"Did you say... mating license?"
He thought I was pressuring him again.
"It's nothing," I brushed him off. "Just some paperwork I need to update."
I grabbed my bag to leave, but as I passed him, I caught a strong whiff of perfume.
Not just any scent. Designer. Feminine. Another wolf's.
He noticed my expression and rushed to explain.
"Some she-wolf was spraying samples on the street. I just tried one - not realizing how strong it was."
The excuse was terrible.
I smiled and let out a soft "Mm-hmm," walking straight into the bedroom.
Jonathan hates shopping. He wouldn't stop for a street sample even if someone paid him.
And that perfume? Definitely not something he would try willingly.
After nine years, I can read every one of his lies like a pup's picture book.
But the truth is, I've been lying to myself too.
An hour ago, I saw Vera Todd's latest Instagram story.
She and Jonathan were smiling for the camera, surrounded by pack friends, standing in front of a massive birthday cake.
And on her finger? A six-carat diamond ring.
The one he gave her.
Vera used to be a stray from a community college. No pack to speak of.
I hired her because she was from Jonathan's hometown - wanted to do him a favor.
Big mistake.
I opened the old texts she sent me. Pure provocation.
"Chaya, Jonathan and I grew up together."
"He's always loved me."
"You're the other woman."
"You stole nine years that belonged to me."
"He never loved you, and he'll never mate you."
"He never even gave you a ring, did he?"
"How about this one - think six carats is big enough?"
Four years of college. Five years building a startup together. Nine years with Jonathan.
And not once did he claim me.
Not a mating bite. Not a pack ceremony. Not even a promise.
Sure, I used to bring it up - sometimes in anger.
He'd always say, "I want to give you the mating ceremony of your dreams, but I'm not there yet."
"Just give me a little more time."
I told him I didn't care about the ceremony. We could just go to the pack elders and register.
Just something - anything - to show we were real.
But now? Now he has all the money and power to throw the grandest ceremony imaginable.
He just doesn't want me to be his Luna.
Nine years.
And now we've only got fifteen days left.
Chapter 2
It was 11 p.m., and I'd just finished getting ready for bed.
Jonathan, already lying down, suddenly got a call.
He jumped up fast and stepped out onto the balcony.
A few minutes later, he came back in and said, "Something came up with the pack territory dispute - I have to fly out for a last-minute trip."
He didn't even look me in the eye.
I let out a soft "Oh," and kept my eyes on my phone.
"Will you be back by the 18th?" I asked.
"The 18th?"
He froze, then suddenly seemed to remember.
"Oh - right, our nine-year anniversary!"
"Of course I'll be back by then."
"Good."
I smiled faintly.
But I didn't mean to celebrate our anniversary.
I planned to break up with him that day. End things, clean and final.
He left just after midnight, right as the date flipped on the calendar.
Technically, that left me 14 days until the mating ceremony my mom had arranged.
Day by day went by.
On the 18th, I didn't get a text, a call, not even a voicemail from Jonathan.
But I did get a travel vlog from Vera on her Instagram.
She looked carefree and glowing, laughing at some resort.
Behind her, I instantly spotted Jonathan.
He was wearing the trench coat I gave him last year for our anniversary.
Before I even finished the three-minute video, my phone rang.
"Chaya, I'm so sorry. Things blew up over here. I really can't make it back."
"Let's do our anniversary another time, okay? We've got all the time in the world."
"Sure." I answered softly and hung up.
Outside, the leaves had started to fall.
Winter was coming.
And Jonathan and I were running out of time.
When the clock hit midnight, I tore the 18th off the calendar.
Only 12 days left until I flew home to meet my intended mate.
Five days passed. Jonathan's location stayed abroad - he clearly wasn't planning to return.
When there were just five days left, he posted a story tagged at the city airport.
Meanwhile, I had nearly packed everything, ready to board my own flight.
Four days to go.
I stepped out to toss some things I didn't want to take.
Out of nowhere, someone grabbed my ankle.
I looked down.
Vera.
Her eyes were red and puffy. Her wolf was trembling under her skin.
She clung to me, sobbing.
"Chaya, you have everything. Please... just let me have Jonathan."
"He's been waiting for you to break up with him first."
"His pack's doing great - he can't afford a scandal."
"And... I'm carrying his pup."
The second she laid her hand on her belly, I froze.
So now they even have a child.
Jonathan, if that's how you feel, why not tell me sooner?
I gave her a bitter smile and pulled my leg free.
"Whoever the father is, go to him. This has nothing to do with me."
"But hey," I added. "Be careful. My 'today' could be your 'tomorrow.'"
"I helped him build his pack, stood by him through every territory fight - and he still betrayed me. You think a pup's gonna keep him loyal?"
Then I walked away. Didn't even turn back.
Back home, I sat quietly and looked around.
Every plant, every photo, every detail in this place - I chose it all.
I used to dream of building a den with Jonathan.
Now, I couldn't stand a single piece of it.
I ripped every plant out of the pots and dumped them in the trash.
That's when Mom called.
"Chaya, your flight's booked! In three days you'll meet your intended Alpha!"
"I know, Mom."
My voice was flat. I was exhausted.
She hesitated. "Did Jonathan hurt you again?"
"No." I lied.
He didn't hurt me.
He wasn't even there.
"Sweetheart, that wolf was never good enough for you. When you're back, I'll pull every cent out of his pack's business. Let him crash and burn."
For the first time in days, I actually smiled.
"Okay."
Three days left between me and Alpha Jonathan Chapman.
Chapter 3
Back when Jonathan first started his pack's company, it was my mom - the Luna of a much larger pack - who gave him his first investment.
He literally got down on his knees and swore on his wolf.
"If I ever hurt Chaya, may my wolf never know peace."
To be fair, there was a time when he truly loved me.
But that was all before he made it big.
Maybe it was from cleaning out everything that once had my scent on it.
But I passed out on the couch.
In my dream, we were back on campus, the day we first met.
But when I woke up, the big house was empty.
Just me.
I looked at the clock - 6 a.m.
My flight was early the next morning, so I'd have to leave around the same time.
Which meant... 24 hours left before I said goodbye to Jonathan for good.
But he still hadn't come home.
Not once, since returning from his trip, had he stepped foot back in our den.
I decided it was time to just call him. End it directly.
"Chaya, what's up?"
Him answering this early? That was rare.
Right before I could say anything, I heard another voice - an older she-wolf's.
"You again? Getting breakfast for your girl? You're such a sweetheart!"
6 a.m. breakfast.
He never once bought that for me.
The rest of the call was a blur. He hung up fast.
Then came the text: [Sorry, just got out of a pack meeting. I'll be home this afternoon.]
A breakfast meeting at a food truck? Sure.
By 8 a.m., Vera had posted again.
[The one who gives you a diamond might not love you. But the one who gets up at 6 a.m. to bring you breakfast definitely does.]
Perfect.
She had the diamond and the breakfast.
I wish them well.
I got up and started packing.
Didn't take long - I'd already thrown out everything I didn't want.
There'd be no trace of my scent left in this house.
At 6 p.m., Jonathan actually showed up.
One of the rare times he actually kept his word.
But by now, I had just 12 hours left before my flight home.
He was carrying a gift box.
"Chaya, I've been slammed lately. I'm sorry. I got this for you - it's for our anniversary."
It was the designer bag I'd mentioned liking once.
Sure, I loved it.
But any wolf with a credit card can buy a luxury handbag.
Not everyone gets up at dawn for breakfast runs.
And I knew the difference.
"Thanks," I said, flat and cool.
Jonathan let out a relieved laugh. "I knew you'd love it."
He pulled me into a hug and kissed my forehead.
"Chaya, once this craziness dies down, I'll take you to Scandinavia. You always said you wanted to see the Northern Lights."
"Mm." I whispered back.
But I didn't believe him.
Not anymore.
