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Chapter 1
The moment I decided to leave Alpha Waldo, I
made four bold decisions.
First, I posted all the expensive gifts he’d given
me online–for free.
“LV bags, slightly scratched by rage–yours if you cover shipping.”
“Hermès bags,..
་་
Second, I sold the apartment we’d bought “for
our future” at a fraction of its worth. A bargain, considering it reeked of betrayal and his wolf’s overpowering cologne.
Third, I shredded the million–dollar wedding
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gown he’d never see me wear. I heard the designer cried, but not as much as I did the night I caught Waldo nuzzling his childhood sweetheart, Alanna Saunders, under a full
moon.
Finally, I erased myself from his world. I enrolled in The Shadowcrown Pack’s Special Forces Project, a top–secret initiative so hush–hush that even mentioning its name could get a wolf exiled. Ten years of grueling training, severed
ties, and zero contact with the outside world. A
dream for someone with nothing left to lose.
By the time Alpha Waldo meticulously planned his “perfect” proposal, I was already decide
gone.
He didn’t realize it, but with every whispered
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lie and every night he didn’t come home, I was quietly packing my bags.
He must’ve noticed my growing indifference, though, because one evening, while he “worked late,” he finally asked, “Why don’t you get angry anymore? Don’t you love me anymore?”
I didn’t answer. What could I say? That my wolf and I were done howling over him? Instead, his phone chimed with a voice note from Alanna.
“Oh, Waldo, I miss you already! Don’t forget to bring the special wine tomorrow night–it’s my favorite!”
And just like that, my wolf growled her agreement. It was time to leave.
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I made the call–calmly confirming my participation in the decade–long The Shadowcrown Pack’s Special Forces Project.
“Valerie Rogers, are you absolutely certain?” my supervisor’s voice was grave over the phone.
“This is a top–secret project, Valerie. Once you enter, you might never be able to leave or
contact anyone outside again.”
His tone softened, and he added seriously, “You’re my brightest student. I have to ask you to think this through carefully.”
I stood outside à bridal boutique, watching Alanna twirl in the wedding dress I had spent months designing and commissioning.
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She stood next to Alpha Waldo, their faces pressed close as they posed for photos. He mimicked the veil–lifting kiss–a trend he
must’ve seen online.
A sharp pang struck my chest, but it faded quickly, leaving only an emptiness in its wake.
“I’m sure, supervisor,” I replied, my voice steady. “I’m an orphan with no family or ties. It’s an
honor to serve The Shadowcrown Pack. What
more could I want?”
Then, as if to twist the knife deeper in my
heart, Waldo’s smug grin as he slipped my engagement ring onto Alanna’s finger nearly sent my wolf into a frenzy.
She whimpered softly, but I soothed her. “Not
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She stood next to Alpha Waldo, their faces
pressed close as they posed for photos. He mimicked the veil–lifting kiss–a trend he
must’ve seen online.
لم
A sharp pang struck my chest, but it faded quickly, leaving only an emptiness in its wake.
“I’m sure, supervisor,” I replied, my voice steady.
“I’m an orphan with no family or ties. It’s an
honor to serve The Shadowcrown Pack. What
more could I want?”
Then, as if to twist the knife deeper in my heart, Waldo’s smug grin as he slipped my engagement ring onto Alanna’s finger nearly sent my wolf into a frenzy.
She whimpered softly, but I soothed her. “Not
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now, girl,” I murmured. “We’ll get our revenge by living our best lives–far away from him.”
My supervisor exhaled with relief. “I’ll arrange everything on my end. It’s urgent, so they’ll pick you up in a week. Use this time to settle your affairs. Don’t leave anything unresolved.”
I ended the call just in time to hear Alanna squeal, “Waldo, you’re amazing! I love this dress
so much!”
The nerve. She spun around in my
ten-million–dollar custom gown, a one–of–a–kind masterpiece I’d designed myself. Waldo stroked her hair as if she were a prize–winning pup, not the scheming she–wolf she truly was.
“It’s just a dress,” he said gently. “As long as
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you’re happy.”
“What if Valerie sees?” Alanna asked coyly, glancing at the entrance.
When Waldo spotted me, his face froze for a fraction of a second before he recovered. “Be a good girl,” he told Alanna, lowering his voice. “Take it off and let Valerie try it on.”
“But it’s so pretty!” she whined, clutching the fabric, clearly reluctant to part with the gown.
“Don’t be silly. You’ll have your own dress one day,” Waldo said, pinching her cheek playfully.
“But who could ever compare to you, Alpha Waldo?” she purred.
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2
I crossed my arms, leaning against the doorframe. “Don’t mind me. I’m just here for the show. Ten points for the kiss pose earlier–very convincing.”
Waldo flinched, and Alanna froze like a deer caught under headlights.
“Val, this isn’t what it looks like,” he started.
“Oh, really? Because it looks like you’re shopping for wedding dresses with your childhood friend. Did you forget to tell her I was standing right here?”
Worried I might confront Alanna, Alpha Waldo turned to me, offering a flimsy excuse.
“She’s just playing a wedding game, okay?” he
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mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper. “Don’t get upset, alright?”
If this had been the old me, I would have exploded–arguing, shouting, maybe even ripping that dress apart just to make sure no one else could wear it. But with my departure only a week away, what was the point? Sometimes, silence was the loudest protest.
For the first time, I wasn’t angry. I was free.
