Alpha Prince’s Rebellious Girlfriend Wants To Quit

I woke up the next day, and Caden hadn’t come home the night before. I wasn’t surprised. After the way he acted at the celebration of the pack that’s been held every year, I didn’t expect him to. But knowing it was coming didn’t make the silence feel any less heavy.

I pushed down the uneasy feeling and got up, wandering into the kitchen. Sunlight poured through the windows, making everything look soft, but it didn’t warm the coldness inside me. My wolf was restless, sensing the tension bubbling below the surface.

As I poured my coffee, my phone buzzed on the counter. I glanced at the screen, and there it was—Elena’s name. My stomach twisted before I even read the message.

“Thanks for lending Caden last night for me. It was fun, ;)”

I clenched my hand around the phone, feeling my claws wanting to come out. My wolf growled, filled with anger. Fuck. But I knew Elena was playing her game, teasing me to see how much I could take before I snapped. I don’t even know how she found out about my number.

I wouldn’t give her that satisfaction.

I deleted the message and took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. I had more important things to think about than Caden and his games with Elena. Today, I had a meeting at the pack house. I had to stay focused.

As I stepped out, I caught a familiar scent in the air. Pine, earth, and Caden’s unmistakable smell mixed with Elena’s floral perfume. The scent hit me hard, making my wolf react. It let out a low snarl, urging me to turn around and confront him, to finally demand answers.

But I pushed those thoughts down, forcing myself to stay on task. I had to be strong. If I let my emotions take over now, Elena would win.

By the time I got to the pack house, I had pushed everything to the back of my mind. The meeting with Draven, the Beta, was too important to let personal issues interfere. Caden should’ve been the one handling this, but he was too busy with Elena. So, all the responsibilities of the pack fell to the second-in-command and me. I walked into the room, greeted by Draven’s sharp amber eyes. The negotiations started smoothly, and for a while, I believed I could hold it together.

Then my phone buzzed again. This time, it was Caden’s name on the screen.

I stared at it, debating. My thumb hovered over the screen, but before I could answer, Draven spoke, his deep voice cutting through my hesitation.

"Is everything alright, Seraphine?" His gaze was steady, assessing.

I forced a smile and silenced the phone. "Nothing."

He nodded, though his eyes lingered on me for a moment longer than necessary. He could sense it—the storm inside me that I was barely keeping in check. After all, he was second in command of this pack.

I somehow made it through the rest of the meeting, but it all felt like a blur. When I got home, Caden was already there, sprawled on the couch like nothing had happened—like he hadn’t done anything malicious with Elena last night. The house reeked of cigarette smoke, and my wolf recoiled at the stench.

"Where were you?" Caden asked casually, not even looking up from his phone.

I narrowed my eyes, feeling my anger simmering just below the surface. "I had pack business. Where were you?"

He finally looked up, his eyes meeting mine with a dark edge. "Out. Why?"

A bitter laugh escaped me, surprising even myself. "Out with Elena instead of doing your responsibility, I suppose?"

His jaw tightened. "Are we really doing this again, Seraphine?"

I crossed my arms, my heart pounding. "Doing what? Pretending everything’s fine? Pretending I didn’t see her message, or that I don’t smell her on you?"

Caden stood, towering over me, his face hardening. "You’re being paranoid. Elena’s just a friend."

"A friend?" I spat the word, feeling my wolf rising. "Friends don’t send texts like that. Friends don’t cling to you like she does."

His eyes flashed, showing the glint of his wolf, but he kept his voice calm. "Maybe it’s your own insecurities talking. Ever think of that?"

I felt a growl rumble in my chest before I could stop it, and for a moment, my vision blurred as my wolf surged forward. "You don’t get to gaslight me, Caden. I’m not stupid. I know what I smell, I know what I feel. Don’t treat me like I’m imagining this."

Caden’s wolf stirred behind his gaze, but he held it back. "Careful, Seraphine. You don’t want to start something you can’t finish."

The air around us crackled, the energy between us dangerous and primal. My wolf was on edge, pushing me to challenge him and end this facade. But I took a step back, forcing myself to breathe. Not here. Not now.

"I’m done with this conversation," I said, my voice icy. "Do whatever you want with Elena. Just don’t expect me to sit around and wait for you to choose me."

I didn’t wait for him to respond. I turned and headed for the bedroom, slamming the door behind me. My chest felt tight, and my wolf howled in frustration. Before I realized it, I was sobbing, alone in the dark.

How much longer could I hold on?