Goodbye to My Alpha Ex

The next day, I felt much better. When my friends heard that I was returning to Silver Snow Pack to get married, they insisted I treat them to a meal.

I booked a table at the restaurant Liam and I used to frequent. The food there was good.

Midway through our meal, I excused myself to the restroom. I hadn't expected to run into Nina again.

She smiled at me warmly and said, "Maya, what a coincidence! I didn't expect to see you here. You know, Liam first brought me to this restaurant back when we were in school."

She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "Back then, we used to ditch class together. We'd go home first for some intimate fun, then come here for dinner. After we ate, we'd go back to his place for the night. We could do it seven times in one night."

She spoke as if we were close friends, casually sharing intimate details of her relationship.

I gave her a small smile and turned to leave. After all, I didn't consider us close enough to talk about such things. However, she seemed to think otherwise, blocking my path again.

"Do you not like me? We actually have a lot in common. I noticed it last time, like how we both dip our chicken in vinegar."

And just like that, a long-held question of mine was finally answered.

I had always wondered why Liam insisted on dipping my chicken in vinegar before giving it to me. He once told me it tasted better that way, but I had never liked it.

So it was just an excuse. The habit was just him trying to project Nina's habits onto me.

"From the first time I met you, I wanted to say… don't you think we look alike?" Nina asked.

At that moment, I had never felt so humiliated, fleeing right before her smug gaze.

"Please excuse me. I have other things to attend to."

My inner wolf threatened to lunge at her if I didn't leave soon.

Back at the table, my friends' laughter and chatter gradually helped me push the encounter to the back of my mind.

But then, a figure suddenly loomed over our table. It was Liam. For some reason, his expression was dark, his eyes filled with barely suppressed anger.

Clenching his fists, he called my name. "Maya Thatcher, come outside."

Confused, I followed him out of the restaurant, where he slapped me out of the blue. It was the first time he had ever hit me.

My inner emerged from within me, shielding me as it ground its claws against the pavement, growling furiously at him.

He looked at my wolf, then at me. Meeting my shocked and confused gaze, his fury remained.

"Why did you push Nina? You knew she injured her foot. Why did you take it out on her when you're mad at me? How could you be so cruel?"

The side of my face burned from the slap.

From a distance, Nina limped toward us, then collapsed onto the ground with a dramatic thud. Her shirt was wrinkled and damp, smeared with stains.

Without any hesitation, Liam shoved me aside, rushing to gather her in his arms. "You shouldn't have come outside. I told you I'd make her apologize to you."

While his words were full of reproach, his tone was gentle, filled with concern.

Nina shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes. "It's nothing serious. She didn't do it on purpose."

Liam turned back to me, grabbing my arm and yanking me toward Nina.

He commanded, "Apologize to Nina right now! You should be grateful Nina wasn't seriously hurt. If she was, I'd break your legs."

Tears clung to Nina's lashes as she pleaded on my behalf. "Alpha, this isn't Maya's fault. It's mine."

Liam gritted his teeth, glaring at me. "You're only acting like this because you know I dote on you…"

Nina gently tugged on his arm, coaxing him, "Let it go, Alpha. If her brother finds out you hit her, it might cause tension between the two packs."

At the mention of my brother, Liam's gaze flickered with something unreadable. But when he looked back at Nina, his resolve hardened.

"Andrew entrusted me with her care. If she misbehaves, it's my responsibility to discipline her."

A laugh slipped past my lips. I couldn't help but ask, "What exactly did I do? Even criminals need evidence before they're convicted. Yet here you are, punishing without proof. Do you think this is fair? Is this the behavior of an Alpha?"

Liam's fists tightened as he glared at me. "You knew there weren't any cameras in the restroom. That's why dared to make a move in there."

I found it amusing, but also sad at the same time.

"If there are no cameras, then how do you know it was me?"

"You think Nina would falsely accuse you? Why would she? I've known her for years. She doesn't lie."

"So what? Does that make me a liar? With moon goddess as my witness, I swear on my life, I didn't touch her. If I'm lying, let me die of wolfbane poisoning. Would Nina dare to swear the same?"

"Alpha, I…" Nina whimpered.

Liam tightened his hold on her, letting her sob. And then, through gritted teeth, he looked at me and muttered, "Crazy woman."