Chapter 1 Chapter 1

After finalizing the last details of my departure, I hung up. My request to leave the pack would kick in two days later. By then, I'd be long gone, starting over where no one knew my name. Sam's scent — fresh like cut grass — floated through the door. I looked up and met his soft gaze. "Who were you talking to?""A friend. Just random stuff," I said with a smile, forcing my tone to sound as natural as possible. He kissed my forehead, voice sweet like always. "Caught a moose in Dark Forest this morning. Saved the best part — the heart — for you. Wanna try it?" For five years of mating, Obsidian had been nothing but tender, indulgent to the point of spoiling me. Everyone said the Obsidian Pack's Alpha heir was the most devoted wolf around. They didn't know the truth. Sam only gave me a grand mating ceremony. He never marked me. I never cared. Until now. Now it was obvious — this marriage wasn't my happiness. It was his way of protecting Lily. I thought I lived in love. Turned out, it was just a fake dream Sam built to shield her. Sam brushed his hand down my back. "White Rose Pack's throwing a banquet tomorrow for Lily. She's pregnant with a pup and got picked as a Chief Healer candidate. You don't have to go. I'll take a gift and come straight home to be with you" I opened my mouth. "The Chief Healer election—" Sam cut me off, voice soft but solid. "The election will wear you out. Don't join. You said you wanted a pup, right? Better to stay home and get your body ready." I shut my mouth, choking down the bitterness crawling up my throat. We'd been together for years, and I'd never carried his pup. I used to think it was fate. Now I knew better — Sam never wanted it. He didn't want me running in that election because he didn't want me in Lily's way. Again. He pulled me into his arms, clueless that my heart had already hit rock bottom. "Day after tomorrow's our five-year anniversary," he said. "Got a gift for you. But here's an early one." He handed me a bouquet of lilies. "Your favorite lilies. Happy early banniversary!" I stared at the flowers. The sweet smell I used to love now felt like a noose tightening around my throat. Every celebration, he'd given me lilies. Only now did it hit me — lilies weren't for me. They were Lily's favorite. His blessings were never mine. "Will you be with me on my banniversary?" I asked, careful. He nodded. "Of course. My Any's the most important." I looked up and smiled, meeting his adoring eyes. His act was flawless. Five years, and he never once slipped. All for Lily. That night, I couldn't sleep. When I rolled over, I accidentally knocked his wolf fang bracelet off the nightstand. I picked it up, something catching my eye. I held it closer. Each bead was carved with Lily's name. In that moment, whatever was left of my hope for Sam disappeared.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

The next morning, I told Sam, "Let's hit White Rose Pack together." His face tightened, but he smoothed it out fast. "Fine. but let's return right after we've delivered the gift." Yeah, he was freaking out I'd mess up Lily's big moment. I didn't care about her. I just needed to see my family one last time. After tomorrow, I was gone for good. At White Rose Pack, the place buzzed. Lily, draped in a ceremonial gown, soaked up the praise—pregnant with pup, flaunting it, and somehow up for Chief Healer. The pack elders beamed at her like she hung the freaking moon. "Lily made the wolfsbane antidote. No question—she's the next Chief Healer.""Amazing! Usually takes the council labs forever to crack stuff like that.""They even slapped a certificate on her. Total prodigy!" I froze at the banquet hall entrance, feet glued to the floor. Not that long ago, I'd been busting my ass with my mentor, Master Healer David, building an antidote for wolfsbane. No way this was some random fluke. My gaze

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

I smiled, calm on the outside, bleeding on the inside. Sam must've felt something shift. He hesitated, then he expression faltered briefly before he suggested, "Why don't we head out now? Find somewhere to chill?" I looked up, slapped on a bitter smile. "Let's go yachting. Night cruise. Catch the sunrise." On the drive, he kept talking like nothing was wrong. "I've got your Anniversary surprise all set. After this mess settles, let's start trying for a pup, yeah?" I didn't say a word. Just stared out the window, watching the city lights smear past like a bad memory. We pulled up to the beach just as Sam's phone lit up. He answered, voice all soft and glowing with quiet happiness. But a few seconds later, his brows pinched, and his tone slipped into something unsure. I barely glanced at him. My heart had been numb for a while now. "If you need to go, just go," I said. He wavered. "Any, I—""Go,"I cut him off gently."I'll wait on the yacht." I couldn't see the caller ID, but I didn't ne