It had been years since I’d last stepped foot in this apartment. My parents had given it to me after I secured my position as a researcher at the Silverclaw Institute. It was modest but enough for me. Back then, I chose to stay here rather than move into Aldric’s estate, wanting to keep my independence.
But as time passed, Aldric insisted it would be easier if we lived together. His home had the space, the amenities, and more importantly, it allowed us to be seen as the future of the Silverclaw Pack—Alpha and Luna. After all, who would question the mate bond between us if we were under one roof?
It seemed so logical at the time. How could I have known that moving in with him would be the beginning of our slow unraveling?
As I set my suitcase down in the old living room, I felt a wave of exhaustion hit me. I barely had the energy to pull off the plastic covers that had protected the furniture while I was away. With little thought, I collapsed onto the bare mattress, not bothering to unpack.
Even after all this time together, we had never felt further apart. How had things gone so wrong?
---
The next morning, the shrill sound of my phone alarm dragged me from sleep. Groaning, I reached over and saw a string of messages from Aldric.
*Selene, stop being dramatic. It was a last-minute meeting. Seraphine needed help with negotiations for her family’s trade contract.*
*We’re not children anymore. Come back once you’ve calmed down.*
His words lit a fire in my chest.
*Dramatic?* I seethed as I tossed the phone onto the bed and stormed into the kitchen. Grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge, I paced back and forth, trying to shake off the anger boiling inside me.
The word *childish* echoed in my mind. Was I really overreacting? Was I being unreasonable for wanting my mate to choose me for once?
I couldn’t count how many times Aldric had canceled our plans—postponing outings, skipping dinners with his family, all because Seraphine had called for him. She was always in need of *something*, always requiring his attention.
I thought back to the night she called him, sobbing over a horror movie. *A horror movie,* of all things! My lupine hearing picked up her pitiful voice over the phone, begging Aldric to comfort her. She wasn’t even alone. Her staff was there around the clock.