The Fated Luna Walked Away From Her Unfaithful Alpha

The year Lilia started university, Dax Webb, the rising Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, finally agreed to be her mate. For four years, she followed him around, and everyone in the pack remarked that they seemed perfect together. Yet, Dax always countered, "We’re just childhood friends." Whenever Lilia felt hurt, he’d comfort her privately, saying, "I just don’t want to make our relationship public yet; we should focus on our duties to the pack."

At their graduation celebration, hosted in the grand hall of the Silver Moon Pack’s territory, Dax got drunk and joked that if Lilia confessed to him three times in front of the pack, he’d announce their mate bond publicly. Lilia tried but failed to muster the courage. During a small gathering afterward, one of Dax’s close friends, a Gamma, confided in her, "Confessing three times was something Viviana Oliver, that Gamma from the Crimson Claw Pack, once insisted on. She was his 'one that got away.'" Lilia’s heart sank. Dax had never fulfilled that promise with Viviana, yet now he used it as a hurdle for her. With that realization, she finally decided to let go.

When Dax asked her to confess three times publicly, Lilia felt confused. After all, they’d been secretly mates for four years, so why the need for a public declaration? Hearing him mention revealing their bond stirred something within her. She thought it was just one of Dax’s antics, a way to surprise the pack and dispel the rumor that mates drift apart after their formal duties began. But she had clearly overestimated his intent.

"Lilia, what are you staring at? Hurry up and pour the Alpha a drink; aren’t you childhood friends?" the Class President, a Delta, shouted from across the room. Lilia snapped back to reality, realizing everyone’s eyes were on her. She blinked back tears that threatened to spill and forced a smile, "What did you just say?"

Dax, tipsy, looked at her over his glass. He studied her slightly reddened eyes for a long time before smirking, "Come on, Lilia, wasn’t it just you confessing three times the other day, and I turned you down every time? Can’t you handle it? No need to spoil the mood for everyone with your sulking."

The matter of confessing had already passed some time ago, yet Dax would always bring up her embarrassment from that day, regardless of the occasion. Sensing her discomfort, Mila Johnston, Lilia’s best friend and a Delta, tried to ease the situation, "Alright, so it didn’t work out. No need to dwell on it and hurt feelings. Don’t mind them, Lilia, let’s talk about something else."

Only then did Dax shift his attention to Viviana Oliver, the Gamma from the Crimson Claw Pack, sitting next to him. He was attentive to her every need, offering her food and drinks. Even pack members teased them about being together. Dax just smiled, saying nothing, while Viviana bashfully leaned into him. Although she was an outsider at this pack gathering, she was far more familiar with the males from their pack than Lilia was. Watching them joke and chat happily, a wave of sadness hit her.

She understood why this scene unfolded this way. Viviana was Dax’s "one that got away." Lilia watched him doting on her and felt profound sorrow. It turned out that the presence of "the one that got away" held such power. Despite being with Dax for four years, he always kept a distance from her. Yet, he didn’t mind what people said when it came to Viviana, almost wanting her by his side constantly.

In the past, Lilia might have confronted him, using the status of a childhood friend to urge him to be more considerate. But now, she felt utterly drained.

"I’m not feeling well; I’ll head home. Enjoy the rest of your night," she said, grabbing her bag and hastily trying to leave.

Seeing her expression, Dax stood up to stop her. "Are you okay? Did you eat something cold again? Don’t you know your period is coming soon?" It was the first time he showed concern for her in front of everyone. She noticed out of the corner of her eye that his hand, which was about to rub her stomach soothingly, retracted quickly when Viviana spoke.

"Alpha Dax, since your little childhood friend isn’t feeling well, why don’t you take her home? I’ll head back later," Viviana suggested.

"That won’t do. You just arrived today, and it’s your birthday. Plus, it’s already quite late. I promised to spend today with you, so I won’t leave," Dax said with a smile, heading back to his seat, completely ignoring Lilia.

Looking at him felt like the world was closing in on her. Birthdays were never significant to Dax. She remembered when they first started their mate bond, which happened to be her birthday. She mentioned going out for a big meal, casually noting it was her birthday, and he retorted, "What’s there to celebrate for a birthday? Don’t you know your birthday is a day of hardship for your mother? You really don’t understand gratitude."

Thinking back, he simply didn’t want to spend time with her. Ignoring the protests of her packmates, she left the hall silently. She chose not to hail a cab but instead walked home slowly in her human form. The cool night air blew away the shadows in her heart, clearing her mind.

Four years of companionship couldn’t compare to Viviana’s sudden reappearance. Given that, it was time for her to let go.