It was no secret that the pack had expected Aldric to choose Seraphine. They were the perfect match in the eyes of many—both powerful, both beloved by the pack. So, when it was revealed that Aldric’s mate was not her, but me, an outsider, the backlash was swift.
Rumors spread like wildfire. I became the subject of gossip, of disdain. Some were curious, but many were hostile. They believed I had stolen something that should have belonged to Seraphine.
And while Aldric stood by my side at first, publicly defending our bond, Seraphine never left the picture. She and Aldric continued to attend pack gatherings together, always close, always surrounded by admirers.
The latest dagger came tonight, with a post from Seraphine that went viral within the pack. She had tagged Aldric in the post, showing them together at a pack gathering high in the mountains.
The caption beneath the images was enough to shatter what remained of my hope.
"Thank you, Aldric, for always making me feel like the only one that matters."
I stared at the screen, my heart breaking all over again. The comments beneath the post were even worse.