My Alpha Chased Me After We Broke Up

I hadn't gone to the party. In the end, I wasn't invited.

As I packed up my few remaining things, my gaze landed on a bundle of silk cloth tucked in the corner. When I unwrapped it, I found our marriage emblem—the symbol that had once bound Alaric and me in a connection.

The emblem had once meant the world to me, symbolizing a cherished, sacred bond.

But now, severing this connection might be the best choice.

All I needed to break it was a trace of Alaric's blood, placed upon it by his own hand. The thought crossed my mind briefly to wait for another time, but I wasn't willing to wait. I made my way to the party, fully aware that it wasn't my place to be there.

When I pushed the door open and stepped into the room, it wasn't difficult to spot Alaric. He sat with Selene on his lap, gently feeding her a slice of cake. She looked up at him with wide, doe-like eyes, clearly spoiled by his attention.

My entrance drew the room's attention. Every pair of eyes turned toward me, and an uncomfortable silence settled over the celebration.

Alaric looked over his shoulder, and the instant he saw me, his expression soured. His gaze darkened, frustration clearly visible in his eyes. I knew exactly what he was thinking — he had told me not to come.

"Lyra!" Selene called out, waving at me with an almost saccharine smile. She made no move to rise from Alaric's lap, savoring the scene with smug satisfaction. "Oh dear, there aren't enough chairs here. You wouldn't mind if I stay here on Alaric's lap, would you?"

Alaric's expression grew even more irritated, though he kept his focus fixed on me.

"Didn't I tell you not to come?" he snapped, his irritation plain for everyone to see.

I was about to respond, but Selene interrupted, pouting cutely. "Oh, Alaric, poor Lyra must feel so lonely, sitting by herself all the time," she said in a mock-sweet tone, clearly reveling in the tension she was stirring. "Let her join us, won't you?"

For a moment, Alaric's hardened expression softened. He reached out, affectionately ruffling Selene's hair. "It's your birthday, so I suppose you're the one who gets to decide."

I simply watched them, then took this chance to speak up.

I reached into my pocket, pulling out the marriage emblem, which I disguised as a capstone, a stone used for trade discounts in our community if marked by an alpha. Alaric, as a recognized alpha, would be able to get significant discounts, even free goods.

"Alaric," I said, stepping forward, holding out the emblem. "I'm planning to buy some new fabric for the house tomorrow. It's a bit pricey. Could you leave your mark here for a discount?"

The room's dim lighting cast long shadows across Alaric's face as he briefly glanced at the stone. Without a second thought, he smeared it with his blood, too focused on Selene to notice anything outside of the ordinary.

He didn't seem to feel the severance of our bond, but I did — a small, nearly imperceptible sting in my heart as it unraveled.

As I was about to put the emblem away, Alaric suddenly grasped my hand, his brow furrowing. "You… You came here just for this?" he asked, his voice low, tinged with a hint of incredulity.

I nodded, not saying a word.

His lips curved into a smirk, and he turned to Selene, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Then perhaps you can also look for a leopard print while you're at it. Selene's been wanting one."

I didn't respond, simply staring at the two of them.

For a second, Alaric's face darkened as if he were about to say something, but he stopped short, his hand pulling back as if burned. His fingers had grazed the loose bandage wrapped around my palm, the one I'd hastily covered before coming.

He flinched, his expression contorting with what looked like disgust.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Selene's eyes light up with interest. "Oh, Lyra, that red bracelet you're wearing…" she said, leaning forward with a smile. "It looks oddly familiar. I think I saw something just like it in Alaric's trash the other day."

I noticed Alaric subtly hiding his wrist, but I pretended not to see. I met Selene's gaze, my tone neutral. "These bracelets are pretty common. If you like it, I could give it to you."

Selene's smile faltered, and she fell silent.

When I finally left the room, I headed to the nearest trash can, dropping the bracelet inside without a second thought. I had worn it for seven years, but now, it was no more than garbage, stripped of the meaning it once held.

Returning home, I tossed the severed marriage emblem into the bottom of my bag, alongside the remnants of a life now gone. I packed the last of my belongings—a few clothes, a couple of personal items, leaving behind anything Alaric had ever given me, which wasn't much.

Stepping outside, I looked up at the sky, searching for the moon, but it was hidden behind a veil of clouds. I gave the house one final glance. The home I had once cherished and believed would always be warm.

And then, without a second look back, I walked forward, leaving it all behind.