Chapter 3

At seven in the morning, Lucas's side of the bed was already empty.

I was making breakfast in the kitchen when I heard the front door click shut.

He left without even saying goodbye.

Today we were supposed to finalize the design for our mating marks.

The permanent mating ceremony required a custom tattoo to seal our bond.

Our appointment was at two in the afternoon.

At eleven-thirty, Lucas called.

"Sophie, are you there yet?" he asked, his voice impatient.

"Not yet. The appointment is for two."

"Can you go early? I have something to take care of."

I checked the time. "What is it?"

"Just some pack business. You go on ahead, I'll be there soon."

He hung up.

I sat on the sofa and idly opened Instagram.

Lucas rarely posted, but his account had an update today.

Strangely, I couldn't see the new post.

I switched to my backup account—the one he didn't know about.

A photo appeared on the screen.

Lucas and Willow were in a tight embrace, his face pressed against her neck, their scent glands almost touching.

The photo was beautiful, with a golden light bathing them both.

The caption read: "My wolf has found his true mate."

Posted at 6 AM this morning.

So he had left in the middle of the night.

My hands started to tremble, but I kept scrolling.

There were tons of likes and even more comments.

All from friends in the pack, congratulating them on "finally getting together."

No one mentioned me.

It was like I never existed.

At one-fifty, I arrived at the tattoo studio.

Lucas was already there, discussing a design with the artist.

"Sophie's here," he said, not even bothering to look up from the sketch. "We can start."

Carlos was the most famous tattoo artist in the pack, specializing in bonding marks.

He looked a little confused.

"Lucas, this design..." Carlos held up the sketch. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure," Lucas said, handing the drawing to me. "Sophie, see if you like it."

I took the sketch and froze.

This wasn't the design we had agreed on.

Our original design was supposed to have my Omega symbol and his Alpha mark intertwined, symbolizing our bond.

But now, my symbol had been replaced with an elegant family crest.

The Black family crest.

Willow's family crest.

"What is this?" my voice was quiet.

Lucas avoided my gaze. "I thought this would be more meaningful. The Black family is very important to my pack."

Carlos cleared his throat awkwardly. "Sorry, Lucas. But this design… it looks like you're bonding with an heir of the Black family, not with Miss Sophia."

"It's fine," Lucas said coldly. "Sophia doesn't mind. Right, Sophie?"

I held the drawing, studying the intricate details of Willow's family crest.

It was a beautiful design.

Every detail was perfect.

"Did Willow design this?" I asked.

Lucas nodded. "She's very talented."

"When did she design it?"

"Last night," he paused. "This morning."

I put down the drawing, pulled out my phone, and opened my backup Instagram account.

"You were with her last night, you posted a picture together this morning, and now you want to tattoo her family crest on me."

I held the phone out to him. "Lucas, did you really think I wouldn't see it?"

Lucas's face went pale when he saw the photo on the screen.

Carlos took the hint and discreetly walked away.

"Sophie, it's not what you think..."

"What is it not?" I pulled my phone back. "That you weren't pressing your scent glands together? That you didn't say you found your true mate?"

Lucas opened his mouth but said nothing.

"Or is it not that you want to tattoo her family crest on my body?"

"The design... Willow was just trying to help..."

"Help?" I scoffed. "Help erase every trace of me from this relationship?"

Suddenly, Lucas froze, his eyes going distant.

A mind-link.

He took the call, his voice so gentle it made me want to throw up. "What's wrong?... What? Your heat came early?... Okay, okay, I'm on my way."

He ended the call and turned to me. "Sophie, we'll have to do the tattoo another day. Willow needs me."

"Needs you for what?"

"Her heat started early. She needs an Alpha's scent to stabilize her." Lucas was already gathering his things. "A pureblood's heat is dangerous. I can't let her go through it alone."

"And what about me?"

"You?" Lucas stopped and looked at me. "What's wrong with you?"

"I'm your mate. Our permanent marking ceremony is tomorrow."

"The ceremony can be postponed," Lucas said impatiently. "Sophie, you need to be more understanding. Willow's situation is more urgent than yours."

"Why? Because she's a pureblood?"

"Because she needs me!" Lucas suddenly snapped, his Alpha aura flooding the room. "This is a pureblood’s heat!" Lucas snarled… "It’s nothing like your mild ones. You have no idea what she’s enduring!"

He unleashed his Alpha command, a crushing wave of power and stormed out, not even finishing his sentence.

I stood there, the weight of his presence pressing down on me, long after he was gone.

Then, on legs that felt like they might give out, I pulled out my phone and called a cab.