No Longer Theirs
I'm the only daughter of the Alpha King.
My father's always been swamped with pack affairs, so I grew up in Howler, raised among the wolves there.
The Alpha of Howler had two sons, and they were my shadows growing up.
Logan was gentle and doting. Derek was wild and electric.
They both pursued me, adored me, fought for my attention in ways that made every wolf in the pack green with envy.
I thought I'd choose one of them as my mate someday. I really did.
Then Rose showed up.
She was beautiful. A gifted healer. Capable in ways I never was.
When Derek came back wounded from a skirmish, Rose was the one stitching him up. When Logan got buried in pack business, Rose was right there beside him, smoothing out every problem like it was nothing.
Logan started singing her praises in front of me, always finding ways to mention how I wasn't mature enough, not independent enough, not enough.
Derek promised me a gift once. He gave it to Rose instead.
And the night I nearly died during my first shift? They were both with Rose. Because she had a scratch.
They had their red rose. They didn't need their faded moon anymore.
So I left. Went back to my father, the Alpha King.
I told myself it was over. That we shouldn't have any ties. But then why—why did they beg me to come back?