My Alpha Chased Me After We Broke Up

As I reflected on how differently Alaric treated Selene, my hand slipped, knocking my fork to the floor. My fingers trembled slightly as I bent to pick it up.

When I straightened, Alaric was already at the doorway, ready to leave. Without even looking back, he tossed over his shoulder, "Selene says she needs me for something. You're just foraging today, so I'll help her instead."

Selene flashed me a small, knowing smile and linked her arm through his as they left together.

About half an hour later, I limped to the healer's hut to report in and have my wounds checked. My colleagues gave me sympathetic looks, though I wasn't sure why. I ignored them and started sorting the herbs I'd foraged yesterday.

Later, as I carried a large ceramic mortar to the storage room, I overheard two colleagues whispering nearby.

"So, is it true? Did Alaric really ditch Lyra for Selene?" one asked.

"Yep. Someone saw Alaric with Selene on the grass field the day they sensed Lyra calling for help. And you know it takes something serious for a Luna to reach out to another alpha like that. But they said Alaric ignored it and just led Selene deeper into the thicket…"

My hand slipped, and the mortar shattered on the floor, bringing their gossip to an abrupt halt. Silently, I knelt to gather the broken pieces, carefully dropping them into the trash without a word.

I ended up working late that night. Near midnight, I felt something heavy settle on my shoulders.

"Lyra," Alaric murmured, draping a fur coat over me. "Why didn't you respond to my link?"

I kept my back to him, focusing on packing dried herbs into an oiled bag, ignoring the basket of sweet dates he'd placed on the table.

Three years ago, I'd asked him to pick sweet dates for me. He scoffed, saying, "Sweet dates? You expect me to climb trees for those? Lyra, you're almost thirty. Stop craving childish things! Don't make me sick with this nonsense."

Yet now, there he was, bringing me a basket of sweet dates.

I concentrated on measuring powdered leaves, still ignoring the basket.

He sounded puzzled as he spoke again, "You used to beg me for these."

"It's past ten. If I eat them now, I won't be able to sleep," I replied coolly.

He was silent for a moment before muttering in a cold tone, "How long until you're done? Let's go home together afterward."

Just as he finished, Selene appeared, immediately leaning on Alaric as her eyes drifted to the basket.

"Oh, you silly thing!" she laughed. "You've already sent me so many baskets of sweet dates! Are you trying to turn me into a little piggy?" She chuckled, adding, "Good thing you brought some for Lyra too, since I can't finish them all myself!"

I returned to the weighing scale, adjusting the weights without reacting. Selene didn't linger, hinting that if I ever wanted more, I could just ask her since Alaric had brought her plenty.

When we finally arrived home, I went straight to the bedroom and started packing my things. Minutes later, Alaric came in, freshly showered, his gaze narrowing when he noticed my vanity looking emptier.

He frowned but didn't comment on it. Instead, he said, "I'm going on an exchange visit to the pack across the river next month. If there's anything you want, make a list, and I'll bring it back."

I replied without hesitation, "No, I don't need anything. Thanks, though."

After all, I'd be gone in a few days.

Suddenly, he tossed his towel onto the bed, giving me a cold stare. "What's with the attitude? Are you mad because I got you the wrong breakfast? Is that what this whole thing's about?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but he cut me off with a scoff.

"I can't stand it when women act dramatically, Lyra. You're being ridiculous," he said, his voice edged with disgust.

Then he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

In the seven years we'd been together, he'd always been the one to start silent treatments, leaving me to apologize and patch things up. But this time, I just raised an eyebrow and lay down on my side of the bed.

He didn't return that night. For the first time, I didn't reach out through the link, nor did I look for him.

The next morning, I made breakfast as usual, ate my portion, and was about to leave for work when he walked in, looking strangely well-rested, as if he'd slept elsewhere.

Without greeting me, he dropped a list onto the counter. "Leave work early and gather these herbs for me. I need them before dawn—don't be late."

He hadn't even noticed I was still injured, that I hadn't been out foraging in days.

I glanced down at the list, feeling something breaking inside me.