The Final Three Days of Us

Blake Cartman thought I was head over heels for him. He hurt me over and over, completely forgetting that we were only bonded by a mating contract, and that the contract was about to expire.

Right after Blake announced Wendy Lowe's new title, she leaned into him all coy and smug.

When I walked up, Wendy flipped her hair, flashing that diamond ring that symbolized the Luna title. Her eyes were full of smug satisfaction, and she was clearly trying to provoke me.

But I wasn't angry. I handed her the itinerary for tonight's pack event and walked out of the hall without a second glance.

After all, Blake and I were just bonded by a three-year contract. And now that it was ending and he'd found someone else to take my place, I felt nothing but relief.

Back at the house we shared, I started packing.

Three years had gone by in a blur. I stared at the wall covered in photos from the past 18 pack events I'd planned. I felt a little dazed.

I was Blake's fated mate, but he never wanted me. For the sake of the pack's stability, he made a three-year agreement with me.

The day we signed the mating contract, he looked at me with a strange expression and said calmly, "I don't understand why you're my fated mate. Your status is clearly beneath me. But this is the Moon Goddess' will, and I can't go against it.

"So, Clara, I need us to be together temporarily to stabilize the pack. We'll end it in three years."

As an Omega, being able to contribute what I could to the pack made me happy, so I nodded without hesitation.

From that day on, Blake taught me many things and personally guided me. "Even if you're just an Omega, as my fated mate, you need to learn how to handle the pack's affairs."

Back then, he'd check in on my progress every day. But somewhere along the way, he stopped asking.

Because of my status, Blake never wanted to be seen with me at events. However, he still had to go through the motions.

Hence, what should've been a joint effort became my sole responsibility. I handled every detail of every event.

I didn't want to waste his guidance, and I appreciated the chance to contribute to the pack, so I started prepping three months in advance every time to ensure everything went smoothly.

I double-checked everything, from the type and placement of the flowers to the selection and preparation of the food. Then there was the guest list, the venue, and the flow of the event.

Blake once told me that for the last event before our contract ended, I could plan it however I liked.

So for the 19th pack event, I designed everything based on my own taste. I even made a video of our memories to mark the end of our time together.

But when I arrived at the venue, everything had already been changed.

My favorite white roses were replaced with bold red ones, and the tablecloths were switched to match. Meanwhile, the video I'd worked so hard on had been replaced with footage of Blake and Wendy being all sweet and loving.

I thought I wouldn't care. I was about to leave, after all. But when I thought about that video, I couldn't hold back the tears.

It had all our rare moments together over the last three years.

There was footage of Blake patiently training me under the moonlight, our first hunting trip when he protected me, and the first time he gave me a birthday gift.

When I thought of all that and as I watched what was supposed to be my farewell turn into their celebration, my chest ached.

I wondered if Blake even remembered that this was the last event I would ever plan for the pack.

While he was getting cozy with Wendy, did it ever cross his mind that we still had three days left before the contract ended and our bond officially broke?

Back in my room, I looked at the photos of the 18 events I'd planned. They were proof of my effort and my memories.

I took them down one by one. Right after I tore down the last photo, Blake reached out through the mind-link.

His tone was sharp and accusatory. "You did this on purpose, didn't you? This itinerary is way too complicated. I can't make any sense of it! Wendy is at a total loss!"

I was speechless. Still, I figured I should take responsibility, so I calmly said, "Do you want me to come back and run it?"

He went quiet for a while. "Forget it. Just stay where you are."

And that was the end of that.

Before I could finish packing, Blake stormed into the house. "Not making you the Luna was the best decision I ever made! Walking out halfway through your duties is not a Luna acts!"

He yanked at his tie in frustration, and I caught a glimpse of scratch marks on his chest.

Right then, Wendy walked in, looking all pitiful.

"Blake, your suit got dirty. I brought you a new one. It's my fault that I didn't know the event itinerary well enough…"

Blake's expression softened immediately with affection. "It's not your fault. It's Clara's. Why'd she make the itinerary so complicated?

"If it weren't for you handling all those guests tonight, I don't know how it would've turned out."

Then he turned to me furiously. "Clara, don't you think you owe me an explanation? After you hit a snag, you just ditched us and left Wendy to clean up your mess. Thank God, Wendy managed it. If she hadn't, the whole thing would've been a disaster!"

I just shrugged and said calmly, "My bad."

He looked stunned, like he hadn't expected that reaction from me. He stammered for a second, but he had nothing else to say.