Chapter 4

Selene put on a shy little act, glancing at me from the corner of her eye before turning to Alpha Roger.

“Alpha Roger, you know Alpha Nick and I grew up together. We've always had feelings, even if we’ve broken up a few times.”

“It was impulsive of me to end things last time. But this time, I want to confess seriously. I want us to get back together. Will you help me?”

If it were the old me, I might’ve jumped up and said, “Impossible! He’s my Alpha!”

But now, I simply smiled—faint, indifferent.

I had already survived a marriage without blessing, without bond resonance, without even a whisper from our wolf souls.

I knew very clearly—Alpha Nick did care about her. He might not admit it aloud, but there was a primal compatibility between them. Maybe that was what others called being fated mates.

“No.”

Aris cut in sharply from the depths of my mind.

“Fate isn’t about instinct. It isn’t Alpha lust. It’s the merging of spirits, the moonlit link between wolf souls. If you’ve never felt Selene’s wolf, it’s because she doesn’t have the right to stand in that bond. She’s a thief. Not fate.”

“Of course,” Alpha Roger said easily. “Come on—who hasn’t noticed Nick still has feelings for you? If you confess, he’s bound to say yes.”

The triumphant gleam on Selene’s face was clearly meant for me. She even raised an eyebrow slightly, as if to say, “See? You were never the one.”

I remained still. No emotion. Only a strange sense of clarity rising in me.

Two days later, Alpha Roger and Nick’s friends organized a dramatic “crisis confession” scene—whitewater rafting in the Northern Highlands.

The scenery was beautiful. The river was fierce. The kind of setting where Alphas could show off their strength and protective instincts.

I hadn’t planned to go in the water. I can’t swim. But Selene grabbed my arm.

“Leona~ We’re sisters, aren’t we? Just once! I’m scared to go alone—you wouldn’t let me shiver in the raft by myself, would you~?”

“She’s baiting you.”

Aris’s voice dropped into a deadly chill.

“She knows you can’t swim. She also knows exactly where the deepest bend in the current is. Don’t fool yourself—this isn’t innocence. It’s intent.’

The raft surged downstream. Selene clung to Alpha Nick the entire way, her nails digging into his skin like she was trying to brand him with her Alpha’s authority.

Alpha Roger, knowing exactly what was happening, stayed beside me and gave my shoulder a friendly pat. “Don’t worry, I’ve got you.”

But just as we were nearing the rapids, Selene suddenly turned—and threw herself at me, feigning a loss of balance.

I wasn’t ready. The raft jerked violently.

Before Alpha Roger could react, I was hurled into the freezing water.

As I plunged into the river, I clearly heard her whisper:

“Oops. Sorry, Leona.”

She did it on purpose.

Cold water flooded my nose and throat. I struggled, desperate, unable to stay afloat.

I saw Alpha Nick dive in after us. A spark of naive hope flared in my chest.

I reached out—maybe he’d see me. Maybe he’d pull me to safety.

But I watched, with horrifying clarity, as he swam right past me. Straight toward Selene.

Leona. What are you still hoping for?

“You saw it, didn’t you?”

Aris growled, a snarl scraping across my thoughts.

“You are not his first choice. You never were. You were just a convenient Omega—never his Luna. Never his match. Never his fate.”

I stopped struggling.

Thank the Moon, Alpha Roger dove in and pulled me out in time.

I collapsed on the shore, soaked and shaking, gasping for air.

Alpha Roger gave my shoulder a gentle pat. “Don’t dwell. The confession scene’s ready. Come on, let’s watch the fun.”

I stood up, head still spinning—not just from water, but from that voice, that whisper: “Oops. Sorry, Leona.”

Selene wanted to hurt me.

She wanted me gone. Out of the way. So, she could monopolize every bit of Alpha Nick’s attention. His guilt. His comfort.

And I—

I had no words.

On the lawn, the pack’s friends had arranged a massive heart of flowers, filled with shared memories: handwritten letters, photos, holiday gifts, birthday tokens.

Alpha Nick stood in the center, dripping wet, staring blankly at it all.

Selene, bouquet in hand, walked toward him, eyes shining with tears.

A breeze passed across the lake. The surface rippled—and so did something inside me.

“If you turn away now, I won’t blame you.”

Aris’s tone had softened.

“But if you stay—if you watch this—then do it for yourself. Clap for your own freedom.”

People shouted, “Say yes! Be with her!”

I clapped too. Loud and bright.

“Say yes! Be with her!” I cheered.

Alpha Nick turned sharply toward me, shock twisting his face.

“Leona, are you insane? Have you forgotten you’re my—”

“No, Alpha Nick.”

I cut him off gently, clearly.

“I, Leona, rejected you, Alpha Nick, as my mate.”

“Our bond died the moment you swam past me.”