When My Mate Chose Her Over Me

Dean was a fan of spicy food, but I wasn’t.

For six years, I’d always tried to accommodate him, joining him in eating fiery dishes. But this time, as we were having a barbecue, my stomach started acting up. Despite this, Dean ordered spicy pulled pork for Lucia without a second thought.

"Lucia and I live for spice, Jessica. Can you just go along with it this once more?"

I glanced at the slices of meat in my bowl, dripping with spicy marinade, causing my stomach to churn uncomfortably. My eyes shifted to his, which were fervently fixed on Lucia, the high-ranking Gamma of the Crimson Fang Pack. Suddenly, I couldn’t fake it anymore.

"Dean, I can’t eat spicy food, and I don’t like it."

As soon as I said it, Dean stopped, his hand frozen mid-air as he reached out to serve Lucia. The smile on Lucia’s face disappeared, and silence settled over us, broken only by the sizzle of the grill. Dean was momentarily caught off guard. After a while, he silently put down his fork, his brow slightly furrowed.

"Jessica Martin," he said sharply, using my full name, which he did only when angered. "We’re having a meal, what’s with the drama?"

I deliberately locked eyes with his, almost daring him to lash out. I half-wished for him to blow up, to argue with me, even to suggest we break the mate bond. Then I’d be free from the endless compromises.

However, Lucia, sitting beside us, gracefully stepped in to diffuse the situation. "It’s fine, it’s just a matter of changing the dish. You should’ve considered Jessica’s preference when ordering. Being a guest doesn’t mean everything should cater to my taste."

Earlier that day, after eating too much spicy food, my stomach had acted up. I dragged Dean with me to the pack healer. After getting some medication and hearing the healer’s advice to avoid spicy food, we left. Coincidentally, we bumped into Lucia picking up medicine for her mother outside the infirmary.

And so, we three found ourselves at the barbecue restaurant. When ordering, I took a quick trip to the restroom. Dean ordered everything, including extra spicy pork, without consulting me. When I returned, he said, "Lucia and I are on the same page; we can’t enjoy a meal without chili. Jessica, can’t you just accommodate us?"

I looked at the bright red marinade and the spread of Lucia’s favorite dishes. Rubbing my mildly aching stomach, I felt trapped in silence. Compromise was my forte, and this was no exception. Lucia, with her characteristic tact, browsed the menu and asked me kindly, "Jessica, let’s switch to something milder. Would you prefer plain ribs or tomato glaze?"

Lucia had been someone Dean admired back in school—a senior he once had a crush on. They never dated because Lucia, a Gamma, wasn’t into dating someone of lower rank. She was always so elegant and composed, naturally captivating Dean’s attention. Meanwhile, I, an Omega, had to constantly compromise and downplay myself just to win a fraction of his affection. In her presence, I perpetually felt inadequate.

I unclenched my fists, ready to speak, when Dean impatiently snatched the menu from me. "She’ll have the plain ribs."

The plain ribs were promptly brought out. Dean, as if rebellious, ignored me completely and stopped serving me food. Instead, he piled Lucia’s plate high with meat and vegetables. In the past, I was always the one yielding to him, soothing him. Now the tables had turned, and he was showing his irritation.

The grill sizzled and steamed, the heat wafting toward my face, yet my heart felt oppressively still. Dean and Lucia sat across from me, intentionally acting as if I wasn’t there, absorbed in their chatter. All I had was the steaming heat, boiling and irritating my mind.

I fiddled with my fork in my bowl, suppressing the frustration that had finally reached its peak. Setting down my fork, I stood up.

"I’m not hungry. I’m heading out."

"Enjoy the rest of your time," Dean said dismissively, not even looking up from his conversation with Lucia.

I walked out of the restaurant, the cool night air hitting my face as I left behind the suffocating atmosphere. My wolf stirred within me, a quiet whimper of pain echoing in my mind. It was time to stop pretending. Time to stop compromising. I was done.