After You Chose Her, I Freed Myself, Alpha!

Lycia’s POV

The heat spread quickly.

Alpha Ravien sprang into action. His Alpha instincts took over. He charged into the flames and pulled Irene out. Not me. Her thin dress was charred, and parts of her skin were burned.

They fell to the ground. Ravien held her tightly, his breathing ragged. “I'm here... calm down... you're safe...”

His hands trembled as he touched her wounds. His eyes were red and tearful.

I emerged from the flames. Standing not far from them. My skin was blistered on my shoulders and arms. Burns had blackened parts of my body. But he was only focused on saving Irene.

I grimaced alone, enduring the pain.

Not only was my body burned, but also my self-respect, my feelings, and the remnants of hope I had naively held onto.

I watched them from afar. My legs trembled, my breath came in gasps.

When Ravien turned to look at me, the expression I saw was not concern—but anger.

“Is this what you want, Lycia?” he said irritably. “Because of your childish behavior, Irene has become a victim. She had nothing to do with our problem.”

My eyes widened. “Me? You pushed me. And her mistake suddenly appeared behind me!”

But he still didn't realize the truth. “What are you saying?”

Irene pretended to whine. “It's okay, Alpha. It's my fault.”

His anger grew even more when he saw Irene give in. “Apologize to Irene!”

“Never!” I said as I turned to leave. But he pulled me back.

His wolf eyes burned. “Or I'll push you into the fire again!”

“What?” I trembled with fear as his hand gripped my shoulder tightly. I felt myself step back and the heat surround me again.

“Wait, Alpha!” Irene pretended to care about me and acted like an angel. “Don't, have mercy on her.”

At her gentle request, Alpha Ravien immediately relented. He let go of me after pushing me, though not far. Then he took her inside. “I'm really angry with you, Lycia!”

After that incident, I was punished to stay in my room. My wounds were not treated. Food only came if I spoke first. And every omega who delivered it always mentioned one thing: Apologize to Irene.

I didn’t bother to do it.

Two days. Without a sound, without emotion.

Until the door opened this morning.

I didn't even turn around. I didn't care who it was.

“Lycia, you’re really stubborn.” Alpha Ravien’s voice sounded softer than the last time I heard it. “I cooked for you, delicious wolfbane root.”

He finally remembered a little about me. Even though it couldn’t warm my heart anymore.

“Lycia? I’ll feed you.”

“No,” I refused coldly.

He just stayed silent. The spoon was directed toward my mouth. I pushed it away. The metal clattered loudly on the floor.

A soft growl escaped his throat. His wolf nature was awakening.

He threw the bowl on the floor. Shards scattered, nearly hitting my feet.

“Why are you so arrogant?” His hand moved to hit me, but he stopped himself. "I used to feel sorry for you. But after this, I give up!”

“Do you know where I’m going? The last place you mentioned in your dreams for years. We’re going there. Me, Irene, and your parents. You stay here!”

I knew exactly where Ravien was referring to. The peak of Auralithe. The highest point in the north, where wolves shift during the lunar solstice.

Once, I had wanted it so badly. It was the last place on my list of dreams. But now? It was just a name. Meaningless.

He thought he could punish me with it. He and Irene had already made my other dream places come true yesterday. If only he knew how empty I felt now.

“May you starve. See you later!”

He walked out. Slamming the door shut.

That night, they really left.

From the small window in my room, I watched them walk toward the car, laughing. Irene spoke enthusiastically, my mother replied, and my father laughed softly.

After getting into the driver’s seat, Alpha Ravien glanced at me. Our eyes, which once understood each other, now felt foreign when they met. I saw a care expression from him that quickly turned cold.

The car drove away from the house. And the air felt fresher.

I stood up. I deliberately saved the remaining strength to pack everything up. I wouldn’t waste time. I’d leave right away. Only the essential items would I bring.

Just as I was dragging the suitcase out of the room, a message appeared on my phone.

Alpha Ravien: [This place is your dream. Next week, if you behave nicely and stop rebelling, I’ll bring you here too. You know I still have a conscience.”

I read it slowly again.

Conscience?

After letting me be kidnapped by the enemy, destroying our fetus, and even letting me burn. Nothing was funnier than seeing the second message that followed quickly. Hurriedly. As if I still deserved to be controlled.

[Lycia, bring Irene’s amulet necklace that was left in her room. She’s sulking. As a gift—even though you’re not pregnant, I’ll still fulfill all your other dream destinations. How kind of me. Now deliver that important necklace to the northern border.]

I was even pregnant. He never knew. But it’s too late. Who would still want to fulfill it? That dream is shattered.

I blocked his number without hesitation. Instead, I prepared a final gift for him.

First, I placed the ring—which had been broken into two pieces after the bond-breaking ritual—in a small wooden box.

And, he had once desperately wanted a child from me. So, a pregnancy test that was meant to be a gift at our fifth wedding anniversary—I exchanged it for a glass jar containing the remains of a failed fetus.

Then a piece of paper, short and clear: Because I am only Luna's replacement for you, our bond has been broken, Alpha Ravien.

I arranged it neatly on the living room table—the first place he’d see when he came home.

An incoming call. Louis's voice greeted her softly. “Lycia, I've been waiting for you outside the pack's gate. Should we burn this place down before we leave?”