After I Gave Him My Wolf, He Chose Another

The candles were burning low, their wax pooling on the mahogany table like silent tears. I stared at the flame, my fingers tracing the rim of the wine glass I hadn't touched. Five years. It had been five years since Nicholas took the Alpha oath, five years since I severed the tether to my own wolf to pour my strength into his veins.

The clock on the wall ticked past midnight. The roast I had spent all afternoon preparing was stone cold.

Suddenly, the heavy oak door creaked open. The draft that followed chilled me to the bone, but not as much as the scent that wafted in before him. It wasn't the forest pine and rain that used to cling to Nicholas. It was roses. Sickly, sweet, overpowering roses.

Blaire Lewis’s signature perfume.

"You're still up," Nicholas said, his voice flat. He didn't look at me. He was busy unbuttoning his cuffs, his movements sharp and agitated. He looked exhausted, but there was a hardness in his jaw that hadn't been there a year ago.

"It's our anniversary, Nick," I said softly, standing up. My legs felt heavy. "The ceremony... remember?"

He paused, finally glancing at the table set for two. A flicker of annoyance crossed his face, quickly replaced by a cold mask of indifference. "Dalia, I don't have time for sentimental dinners. The Council has been riding me all day about the upcoming Summit."

He walked past me to the liquor cabinet, pouring himself a stiff drink. The distance between us felt like a chasm.

"I just wanted to celebrate us," I whispered, the fight draining out of me.

Nicholas turned, glass in hand. His eyes, once warm like melted chocolate, were now shards of ice. "There is no 'us' in politics, Dalia. And right now, politics is what keeps this pack alive. Which brings me to what I needed to tell you."

My heart stuttered. "Tell me what?"

"The Elders... they've advised a restructuring of the living arrangements." He took a sip, grimacing. "With the Alpha Summit approaching, having an unranked, wolfless mate in the Alpha suite sends the wrong message. It makes us look weak. Vulnerable."

I couldn't breathe. "Weak? I gave up my wolf for you, Nicholas! I made you strong!"

"And now that sacrifice is a liability," he snapped, his voice rising. "You'll be moved to the Omega quarters tomorrow. It's just for optics, Dalia. Don't be dramatic."

Before I could scream, before I could throw the cold dinner at his feet, the siren wailed.

The sound tore through the night—the high-pitched screech signaling a border breach.

"Rogues!" Nicholas roared, the glass shattering in his hand as he shifted mid-stride, his clothes shredding as a massive black wolf burst through the patio doors.

I didn't think. Instinct, the ghost of the wolf I used to have, drove me to follow. I ran out into the chaos of the night. The air was thick with growls and the metallic tang of blood.

I reached the tree line, searching for the injured, for anyone who needed help. Suddenly, tworogues—mangy, feral things with yellow eyes—broke from the shadows. They circled me, drool dripping from their jaws. I was defenseless. No claws. No shift. Just human frailty.

*Nicholas!* I screamed through the mind-link, the mental connection that had grown faint over the months. *Nicholas, help me! The East ridge! Two rogues!*

I felt him receive the message. I felt his presence nearby. Hope surged in my chest.

Then, I heard his Alpha Command thunder across the clearing, vibrating in my very bones.

"**ALL ELITES! FLANK THE NORTH! PROTECT LADY BLAIRE!**"

My blood ran cold. Blaire was on the North ridge. I was in the East. He knew where I was. He chose her.

The first rogue lunged.

Pain exploded in my shoulder as teeth sank into flesh. The force threw me backward, and I tumbled down the steep ravine, branches whipping my face, rocks tearing at my skin. I hit the bottom with a sickening crack, the world spinning into darkness. The last thing I saw before blacking out was the blurred shape of Beta Marcus rushing down the slope, snarling at the shadows.

***

When I opened my eyes, the sterile white of the pack hospital blinded me. The smell of antiseptic stung my nose.

Elena was wrapping my shoulder, her expression tight with suppressed rage. "You're awake," she murmured, her voice trembling. "You're lucky Marcus got there when he did, Dalia."

The door swung open. Nicholas walked in. He didn't rush to my side. He didn't look relieved. He looked... inconvenienced.

"You shouldn't have been out there," he said, standing at the foot of the bed. No 'are you okay.' No 'I'm sorry.'

"I called for you," I rasped, my throat raw. "You heard me."

"Blaire was injured," he said smoothly, though I could smell the lie on him. "She is a guest of the Royal Pack. Her safety is paramount for our alliance."

"She sprained her ankle, Nicholas!" I cried, tears finally spilling over. "I was being mauled!"

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Stop acting like a victim. If you still had your wolf, you could have defended yourself. Instead, you were a distraction. My warriors had to break formation to save you."

He checked his watch, already turning to leave. "Get some rest. You're moving to the Omega quarters as soon as you're discharged. And Dalia?"

He paused at the door, his back to me.

"I'm taking Blaire to the Alpha Summit next week. She knows the protocols. It's strictly business."

The door clicked shut.

The silence that followed was louder than any scream. He didn't just break my heart; he looked at the pieces and decided they weren't worth sweeping up.