Where My Scent No Longer Belongs

I turn and leave under countless shocked stares. No hesitation. No regret.

Coming back to life, the first thing I wanted to do was sever the Mate Bond between me and Alpha Asher at that high-profile coronation ceremony.

But I can't enter the banquet. I'll have to find another opportunity.

Back at the Pack house, I strip off the blue dress I specifically chose to match Alpha Asher's eye color.

I'm Alpha Asher's pathetic follower,everyone in Moonstone Pack knows this.

Anything involving Alpha Asher, I'm always the first to notice, the first to give without asking for anything back.

I'd arrange every tiny detail for him, just hoping he'd look at me once.

Alpha Asher complained more than once about how exhausting managing the Pack was, how he wanted to relax in the northern mountains.

So I matched his schedule, secretly arranged all the supplies and routes for the northern mountain trip.

Because he said the moonlight there was purest, perfect for wolves to run.

But last lifetime, Alpha Asher never actually went to the mountains with me.

He chose to vacation on a southern island with Elena instead.

I got ordered to stay behind and organize old Pack archives.

That night, Rogues attacked the Pack. I got clawed protecting the archive room, and the wound got infected with silver poison.

I spent two months in the medical ward. When he came back, he just complained that I reeked of medicine.

That feeling,life plunging into hell while your Mate finds you disgusting,I never want to experience it again.

Getting away from Alpha Asher is step one.

I pack quickly, taking only my documents and a few clothes, preparing to head downstairs.

Alpha Asher charges in, black formal wear still on, reeking of alcohol.

Seeing me with my suitcase, he laughs coldly. Using his Alpha speed, he lunges forward, rips my luggage from my hands, and hurls it against the wall.

The crash echoes. The suitcase splits open. Clothes scatter everywhere.

I frown. "Asher, what are you doing?"

"Rhea, I should be asking you what you're doing!

"How old are you, running away from home?

"What's next? You gonna starve yourself? Hurt your wolf to threaten me again?"

Alpha Asher's breathing hard, golden eyes full of disgust as he accuses me.

"Rhea, you're not a pup anymore. Stop thinking you can threaten me into accepting you by leaving the Pack!"

I stare at my luggage on the floor. The last ripple in my heart goes still.

"Who told you I'm threatening you?"

People like him and Elena—one fake, one cruel—live just fine.

I finally get a second chance at life. Why waste emotions on them?

Alpha Asher sneers. Doesn't speak. His eyes full of contempt, like he's convinced I can't leave him.

Elena, who’s followed him in, wears a white dress, looking like an innocent little flower.

"Rhea, if you wanted to attend the coronation, you could've talked to Asher nicely. You two have a Mate Bond,he wouldn't really keep you out."

"Running away from home like this, once is okay. Twice is just being dramatic."

Elena's words drip with implication, mocking the stupid things I did before to get his attention.

Alpha Asher's gaze grows more disgusted. There's even a trace of killing intent.

My memories churn.

I suddenly remember something.

After Alpha Asher got together with Elena, he changed toward me completely.

Like I was some kind of filth.

In my anger, I once prayed to the Moon Goddess, begged Her to sever this agonizing Bond.

Elena twisted this into me cursing them.

After that, Alpha Asher hated me, ignored me, refused to communicate through Mind-link.

Elena's clique isolated me, bullied me during training, and he turned a blind eye to all of it.

I meet Alpha Asher's eyes, my voice steady. "You're overthinking. I'm not threatening you. I'm packing because I'm moving to the border cottage and applying to leave the Pack."

Alpha Asher scoffs, like I'm making up clumsy excuses to save face.

Elena tugs on Alpha Asher's sleeve, voice sickeningly sweet.

"Asher, why not let Rhea stay? She's just an Omega,the border's too dangerous. What if she runs into Rogues?"

Asher's brow furrows, like he's weighing pros and cons. After all, his parents,the former Alpha couple,still care whether I live or die.

I refuse again. "No need. I've already filled out the application."

Asher's handsome face shifts. He scoffs. "Hear that? She wants to go to the border and get herself killed!"

"Rhea, stop being ridiculous. Your wolf's so weak, you won't survive three days out there."

Elena sighs, steps forward, and loops her arm through mine with fake intimacy.

Sharp nails dig into my flesh where Asher can't see,deliberate wolf claws.

My wolf Lucy snarls in fury. Pain shoots through me. I shove Elena away.

She staggers backward, collapses on the floor, looks at me with wounded eyes.

"Rhea, you... I was just trying to care about you..."