Chapter 1: The Breakup

Five years have been nothing now that he had chosen her over me.

The full moon outside the window could have been the perfect company for me and Alpha Lucien’s anniversary dinner date had it not been for Charmaine—the Beta’s daughter who captured his heart ever since they were young. For once, I thought they were just friends. But it seems, I’m the one who looks like vying for Alpha Lucien’s attention.

My phone vibrated again. Another picture of them circulated online, this time more intimate than the one I saw earlier. I never thought I’d be spending me and my mate’s anniversary like this: staring at the picture of Charmaine and Alpha Lucien kissing her cheeks in a bright and jolly background.

The pack is becoming more involved in our relationship too, commenting with things like “Yay, Alpha Lucien and Charmaine? My dream couple!” and “Marry her already, Alpha Lucien! Dump your girlfriend somewhere and leave her be!”

I read Charmaine’s caption on her post again, every word makes me nauseous more and more. “Thank you, Alpha Lucien. You always make me the number one priority in your life!”

That says enough. Standing from my seat in the restaurant, I walked straight to the exit. After finding my car in the garage, I locked myself there like it was some semblance of a cage—as if being in a relationship with Alpha Lucien while he pampers another woman isn’t a cage enough.

My phone chimed once. It seems I haven’t really run away from the problem after all.

This time, a video showed how Alpha Lucien wasn’t ashamed of showing intimacy on camera—with Charmaine, burying his face on Charm’s lovely neck.

I heaved a deep sigh. This day...this day should be happy for me. But it was only Lucien who was happy and celebrating.

I was left here in my car crying because my boyfriend didn’t show up on our anniversary date.

I shook my head and tried to wipe my face from my tears. But the tears kept coming faster, my tongue could now taste the foulness and saltiness of Lucien’s betrayal.

I closed my eyes and I could hear Lucien’s laughter together with Charmaine’s snickering. I can hear the music and their party and their merriment.

I opened my eyes and reality slapped me: I’m never going to be happy with Alpha Lucien. He just proved it now when he chose Charmaine over me.

***

A Few Hours Ago…

“Vesta, I’ll be late for tonight’s anniversary dinner. Something unexpected came up.” His voice was void of emotions. I can almost hear him sighing heavily on the other line.

“Okay,” I replied, my voice shaking. He hung up first before I could say more.

I grip my phone at what he just said. At least he remembered that today is our anniversary.

After a day of working straight, I arrived early at the penthouse we shared, finding myself a seat next to the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the buzzing city outside with a glass of wine in my other hand.

“We’ll celebrate in the restaurant where we had our first date,” he promised last night. I shouldn’t have held on to the promises of my Alpha given that he has other priorities of his own.

An hour later and I’m now sitting on our usual seat at our favorite restaurant. I was even wearing the dress when Lucien and I became an official couple. He was my boyfriend for five years ever since we were in the pack’s college. We didn’t immediately tell the world about us, not until we graduated.

Charmaine, Alpha Lucien, and Beta Thomas have been inseparable since they were young. Friends at heart and soul, that’s their motto. Charm was the only one with no actual title, though being the oldest Beta’s daughter is perhaps a title enough.

And perhaps it was a mistake to date him and love him. As a simple Omega with no myriad of connections or fancy background, the entire pack narrowed their eyes at me as if they were disgusted that I’m dating the would-be Alpha of the Brightheart Pack.

Three years ago, he became the official Alpha. Though he never promised me to be his Luna, being with him and was enough for me.

Another hour passed, and the waiter just kept on refilling my glass with wine as I refused to order food until my mate arrived.

Every minute that ticked by, my heart was a thunderous beat in my ears. Cold sweat formed on my forehead. I was anxious that—that he wouldn’t show up again. That I will be left here hoping forward to nothing again.

My fear came true when my phone lit up. I saw who was with Lucien. I ran to my car to avoid being seen crying. I know some of the Brightheart Pack was working and dining in that restaurant. I had enough gossip already for today. I cannot be the reason for another set of gossip in the pack tomorrow.

With trembling fingers, I cleared my throat and dialed my mate’s number.

A cold, emotionless voice answered after the first ring. “What is it, Vesta? I’m attending a company dinner.”

Beyond his voice, the sounds of lively chatter and glass clinking and—is that fireworks?—made my lips curl in betrayal and anger.

“Where are you?” I asked casually as if I just didn’t cry a river for what he’d done.

“I’m at a business meeting. Party followed and dinner was served. What’s the matter?” I heard his footsteps walking towards a quieter place. I made him hear my sobbing this time. “Vesta, why are you crying?” Lucien paused and then groaned as if remembering what today was exactly. “Look. I’ll take you to a dinner date tomorrow, okay? Tonight is really busy. I promise I’ll be with you tomorrow.”

His last sentence made me punch the wheel of my car. “That’s what you said yesterday too!”

I don’t care if he got mad at my sudden outburst. Truth be told, he doesn’t sound like making up a lie but he doesn’t sound like telling the truth either.

I remember Beta Thomas once warned me about having a relationship with Lucien. Is this what he’s warning me about?

“Am I really your girlfriend or am I just some plaything to you?” I matched my voice with the coldness he usually uses.

“What kind of question is that, Vesta?”

“This doesn’t work anymore, Lucien—I can’t take it anymore!”

“What are you talking about? Are you drunk?!”

For a moment, I didn’t reply. And, as if the light from the Moon Goddess above enlightened me, I gripped my phone tighter as I said, “Let’s break up, Lucien. Let’s end our relationship here and now.”