My Alpha Chased Me After We Broke Up

As I glanced at the list Alaric had given me, I recognized each ingredient as if it were etched into my memory. They were all for his favorite herb cake, a treat I had been making him by hand every year since we first started dating.

It was no easy feat to gather the herbs.

Some grew only on the steep cliffs near our territory. Climbing up to collect them was dangerous and exhausting.

The silence in the room was thick, but Alaric remained oblivious to how absurd his request was, especially given my bandaged arms and legs, which he seemed to overlook entirely.

I took a steadying breath, masking any hint of pain as I nodded. "No problem," I replied, keeping my voice neutral as I forced myself to stand. "I'll head out now and gather everything you need."

Each step toward the door felt heavier than the last, weighted with both physical pain and lost love.

As I reached for the door, I couldn't help but recall a memory from years before, when I had nearly fallen to my death collecting those same herbs. I was younger then, desperate to impress Alaric, to show him that I was serious about building a future together. He had once looked at me with warmth, with a spark that made me feel special.

But those days felt like they belonged to someone else now, a distant stranger.

Alaric's voice cut through the silence. "Lyra…" he said, sounding almost uncertain.

I stopped but didn't turn around. "Anything else?" I asked, a touch of exhaustion slipping into my tone.

There was a pause, then he muttered, "...It's fine if you use substitutes for some of the ingredients."

I almost laughed at his sudden consideration, realizing he did notice my injuries after all. So he knew. And yet, he hadn't thought twice about asking me to go.

I walked out without another word.

Reaching the cliffs, I began my task, methodically picking the herbs and leaves needed for the cake. Alaric's voice called through our telepathic link a few times, but I didn't respond.

I had called him many times in the past when I needed him, during my darkest moments—even when I lost our child—but he ignored me every time.

I pushed through the pain in my muscles, barely noticing as I reopened a few stitches, determined to finish gathering the ingredients by mid-afternoon.

Back at the healer's hut, I finally allowed myself to rest, letting the healer tend to my wounds, some of which were now bleeding anew.

Not long after, I sensed Alaric's presence through the link, and, grudgingly, I answered him.

"Where are you?" He asked, something almost like concern in his voice.

I leaned back, feeling the ache in my body from the long climb. "What's up?" I responded flatly, sidestepping his question.

"I was worried...you didn't send the herbs yourself," he admitted, his tone softening. "I just wanted to say…"

There was a pause before his voice fell silent, and a moment later, he appeared at the healer's hut, his eyes widening slightly as they landed on the fresh bandages. For a brief second, I thought I saw a flicker of guilt on his face.

"Thanks," he muttered, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. "I know it must have been a lot of effort."

But before I could even respond, I heard a light, sugary voice chiming in. Selene's heels clicked against the stone floor as she approached, her eyes wide with mock surprise and delight.

"Lyra!" she called out, her tone dripping with sweetness. "I heard from Alaric that you're the one who gathered the special herbs for my birthday cake! How talented you are."

Alaric nodded, smiling in agreement as he glanced at her. "Yes, she is."

Selene clasped her delicate, well-manicured hands in front of her and giggled. "I wish I could be like that… but look at these hands!" She stretched them out to show her pale, smooth skin. "They're not made for rough work like Lyra's. Alaric always calls me his ‘little dummy' because I'm so clumsy." She glanced at me with a coy smile, her words as sharp as they were sweet.

I didn't respond, simply meeting her gaze with an unwavering stare that gave nothing away. She might have thought her comments would sting, but I had already learned not to expect anything more.

Selene's smile lingered as she continued, "Anyway, since you finished gathering the herbs so early, we'll be starting the cake soon. Why don't you join us at the party?"

But before I could say anything, Alaric cut in, his tone firmer than before. "Actually, you don't need to come, Lyra. We… don't really need you there."