Fleeing From The Heartless Alpha

I stumbled out of the lounge, crashing into a server carrying a tray of drinks. Bottles smashed on the floor, the sound sharp as a gunshot.

Damian's head snapped up, his wolf senses kicking in. "Who's there?" he barked, already moving toward the door.

"Just a she-wolf, bumped into me by accident," the server stammered.

Damian pulled out his phone, scrolling to my name. My heart thudded as it rang.

Hazel sidled up to him. "What's wrong, Damian?"

He didn't answer, his brow furrowed, a nervous edge to him I hadn't seen in ages. The call connected.

"Amelia, where are you?" His voice was tight, urgent.

"Just left the old den," I said, keeping it short, my throat burning.

He exhaled, relief flooding his tone. "Good. Baby, you worked hard today. Your birthday's next week-you've always wanted to camp and watch fireworks, right? Let's do it, just us."

Baby. That pet name was mine. Hazel's eyes flashed with jealousy, and she rose on her toes, kissing his throat.

Damian's breath hitched. "You okay?" I asked, my voice flat.

"Nothing. just miss you," he murmured, but I heard the lie. He pinched Hazel's cheek, muttering "little minx" as he hung up, then pinned her against the wall, kissing down her neck like a wolf starved.

I heard it all, even as the call cut off. My chest cracked open, tears stinging as I wiped them away. This was what heartbreak felt like-every inch of me splintering, my body no longer my own.

One month. Just one more month, and I'd be free of him.

The whispers followed me everywhere. "Heard Damian booked the entire campground." "He's got a custom fireworks show tonight, plus five thousand drones for a light display. Costs a fortune!" "That's Damian for you-crazy about his mate. Whoever's bound to him must've won the lottery in a past life."

Camping was my dream. A cozy tent, our breaths mingling, eyes locked in the dark, the air thick with romance and secrets. Just us against the world. Damian used to tease, "Didn't know my Amelia was so wild." I was a good she-wolf, but with him, I let go-tried every thrill, every corner of desire, except a tent. I wanted that to be special, to make him happy.

Now? Happiness felt like a ghost.

Because Damian brought Hazel.

"I'm sorry, Amelia," he said, catching me alone by the campfire. "I didn't give you a heads-up. It's Hazel's birthday too, so."

"It's fine," I cut him off, forcing a smile. "More the merrier."

He relaxed, pulling me into a hug. "That's my Amelia-heart of gold. I'm the luckiest wolf alive."

Hazel's smile was tight, but her eyes glinted with something sharp, like the she-wolf who'd taunted me with that text wasn't her. "Thanks, Amelia. I promise I won't get in your way."

I ignored the venom in her gaze and shrugged. "Great. Mind setting up the tent, then?"

She glanced at Damian, then dropped her head. "Sure."

"Amelia, sit here," Damian said, guiding me to a chair. He chatted with me at first, but his eyes kept drifting to Hazel, who was fumbling with the tent poles. I could see him itching to help. Finally, he caved. "Hazel's hopeless with this stuff. Stay put, Amelia-I'll check on her." He didn't look back.

Once, he'd run to me like that.

"I'm sorry, Damian." Hazel's voice carried, small and pitiful.

He snatched the poles from her hands, keeping his distance at first. But when he saw blood on her fingers from a cut, his mask slipped. "Dummy, what's the rush?"

"I didn't want Amelia to get mad," she mumbled.

His face softened, and he brought her hand to his lips, kissing the blood away. "Silly pup."

I watched from afar, my stomach twisting. Damian, who gagged at the thought of germs, was licking her wounds like it was nothing.

The fireworks kicked off right on cue, bursting across the night sky in dazzling colors. Hazel yelped, startled, and Damian whipped around. "What's wrong?"

Then, catching himself, he straightened. "Quit freaking out, Hazel. You're bothering Amelia."

Hazel's eyes darkened, but she muttered, "Sorry."

I pretended not to notice, staring at the sky as five thousand drones lit up, forming my name, then "Happy Birthday," and finally, "I Love You." A grand confession spelled out in lights.

Damian took my hand, his voice warm. "Happy birthday, Amelia. I'll be with you every year, I swear."

You won't. The words almost slipped out, but I bit my lip and stayed silent.

Hazel slipped away, claiming she needed the bathroom. I saw her linger by the drone control station before slinking back to her seat like nothing happened. Then the drones went haywire, spiraling down like a meteor shower, crashing into the grass with deafening bangs.

"Watch out!" Damian shouted, grabbing Hazel and rolling them to safety.

I was left behind, frozen as a drone hurtled toward me. A searing pain exploded in my head, hot blood trickling down my face.

"Amelia!" Damian's voice was frantic, but it was too late.

His first instinct wasn't me.