Three days later.
Alpha Kaidan stared at the box in his hand. Inside sat a limited-run pendant, crafted by one of the pack’s most sought-after silversmiths, the kind reserved for mates who’d earned their bonding mark. He’d bought it the day before from a jeweler two territories over, the drive there and back eating half his afternoon, though he hadn’t quite let himself examine why he’d bothered going that far for something he kept telling himself didn’t matter.
It was meant to be Naomi’s trial gift. He hadn’t gotten her anything on the actual day. Just the card, told her to buy whatever she wanted. But when no charge ever came through, he realized she hadn’t touched it. So he decided to get something himself.
"I want out of this bond."
"I want someone who actually loves me. I want pups with someone who wants them with me. And this isn’t that. This is my biggest regret."
Her words kept echoing in his head, over and over, three days later and he still couldn’t push them out. Worse, he couldn’t even name what he’d felt hearing them. Couldn’t understand why he’d gone so still with anger watching her climb out of that stranger’s car either.
The way she’d smiled at that man while waving him off. He hadn’t seen her smile like that in longer than he could remember, not directed at him, not in years. How could she think it was fine to be seen with other men while still bonded to him? Loveless bond or not, she shouldn’t have done that.
"I’m sure she’ll love it," a voice said beside him.
He blinked, pulled out of his own head, and turned to find John standing there, a folder tucked under his arm. When had he even walked in? He hadn’t heard the door.
Alpha Kaidan cleared his throat and slid the box back into its bag. John chuckled softly, shaking his head, setting the folder down on the desk with a quiet thud that seemed to pull the room back into focus.
"You know she loves whatever you get her," he said. "She’ll love this too."
"I don’t care whether she loves it," Alpha Kaidan said, keeping his face flat. "I’m only fulfilling an obligation. A trial gift, nothing more."
John studied him for a moment, his smile fading slowly into something more careful. His mouth opened like he wanted to say something, hesitated, then let out a quiet sigh instead.
"It’s been years now, sir," he started carefully. "Ever think your heart might’ve shifted somewhere along the way?"
"John..."
"What if you’re actually in love with your mate now? Not Serena?"
"Enough," Alpha Kaidan snapped.
His voice came out sharper than he meant it, sharp enough to shut the conversation down entirely. John dipped his head slightly, a silent apology, and said nothing more after that, though the words sat in the room a while longer, refusing to fully leave.
John had been at his side for over a decade now, long before Alpha Kaidan took his father’s place as Alpha. He knew him too well by now, and he also knew better than to push past a certain point.
Alpha Kaidan took a slow breath, forcing himself calm, and stood to leave. He hadn’t been himself for days, and it showed in the small things, the meetings he’d sat through without hearing a word, the reports he’d signed without reading twice.
Maybe it traced back to that night at her trial. Her face. Her tears. The devastation in her eyes. The memory sat stubbornly in his mind, refusing to fade no matter how hard he tried to shove it aside.
And for three days straight, she hadn’t looked at him, hadn’t spoken a single word to him. Like he’d stopped existing entirely in his own house. He noticed it every time he passed her in the hallway now, the careful way she angled herself just slightly out of his path.
"Heading out, John," he said, already gathering his things.
"But sir..." John started, then caught the look on Alpha Kaidan’s face and sighed instead. "Alright, sir."
He knew John was thinking about the documents still sitting untouched on the desk. But it was near end of day. It could wait until tomorrow.
The moment he stepped out toward his car, a voice called out behind him.
"Alpha Kaidan!"
Serena’s voice rang out, bright and eager, as she hurried toward him like something barely contained.
He blinked, caught off guard, wondering why she was even here. She hadn’t mentioned coming by the pack house today.
Before he could react, she threw her arms around him, pressing close in a way that immediately set him on edge, her perfume too sweet, too familiar in a way that used to comfort him and now just made his jaw tighten.
He pulled back slightly, putting a small gap between them.
"What’s wrong, Alpha Kaidan?" she asked, confusion sharpening her tone. "Why’d you pull away? Can’t I even hug you anymore?"
He sighed, rubbing at his forehead. She knew exactly how uneasy it made him whenever she held on like that, especially dressed the way she was now.
"I missed you. Is that not allowed?" she added.
There had been a time hearing that would’ve lit something up in his chest. Now it just felt wrong somehow, off in a way he couldn’t quite place, like a song he used to know the words to.
"You know you can’t do this, Serena. Have you forgotten I’m..."
"Bonded?" she cut in. "No. I haven’t forgotten."
He looked at her and caught the hurt flashing behind her eyes, the same hurt that always surfaced whenever he had to remind her of that fact.
"Why are you here?" he asked, quiet, trying to steer things elsewhere.
Her face fell further, like the question itself had wounded her.
"I’m sorry. Didn’t realize I needed a reason to see you now."
He sighed again. "That’s not what I meant."
"Four years ago you never would’ve asked me that. You used to light up whenever I surprised you," she said, voice cracking.
Then she looked straight at him.
"You’ve changed, Alpha Kaidan," she said, tears rising in her eyes.
"I haven’t..." he started weakly.
"You keep reminding me I’m not your mate, like it was somehow my fault I was taken. You told me you’d love me forever, Alpha Kaidan. And then you left me in my worst moment and ran straight into someone else’s arms." The tears spilled freely now as she spoke.
Something twisted sharp in his chest, like a blade driven straight through. She had no idea how deep the guilt still ran, how much it ate at him even now, quietly, in moments he never let anyone see.
"Serena..." he murmured.
"It’s fine," she said quickly, wiping at her face. "I understand. You did what you had to."
He swallowed hard against the lump in his throat. "Thank you."
Serena was the kindest soul he’d ever known. Endlessly considerate. He’d betrayed her by bonding with someone else on the very day they were meant to be together, believing at the time she’d abandoned him by choice.
She had every right to hate him for it. Instead, she’d forgiven him. And for that, he’d made a silent vow to always take care of her, always keep her protected, no matter what.
Even though they hadn’t ended up bonded, he’d make certain she never wanted for anything. That debt, he owed her for life.
"So where are you headed now?" she asked, pulling him back to the present.
"I... uh," he muttered, glancing down at the bag in his hand. "Heading home."
Serena’s face lit up instantly, eyes widening the moment she spotted the bag.
"Oh my goddess, Alpha Kaidan, did you get that for me?"