Chapter 2

“You’re really doing it? Caleb, I’ve waited three whole years for this day!”

On the screen, the face of Marcus, the usually stone-cold Alpha of the Blackpeak Pack, was lit up with pure joy.

“This is your seventh invitation, Marcus,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “The first six times, I turned you down. For Silvermoon Ridge. For Rowan. But this time, I’m saying yes.”

“Give me two days, tops. I’ll arrange the highest-level private transport!” Marcus slammed his hand on his desk in excitement. “I’ll be there to greet you myself! Those fools at Silvermoon Ridge have no idea. They just lost the greatest strategic mind on the continent!”

Bang!

The study door was thrown open.

It was 8 PM.

Rowan should still have been at headquarters, “handling business” with her Omega scribe, Finn.

She was home early.

She swept in wearing an expensive black coat, bringing the night’s chill with her. And something else. The faint, but unmistakable, scent of an Omega.

“Blackpeak? Who’s going to Blackpeak?”

She’d caught those two words, her blue eyes narrowing dangerously.

But I didn’t even need to answer.

In the next second, her attention had already shifted.

She brushed right past me. She crouched, yanked open the safe, and pulled out two black, gold-embossed invitations.

My blood ran cold.

The high-power banquet for the Eastern Alpha Council.

In pack tradition, it was the ultimate arena for an Alpha to display their strength. They had to attend with their strongest, most trusted mate, showing all allies and enemies that they were untouchable.

And now, she was clutching the two invitations that should have been for us.

What stung more was the date printed in the bottom right corner: Yesterday.

“Finn helped me organize the archives for the new territory this afternoon. He worked so hard.” Rowan didn’t even look at me. She was talking fast, stuffing the invitations into her handbag. “As a reward, I’m taking him to this banquet tonight so he can see how things work.”

I just stood there, watching her back, the whole thing felt like a sick joke.

She got the invitations yesterday. It was all planned.

And she was using a flimsy excuse about him “helping out this afternoon” to try and brush me off.

She was stripping me of my title as her mate, letting an Omega who couldn’t even control his own scent take my place on the most important night of power.

My heart seized. A raw, physical pain tore through our mate bond.

My eyes started to burn.

But I clenched my jaw so hard it ached, swallowing the pathetic sting down.

Cold logic took over. I didn't even have the energy to call out her lie.

“Rowan.” I stared at her back, my voice flat. “Do you remember what day it is?”

Rowan, who had been rushing out, stopped dead in her tracks.

She turned around, her brow knitted together, her blue eyes filled with irritation.

“Caleb, are you ever going to let this go?” Her voice rose. She sounded so impatient. “I already told you, the Moonstone is being prepared! Are you really starting a fight over a damn rock right now?”

I just looked at her, at that beautiful, furious face.

Today was our Bonding Anniversary.

She’d completely forgotten.

In her mind, my question was just a mate whining because he didn’t get his gift.

“I still have to change. Finn’s waiting for me in the car downstairs. It’s his first time at an event like this, he’ll be scared.”

Rowan glanced at her watch, her voice urgent.

When she talked about Finn, her eyes filled with this smug vanity, the look of an Alpha Female who loved being needed. It was practically overflowing.

She was high on it. And me? I was too strong. So strong that I was just an inconvenience.

“Fine.” I managed a smile that held no warmth. “Go.”

Rowan blinked.

She clearly hadn’t expected me to back down so easily. A flicker of guilt, of regret, crossed her face.

“You should get some rest,” she said, turning to leave.

“Rowan, wait.” I called out to her one last time.

She stopped short, turning back with a wary look in her eyes.

"Bring me some roasted venison from the east side tonight. Like we had after our first hunt." I looked her straight in the eye. "I won't be sleeping. There's something important I need to tell you. In person."

A flash of annoyance crossed her face. But to get out the door to her Omega, she agreed without a second thought.

“Got it!”

The door slammed shut.

She couldn’t stand to be here one second longer.

The huge estate fell silent.

I walked slowly back to the study and sat down at the desk.

On the screen, Marcus had already sent the arrival details for Blackpeak and a top-level security code.

I stared coldly at the blinking cursor.

Two whole months.

I had been so excited for our anniversary. I’d looked forward to the Moonstone healing my old wounds. I’d looked forward to standing by her side at that banquet as her Beta, ready to dominate.

Now, all of it was gone.

But when I put a hand on my chest, I didn't feel the soul-crushing agony I expected.

There was only the cold, hard logic that comes after your heart has finally given up.

I didn’t care anymore.

It didn’t matter how good the venison she brought back was, or what excuses she came up with. It was all meaningless.

After our talk tonight, I’d be on that plane.

I looked out the black window, a cruel smile on my lips.

From now on, Rowan and I were nothing to each other.

The Alpha potential I lost. The dignity she trampled on. The throne I handed her myself.

Once I get to Blackpeak, I’m taking back everything that’s mine.