Novelove

Chapter 1

After the Academy term started, I rejected my childhood packmate, Theo Howell.

He just smirked. "What, 'cause I picked her up for initiation instead of you?"

"Yeah."

He laughed again - low and smug, like an Alpha pup who'd never been told no.

"Okay, little wolf. So how many days we 'broken up' this time?"

Before I could answer, his precious scholarship shewolf called.

"Don't worry. I'm coming."

Watching him sprint off like a lovesick puppy, I choked back the words burning in my throat:

"Forever."

Ten years of chasing that arrogant wolf.

I was done playing his game.

Time for some wolves to get what they deserved.

...

I went back to my dorm alone, staring at the major transfer form on my desk.

Two days ago, initiation.

Theo had promised to pick me up at the train station.

I waited hours in unfamiliar territory, watching bus after bus leave for the Academy.

Then his text finally came:

[Ella - something came up. Can't make it. Just take a cab to campus for orientation.]

My wolf whined. But I made excuses for him anyway. He's busy. He'll explain.

When I finally dragged my luggage and the gifts I'd bought him to the dorm building, sweating through my shirt...

I saw him helping another shewolf move her stuff.

She was on her tiptoes, wiping sweat from his forehead, smiling.

"Theo, you're such a sweetheart~ Picking me up, helping with initiation, carrying my bags... I don't know how to thank you."

My wolf bristled.

I laughed bitterly. "Then mate him already."

The girl's face went red. She hid behind Theo.

Theo looked thrilled. He strode straight to me.

"Ella! You made it!"

"Look at my brave little wolf, handling initiation all by herself."

He reached out to pinch my cheek with that adoring look.

I slapped his hand away. "So you ditched me for her?"

He tapped my nose, exasperated. "Jealous again?"

With that what am I gonna do with you expression, he pulled me toward the shewolf:

"This is Laney Smith. The scholarship wolf I told you about. She doesn't know anyone here, so I'm helping her out. Say hi."

Laney gave a timid smile. "You must be Ella! Theo talks about you all the time."

I knew exactly who she was.

Theo brought her up in every phone call.

We'd fought over her so many times, my wolf had scars from it.

All that hurt turned to fire.

"We're not pack. Don't act like we are," I said coldly.

Laney's eyes instantly filled with tears. She bit her lip.

Theo grabbed my wrist. His voice dropped into a low growl.

"Ella. Apologize. Now."

I yanked my hand free and laughed. "Not happening."

Then I ran toward the dorm building.

Inside, as I unpacked, the tears I'd been holding back fell anyway.

They landed on the gifts I'd bought him.

My roommates were on the balcony, not noticing my breakdown.

"Damn, that freshman works fast - already hooked an upperclassman wolf."

"And look how far they've gone - practically all over each other."

I froze. Wiped my eyes fast. Walked to the balcony.

Downstairs, Theo and Laney were hugging.

My wolf went quiet.

Not angry. Just... tired.

Maybe it's time to end this.

During initiation, I asked my advisor about switching tracks.

She gave me a transfer form. Due in three days.

I waited stubbornly for Theo to come apologize.

If he did, I'd forgive him. My wolf still wanted him then.

But he never came.

He was too busy taking care of Laney.

Treating her roommates to dinner. Getting her ready for initiation week.

The pack forum flooded with photos of them together.

So perfect. So matched.

I remembered when we were pups - he'd hold my hand playing house.

Neighbors would tease, "Is that your little mate, Theo?"

And Theo would glare and correct them:

"She's not my little mate. Ella's my mate."

Everyone said we were fated. Meant to be.

Thirteen years of feeling.

Three days of my chest aching so bad my wolf couldn't eat.

Slowly, the bond peeled away.

From screaming pain to numb silence.

By the time I told Theo we were done, only a dull ache remained.

He was certain I was just throwing another tantrum.

Certain I could never leave him.

Because I'd bent and broken myself so many times to keep us alive.

I'd even studied day and night, ignoring my parents' warnings, to follow him onto the healer track - just because he said, "I'll be waiting for you at Jefferson Medical."

Then I saw the forum photo: Theo carrying Laney in his arms, running across the field.

My wolf stopped whining.

I picked up a pen and wrote on the transfer form:

"Request transfer - Pack Strategy & Leadership."

Chapter 2

That night, I went to dinner with my pack-sisters.

They asked what I wanted.

I had no appetite. "No peanuts. Everything else."

Right after we ordered, a male voice drifted from the private room next door:

"Theo, getting that close to the new shewolf? Won't your little promised mate get jealous again?"

I froze mid-sip. Could be another wolf.

Then Theo's lazy laugh. "She's already jealous. Threatened to reject me again."

"How many times is that now?"

Someone else snickered. "Who cares? His little promised mate's just a dramatic omega. Always whining about breaking up, always crawling back. Only Theo has the patience for that crazy."

"Then why not dump her for real? Laney's sweet. Like a soft little rabbit."

Theo sighed like he was burdened. "Wish I could. Family arrangement. Gotta deal with it."

My wolf snarled inside my chest.

Liar.

Theo's parents were busy pack healers. They'd asked my parents to watch him since we were pups.

We grew up together, close as pack, but my parents never wanted us mated.

They said Theo would be too buried in healer duties to protect me or our future den.

Their precious daughter doing everything alone? Not happening.

I came back to the present. My roommates were mouthing a word: "Rogue."

Quietly mocking the pathetic, stupid little promised mate.

I lowered my eyes. Let my wolf hide the tears.

"Excuse me. Your food."

Laney stood there in a server's apron. She froze when she saw me.

I pretended not to notice. Forced a smile. "Food's here! Let's eat."

When I didn't acknowledge her, she bit her lip and left.

Dish after dish came. Lost in thought, I ate whatever was in front of me.

Then my roommate shouted: "Wait - this has peanuts! Who ordered this?"

My throat clenched. Swelled.

Air stopped.

My wolf thrashed. I gasped, clawing at my neck.

"What's wrong?!" they yelled.

I rasped: "Al...lergic... pea...nuts... hos...pital..."

They grabbed me, trying to drag me out.

Laney burst in. Blocked the door. "I'm sorry! I brought the wrong dish!"

"GET OUT OF THE WAY! She needs a healer!"

Laney bit her lip, eyes flickering. "You can't leave. You ate it and haven't paid."

My roommate snapped: "You brought the wrong dish and you want us to pay?!"

Laney's eyes watered. "I'm a broke scholarship wolf. Working parttime. You obviously have pack money. Please don't do this to me."

"If you run, they'll take my pay."

I couldn't breathe. Rage made it worse.

I tugged my roommate's sleeve. Just go.

Laney kept blocking us.

Then Theo walked out of the next room.

Her tears started instantly. "Theo..."

He pulled her behind him. Protective. "It's okay. I've got this."

I looked up at him. My swollen throat only let out a whisper: "Mar..."

Theo's wolf flickered in his eyes. He stepped toward me -

But Laney grabbed his arm.

"Theo, Ella's still mad at me. I mixed up the order. Now she's faking an allergic reaction to make me pay."

She sobbed. "I know I messed up. But I'm out of money for the month."

Theo glanced at our table. No peanuts visible.

He believed her.

He sighed, annoyed. "Ella, you wanted to break up. Why take it out on Laney? Just pay the bill."

My roommates suddenly realized I was the pathetic promised mate they'd been mocking.

Embarrassed, they let go of me.

They started doubting if I was faking.

Everyone turned.

I tried to speak. Only choked sounds came out.

Shaking, I pulled cash from my pocket. Threw it on the floor. Stumbled toward the door.

Behind me, someone said: "She actually looks really sick..."

Theo's angry voice: "Just embarrassed she got caught lying. Time she learned a lesson."

My wolf howled inside my chest.

I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood.

Oxygen gone. My wolf started clawing toward the surface - shift, run, survive -

And in that haze, I remembered my first allergic reaction.

No pack elders home that day. Theo was over playing. He fed me a peanut candy.

Instant reaction. He cried while carrying me on his back to the pack healer. I still remember how warm and safe his fur felt.

After that, he was careful. Always asked about peanuts. Always protected me.

He even followed his parents onto the healer track, just to guard me better.

Then he started sponsoring Laney.

And everything changed.

Darkness swallowed me. The chest pain faded.

Last thing I remembered: falling into arms that smelled like winter pine and wild pack territory.

Chapter 3

I spent a day in the pack infirmary, then checked out to get ready for the welcome gathering.

But when I got back to the den, my pack-sisters were cold. Sarcastic.

Convinced I'd faked the allergy to cause drama.

I slapped my medical records down in front of them.

When they saw "severe anaphylactic shock," their eyes went wide.

No one said a word.

I ignored them after that.

The pack professor said after the welcome gathering, I'd transfer to the strategy campus. Get a new den.

Word was the Strategy top student - the school's Alpha would attend. Make a good impression? I might get into the honor pack.

So I spent my days doing initiation runs and my nights practicing piano in the music den.

Theo kept texting. I blocked him without reading.

The day before the welcome gathering, I went to pick up a package.

Ran into him again.

He was holding my delivery.

I held out my hand. "Give it."

He held the package high. That cocky grin.

"Still mad, little wolf? Want it? Add me back on PackChat and it's yours."

The package was the performance dress my father had sent.

I stared at Theo's smirk. He had no idea I'd nearly died a few days ago.

My wolf growled low.

I pulled out my phone to call his father.

He grabbed it away.

I lunged for it.

He held it high, tapped a few times, then said:

"Little wolf, don't be mad. My pack mentor wants me in the lab over the break. I'll be gone two weeks."

"Two weeks without talking... I can't handle that. Can you?"

I snapped, "Go wherever you want! We're done!"

Theo gave me that exasperated smile. Pulled me into his arms. Pressed a kiss to the top of my head.

"Silly she-wolf. How many times do I have to say I love you before you believe me?"

His sweet words made my wolf want to vomit.

How could he juggle two she-wolves? Always choose her over me? And still claim I was his fated mate?

I broke free. Ran off. Forgot the dress.

I texted him later:

[That package has my performance dress. Bring it NOW. I need it for the welcome gathering.]

He took forever to reply:

[Too late today. I'll bring it tomorrow. Good night, little wolf.]

I kept texting. He went silent.

Frustrated, but fine. I'd wait.

Next day, I asked again.

[Ella - swamped today. I'll bring it to you at the gathering tonight.]

I tried to breathe through my wolf's rage.

"Theo, tonight's performance is everything to me! You HAVE to bring the dress early!"

Showtime approached. I called him over and over backstage.

Then I heard the announcer:

"Please welcome freshman she-wolf Laney Smith and senior wolf Theo Howell for their piano duet - 'Unheard Melodies.'"

"Hello, the number you have dialed is not available..."

I pushed aside the curtain.

Laney was wearing the dress my mother had made me.

Sitting under the pack gathering lights. Playing with Theo.

Together.

People whispered:

"That fresh she-wolf's dress is gorgeous - they look so perfect together!"

"Right? Did you see that look they shared? So sweet!"

"I heard the senior wolf agreed to perform just to support her."

My claws dug into my palms. My wolf snarled so loud I thought everyone would hear.

"Unheard Melodies" was Theo's favorite song. The first piece we ever played together as pups.

He used to say: "You're my lead she-wolf, Ella. I'll never lose my lead she-wolf!"

But his lead she-wolf?

She was done with him.