1. Leaving You

**BEFORE THE EVENTS OF ALPHA KAI**

Lily

It’s been ten years since I became Konstantin’s second in command, ten years since he took me under his wing… and ten years that I have been in love with him. He trusts me as much as he trusts his brothers, and I know him inside out, yet he only looks at me as if I am his younger sister.

Why would he see me as anything else, though? I am only the person who makes sure his day runs smoothly, and everything gets sorted out for him. Why should he be in love with me when I am only a scentless halfbreed?

Sighing as I walk towards his office, I wonder if I would be able to keep this up for another ten years. To watch him find his mate and fall in love, have pups and live happily ever after. The mere thought breaks my heart, knowing that he would never truly be mine.

Konstantin is Russian royalty, whereas I’m… just his personal slave.

I knock on his office door and open it, only to be assaulted with the image of him with another woman all over him. ‘Oh! I’m sorry, I’ll come back-”

“No need, Lily.” He says, then pushes the woman away and grips her by the throat. “I fucking told you that I am not interested in anything other than this business relationship, so take it or leave it. This club will survive without your help, but yours will crumble without mine. Make a choice by tomorrow. Now leave.” He says, then shoves her towards the door with a look of disgust in his silver eyes.

The woman, who I know as the owner of a rival club, straightens her dress and clears her throat before walking out the door. She shoots me a death glare as she passes me, and I can’t help but laugh at her nerve. I take it as her not knowing that I am Konstantin’s best warrior and chuckle as I close the door.

“And that?” I ask, amused, shaking my head and sitting opposite his oak desk. He leans his head back and breathes out a frustrated sigh.

“THAT was something I wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole,” he says, closing his eyes. I frown at his answer. That woman was a beautiful, voluptuous blonde, and she basically threw herself at him, but he wouldn’t touch her?

“I am guessing she wanted more from your agreement then?” I ask, pushing my emotions down, and he opens his eyes to look at me, pinning me with the look I always think is reserved only for me.

“As usual, they all do, but none of them interests me, and I don’t have the time to play boyfriend. You should know this,” he says with a grin before getting out of his chair.

“Now, there was something you wanted to speak to me about?” he asks as he walks around his desk and sits on it, crossing his arms. I swallow hard, knowing the following few lines would either make or break my relationship with Konstantin, but I have made up my mind; I cannot continue to live like this anymore. I deserve better.

“Yes, I do, and it is…quite important.” I start, placing my hands in my lap and looking right into Konstantin’s eyes.

There it is again; that slight pull.

I blink. “I’m leaving in the next week, Konstantin.” My heart sat in my throat as I finally got the words out, the words that I had been dreading to say. He looks at me with an unreadable expression and frowns.

“Leaving? What do you mean?” he asks, placing his hands on the desk and leaning forward. I could smell his scent; sandalwood, heady amber and leather. It always did something to me, and I can feel my heart racing right now.

“I… I’ve…” I stutter, looking deep into his eyes, and he touches my cheek, caressing it with the back of his thumb.

“You’ve… what is it, Lily?” He says, purring the nickname he gave me and driving me crazy, and yet at the mention of my name, I seem to snap out of the trance he has put me under.

I clear my throat and sit back, my wolf whining at the loss of his touch. “I’ve met my mate, and I want to leave the Blood Crest Pack.”

Konstantin’s eyes widen at my words, and he moves back, a confused look in his eyes as he shakes his head. I can hear his heartbeat rising and the anger filling up his now silver eyes.

“Excuse me?” he says, blinking. I sigh and give him a sad smile; he would lose his most trusted second in command, but this needs to be done.

“I’ve met my mate, Konstantin, and I am leaving.”