Kaidon’s rejection. His betrayal. It was all too much to bear. But what hurt the most was knowing that I would always come second to Elara. Even though I was his mate, I would never be enough.
And maybe… maybe it was time to stop trying.
I forced a smile, but the weight of my emotions was too much to hide. My heart felt heavy with triumph and despair all at once. Kaidon, the Alpha, saw my apology and let it slide. His gaze softened, and for a moment, I thought maybe he admired my obedience. But deep down, I knew the truth.
Ronan, Kaidon's younger brother and the Beta, led me to the guest room. He mentioned a healer would see me tomorrow to take care of my injuries. Before he left, his words carried a serious tone.
"You can’t touch anything of Elara’s. Understand?" His eyes bore into mine, reminding me where I stood.
I nodded, sadness swelling in my chest. If only Kaidon treated me the way he did before Elara returned. How could I even dare to touch the food he made for her? I was just a substitute, nothing more.