Chapter 1My Alpha came back from his pack trip with gifts for everyone - even the pack sentinel got a fancy belt.
Me? The birth-moon bag I'd been howling about for two moons? Forgot.
Then his she-wolf assistant posts on Insta with my bag: "Best Alpha ever!"
His comment? "Anytime."
I broke the bond right there.
"Over a bag? Seriously?" He laughed, his wolf not even flinching.
"Yeah. Over the bag."
His phone buzzed. "Celia's waiting for lunch. Shift home."
He left.
I didn't beg. Didn't cry.
Hit send on the email I'd been sitting on: "Lunaris studio? I'm in. Tomorrow works."
Pulled off my claiming ring. Dropped it on his desk.
...
"You actually dumped him?"
Anna's call hit the second I walked out of Randy's office.
"Yep."
"You two have been bonded since pack school. Nine years. And you're throwing it away over a purse?"
I stopped on the sidewalk, my wolf bristling.
"It's not about the purse."
Randy spent a week in Lunaris territory for pack business. Before he left, I told him point-blank - don't forget my birth-moon bag.
He looked me right in the eye, his wolf steady. I got you. I won't forget.
When he got back? His assistant scored a gift. The lobby guard got a gift. Every single wolf in his pack walked away with something from France.
Me? Empty-pawed.
"Little wolf, I'm so sorry. The meetings were back-to-back. It slipped my mind."
"I'll get it next time, I promise."
Three moons since the claiming. Seventeen broken oaths.
The first time? Cramps hit me like a rogue's claw.
I texted him. Can you grab Midol on your way home?
Yeah, no problem.
He stumbled in at midnight, reeking of rogue whiskey.
"Henderson wanted drinks after the pitch. I had a couple and totally forgot."
I didn't say a word. Just got him to bed and DoorDashed myself tacos at 1 a.m. - my wolf whimpering alone.
Second time? My studio got slammed with custom orders.
I was buried. Texted him around six. Can you bring dinner tonight? I can't leave.
Sure thing.
By eleven, my hands were shaking, my wolf growling from low sugar. No food. No text.
When I got home past midnight, he was asleep in clean sweats.
"Crazy day. Passed out the second I hit the couch. My bad about dinner."
I stared at his fresh clothes. The empty sink. My wolf went quiet.
Then came number three. Number eight. Number seventeen.
I stopped counting. Stopped expecting. Started ordering backup plans before I even asked.
Until I found Celia's Insta.
Every other post? Her "incredible Alpha."
March 21:
Alpha heard me whine about cramps ONCE and showed up with heating pads and painkillers the next day. Dead.
April 7:
Photo at Catch LA.
Mentioned this place to my Alpha last week and he surprised me today. When a wolf LISTENS >>
April 7th. The exact night I asked Randy for dinner.
And today?
Randy's back from Lunaris.
Celia's feed is flooded with the Celine bag he brought her.
"BEST ALPHA EVER! You remembered from ONE conversation. Obsessed with you! ?"
Randy's comment?
"Easy."
Same bag. Same brand. Same boutique I asked him to hit.
Chapter 2
That night, I was on a video call with my Lunaris contacts when Randy walked in.
The bonding-gown studio had been chasing me for moons - seven invitations, six rejections. All because of him.
Number seven? I finally said yes.
"My studio's covered. Give me two days and I'm on a plane."
"Finally!" Edward grinned through the screen, his wolf eyes gleaming. "You're too talented to stay stuck there. When you land, I'm showing you all of Lunaris myself."
"Lunaris?"
Randy's growl came from behind me.
I spun around. Didn't even hear him pad in - his wolf always moved silent when he wanted.
"You're home? It's barely eight."
The last three moons, eight meant he was still with his assistant. Every night.
He blinked at me, ears flat.
"Why do you sound surprised?"
Before I could answer, he brushed past me and started digging through my desk drawer. Grabbed two concert tickets.
"Oh right - Celia bought me lunch today, so I'm taking her to this show tonight. Returning the favor."
Then, casual as hell:
"Don't overthink it. Just being polite."
I kept quiet.
Just stared at those tickets in his hand.
Purchase date: yesterday.
Not last minute. Planned.
My wolf curled her lip, but I swallowed the snarl.
Whatever. We were done tonight anyway. He could take whoever he wanted.
Still... my chest tightened. Eyes stung - my wolf wanted to howl.
"Hey. Do you know what today is?"
He squinted at me like I'd asked a trick question.
"What? You're not on your heat yet."
"I'm late. Gotta run."
Started for the door.
"Randy!"
He stopped.
I forced a smile, claws retracting.
"Grab me a cake on your way back. Matcha."
He paused. Something clicked behind his eyes.
"Oh - yeah, sure thing."
"And when you get home, we need to talk. For real this time."
"Got it."
Door shut. His scent faded down the hall.
I turned back to my laptop.
"Sorry about that. Where were we?"
He forgot.
My birth-moon.
Two moons ago when he asked what I wanted, I kept it simple. Two things.
That bag I'd been craving forever. And tickets to this concert.
Didn't get the bag.
Now he's taking her to my concert.
Can't even remember my damn birth-moon.
My wolf let out a silent whine in my chest.
Fine. After tonight, I'll be in Lunaris.
And I won't have to see his face - or smell his lying scent - ever again.
Chapter 3
That night, Randy never came home.
I fell asleep waiting on the office couch, my wolf curled tight in my chest.
In my dream, I saw seven-year-old Randy - tiny cub, shaking like a leaf, standing between me and a snarling rogue mutt. His whole body trembled, but he wouldn't step back.
"I got you, Ella. Don't be scared."
Then I saw eighteen-year-old Randy. His ears were red, stumbling over every word.
"So... would you maybe want to be my chosen mate?"
"I swear - you'll always come first. No matter what. I promise."
I'd looked down, my wolf purring.
"Okay. I believe you."
Twenty-five, he offered me his claiming ring.
Twenty-seven, we had our bonding ceremony.
Now here I was, passed out alone on a couch, waiting to break the bond.
My phone buzzed. Text from Randy.
Too late for Celia to get a ride. Dropping her off first. Don't wait up.
I started typing.
What about my cake? You forgot again, didn't you?
My thumb hovered over send. Then I deleted it, word by word.
Okay.
Sent.
I turned over, using my arm as a pillow, and closed my eyes. My wolf whimpered softly.
When I woke up, my sleeve was soaked through - I'd been crying in my sleep.
Next morning, I found myself in bed somehow.
After blinking away the confusion, I padded out to the kitchen.
Randy was at the stove. A giant cake sat on the table.
"Oh, you're up."
He barely glanced at me.
"Why'd you crash on the couch? I had to carry you to bed. My back's still killing me."
He was grinning like it was some cute story. Like we were still fine.
My wolf perked her ears. For half a second, I almost smiled back.
I walked over and reached for the cake. My voice came out quieter than I meant.
"Sorry, I just dozed off. Wait - did you get this last night? It's been sitting out - "
"Don't touch it!"
He slapped my hand away. Hard. My knuckles burned red instantly, my wolf snarling in surprise.
"That's for Celia. She mentioned wanting cake last night, so I got up early to grab one."
"I did get you milk though. It's in the fridge."
I pulled the door open.
One bottle of strawberry milk stared back at me.
When I was eighteen, Randy gave me expired strawberry milk by accident.
I spent three days in the pack clinic with severe poisoning.
He'd been a wreck. Held my paw and cried until his eyes swelled shut. Made me swear I'd never touch the stuff again. Made himself promise to keep me away from it forever - on his Alpha honor.
Now he'd forgotten that too.
I stood there holding the fridge door open, cold air hitting my face. My wolf went completely still.
Finally, I closed it.
Randy looked over and frowned.
"You're not drinking it? Celia recommended that brand."
"I don't drink strawberry milk."
"Since when?"
"Since I was eighteen. Because of you."
He paused for a second. His wolf didn't even flicker.
Then he shrugged it off.
"Huh. I must've forgotten."
"Yeah." My voice came out flat. "You must've."
