Rejected by Fate, I Chose the Beta’s Heart

I took a taxi back to Colter’s territory, the weight of the day pressing heavily on my shoulders. As soon as I stepped inside, I pulled out my suitcase and began packing. The air in the room felt thick, suffocating, as if the walls themselves were closing in on me. It was late when Colter returned, his presence filling the space with an alpha’s commanding aura. He strode in, his broad shoulders tense, and barked his first order before he even fully crossed the threshold.

“Arianna, get me some honey water,” he demanded, his voice sharp and impatient.

I glanced at him, my expression cold and distant. He sank onto the couch, massaging his temples, but I didn’t move. The urge to rush to his side, to soothe him like I used to, was gone. The silence stretched between us, heavy and unyielding, until Colter finally noticed my lack of response.

“Arianna?” His tone softened slightly, though it still carried an edge. “Are you still mad at me?”

“No,” I replied, my voice flat and emotionless. It wasn’t anger I felt anymore—it was resignation.

But Colter wasn’t satisfied. His alpha instincts seemed to bristle at my detachment. “Arianna Richards, enough!” he snapped, his voice rising. “I just joked around with Zora, and you’re still making a fuss? She’s your sister, for the Moon Goddess’s sake. Do you really think we’d do anything inappropriate behind your back?”

I placed the photo frame I’d been holding onto the table and turned to face him. My wolf stirred faintly in the back of my mind, a quiet growl of frustration, but I silenced her. Before I could speak, Colter kicked the coffee table aside with a growl, the wood scraping against the floor. He stormed off toward the bedroom, slamming the door behind him with a force that made the walls shudder.

I stood there for a moment, letting out a bitter laugh. The photo frame caught my eye again, and I picked it up. It was the only picture we had together, a moment frozen in time when things had seemed simpler. I pulled the photo out and carefully cut my side out of it, tossing my half into the trash. His half went back into the frame. I used to treasure that picture, but now, it felt like a relic of a life I no longer wanted.

Packing was almost done, and I did a final check. My ID was still missing. After a moment of hesitation, I headed to the bedroom. I didn’t expect to walk in on Colter and Zora in the middle of a video call, both of them in nothing but their skin.

I froze in the doorway, my heart pounding. Zora noticed me first. She gave a playful, reproachful smile as she ended the call. “Colter, you don’t even lock the door when you’re chatting?” she teased.

Colter turned, his eyes widening when he saw me. He grabbed a pillow to cover himself, then hurled it at me with a growl. “Arianna Richards, didn’t anyone teach you to knock?”

The pillow hit me in the head, but the pain in my heart was far worse. “Get out!” he shouted, his alpha tone lashing at me like a whip.

I blinked back tears, refusing to let him see me cry. “I just came to get something. I’ll be gone soon,” I said, my voice steady despite the ache in my chest. I walked over to the nightstand, my movements deliberate.

Colter watched me approach, his temper flaring. He pulled on his shorts and jumped off the bed, grabbing my wrist with a force that made me wince. “Arianna Richards, you’re so pathetic! Do you really have to hang on to me?” he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt.

The pain in my wrist brought tears to my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “Let go!” I cried, trying to pull away.

His grip tightened, and he shoved me onto the bed. “You wanted to end things, and I agree! Now get out!” he roared, his alpha aura pressing down on me like a weight.

Grasping my swollen wrist, I got off the bed, grabbed my ID, and headed for the door. My wolf growled faintly in the back of my mind, a mix of anger and hurt, but I pushed her down. I couldn’t afford to let her take control now.

“Stop!” Colter called out suddenly. I paused, but I didn’t turn around.

“Take everything you’ve used out of this house when you leave. I don’t want to see it!” he snapped, his voice cold and final.

I kept my head down, my voice quiet but firm. “I’ll have someone come by to clean up. You won’t have to see a thing.”

Colter’s face darkened with anger, but he didn’t try to stop me again. I walked out the door, my suitcase in hand, and didn’t look back. The mate bond between us felt like a frayed thread, barely holding on, but I knew it was only a matter of time before it snapped completely.