Rejection On Our Seventh Anniversary

Freya's POV

The air in the pack house was thick with tension, though most remained oblivious to the storm brewing beneath the surface.

Lila's voice, sharp and mocking, carried through the corridors as she boasted to her small group of followers.

"A necklace? That's child’s play," she drawled. "My mate gifted me an entire emerald set—the jewels were blessed under the full moon by the Silver Seer herself."

Curious murmurs erupted from her audience. Lila extended her hand, revealing a glistening emerald ring that radiated a faint, otherworldly glow.

"Moon-blessed emeralds? Those are priceless!" one gasped.

Another chimed in, “And they’re said to enhance a wolf’s strength during transformation. Anastasia, your mate must truly adore you!”

Lila shrugged with feigned modesty, her smirk betraying her satisfaction. "Of course he does. He spares no expense to keep me happy."

I lingered in the shadows, listening to her words with clenched fists. Her "mate" was no mystery to me—Alpha Kade, my so-called husband. The man who had once vowed under the Blood Moon to cherish me above all others.

As I walked toward the garage where Kade waited, his polished demeanor greeted me like a mask he had worn for years.

“Ready for dinner, Luna?” he asked, flashing his signature smile, the one that once made me believe in his lies.

I slipped into the seat beside him, my voice calm. “Do you have any pack duties tonight?”

Kade shook his head, an edge of pride in his tone. "None. Tonight is ours. I’ve ensured nothing interrupts us."

Yet halfway through our drive, his tone shifted abruptly.

“Stop the car,” he ordered the driver. He turned to me with practiced regret. “I’m so sorry, love. The Elders have called an emergency council meeting. It’s urgent.”

I tilted my head, studying his face. His eyes avoided mine, darting nervously.

“I understand,” I said softly. “The pack comes first.”

His shoulders relaxed. "Thank you for understanding. I'll make it up to you, I promise."

As his car sped away, I followed in the shadows, my wolf stirring restlessly beneath my skin. Kade’s scent led me not to the council chambers but to the Moonlit Haven, the new high-end restaurant near the forest.

I stayed hidden, watching through the tall windows as he dined with Anastasia. Their laughter filled the air, her hand brushing his as he leaned closer. Rage simmered within me, but I swallowed it down. Tonight wasn’t the time.

Kade returned to the pack house hours later, the faint scent of lavender clinging to him—a scent that didn’t belong to me. His steps faltered when he saw me sitting in the dimly lit living room.

“Honey,” he began, his voice uncertain, “why are you still awake?”

I held up a small wooden box, my expression calm. “The omega cleaning your study found this. She wasn’t sure what to do with it, so she gave it to me.”

Kade’s eyes locked onto the box, recognition flickering across his face. His drunken haze lifted as he approached.

“This…” He took the box reverently, opening it to reveal its contents—a collection of trinkets from our courtship.

He lifted a faded ribbon from the box, his smile softening. “This was from the night of the Harvest Festival. You wore it in your hair, and I couldn’t stop staring at you all evening.”

He picked up a tiny silver charm next, his voice growing wistful. "And this was from the day you accepted me as your mate under the Blood Moon. Do you remember how nervous I was? I thought you’d reject me again."

I watched him, my expression unreadable. For a moment, I saw the version of Kade I had once loved—the wolf who had promised me forever. But the man before me was a stranger cloaked in broken vows.

As he continued reminiscing, I leaned back, my gaze steady. "Kade," I said softly, interrupting his reverie. "Do you ever think about what comes after betrayal?"

His hands froze over the trinkets, his eyes lifting to meet mine. For the first time in years, uncertainty flickered in his gaze.