Chapter 2

That afternoon, I slipped away from home and dropped off my application to break ties with the pack.

The middle-aged Beta handling the paperwork looked up, shock written all over his face.

"Claire, you're actually leaving? I thought you'd be the last one to ever leave. People always said you were as important to Darren as Miss Betty, that you'd stick by him no matter what..."

I smiled faintly. "Yeah. I used to believe that too."

I had been by Darren's side for five years, through his lowest lows and his highest highs.

Every night, he would tenderly bite my shoulder and murmur close to my ear.

"Claire, I'm so lucky you're with me."

However, I was not the only Omega by his side.

With my hands balled into fists, I looked the middle-aged Beta straight in the eye. "That's right, I'm leaving."

He sighed deeply. "I don't know what went down, but I'll respect your choice."

I thanked him with a smile and headed for the door.

That was when my phone buzzed to life.

It was a message from Betty.

There was Darren, eyes shut, snoozing on her shoulder in the photo with a caption attached.

[He treated me so well last night, I left him a hickey as a thank-you. If that bothers you… that’s not really my problem.]

Just to make sure I saw it, she had sent it directly to me too.

That was not the first time Betty had taunted me like that.

She always pulled stunts like that every time Darren stood me up for the crowning ceremony.

I used to confront Darren like a madwoman.

However, he would always defend her.

"She's just a fling during the heat season. You're my true Luna. Betty's just pulling your leg. Don't you think she's kind of adorable?"

Darren knew I was head over heels for him, and that I would stick around no matter what. That was why he never held back when it came to breaking my heart.

It felt like one big, cruel joke.

Out of nowhere, someone shouted.

"Betty's here!"

I glance up to see Betty strutting into Darren's room, her stiletto boots clicking with each step, the picture of grace. As the curtains closed behind her, she flashed me a smug grin that screamed 'I win'.

I just looked down silently.

There was a time when Darren's room was my exclusive territory.

He would pin me against the window, his hands all over me, and tease, "Do you think people outside will think we're going at it?"

He would shiver with laughter, stroking my hair, and make grand promises. "I'll give you the most epic crowning ceremony ever, so the whole world knows you're my Luna."

I bought every word.

However, three years on, I became the punchline of a very bad joke.

Darren's forgotten every promise he ever made.

Me? I played the fool 98 times too many.

I looked up at the tangled shadows in Darren's room and could not help but laugh.

I would not be a fool any longer. I was not sticking around.

The wolf inside me would not hurt anymore.