Chapter 13
The following day, I called in sick and returned to the apartment I had bought earlier, quietly setting up a hidden camera in the corner of the living room. My hands trembled slightly as I adjusted the lens, but I forced myself to stay calm. This wasn’t just about Timothy anymore; it was about reclaiming my dignity as a Gamma of the Moonlight Pack.
That evening, when Alpha Timothy returned, I told him I needed to go on a pack assignment for a week. His sharp, commanding eyes flickered with surprise, and for a moment, the Alpha tone in his voice softened.
“Isn’t your birthday in a few days? Will you be back for it?” he asked, his deep voice carrying a note of concern that almost felt genuine.
I nodded slightly, keeping my expression neutral. “I’ll do my best.”
His towering frame relaxed, and he stepped closer, the warmth of his aura brushing against me. “Iliana,” he said, his voice low and intimate, “I’ll be waiting for you to come back. I have a special gift planned for your birthday.”
For a fleeting moment, I saw a glimpse of the Timothy who had confessed his feelings to me years ago, back when we were just fresh out of pack school. Back when he wasn’t the Alpha yet, and I wasn’t just his Gamma. But the memory was quickly overshadowed by the scent of vanilla—a scent that wasn’t mine—lingering faintly on his clothes.
I shook my head and replied softly, “Alright.”
In just a few days, I’d be ready to walk away from these six years of emotions and leave them in the past. The mate bond between us still burned faintly in my chest, but I could feel it fraying, like a thread pulled too tight. My wolf stirred uneasily in the back of my mind, a quiet growl of pain and betrayal that I pushed aside.
As I turned to leave, I caught a glimpse of Timothy’s reflection in the window. He stood tall and imposing, every inch the Alpha he was meant to be. But for the first time, I didn’t feel the usual pull of pride or admiration. Instead, there was only the cold clarity of resolve.
I would return, but not for him. Not for the mate who had betrayed me. I would return for myself, to reclaim the life I had built and the strength I had always carried. The Moon Goddess had given me this bond, but she had also given me the will to sever it. And I would.
Soon.
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