I Was Never Your Only Choice

Night had already fallen by the time I finally returned home.

The Star Moon Pack was vast and prosperous, yet even after living here for three years, everything still felt unfamiliar.

A photo of Kaine and me still hung in the living room. He held me gently in his arms, his gaze so tender it looked like it could melt into water.

Staring at his face in the photograph, my mind drifted back to the day I first met him five years ago.

I found him at the edge of the Golden River Pack's forest, slumped against a tree, drenched in blood and barely clinging to life.

"Hey… are you alright?" I had crouched beside him and gently tapped his cheek.

He struggled to open his eyes. The first words he spoke weren't to ask who I was.

"You… wait, who am I?" he asked in confusion, glancing down at himself with a frown.

I brought him back to the Pack. The healer said he had been poisoned by silver, severely. If I hadn't found him in time, he wouldn't have made it.

Even though he survived, the injury had damaged his wolf, plunging it into a deep sleep. He lost all memories except for his name.

Kaine, once an Alpha, was now so frail that even the weakest Omega in the Pack was stronger than him.

I searched tirelessly for rare herbs to heal him.

When his wounds finally healed, he held my hand and kissed it softly.

"Thank you, Lara. You're the most important one in my life. I want to be with you."

But our relationship didn't stay a secret for long. My mother found out.

She looked at me solemnly and said, "Lara, let him go. You are my daughter, the future she-Alpha of the Golden River Pack. The Pack's next leader. How could you be with a wolf of unknown origin?"

But I remembered Kaine's eyes—so sincere, so full of trust. I remembered the day he climbed a cliff just to pluck a single Moonlight Blossom for me.

I clenched my fists. "No, Mom. I love him."

After a fierce argument, I severed ties with my family and left the Pack with Kaine.

He slowly recovered and began to recall who he truly was. He was the heir of the Star Moon Pack. The next Alpha.

I followed him to his homeland.

But from the very moment his mother laid eyes on me, she looked at me with disapproval.

"I don't approve of your relationship," she said coldly. "You're the future Alpha of our Pack. How could you be with such a plain, low-born she-wolf with no status or background?

"Since you've returned, hurry and mark Adele. It was arranged between the Alpha and his Beta's family when you were both pups."

I lowered my gaze to my toes, a bitter laugh blooming in my chest.

Back home, I was the future leader of a powerful Pack.

But here, I was nothing more than a she-wolf everyone looked down on.

After we returned to the Star Moon Pack, Kaine grew busier by the day.

He spent less time with me, and photos of him with Adele became more frequent.

I was like a trapped beast in a cage, confined to our home, forced to learn about his life through news headlines.

Late at night, he would come home and hold me close.

"I'm sorry, my love," he'd whisper. "I know this is hard on you. But please trust me. There's nothing real between Adele and me. My heart belongs only to you.

"You know I'm an Alpha now. I carry the weight of the entire Pack.

"Just… think of it as doing this for me. Once I have a pup with her and secure the Pack's next heir, I'll break the bond. Then I'll take you away from all of this. Just a little longer, alright?"

I was silent for a long time.

It wasn't the first time he'd asked. And each time, I said no.

I couldn't accept the idea of the wolf I loved being with another she-wolf.

And I knew if I revealed my true identity as the future Alpha of my Pack, I could easily claim the position of Luna. But that wasn't what I wanted.

I didn't want love that was earned through power or status. I just wanted to be the one he truly loved. Nothing more.

If being with him meant compromising that, then I would rather leave to preserve the purest part of our love deep in my heart.

At last, I looked up at him and said, "Alright. I understand."

His eyes lit up in surprise. He pulled me into his arms, repeating over and over, "Thank you, Lara. You finally understand me. I knew you'd think of me. Don't worry. Once the Pack has an heir, I'll take you far away from here."

But in my heart, I thought, 'That won't be necessary, Kaine. I've already made up my mind. I'm going to leave you.'

The next morning, I booked a flight for three days later.

That afternoon, I stepped into a restaurant, planning to grab a quiet meal, only to freeze when I spotted Kaine and Adele by the window.

He, who had always been gentle only to me, was now softly wiping the corner of her lips with a napkin.

That look in his eyes—so tender—stabbed straight through me. I could barely breathe.

Then he finally noticed me.

"Lara? What are you doing here?" he frowned. "Were you following me? I already explained everything between me and Adele. Didn't you agree yesterday not to mind it anymore?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but Adele spoke first.

"Ah, don't be so harsh to her, Kaine. Lara's just acting this way because she loves you too much." She smiled sweetly at me. "Since you're here, why don't you join us?"

Before I could refuse, she had already pulled out a chair for me and ladled a bowl of venison stew.

"Come on, try it. It's the house specialty."

I bit my lip, nausea churning in my gut.

I was allergic to venison.

I looked toward Kaine for help, but he didn't notice. He was already getting up.

"You two eat. I'll go wash up."

Only Adele and I remained at the table.

The moment he left, her polite smile vanished.

"Why aren't you eating, Lara?" she sneered. "First time at such a fancy place? Don't know how to use a fork and knife?"

She leaned in, voice dripping with mockery. "Let's be real. You're just a lowborn she-wolf. If it weren't for Kaine, you wouldn't even step foot in a place like this, would you?"

Anger flared in my chest. I looked up sharply. "Adele, you—"

But before I could finish, her hand tipped her cup.

Scalding water splashed onto my hand. I instinctively pushed her away, and the remaining water spilled onto her instead.

"What's going on?" Kaine returned.

Adele's eyes brimmed with tears as she looked up, the picture of innocence.

"I don't know… Lara offered to pour me some water, but she poured it right on my hand…"

My eyes widened. "That's not true! She—"

Kaine cut me off, his tone weary. "Enough, Lara. I don't want to argue. If there's nothing else, just go home for now. I'll take Adele to the hospital. Her injury looks serious."

And with that, he left with her in his arms.

She glanced back at me from his embrace, triumphant.

I stood frozen in place, watching them until they disappeared from view.

My burned hand throbbed with pain.

But it was nothing compared to the ache in my heart.

I knew, at that moment, I was no longer the most important person in Kaine's heart.