Break up With the Cold Alpha

Isaiah, who had looked guilty moments ago, suddenly changed his expression upon seeing me slap his childhood friend across the face. Bette, a delegate from an ally pack and another Alpha's daughter stood there, stunned. But I knew he wasn't just angry because of who she was—he was furious because I had hurt someone dear to him.

He stepped protectively in front of her, his eyes cold. "What are you doing, Phoebe?"

I glared at Bette, my voice icy. "You'd better keep your mouth shut."

Bette's eyes filled with tears, her voice trembling with indignation. "Was I wrong? If your mother hadn't pretended to be sick and threatened Isaiah, he would never have thought of marrying and claiming you! Not when you're a threat to his candidacy to be the next Alpha!"

I smiled bitterly, turning my gaze to Isaiah. "Do you think the same? You think my mom was faking it? That her suffering was something we concocted for fun? Really?"

His silence was deafening. He didn't need to answer; I saw the truth in his eyes. His silence was enough.

Years ago, my mother had suddenly fallen ill. One day she collapsed, and from that moment, her veins began to darken, growing worse each day. She knew her time was limited, and her greatest wish was to see me claimed by my fated mate, bestowed by the Moon Goddess. She wanted me to marry a good man, someone I could depend on when she was no longer there to protect me.

Desperate to grant her dying wish, I begged Isaiah. I even knelt before him, pleading to be claimed. The pain of that memory, of begging while my wolf suffered, was almost unbearable. And now, to hear that he thought my mother was pretending just to force him into marriage was too much. He had always looked down on me.

Isaiah, the privileged heir of the Oceans Howl Pack, had captured my heart the moment we met at his coming-of-age ceremony. When we discovered we were fated mates, I shamelessly pursued him, drawn to him as if by a force beyond my control.

Isaiah liked obedient women, so I did everything to please him, giving him whatever he wanted. But after Bette re-entered his life, I saw a different side of him—a side that was gentle, but only to her. She could act spoiled and playful, holding his hands and hugging him. She did all the things I longed to do but didn’t dare.

Once, I tried to emulate Bette's behavior, acting spoiled to win his affection. But he pushed me away, his face cold. "Phoebe, you really aren't suitable for this."

I felt like I had been slapped in the face and humiliated in front of the pack members. I never acted spoiled again since that day.

He never initiated any physical contact with me. My wolf ached to be near him, but we were always neglected.

When we were together, I was always one step behind. The only one who could stand beside him was Bette. Even in the eyes of the pack, Isaiah and Bette seemed destined for each other, regardless of the Moon Goddess's choice. They didn’t care that I was his fated mate; to them, Isaiah and Bette belonged together.

He paraded her at banquets and gatherings, introducing her to everyone as an ally's daughter. If it weren't for my mother's imminent death and my desperate pleas, there would never have been that ridiculous wedding and mateship ceremony.

I looked at Isaiah with disappointment. This was the man I had loved for years. I began to doubt my feelings, wondering if I was just drawn to him because we were fated mates.

Bette's voice broke through my thoughts. "Isaiah, come see if my face is swollen. How could she be so vicious? My face hurts."

Isaiah's attention shifted back to her immediately. The slap had left visible finger marks on her cheek.

His expression turned ugly. "Phoebe, apologize!"

"And if I don't?" I challenged, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside.