Leaving My Alpha in Spring

Sera's POV

I wheeled my suitcase into the airport, one arm linked through Corbin Wren's, a grin I couldn't hold back plastered across my face.

This was our first real trip together—the Maldives. Sun, sand, crystal-clear water.

"Someone's over the moon?"

Corbin tilted his head to glance at me, his tone as flat and unemotional as always. I'd long since grown used to it.

He'd never been the type of Alpha who wore his heart on his sleeve.

Back when I'd agreed to his mating proposal, my best friend had warned me straight up—Corbin was a block of solid ice. Even if I melted him down, he'd only ever turn lukewarm, never burning hot with raw passion.

"Hell yeah I'm happy." I craned my neck to meet his gaze. "This is our first trip away together, after all."

He hummed a quiet, noncommittal sound, yet his eyes kept drifting back to his phone screen every few seconds.

I brushed it off without a second thought. As the pack's heir, he was bound to have endless territory business popping up to tend to.

When we reached the airport gate counter, Corbin told me to sit and rest while he handled our boarding formalities.

I didn't argue, lingering off to the side to stare at his broad back.

He'd dressed in a pale blue button-down today, his tall, sharp frame standing out clear as day amid the crowd.

This man, starting today, would be mine for the rest of my life.

My chest flooded with sweet, giddy warmth just thinking about it.

Out of nowhere, a girl darted over and clung to Corbin, cooing softly: "Corbin!"

It was Vera Marsh.

Corbin's childhood friend, the girl next door who'd grown up right alongside him.

My heart dropped hard in my chest, and my smile faded away bit by bit.

What was Vera doing at the airport? Could it be...

"Vera? What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I'm heading out on a little trip myself, so I swung by to see you off!"

Vera batted her wide, deceptively innocent eyes, clutching a dainty little wooden box in one hand. "I brought you two a gift—moon berry preserves I made all by myself. Don't forget to try it, okay?"

As she spoke, her stare slipped past Corbin and locked onto me, a knowing, loaded smirk curling the corner of her mouth.

"Thank you."

I nodded politely and took the wooden box from her, a heavy, uncomfortable lump lodging tight in my throat.

Truth be told, I'd never liked Vera, not even from the very first time we met.

The way she looked at Corbin, the honeyed lilt of her voice, all those so-called "sudden emergencies" that conveniently pulled him away every single time we got a moment alone—every bit of it left a bitter taste stuck in my throat.

But Corbin always insisted I was overthinking it, said she was just a spoiled childhood neighbor, nothing more than a little willful brat.

"Hey, Corbin, have you checked in yet? Let me see your ticket, I'll double-check the destination for you."

Vera sidled right up to him like she owned the space.

Corbin didn't see anything odd about it either, and handed the boarding passes straight over to her.

I swallowed down the sharp irritation bubbling up inside me, forcing myself to calm down.

It's fine, I told myself.

She's only here to send us off, she'll leave soon enough.

Then our turn came to board. I handed my ticket over to the gate agent.

The agent frowned, studying it.

"Ma'am, I think you might have the wrong gate. This ticket says your destination is Switzerland."