Flora pushes the door to their apart— his apartment open, heaving a sad sigh.
It's his house, not hers. A place where she lived for three years, but never felt like home. She thought she could finally feel that after today, but in the end, he failed her.
She was never meant to have a home in this house, she has been living in a fantasy, one she must now snap out of.
She slides off her wedding dress as she enters her room, her eyes red and puffy as she glares at it on the floor with a frown on her face.
She grabs a shirt from the wardrobe and the smell of Adrian that hangs on it overwhelmingly comforts her, she sighs, sags her shoulders and stares at it for a moment before she presses it against her nose, inhaling his smell deeply and tears spill out of her eyes, her heart clenching in pain as she sobs into the shirt.
Why did he have to do this to her?
They belonged together, she gave him everything, her spirit, soul and body. If her feelings towards him before knowing she was his mate was a little girl’s silly crush, she fell in love with him in the past three years.
She swallows hard, trying to force herself not to cry anymore, she just has to let him go, but if he comes back and asks for her forgiveness, won’t she forgive him?
She doesn’t want to, they’ve been together for three years, yet he chose another woman over her, so easily.
What could be more painful than that?
Even her wolf feels hurt, sad, silent and recoiled to a far corner in her mind.
Adrian and Alice were the perfect couple. Everyone envied their love, including herself. But she ruined it. She ruined it when her wolf recognised him as their mate.
She honestly thought he would reject her for Alice because of how loving their relationship was, so when he did the opposite, her joy knew no bounds and her love for him grew in bounds.
If only she realised quickly that his heart was still with Alice.
She tosses the shirt aside, trudges over to the large Bluetooth speaker on the table like a zombie and plays the music loud enough to drown out the sound of her tears as she begins to pack her belongings.
She keeps staring at the clock and at the door as if expecting someone as she randomly stuffs things into her boxes, wiping her teary eyes at intervals, her heart heavy with a sadness that she cannot fathom.
She loves him so freaking much that deciding to leave him hurt more than what he did to her. Her heart feels like it wants to explode from the pain.
She tried her best to measure up to him, she came out on top during her Luna training in every category, studied day and night, trained endlessly to make sure she can be on par with him, to become a Luna worthy of the Alpha that Adrian is, a Luna he can be proud of but none of it matters, not when he is still in love with Alice.
The signs started showing a few months after their relationship began but she foolishly ignored it and now she has paid the ultimate price for that foolishness.
When Adrian skipped a dinner date with her to pick Alice from the airport upon Alice’s return, it became clear to her but he had already proposed, she was going to be his wife, nothing else mattered, she thought.
How naive of her.
After a while, she stops and stares at her open boxes. Her hands are either packing slower than her brain thinks or she is unconsciously stalling in hope that Adrian walks in on her.
She wants an explanation.
She knows deep in her heart that she wants to see his sexy amber eyes and that she really wants to pour out her heart and pain to him.
Would he apologise? Would he tell her that it was just a pack issue? Would he laugh at her silliness and tell her that he loves her and only her?
She crouches to zip one of her boxes close when her phone rings on the bed and she leaps for it, instantly her heart racing, thinking it’s Adrian but she frowns when she sees it’s an image text from an unknown number.
She reluctantly clicks on the thumbnail to open the text and her heart sinks when she sees what it is, her hands vibrate with a tremor and her heart beats with a brutal pang as she stares at the picture.
It is Alice hugging Adrian, his back turned to the camera, a cheeky smile on Alice’s face but it is the caption Alice added that burns Flora the most.
[See how easy it is to take him from you? Just one text and he comes rushing to me on your freaking WEDDING day.]
There is a saying that love is blind but in Flora’s case, it ripped her eyes out, completely leaving her without the organ.As tears shimmer down her eyes and blood continues to stain her hands, she does not relent, sitting under the Great Oak tree at the back of the Pack’s hall, ripping her wedding dress apart with a razor.It is not a wedding dress she sees however as the razor slices, it is Adrian’s face, it gives her a little satisfaction, having a fruitless vengeance on him for the pain he has inflicted on her.It was here she was sitting on the day of the mating ball, unable to attend, just watching others meet their mates with little to no anticipation in her heart to meet hers when Adrian found her as his mate and here under this very tree, she gave herself to him.After getting that text from Alice, she couldn’t even bring herself to continue packing, she just brought the dress here, where it all started, with the intention to rip it to shreds and burn it.She leans her head
Adrian steps into the pack training ground, coming out of the gym, he’s wearing a black joggers and a sleeveless top soaked in sweat, which hugs his delicious muscular frame tightly.Everyone stops the moment they see him enter, all baring their neck to him.“Carry on,” he says, his eyes searching the crowd for Flora but he doesn’t find her.This is the third day in a row that she hasn’t shown up to training and he can see most of the new shifters who she is responsible for training just messing around.Is she still upset? This is the first time she ever throws a tantrum.“Gather round,” he frowns at the group of first shifters, “make a circle. I want one on one physical combat. The loser does 500 pushups with the winner standing on his back,” he orders coldly and the group quickly do as he instructs.He walks a distance away but not too far so he can continue to observe the first shifters and he mindlinks Flora but she blocks him.He scoffs, a tiny smile tugging the corner of his lip
Flora does not hide her displeasure at seeing Gustavo, a frown immediately contorting her face, knowing the reason why he is here.“Have you seen the video of you that’s trending?” Gustavo asks in a curt voice, his eyes cold, a nasty frown on his face, “have you seen what people are saying about the Alpha because of you?”“What video? What are they saying?” Sophia, Flora’s mother asks frantically, her fear filled eyes darting between Flora and Gustavo, clearly hearing from the tone of Gustavo’s voice that there might be trouble.“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Flora replies in a cold tone, crossing her arms against her chest, “if this is some—”“You may want to get off your high horse, woman. This is serious,” Gustavo cuts her off, takes out his phone and shoves it in her face.Flora freezes, staring at the video of her burning her wedding dress with shock in her eyes and her heart thuds.She had no idea there were cameras on her that day. A pang of guilt slices through her
Halfway into their journey back to Adrian’s house, the words of her father keep playing in Flora’s head. “A daughter with self respect.”Her dad may be extreme in his ways but is she really giving herself any respect right now? Is this what she really wants? Going back to him or is she doing it just to please others?“Stop the car,” she says to the driver from the back of the vehicle, making her mind to go back to her father’s house and if he doesn’t let her back in as he threatened, she’ll find a way to survive but she’s not going back to him.The same pattern will just repeat itself and she’ll find herself in more pain, anguish and regret. It is better to face it all now, once and for all.“What?” Gustavo replies from the front beside the driver.“I said stop the car.”“Keep going,” Gustavo orders the driver, looking away from her.“I swear to the goddess, if you don’t stop this car this minute, I’ll open the door and jump down and you know I will,” She replies in a cold voice, loo
Painful SeparationFlora stood firm, her gaze unwavering as Adrian's footsteps echoed on the ground. The man who had once been her world now felt like a stranger, and the words that left her lips were filled with a quiet strength she hadn't known she possessed."I already told you, Adrian. I’m not going back with you."Her voice came out even, but the rise in her chest was a strain that threatened to spill over. She clenched her fists tighter to still the tremor that ran through her as Adrian stood below her, eyes wide in disbelief."Do not be obstinate, Flora," he said, his voice smooth, almost pleading, but with an edge beneath it. "You belong at my side. You know that."A bitter laugh escaped her lips, sharp and harsh. "Oh, I know that? Is that right? Funny, because I don't recall belonging anywhere near you when you were in another woman's arms the day of our wedding."Adrian's jaw clenched, his face going hard. For one quick, passing instant, something flickered in his eyes-guilt
BreakdownFlora paced, her restless energy filling the tiny room. The floorboards groaned with her hurried steps, but she didn't pay them much mind. Her brain swirled with the echoes of last night-Adrian's expression, the way he had looked at her, the way he had walked away. The way her chest had caved in as he disappeared.Lena sat with her legs tucked under her on the bed and watched her, a mixture of concern and mirth on her face. "You're going to make yourself sick if you keep pacing around like that."Flora whipped around, frowning. "I'm fine."Lena snorted loudly. "Of course you are, definitely not like someone who's been reliving the same bloody conversation over and over inside her head for hours.Flora gave her a withering look, but there was no use lying. She hadn't slept one wink. Each time she shut her eyes, Adrian was waiting for her, lurking in her mind.Lena let out a sigh and leaned back into the headboard. "You know, you could just scream. Or hit something. That might
Life AgainFlora stood with her arms crossed, watching Tony butcher his form yet again. Her patience had officially worn thin."That's not how you hold the damn weights, Tony," she said, her voice laced with exasperation.Tony, a cocky twenty-something who thought lifting was all about brute strength, flashed her a smirk through the mirror. "Relax, Coach. I got this."Flora raised an eyebrow and stepped closer to him. "Yeah? You sure? 'Cause if you keep swinging them dumbbells like that, you're gonna blow out your shoulder. And I don't do injuries on my watch."He faltered for a second, adjusting the weight in his hands. "It's really not that bad.""Oh, great. Do it your way," she invited. "And when you are icing that arm later, then don't come crying to me."Tony muttered something unintelligible under his breath but rearranged his form nonetheless. Flora bit back a smirk.It had been a month since she joined the gym, and to her own surprise, she liked it. There was something oddly s
A RethinkAdrian sat at the bar, fingers clasped on a glass he hadn't touched. Across from him, Mark leaned back in his chair, sipping his drink with such ease it made Adrian want to punch something."She hasn't called you once?" Mark asked, an eyebrow rising.Adrian blew out a sharp breath. "Not once."Mark whistled low. "Damn. She's really done with you.Adrian shot him a glare, but Mark only smirked. "You know, I thought she'd at least come back to yell at you. Just once."Adrian ran a hand over his face. "So did I. But it's been months. No texts. No calls. She used to need me, Mark. Now… she doesn't."Mark shrugged. "Maybe that's a good thing."Adrian's head snapped up. "How the hell is that a good thing?Because that means she's stronger now. Independent." Mark set his glass down and leveled Adrian with a rare, serious look. "And if you actually cared about her, you'd respect that."Adrian clenched his jaw. Respect it? How was he supposed to respect something that only reminded h
The BetrayalThe silence in the room was thick enough to choke on.Jace's hand tightened on the stock of his gun. Alice was frozen, her breath coming sharp and unsteadily. Adrian, weakened but defiant, forced himself to his feet, blood trickling from the fresh wound on his arm.Then, the masked figure stepped forward.Slowly, deliberately, they reached up and pulled off the mask.Kade.The air felt like it had been sucked out of the room."You?" Adrian's voice barely above a whisper, his face alight with incredulity. "You were supposed to be dead."Kade gave a mirthless laugh as he shook his head. "That's rich, coming from you." He took one slow step forward, the gun in his hand still not raised, but also still not set back at his side. "You had one chance to choose a side, Adrian. And you chose her?"Flora's spine went ramrod-straight as Kade's gaze flashed cold toward her.Adrian huffed out a sharp breath. "I never chose sides, Kade. I chose what was right."Kade snorted. "What's ri
The AmbushThe gunshot pierced the simulated silence.Flora had slightly a moment to reply before Jace seized her, yanking her to the floor as an alternate bullet ripped through the wall above her head. The air filled with the sharp scent of gunpowder." Stay down!" Jace barked, his voice slightly audible over the unforeseen barrage of gunfire.Lorne cursed, ducking behind a capsized table and drawing his weapon." You led them then?!"" No," Adrian gritted out, floundering to sit up. He was still weak, his body slightly recovered from the last fight." It's not just them." His breath came suddenly." It's worse."Flora's palpitation pounded. She risked a regard toward the door, but the murk outdoors made it insolvable to tell how numerous enemies there were.also, out of the chaos, a voice cut through the night like a blade." Adrian," the figure said, stepping into the dim light of the doorway." You should've no way come back."Flora's stomach twisted. The voice was full of venom but w
The Cliffhanger"Adrian!"Flora's scream rent the air as Adrian crumpled to the ground.Time slowed. The world narrowed. Nothing existed except the red spreading beneath him."No, no, no—Adrian!" She was already on her knees beside him, hands pressing against the wound before she even realized she'd moved. His blood was hot, slick, slipping between her fingers. Too much.Adrian's breathing was ragged, uneven. His eyes fluttered. "Flora…"Shh, don't talk," she whispered. "You're gonna be fine. You hear me? You have to be fine."Jace was shouting something, Alice was moving, but all of it was distant. White noise. The only thing that mattered was Adrian, and the fact that he was bleeding out beneath her hands.Then—another gunshot.Flora flinched, ducking instinctively over Adrian's body."Sniper!" Jace's voice was sharp. "We need to move—now!Alice cursed. “They’re trying to pick us off.”Flora barely registered the words. She was too focused on Adrian’s pale face. “Adrian, stay with m
The Last DecisionThe shot rent the night.Adrian moved before he thought. Instinct. Training. Whatever it was, it sent him diving toward Flora, pulling her down as a bullet whizzed past where she had been standing.She gasped as they hit the ground. "What the hell—""Stay down," Adrian growled. His heart pulsed in his ears. He scanned the darkness for movement.Already on his feet, gun drawn, eyes sharp, Jace repeated, "Where?"Cursing under her breath, Alice said, "I didn't see."Another shot sounded. This one hit the wall behind them, splintering the wood.Flora tensed beneath him. "They're not aiming to miss."No, they weren’t.His mind racing, Adrian thought, the shooter wasn't sloppy. They weren't panicked. That meant one thing: trained.And trained meant sent."They found us," Alice muttered. Jace huffed a sigh that was close to a curse. "Figures."Adrian yanked Flora up behind cover. "You hurt?"She shook her head. "Not yet.""Stay that way."More bullets. This time closer.A
Alice Returns"You thought you were free of me, didn't you?"Adrian froze onto the voice, his body reacting before his mind kicked in. Beside him, Flora tensed up, her fingers curling into fists. The air charged with something sharp and electric.Out from the shadows stepped Alice herself, that smirk still the same-old confident, knowing, dangerous.Jace had been leaning indolently against the door frame, and at her voice, he straightened. "Well. This is a surprise."Alice titled her head, her eyes never leaving Adrian's face. "Is it? You should have known I'd come back."Adrian exhaled through his nose, hands tensing and releasing at his sides. "What do you want, Alice?"She laughed. The sound was low and amused. "Straight to business. No 'how have you been?' No 'I thought you were dead?'"Flora crossed her arms. "We didn't think. We hoped."Alice's eyes flicked to her, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Flora. Still sharp-tongued, I see."Flora didn't blink. "And you're still alive. Unfo
Sacrifices"You're hesitating."Flora's voice cut like a blade through the silence. Adrian stood at the edge of the clearing, his fists clenched, his jaw tight. It was thick with tension; the weight of his decision pressed down on him like a storm, threatening to break loose."I'm not," he finally said, though even he didn't believe the words.Flora took another step in closer. "Yes, you are."Adrian turned to her; eyes dark, unreadable. "You don't understand."Flora's face hardened. "Then make me understand."He exhaled hard, running a hand through his hair. "If I go after Lorne, I leave the pack vulnerable. If I stay, I let him get away. Either way, someone loses."Flora watched him. "And you think you have to make that choice alone?"Adrian didn't answer.She shook her head. "You always do this. You take everything on yourself, like you're the only one who can fix it.""Because it's my responsibility," he snapped.Flora didn't flinch. "No. It's our responsibility. Yours. Mine. Jace
The Price of Loyalty“You shouldn’t be up.”Flora barely glanced up as Adrian stepped inside the tent, his voice low but laced with frustration. He stood at the entrance, arms crossed, silhouetted against the dim lantern light.“I’m fine,” she said, though the stiffness in her movements told a different story.Adrian exhaled sharply, stepping closer. “You got stabbed, Flora. That’s not ‘fine.’”She waved him off. "It's not like I planned it."His jaw tightened. He crouched beside her, eyes scanning her wrapped wound. She looked better than she had hours ago-less pale, more steady-but that didn't change what had happened. What could've happened."You scared the hell out of me," he muttered.Flora's expression softened. "I know.For a moment, there was no answer. The heft of that night yet hovered between them and would not shake. Outside the camp stirred: low murmurs, the soft shuffle of boot on dirt. Their people rallied, recovered, but the war was not over.Not yet."Where is Lorne?"
The Final TestThe air was hazy with smoke and blood.Flora cleaned her blade against her sleeve, breathing hard and fast. Bodies littered the ground around her-some still twitching, others unnervingly still. The battle had been a mess from the very beginning. Now, they were down to the last stretch, but the odds weren't in their Favor."On your left!" Adrian's voice cut through the chaos.She spun around just in time to duck, the bullet grazing her shoulder, making her stagger. She didn’t have time to react before Adrian was there, pulling her down behind the rubble, his breath coming out in ragged gasps.Adrian was already moving, sword a blur of motion as he sliced through the other opponent. They had worked together long enough by now; words were sparse. A look, a shift in stride—a look sufficed.But it wasn't survival anymore.At least, it wasn't with him.Neither with her.Adrian snagged her wrist and pulled her behind him at the very last moment, so an arrow could whistle past
A Perilous Alliance"You sure about this?"Flora shot Adrian a glare. "It's a little late to be asking that, don't you think?"He exhaled sharply, his fingers tightening around the hilt of his knife. "Doesn't mean I can't still question the wisdom of walking straight into an ambush."Besides them, their so-called allies were already moving ahead, figures draped in dark cloaks, slipping through the underbrush like ghosts. Flora didn't trust them. Not even a little. But right now, it was not an option. They needed this alliance no matter how uneasy it made her.Adrian must have sensed her tension because he leaned in enough that his voice reached her ear. "If things go sideways-"I know," she cut in, "Stay close. Watch my back."A beat of silence. Then, softly, "Always."She wouldn't let that word settle.Instead, she fixed her attention on the task before them, her grip sure on the hilt of her dagger as they moved forward toward the enemy encampment.The camp sprawled out below them, a