Chapter 1Seven days since I woke up in the pack hospital. No one by my side except the healer on night shift.
My future Alpha mate left me behind during the rogue attack.
My wolf whimpered once, then went quiet.
I grabbed my phone - dead. Borrowed a charger and turned it on.
No messages from Anthony. Not one.
Then his name flashed.
The moment I answered, his snarl cut through the line:
"Sadie, what the hell is your problem now? Nicole's wolf has a weak heart. In that rogue attack, of course I took her first. The second wave of pack warriors was right behind us. Why couldn't you just wait? I had a billion-dollar pack deal closing. Your clinic job pays scraps. What are you even complaining about? You've ignored me for days!"
I listened.
No concern. Only accusations.
Every word defending her.
When he finally stopped, I said, hoarse: "I'm in the hospital..."
"Don't give me that pathetic act, Sadie," he cut me off. "You're doing this because you never believed Nicole and I are innocent. You're disgusting. No wonder she says you're full of schemes."
Then he hung up.
I tried calling back.
Blocked.
My wolf let out a low, broken whine inside my chest.
I laughed at myself - a raw, ugly sound - and called a pack caregiver.
I wasn't going to rot here just because Anthony wasn't worth it.
Twenty days in that hospital bed.
Not one call from him.
Surgery to remove the steel rod from my leg.
The pack healer said I might limp slightly, but I'd keep my leg.
I thanked the Moon Goddess for that much.
Somewhere in those long, quiet nights, I made a decision:
Start loving myself.
Day twenty. Discharged.
And then - Anthony called.
"Sadie," he asked, like nothing had happened, "have you reflected on what you did wrong?"
"Why should I?" My voice came out cold, flat. Even my wolf stopped pacing.
He flinched - I could hear it in his breath. Then he softened his tone:
"We're mates. Nicole and I have always been innocent. You just overreact. That rogue attack scared her - her heart condition, Sadie. I just wanted you to understand."
The more he spoke, the more he believed his own lies.
"I know I was wrong to leave you," he added. "I booked a restaurant. Let me take you out, okay?"
No real apology. But after four years of this dance, I knew his pattern.
This was his version of an olive branch.
But I had already nearly died in that rogue attack.
Watched him carry Nicole away while rogues were still circling, without even looking back at me.
Whatever hope I had for him - gone.
In that hospital bed, I replayed everything.
When you pour too much of yourself into a mate, you stop being a wolf.
You become prey.
I had spoiled Anthony. Let him punish me whenever he wanted.
Let him starve me of affection and call it love.
His pack never respected me. They saw a pushover.
They were right.
"Come pick me up from the hospital," I said quietly.
He froze.
Probably remembering how he'd accused me of faking.
Now he knew I'd really been hurt.
"I'll come get you, little wolf," he said, all gentle now.
I waited.
Hours passed. Sunset bled into night.
No Anthony.
I took a pack cab home. Ate cold leftovers. Still no sign of him.
Then I saw Nicole's post: a candlelit dinner.
"I knew you'd always be there when I needed you."
My wolf didn't even growl this time.
Just... silence.
In Anthony's heart, I never mattered. As long as Nicole existed, I would always be the one left in the dust.
I used to rage. Howl at the injustice.
Now? I just felt... nothing.
And suddenly, that nothing felt like freedom.
Why should I - in my prime, with a wolf still running - let any male decide my fate?
Chapter 2
I packed my things and lay down in the guest room.
Then my mentor's message came through.
"This project is perfect for you. You've worked as a field healer before - calm under rogue attacks. We really want you. But I know about your mate situation. Think it over."
I didn't hesitate.
"No need to think. I'm in."
My mentor called immediately. His wolf's happiness bled through the line:
"That's my girl. Our pack of healers needs you. You'll be saving lives across territories."
"Thank you. Don't worry."
I could hear he meant it.
I didn't plan to tell Anthony. Not yet.
After we hung up, he sent me recent field data.
The more I read, the more my wolf stirred - shocked at how much I'd missed while playing house.
All my focus had been on him.
Cooking his meals. Scenting his clothes. Begging for scraps of affection.
And in his eyes? Still not good enough. Still less than Nicole.
I decided to spend whatever time I had left sharpening my healing skills.
Luckily, even though my current clinic job was easy, I'd never stopped learning.
Otherwise, I wouldn't dare take on a project this big.
Realizing that made my wolf shudder.
I almost wasted my entire life waiting for Anthony's mercy.
The front door opened.
Anthony's scent hit me - pine and arrogance.
My wolf flattened her ears. I pretended not to hear him.
But he went straight to the bedroom, then stomped to the guest room.
Loud knock.
"Sadie. I know you're in there."
I limped over and opened the door.
He opened his mouth to blame me - then saw my leg.
Guilt flashed across his face.
"When did you get back? Why didn't you answer my calls?"
"Phone was on silent." I didn't even look at him.
He stared at me, then growled softly: "Do you know how worried I was?"
"But I came back by myself, didn't I?" My voice was flat. "Can't always wait for you."
He flinched. Then looked at my leg again.
"How is it?"
"Thanks to the pack's rescue helicopter showing up fast." I smiled - no warmth. "Otherwise, they'd have taken the leg."
His wolf whined low in his throat. Shame.
"That day - the rogue attack - Nicole's weak heart... I took her first. If I'd known how bad yours was..."
"I understand." I cut him off. "Anything else?"
My wolf was done. So was I.
He didn't like that. His jaw tightened.
"I know you're angry. But she has a genetic condition. Can you stop being so passive-aggressive?"
"I'm not being passive-aggressive." My voice didn't shake. "I'm a healer too. I know how easily her condition flares. That's why I don't blame you. I fully understand."
He blinked, thrown off.
I added: "I know you and her have nothing going on. If you wanted her as your mate, you'd have claimed her years ago."
That shut him up.
I stepped back. "I'm not used to having anyone around right now. I'll keep sleeping in the guest room."
Then I pushed him out.
He tried to help me because I was limping.
I brushed his hand off.
And closed the door right in his face.
For a long moment, silence.
Then I heard him muttering outside. Low growls. Words I couldn't quite catch.
My wolf didn't even care.
In the past, his moods controlled my every breath.
Now? Nothing.
My chest felt light for the first time in years.
Chapter 3
Early next morning, the guest room door slammed open.
Nicole stood there, all dressed up. She yanked my blanket off.
"Sadie, why are you still in bed? I heard you got hurt because he didn't take you with him, and now you're giving him attitude. I came all the way here to explain things, and you're this rude? Still sleeping? I even brought you stuff!"
I sat up slowly. Stared at her. Didn't move.
My wolf's lip curled, but I held her back.
Nicole looked at Anthony with fake tears in her eyes - like she was the victim.
Eason's wolf couldn't stand it. He rushed to comfort her.
"Don't think that way. Sadie's still healing. She's a patient. Otherwise, she'd never treat you badly, right?"
Nicole pouted, all sweet now:
"Fine. I just felt like I was lowering myself. And it's not like we did it on purpose. My weak heart is really serious. It was an emergency. You had no choice."
She sniffled. Almost crying.
Anthony softened immediately:
"I know. Not your fault. The rogue attack was too sudden."
I watched them play their little game. Said nothing.
Then I remembered.
The rogue attack shouldn't have happened at all.
Anthony said it was our four-year anniversary. Just the two of us. A trip to see the tulip fields in another pack's territory. He seemed excited for once.
Then Nicole found out.
"You've never taken me to see the tulips," she whined.
Anthony hesitated. He actually looked at me - like I had a say.
But Nicole whispered one sentence:
"E, I know this is pushy. And I don't have long to live. If it's too much trouble, just forget it."
Right in front of me, Anthony said: "I'll pick you up."
Our romantic getaway became a trip for three.
Whenever Nicole was around, I became the tag-along.
Took their photos. Followed behind. Didn't even sit next to him during meals.
Anthony peeled fruit for her.
I'd asked him to do that for me once. He said it was too much trouble.
Turns out, it wasn't the trouble.
It was me.
The day we were supposed to leave, Nicole insisted on staying one more night to see some popular spot.
I'd smelled the storm coming the day before. My wolf was restless. I kept warning Anthony.
He snapped at me - because of her.
"Nicole has a weak heart! You're a healer. How can you be so vicious, always targeting her? We can have our romantic trip anytime!"
I gave in to his snarls.
Then the rogues came.
Anthony shielded Nicole. She got minor scratches.
But I was in the back. Took the full hit. Almost died.
When pack rescue arrived, Anthony didn't even ask if I was okay.
He just grabbed Nicole and demanded to go first.
One of my healer colleagues was there. Saw my leg. Saved me a spot on the rescue helicopter.
Anthony threatened to cancel his donation to the pack hospital if they didn't take Nicole now.
They took her.
After he left, my colleague found another helicopter.
That's how I kept my leg.
I snapped back to the present.
Suddenly too tired to watch their act anymore.
"You're right," I said flatly. "As a patient, she's the priority. That's why I didn't argue yesterday. I agree - taking her first was right. Didn't Anthony tell you that? So why are you here stirring up drama again? Or do you need me to spell out that what you two did wasn't exactly honorable?"
Nicole froze.
She'd never heard me talk back.
Anthony froze too. His face went dark when my words sunk in.
"You still say you're not making a fuss?" he growled. "Nicole came out of kindness to see you. And this is how you talk? How could I ever be with her?"
He looked so wronged I almost laughed.
Nicole's face twisted.
Because even though Anthony favored her, he wouldn't claim her.
And that burned her worse than any wound.
I didn't bother watching anymore.
Texted my mentor. Made plans to go eat.
When Anthony finally realized I was gone and called me - blocked.
I saw his message demanding answers and snorted.
"So he does know blocking someone is rude."
My mentor asked carefully, "Did you break up?"
I nodded. "Not yet. But soon. I was forcing it before. Not anymore."
He didn't argue.
After we finished discussing project details, my phone rang. Unknown number.
Anthony's unhappy growl came through:
"Sadie, where are you? When are you coming back? Why did you block me?"
"I'm an adult. I have my own life. I don't report to you."
He paused. Then: "I'm worried about you running around with that injury."
"Anthony, next time you say that, make sure Nicole blocks me on her social media first. I already saw the video of you cooking for her. Where was that worry when you were making her dinner?"
He went silent. Then hung up.
I'd seen that post days ago. Didn't react because I had better things to do.
But him telling me he was worried?
My wolf nearly gagged.
He could keep his fake concern. I was done.
