The Way To Happiness

Ava’s POV

After he left, I sent a quick text to one of the members of the pack about starting the process of severing the bond with Hunter. I went to bed early, hoping that the next day would feel a bit more bearable. But in the dead of night, my phone buzzed. It was 1 a.m., and as I expected, the other side of the bed was still empty.

I checked my phone and saw several messages from Katherine .

“Hunter is just so hot! I wanna devour him while he’s asleep!”

Attached was a photo of Hunter asleep. His head rested on her pink, cartoon-print pillow, his hair tousled, lips slightly parted in that way that once made my heart race. I saw the “typing…” indicator flash at the top of the chat, and then Katherine quickly deleted her messages. She sent a single sticker begging for forgiveness.

“Oops! Meant to send those to someone else, but accidentally sent them to you. I was just messing around—don’t be mad! Hunter’s already knocked out.”

Maybe she expected me to blow up her phone with furious calls, like I had in the past. But this time, I just blocked her and closed my eyes, too tired of the games to care anymore.

By morning, I steeled myself for the mocking glances from the pack. Lately, every breakfast seemed like another round of snickering and whispers behind my back, mostly coming from Katherine and her friends. When Hunter and I were bonded, the pack assumed our connection would bring strength to us both. Instead, I'd found myself shrinking in his shadow, barely holding on while he flaunted his status with Katherine by his side.

I entered the dining hall, head down, hoping to slip into my usual spot in the back. But almost immediately, I heard the murmuring.

"Look, there she is, Luna Ava," someone snickered. "She doesn’t look very Luna-like, does she?"

Someone else giggled, "Poor thing, she tries so hard."

I pretended not to hear, keeping my gaze down as I slid into my seat.

A moment later, Katherine walked in with Hunter by her side. She stumbled—deliberate, no doubt—her face flushed with mock embarrassment. Hunter’s arm went out instantly to catch her, pulling her up with ease. She leaned against him, beaming as if he’d just saved her life, and then glanced my way, giving me that same smug grin that had been haunting me lately.

Some pack members around me murmured, watching with a mix of shock and amusement. The rest, including a few Omegas, whispered among themselves, speculating about how long the “Luna” would tolerate being treated like an outsider.

It hurt. Even my own friends couldn’t look me in the eye anymore, not with the Alpha choosing Katherine over me so openly. I straightened, trying to maintain my composure. Just as I pulled out my phone to continue texting, Hunter’s deep, authoritative voice called my name.

“Ava, come here.”

I looked up, surprised to see him standing just a few feet away, arms folded, his piercing gaze fixed on me. "We need to talk."

Swallowing, I nodded, feeling everyone’s eyes on me as I stood and followed him. The whispers grew louder behind me as we entered one of the private alcoves near the hall.

Once the door closed, Hunter crossed his arms, his eyes dark and unreadable. "You didn’t call me last night. Or even text. Nothing."

I clenched my hands, forcing a calm tone. "Why would I? Katherine was with you, right? You didn’t need me."

His expression darkened, and in a flash, he grabbed my shoulders, his voice low and seething. "You’re my mate, Ava. Don't pretend you're unaffected. I didn’t come home, and I don’t buy that you’re 'not mad.'"

I shrugged off his hands, taking a step back. "I told you, I'm not mad. If you’re choosing her, that’s your decision. Just don’t expect me to—”

Before I could finish, his grip tightened. He was silent for a moment, his jaw tense. Then, almost as if catching himself, he let me go. In the sudden release, I stumbled back slightly, catching myself on the table behind me. My fingers brushed against something soft, and when I pulled my hand up, a familiar piece of lace dangled from my fingers.

Pink lace. Katherine’s.

The color drained from Hunter’s face. His mouth opened, then closed, as if struggling for an excuse. But I didn’t wait. I tossed the bra back onto the table, feeling my voice harden. “If you have nothing else to say, Alpha, I’ll be going.”

He looked as if he wanted to argue, but I turned on my heel, leaving him standing there.

Outside, I took a deep breath, trying to swallow the wave of hurt clawing up my chest. This wasn’t new. It wasn’t even unexpected. But this time, it felt final. I didn’t need his excuses or apologies, not anymore.

I went back to the main hall, picking up my phone to check for messages from my lawyer. Just as I was about to head out, I heard the familiar rumble of Hunter’s voice again.

“Ava, get in the car. We’ll drop Katherine off first, then we can go to that new place by the lake. Your favorite.”

I paused, confused. He hadn’t invited me out in ages, let alone to one of my favorite spots. Katherine poked her head out from the passenger side, grinning with that same smug look. “Sorry, Ava, I’m hitching a ride again!”

Without looking at her, I focused on the cab pulling up across the road. “You two go ahead. I’ve got… other plans.”

The amusement on Katherine ’s face faltered. She looked between Hunter and me, her eyes narrowing slightly. Hunter’s expression turned stormy, but I didn’t give him a chance to speak. Instead, I walked around his car and stepped into the cab, feeling his gaze burning into my back as I shut the door.

As the cab pulled away, I glanced out the window, taking one last look at the pack house, watching Hunter’s stunned face fade into the distance.

I wasn’t his Luna. I wasn’t his anything. But for the first time in ages, I felt a strange sense of relief.