Chapter 3

If this were the past, I would have argued with him to prove my worth.

But now, I didn't even have the energy to speak to him. I just wanted to go to sleep.

I gave him a dismissive nod.

"I get it. She’s a valuable asset to the pack. She deserves the reward."

"And I'm not picking on her. I just don't like wearing necklaces."

Ethan stared at me, trying to read my expression. Seeing that I genuinely didn't look angry, he seemed surprised. It took him a moment to speak.

"Good. I'm exhausted from dealing with pack matters. I don't want to come home to fights. I'm glad you're finally being reasonable."

He paused, looking at me with a strange expression.

"You didn't actually think something was going on between Olivia and me this afternoon, did you? Is that why you're acting like this?"

I remained silent, which he took as confirmation.

His face instantly hardened with impatience. He tugged at his tie, his voice dripping with irritation.

"How many times do I have to tell you? Olivia and I are strictly professional. When are you going to stop this drama? You're constantly suspicious. Aren't you tired of this? Because I am!"

His words made my mind drift back.

I remembered when we first started dating. Ethan had held my hand on the balcony of the pack manor, pointing to the territory below, telling me we would build our future here together.

Back then, the pack was just getting stable. He was busy, but he always made time to have breakfast with me. He would drive to pick me up when I worked late, and we would spend weekends watching the sunrise in the forest.

I really thought we would make it.

But somewhere along the way, everything changed.

He started complaining that I asked too many questions, that I was too involved, that my presence in his office was "distracting." I blamed it on his heavy workload, so I learned to be quiet. I stopped asking questions. I pretended to be asleep when he came home late.

But my silence didn't make him appreciate me. It only made him push the boundaries further.

It started with Olivia staying in his office past midnight. Then, it was him standing next to her instead of me at the pack gala. While everyone whispered about whether the Alpha had found a new Luna, I was still making excuses for him.

I kept telling myself he wasn't always like this.

I was desperately trying to survive on the crumbs of his past love.

But this afternoon in the study, the illusion finally shattered.

It made me realize that the Ethan I loved had died three years ago.

Now, walking away was my only option.