Chapter 5

For the next week, my phone was flooded with notifications.

Soren’s social media had blown up.

A photo of him lying in bed at a luxury resort in the Rockies, Zarya sitting beside him, peeling an apple.

A photo of him in a hot spring, Zarya waiting by the pool with a towel ready.

A photo of him undergoing an energy scan, Zarya holding his hand tightly.

Every picture had the same caption: “Thank you, Zarya, for taking such good care of me. I’ve never felt so safe.”

He even posted a few vague statuses, hinting that he was suffering from undeserved misunderstandings but was willing to endure it all for his Alpha’s happiness.

I didn’t need to read the comments to know what they would say.

“The Alpha is so good to him.”

“This is what true love looks like.”

“What about the Head Mate, Rhys? We never see him.”

“I hear he’s busy with his career.”

I turned off my phone and continued packing.

On the third day, I drove to my parents’ house.

“Rhys?” my mother said, surprised, as she opened the door. “What are you doing here?”

“I need to talk to you both.”

In the living room, my father put down his newspaper and looked at me.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m going to Europe.”

“For a vacation?”

“For work. The Laureate Healers Guild invited me to a research project.” I took a deep breath. “I might be gone for a long time.”

My mother’s face fell. “What about your ceremony?”

“It’s been postponed.”

“Postponed?” My father frowned. “Why?”

“Zarya has some things to take care of,” I said, trying to sound calm. “We decided it would be better to do it later.”

My parents exchanged a look.

"Rhys." My mother's hand covered mine. Her voice was gentle, but her eyes were steel. "Don't lie to your mother. I can see the ghost in your eyes. What did she do to you?"

I closed my eyes. “It’s nothing, Mom. I just want to learn more while I’m still young.”

“Does Zarya agree?”

“She’s very supportive of my career.”

Another lie.

My father was silent for a long time before finally nodding. “If it’s for your career, we support you.”

“But you have to stay in touch,” my mother said, her eyes welling up. “Take care of yourself.”

After leaving my parents’ house, I texted Cole.

“Can you come help me pack?”

An hour later, Cole was at my apartment door.

“God, what happened here?” he asked, staring at the empty living room.

“I’m moving.”

“Moving where?”

“Switzerland.”

Cole just stared at me. “Okay. Spill. What the hell did she do?”

I told him everything.

From Zarya’s demand to mark Soren, to the diagnostic report, to the canceled trip to the Moon Spring.

When I finished, the room was dead silent.

Cole’s knuckles were white where he gripped his knees. When he finally looked at me, his face was thunderous. “That bitch,” he spat.

“She has her reasons.”

“What reasons? A life debt?” Cole stood up and paced. “Even if she owed him her life, she had no right to trample all over you like this!”

“Cole—”

“No!” He shot to his feet, pacing like a caged wolf. “I can’t listen to this. Does she not remember the Blood Moon? Five years ago, when you tore your own soul in half to save her from those rogues? You almost died for her, Rhys! And she repays you by choosing him?”

I turned my face away and said nothing.