Chapter 2

Adrian stared at me as though he couldn't believe what he had just heard.

"You're getting married?"

His voice was quieter now, the disbelief still evident, although something else had crept into his expression—something I couldn't quite place.

I nodded. "Yes."

"To whom?"

I didn't answer immediately. Instead, I bent down, picked up my suitcase, and set it on the chair beside the bed. Adrian's eyes followed every movement, his expression growing increasingly impatient when I continued arranging my things.

"Sera, I'm asking you a question."

"I heard you."

"Then answer me."

I turned to face him. "Cassian Frost."

For several seconds, Adrian didn't react. Then he let out a short laugh, although it wasn't the warm, careless laugh I had heard downstairs. There was disbelief in it, along with something dangerously close to amusement.

"Cassian Frost?"

"Yes."

He slowly shook his head. "You can't be serious."

"I am."

Adrian walked farther into the room and closed the door behind him. The quiet click of the lock seemed strangely loud in the silence that followed.

"You expect me to believe that you're marrying Cassian Frost because your parents arranged it?"

"It's not about what you believe." I met his eyes steadily. "It's a decision I've made."

His expression hardened.

"You've been with me for eight years."

"I know."

"You've waited eight years for me."

"I know that too."

"And now, after one argument, you're telling me you're going to marry another Alpha?"

I frowned. "Tonight wasn't one argument, Adrian."

His brows drew together. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means this didn't happen tonight."

I picked up another piece of clothing and folded it carefully before placing it inside the suitcase.

"Tonight was simply the first time I stopped making excuses for you."

Adrian stared at me. I could almost see the moment he realized I wasn't going to cry, plead, or tell him that I didn't mean what I had said.

For eight years, whenever Adrian disappointed me, I had always been the one to soften the blow. If he forgot an important date, I told myself he had been busy. When he canceled our plans because of pack matters, I reminded myself that being an Alpha came with responsibilities. Whenever someone asked why he still hadn't formally claimed me, I defended him without hesitation.

He's waiting for the right time.

I had said those words so many times that eventually, I had started believing them myself.

Adrian took a slow breath.

"Sera, you're upset."

"I'm not."

"You are." He stepped closer, his voice becoming softer. "I understand why. What happened tonight shouldn't have happened. I'll talk to Mira about the cake."

I looked at him. "That's all?"

"What else do you want me to do?"

"Maybe ask if I'm all right."

His expression shifted slightly. "I know you're all right. The healer treated you."

I stared at him, trying to understand how he could say that so easily.

"That's not what I meant."

For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then Adrian sighed.

"You know I care about you."

"Do I?"

The question seemed to genuinely offend him.

"Of course you do." His voice sharpened. "We've been together for eight years. How could you possibly think I don't care about you?"

I held his gaze.

"Then why haven't you claimed me?"

Silence filled the room.

Adrian's jaw tightened before he finally looked away.

"You know why."

"No. I know the answer you've given me."

"You do."

"The time isn't right."

His eyes flickered.

"Yes."

"You've been saying that for eight years."

"There are things you don't understand."

"Then explain them."

"It's complicated."

I almost laughed. "After eight years?"

He didn't answer, and that was answer enough.

I nodded slowly. "That's what I thought."

Adrian stepped toward me. "Sera, don't do this."

"Do what?"

"Don't throw away everything we've built because you're angry."

"I'm not throwing anything away."

"You are."

"No." I shook my head. "You decided a long time ago that I could wait. I'm simply deciding that I don't want to anymore."

His expression darkened.

"So this is about the wedding."

"It's about my life."

"You really think marrying Cassian will make you happy?"

"I don't know."

The honesty seemed to catch him off guard.

"I don't know what my life with Cassian will be like," I continued. "Maybe we'll be happy. Maybe we won't. But I know what my life with you has been like."

Adrian's face tightened.

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"

I didn't answer.

He gave a short, bitter laugh. "Unbelievable. After everything I've done for you."

Before I could respond, his phone rang.

The sound cut through the room, and Adrian glanced at the screen.

Mira.

He answered immediately.

"Mira?"

I couldn't hear everything she said, but her voice carried clearly enough for me to hear the fear in it.

"Adrian, I—I don't know what to do."

His entire expression changed.

"What happened?"

"I think someone is following me."

Adrian straightened. "Where are you?"

"I'm near the eastern road. I was heading back toward the guest quarters when I noticed the same person behind me."

"Stay where you are."

His voice was firm now, carrying an urgency I hadn't heard when I was struggling to breathe.

"I'm coming."

I stared at him.

He didn't hesitate, not even for a second.

When he ended the call, he immediately reached for his jacket.

"Adrian."

He stopped and looked back at me.

"You can go."

"I need to make sure she's safe."

I almost smiled at the irony.

A few minutes ago, I had been struggling to breathe because of something that could have killed me. He hadn't left the celebration. He hadn't even come after me.

Now Mira was frightened, and he was already preparing to cross the entire territory to reach her.

"Of course," I said.

Something in my voice made him frown.

"Sera, don't start this again."

"I'm not starting anything."

"You know I have a responsibility to protect everyone in my pack."

"She's a rogue."

Adrian's expression hardened.

"Exactly. She doesn't have anyone else."

I stared at him.

"And I do?"

He went still.

The question hung between us, and for once, Adrian didn't have an immediate answer.

I looked down at my suitcase.

"You have always told me that being an Alpha means having responsibilities. I understood that. I never asked you to abandon your pack for me."

I swallowed before looking back at him.

"But tonight, Adrian, I needed you."

His expression softened slightly.

"And you didn't come."

"I didn't realize how serious it was."

"You saw me choking."

He fell silent.

"You saw me unable to breathe, and you told me I was making everyone uncomfortable."

Something flickered across his face. Regret, perhaps, but it came too late.

I looked away.

"Go."

He didn't move.

For one brief moment, I wondered if he would finally stay. Maybe he would realize what was happening and put his jacket down. Maybe he would finally tell me that none of this mattered because I mattered more.

Maybe, after eight years, he would finally choose me.

Adrian stood there for several seconds, his phone still in his hand. Then he glanced toward the door.

And walked away.

I heard his footsteps fade down the hallway. A moment later, the front door opened and then closed.

He was gone.

I stood beside my suitcase, listening to the silence he had left behind.

My wolf stirred inside me.

He already chose.

I closed my eyes.

For years, I had argued with that voice. I had defended Adrian even when there was no one left to defend him to. But this time, I couldn't.

She was right.

Adrian had chosen Mira long before tonight. Perhaps tonight was simply the first time I had stopped pretending otherwise.

I sat on the edge of the bed and pulled my suitcase toward me.

For years, I had imagined the day I would leave Adrian. In those fantasies, I always cried. I imagined myself begging him to stop me, while he finally realized what he had done and said the words I had waited eight years to hear.

Stay.

I choose you.

You're my mate.

But now that the moment had finally arrived, there were no tears. Only a strange, almost peaceful emptiness.

I opened the wardrobe and began taking out my clothes. The dresses Adrian had bought me stayed behind, as did the jewelry he had given me and the photographs of us tucked inside the drawer.

I didn't want any of them.

They belonged to the woman who had spent eight years waiting for Adrian Blackthorne to make her his Luna.

I wasn't that woman anymore.

When I finished packing, I stood in the middle of the room and looked around one last time.

Tomorrow, I would leave the Blackthorne Pack.

And this time, I wouldn't be waiting for Adrian to come after me.