Alpha's Craving For My Love

I strode out of the packhouse, feeling the cool night air hit my face, and without a second thought, I ripped off the bracelet I’d worn for seven years. The symbol of a connection that had once meant everything was now worthless—a mere token of a bond long shattered. I tossed it into the nearest trash bin, its clink echoing in the hollow silence.

The next day, there was a pack meeting held in a provincial area of our territory. Ethan told me to come with him because it was mandatory for Luna to come with her Alpha.

As I waited for the elevator to arrive, my phone buzzed in my pocket. The name “Mom” flashed on the screen.

"Skylar, did you get your ticket home yet?" Her voice was steady, but I could hear the underlying concern.

"Not yet," I lied, glancing at the floor numbers descending on the panel. "I'll book it in a few days."

Before I could hang up, I felt him. The familiar presence, the quiet command. Ethan's voice, cool and measured, echoed behind me.

"You're booking a ticket?" He sounded confused, maybe even surprised.

I ended the call swiftly and turned to face him, masking my emotions. "Yeah, there's this place I’ve been meaning to try," I said, spinning a tale as naturally as I breathed. "Super popular. You have to reserve your way in advance to get a table."

Ethan eyed me but didn’t push further. With a nod, he grabbed my arm, leading me out into the night. We walked in silence, heading toward a nearby hotel. He checked us into a suite, the usual routine. He quickly got to work, his fingers flying across the keyboard of his laptop. The only sounds in the room were the hum of electronics and our synchronized breathing.

Despite the tension that had crept between us, we worked like clockwork, waiting for some clients overseas to get back to us. But eventually, fatigue overtook me, and I drifted off to sleep.

When I awoke the next morning, I was surprised to find myself tucked into bed. Ethan sat beside me, his eyes scanning the financial section of the paper, calm and composed.

"Breakfast is coming," he said nonchalantly, already dialing room service as if the intimacy of the night before hadn't been fractured by our ever-growing distance.

Midway through breakfast, his question came out of nowhere: "Why did you change your phone password?" His tone was casual, but the question carried weight.

I didn't look up. "Felt like it." The truth? My old password was a combination of our birthdays. But I was planning to leave, and that no longer felt right.

Ethan set his utensils down, frustration creeping into his voice. "We never do anything together anymore. You wanted to go to the movies before, right?"

There wasn’t really an option to say no. Not to Alpha who am I bonded to obey. So, I nodded.

We ended up in an empty theater, the romantic image I’d once dreamed of playing out in front of me—Ethan and me, sitting close, watching a film. I should’ve been over the moon. But the warmth I once felt for him had long since fizzled out, replaced by icy numbness. I yawned, fighting to stay awake.

Ethan noticed. "You picked the movie, didn’t you? You’re not even enjoying it?"

"It’s fine," I muttered. I couldn’t fake excitement anymore.

Just then, his phone buzzed, and like clockwork, he got up and walked out. No explanations, just gone.

The movie ended, and he still hadn’t returned. I was about to call him when I heard it—Fiona’s saccharine voice, floating through the air.

“Oh, Ethan! You’re amazing!” she squealed.

I turned, seeing her jump into his arms, clutching a huge stuffed toy, and giggling like a child. He laughed softly, lifting her as if she weighed nothing. But when his eyes landed on me, his smile vanished.

"Skylar!" Fiona's voice dripped with faux innocence. "Oh no, don’t get the wrong idea! I just got a little excited."

Ethan didn’t even bother with an apology, lightly tapping her nose in a playful gesture. Then he turned to me as if nothing was wrong. "Movie's over already?"

Before I could respond, the sharp sound of a fire alarm rang through the mall. Panic spread in an instant, and people rushed toward the exits.

Ethan grabbed Fiona’s hand immediately, shielding her like she was the center of his world as they bolted for the emergency exit. I watched them run, my heart hardening even more.

When the chaos cleared and the false alarm was announced, I was already gone.

It took me a while because of my wound, but I still made it out alive.

Two hours later, I stood at the train station, my suitcase by my side, waiting for my departure. My phone buzzed nonstop, Ethan's name flashing across the screen again and again, but I didn't bother answering. I was done. I pulled out my SIM card and tossed it in the trash, just like the bracelet.

It was nearly midnight when I arrived home, where Dad waited for me. He smiled softly when he saw me, his presence instantly soothing the storm within.

As we drove, he handed me a yogurt. "Here, Olive. Drink up." His eyes crinkled with warmth, but I saw the gray creeping into his hair, and I broke down, tears flooding my vision.

“I’m home for good,” I sobbed. “I’m not leaving again. I’m staying with you and Mom, forever.”

I'm not leaving my real pack anymore. Being Luna to Ethan’s pack was something I wanted to forget.

Dad chuckled, his voice tender. “You silly girl, you’ll always be home, no matter where you go.”

That night, as I lay in bed, my phone buzzed again. It was Ava, a colleague. Her message came with a video: [Skylar, you need to see this. It's about Ethan and Fiona.]