Chapter 2

I took half a step back on instinct.

Nicholas frowned and strode into the room, shutting the door behind him.

The space was already small. His presence made it suffocating.

"You're avoiding me."

It wasn't a question.

He stepped closer. His Alpha aura was reined in, but the pressure that lingered still made it hard to breathe.

"Is it because of last night? Or because of me and Leah?"

I forced myself to meet his eyes, keeping my voice as steady as I could.

"Neither. I'm genuinely happy for you both."

He let out a low, humorless laugh and suddenly reached out, tilting my chin up so I had no choice but to look at him.

"Genuinely? Alice, did you forget what you did at the full moon gathering on your coming-of-age? You pinned your brooch to my coat. A courting gesture. You think I didn't notice?"

"It was smart of you not to confess outright, because I would've rejected you on the spot. The Dark Moon Pack has always believed that Alpha should be with a strong she-wolf. An Omega, no matter how capable, could never be the Alpha's mate. You know that better than anyone."

He let go and glanced around my room. His gaze landed on the wooden box on my desk.

He walked over and opened it without hesitation.

Inside were all the little things I'd collected over the years. Things tied to him.

The tip of a deer antler he'd given me after a hunt.

A button that had fallen off one of his old shirts.

Even a broken pen I'd pestered him for until he gave in.

Nicholas flipped the box over, letting everything spill onto the carpet. Then he ground one of the pieces under the toe of his boot.

"Alice, I thought you were the most sensible one in this pack. But these feelings you've been holding onto? Pathetic."

"You know my mate will be someone strong. Leah is the one I need. And yet you're still hoarding these scraps like they mean something. It's sad. You realize that, don't you?"

He turned and left. The oak door clicked shut softly behind him.

I crouched down and picked up the scattered items, one by one. Then I threw them all into the fireplace.

They were broken anyway. No point keeping them.

And the feelings I shouldn't have had? Time to kill those too.

Three days later, I came back from gathering herbs in the forest and found that someone had been in my room.

The blanket my mother left me was gone.

In its place was an ordinary wool throw.

I was about to ask the servants when I overheard them whispering in the hallway.

"The Alpha really dotes on Miss Leah. One word from her and he took that beautiful blanket right off Miss Alice's bed."

So that's what happened.

I was about to go back to sorting my herbs when the door opened.

Nicholas stood in the doorway, his tone matter-of-fact.

"Leah's wolf has been unstable lately. Moonsilk has a calming effect on her, so I gave her the blanket. If you need one, you can have the butler order another wool throw."

I kept my back to him and continued organizing the herbs I'd brought back. I hummed in acknowledgment.

His footsteps drew closer. He stopped right behind me.

"Alice, you've been too quiet lately."

His voice dropped, carrying a note of warning.

"Leah may already be carrying my heir. If you do anything you shouldn't, you know what the consequences will be."

I finally turned around and met his eyes.

"Alpha, I don't have any inappropriate thoughts. I've simply come to understand my place."

"You've always wanted me to know my limits as an Omega. Now I do. You should be satisfied."

Nicholas's lips pressed into a thin line. His throat bobbed.

After a long pause, he forced out one word.

"Good."

Then he turned and left.

In the past, when he walked away angry like that, I would've chased after him. I would've explained, apologized, done anything to make him stop being upset.

Not anymore.

Three days later, I submitted a petition to the Council of Elders to live independently.

As an adult member of the pack, I had the right to leave the territory and live on my own.

The request was approved quickly—especially after Leah hinted that my presence in the castle might affect her pregnancy. The Council stamped it without hesitation.

I bought an old house with a garden in a small town near a human city down south.

The climate was warm. Herbs grew in abundance. It was quiet enough for me to live in peace.

I set my departure date for the same day as Nicholas and Leah's marking ceremony.