NATHAN'S POV
"She's not in the Pack, Alpha," the messenger said while bowing his head. "She's not in the Pack?" I asked as if I hadn't heard him the first time. "Yes, Alpha. Some people said she moved out of the Pack after you banished her," he said, stating a fact that I had forgotten. I had acted irrationally, and now I think I regret it. "Alright. You may leave," I dismissed him, and he left with a bow. She left, I said to myself. "Of course, she'll leave. You used your Alpha voice on her and told her never to return," my wolf said, blaming me for the umpteenth time since that fateful day. I know; it’s my fault. I should have at least heard her out. I should have listened, just once, instead of acting in the heat of the moment. But… What if it’s true? What if she really did sleep with that person? I could feel my wolf ignoring me, silent again, leaving me stranded in my own tangled thoughts. Since the incident, he had hardly spoken to me without reminding me of my mistake. He came out just long enough to blame me for letting our mate go, for not fighting for her, for shattering the bond we shared. I felt trapped between two truths—one that Sophia was innocent and the other that she’d betrayed me. Victoria had shown me the photos: Sophia with a strange man on a bed. The picture was blurred, but I recognized Sophia’s short black hair, her fair skin, and that red dress she wore, the one I’d loved seeing her in. Rage had clouded everything else, and even though she denied it, Victoria insisted she saw her with her own eyes. Victoria is the Beta’s daughter, someone I’ve trusted since childhood. Why would she lie to me? Could she even have a reason to? I never knew Sophia would leave immediately. Yes, I banished her, but I thought she would stick around a little more, to at least prove her innocence. But she left, leaving me confused about whether to believe she did it or not. I miss her. I miss her so much. I miss her smile; I miss her sweet scent. Why did she leave? Can't she be stubborn and stay back? But what if she's guilty? What if Victoria actually saw her with someone else? What if she cheated on me just days before her coronation as Luna? "Nathan?" I heard a voice call. It was Victoria. She cat-walked towards me, swinging her waist in different directions. Victoria has always walked like a model; at one point, I thought she'd be one, but she said she had no plans of going down that line. Her dress was short and a little revealing. I wonder why she decided to dress like that today. "Victoria? Why..." I was about to ask her reason for dressing this way when she cut me short. "You look worried. What's the matter?" she asked with a concerned voice. "Nothing. I'm fine," I said, but she shook her head vehemently. "No, you're not," she said. "I'm fine, Victoria. I'm just tired," I insisted. "You're not fine, Nathan. I know you well, and I know when you're truly fine," she pushed further. Knowing Victoria, she would not stop asking until she got her answers. So I decided to confide in her. "Sophia's gone," I simply said. "To where?" she asked. "I don't know, Victoria. She left after I banished her," I said in a low tone. "Oh, great!” She said, sounding a little too pleased. "What do you mean by 'Oh, great'?" I asked, not understanding why she was happy. "Isn't that what you wanted?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean, Victoria?" "When you banished her, you indirectly told her to leave the Pack, which she did. Do I need to explain to you what it means for an Alpha to banish a pack member?" she said with irritation in her voice. "I just didn't know she'd leave so quickly," I said, and Victoria rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Don't tell me you still have feelings for that shameless woman." "She’s still my mate, Victoria," I said, my voice coming out a bit sharper than I’d intended. “No, Nathan. She stopped being your mate the moment you rejected her. You did reject her, right?” She looked at me, waiting for confirmation. I remained silent, feeling the weight of my hesitation. No one knew that I hadn’t rejected Sophia. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. "You rejected her, right, Nathan?" she asked again, but I remained silent. The whole place was quiet like no one was there. If a pin had dropped, someone would have heard. "Nathan, I'm asking you a question. Don't tell me you didn't. Nathan?" “I didn’t, Victoria. I didn’t reject her. I couldn’t bring myself to do such a thing. The banishment was enough punishment. I wasn’t even sure if she was truly guilty; I was just filled with rage when I saw the pictures,” I said as I got to my feet and began to pace. Victoria cleared her throat and started again. "You can still reject her now. You know her full name; just say the words, and it will be over between you two. Simple," she said, but I ignored her. "Nathan, are you even listening to me?" she asked. "I can't." "What do you mean by that?" "I never even gave her a chance to defend herself. What if she’s innocent?" My voice dropped, the quiet confession slipping out before I could stop it. "Are you in any way trying to call me a liar?" she asked in disbelief. "I'm not. I'm only saying I can't do what you're asking," I replied. "She cheated on you, and you saw the evidence, didn't you? I only tried to save you from a cheating partner, and you're making me look like a bad person here," Victoria said in a low voice, making me feel bad for making it seem like she lied. "I'm sorry, Victoria. All I'm saying is that Sophia might have wronged me, but I can't bring myself to reject her," I said and left her standing alone there. I could hear her groan. It made me wonder why she was so bent on me rejecting Sophia.KATE’S POVThe restaurant was dark, lit only by the dim glow of the emergency lights that hummed quietly overhead. The chairs were still flipped upside down on the tables, the floor freshly mopped. Clean and empty but quiet. Just the way it should be.Neutral too.Which, I supposed, was why I picked it. Not home, not his place. Not even a cafe where polite smiles would mask gritted teeth. Just here – where we’d once shared early mornings, whispered laughter, burnt coffee, and chaos.Where I’d watched Daniel lean against that counter and smile at me like I was the only woman in the room.Now he was already sitting there when I walked in. Jacket off, sleeves rolled up, fingers laced on the table like he’d been practicing something.When his eyes found mine, he stood. Nervous. Huh, I guess he did have such a side to him.I don't even know why I agreed to this. Or rather, initiated it. It must have been something Sophia said. Dammit. She did always have a way with words.I looked at the m
DANIEL'S POVThe couch had a permanent imprint of my body. Three days. That’s how long it had been since I last saw Kate – three days, nine texts I didn’t send, and a voicemail I still hadn’t listened to because I knew it would make me do something stupid.I stared at my phone again. Not to text. Just to look.Her name was still pinned to the top.Still marked unread.Still there.I’d told her I’d give her space. That I wouldn’t push. That I respected her enough to let her breathe.I meant it but fuck.I just didn’t realize that space would feel like being locked in a room full of memories with no door out.Her laugh when she teased me about my lopsided tie.The soft way she said my name when I surprised her with lunch.The fire in her eyes when I said something dumb and deserved to be dragged.God, I missed her.The coffee in my hands had long gone cold, but I still held the mug like it was keeping me steady. The silence in my apartment was louder than the city traffic below, and I h
SOPHIA'S POVThe late morning sun warmed the windshield as I pulled into the narrow lot behind the coffee shop, the engine ticking softly when I shut it off. The place was quiet, just as Kate liked it – low foot traffic, strong espresso, and a half decent almond croissant. Not as good as mine of course but it'll do. I understand why she wouldn't want to be at the restaurant right now. I spotted her through the glass before I even stepped inside.She sat near the back, hunched slightly over her mug, one finger circling the rim with absent precision. Her hair was twisted into a loose knot, and the bags under her eyes said she hadn’t slept much – if at all. I hesitated by the door. Kate rarely ever looked... unraveled. Reminded me about how a certain someone also looked…But I could also tell, this wasn’t just about Daniel. This was about everything.I walked in slowly, giving her a moment to notice me. She did – barely lifting her gaze, then blinking as though trying to register whethe
SOPHIA'S POVThe last time I saw Daniel look this unsettled, we were arguing over what outfit would be best for him to wear to a casual outing with a friend. He wanted to go with a hoodie and office pants and I told him that would be an absolute blunder. And even then, he still had that casual, unshakable Daniel-ness to him – smooth, charming, untouchable. That was before the whole Victoria thing happened. Things were simpler then.But now?Now, he looked like a man who’d run straight into a wall made of his own bad decisions.I stepped aside to let him in fully. He entered the foyer, casting a wary glance at Nathan, who still leaned in the doorway of the kitchen, arms crossed and expression unreadable. His presence had shifted – not threatening, but definitely not invisible. Protective and watching. I could tell he was very curious. Daniel shoved his hands in his coat pockets and turned to me, mouth opening, then closing again.“Okay,” I said, arms folding across my chest. “What hap
SOPHIA'S POVThe sun streamed lazily through the sheer curtains, golden light spilling across the bed like honey. Warmth seeped into every corner of the room, touching the pale sheets, dusting Nathan’s bare chest with a soft glow.I traced the line of his collarbone with a fingertip, light as a feather, watching his eyes flutter open beneath thick lashes. His arm tightened around my waist instinctively, pulling me closer until our bodies aligned once more, skin against skin.“Good morning.” I whispered, my voice husky with sleep and something more.His eyes found mine – stormy grey, softened now, unrushed and wholly mine. Oh beautifully mine. “I don’t think I’ve ever liked those words more.” He murmured, voice rough with satisfaction and something tender.I smiled, burying my face in the crook of his neck. His scent lingered – cedar and pine and something only Nathan could ever possess. Last night still shimmered in the air around us. My body ached in all the best ways, pleasantly sor
SOPHIA'S POVHis breath was hot against my skin.The air between us crackled, electric and alive, like a wire had snapped and all that raw, waiting energy had nowhere to go but here. Into this moment. Into us.He said my name like a promise.“Sophia…”His voice was low, rough, like he was scraping against the edges of restraint. I felt it more than I heard it, vibrating in my chest as his hands anchored at my hips, firm and unyielding. I was still sat on the kitchen table, my bare legs wrapped loosely around his waist, his body pressed into mine like we had never been apart.I looked into his eyes – those stormy gray eyes that once frightened me with how easily they could turn to ice. Now they were molten. Burning. Hungry.“You’re mine.” He said, voice like thunder wrapped in silk. “Do you know that?”My breath hitched. “Yes.”He leaned in slowly, deliberately. “Say it Sophia.”“I’m yours.”His hands tightened, just enough for me to feel the pressure of his need, of the desire he held