Zoe’s Story 1
Zoe, I’ve placed your Beta necklace on Alpha Ethan’s desk. He has approved your resignation, but he didn’t realize it was you leaving.
Should I remind him?”
Hearing the news over the mind–link, I slowly lowered my gaze.“No need. Let it be.” My wolf whined at the news. Leaving the Ashen Pack, leaving Ethan…it felt like tearing herself in two.
“But you’ve been Alpha Ethan’s Beta for four years. He never stops singing your praises.’Because of you, the pack runs like clockwork,‘ he always says. Are you really sure about this resignation?”
The Pack Council pleaded earnestly, but I chuckled, though the sound lacked warmth.
“In this world, no one is indispensable. My parents aren’t well. I need to go back to my birth pack, see family, maybe even find a mate. Since he has approved it, I’ll just go through the handover process and leave in a day. Thanks.”
After severing the mind–link, I continued to clean out my belongings.
I’d lived in Alpha’s Mansion for three years. Everyone knew I was Alpha’s Beta but no one knew I was also his secret lover.
In this place, I didn’t have much, but neither did I have little. I threw away everything except the essentials.
Seeing the gradually emptying room, I felt a moment of dizziness, a flood of memories surging back. My wolf felt the tug of mateship weakening with every item removed.
Eight years ago, I, an ordinary she–wolf from a small territory, entered the Bonefield Military Academy and became friends with Lydia Gabriel, the heiress of the Ashen Pack.
We were from vastly different backgrounds but were exceptionally close.
We spent every day together – attending classes, eating, training.
Gradually, I was drawn into Lydia’s circle, meeting her family, and falling in love with her brother, Ethan Gabriel, later the alpha of the
Ashen Pack.
But I buried my feelings deep, telling no one. My wolf knew her place; he was an Alpha, destined for greatness, not a Beta like her.
After graduation, Lydia went to the Shadow Lands to study.
I stayed in the Ashen Pack, applying for positions and becoming Ethan’s Beta, just to be able to see him often.
Then came an accident. Ethan was poisoned with wolfsbane.
I was about to call the pack healer when he, beyond his control, pinned me against the wall.
He stops mere inches away, his breath warm against my skin.
“You know what would make the dress even better, Kitten? Seeing it raised and sitting atop your pretty waist as I take you.”
A whimper escapes my lips. “Ethan. You are not even sober.”
His hand shoots up, fingers wrapping around my neck, not tight enough to hurt but firm enough to send a jolt of electricity through me.
I could have pushed him away but I loved him too much, in secret.
After a wild night, I woke up to see him sitting by the window, his sharp features hidden in swirling smoke, composed yet lonely.
8.3%
<Zoe’s Story 1
Hearing my movement, he turned around, asking only one question.
“Do you like me?”
I instinctively wanted to deny it, but he continued calmly.
“You blush every time you see me, you remember all my preferences and dislikes, and you came to work as my Beta right after graduation…”
“Don’t tell me these are all coincidences.”
Every word he spoke made my face burn crimson, whether from shame or guilt.
In the ensuing silence, he suddenly handed me a crystal shard.
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“What happened last night was a mistake. My heart belongs to someone else, and I can’t return your feelings, nor can I take responsibility for you. Lydia mentioned your family background is modest, so the energy stored in this shard should be enough for you to live comfortably for the rest of your life. Let’s just forget this ever happened.”
I was stunned. I then remembered that he had been calling a name all night.
Isabelle Monroe.
According to Lydia, Isabelle was Ethan’s unforgettable first mate, fated mate.
He loved her so much that even after their separation and her numerous rumored relationships with many he–wolves, he insisted on waiting for her return.
I remembered Lydia’s sarcastic comment:
“The Gabriel family are notoriously cold and heartless. How did they produce a hopeless romantic like my brother? He’s waited for years, saying everyone else is just a compromise. He refuses to compromise.”
I felt the same way. Remembering this, I suddenly found the courage to stop Ethan, who was about to leave.
“I don’t want the crystal, I just want you to give me a chance. Alpha Ethan, please be with me. If she doesn’t come back, or…if she comes back, but you still haven’t gotten over her, I will leave on that day.”
Facing my eyes filled with love, Ethan paused for a few seconds, then simply said, “As you wish,” and left.
From then on, I was his Beta by day and his secret mate by night.
We left countless love traces in the Pack office, his car, and the floor–to–ceiling windows.
Four years passed, no one knew about our relationship, and I willingly accepted it.
Until his birthday a few days ago. I prepared many surprises for him, wanting to celebrate.
But at midnight, instead of him, I received a mind–link post.
“The best birthday gift is getting what you lost back.”
Ethan, who never posted on the mind–link, uploaded a picture of him kissing Isabelle under a moonstone display.
Seeing this photo, the color drained from my face, my heart constricting. My wolf whimpered, sensing the betrayal.
I clung to a glimmer of hope and mind–linked him.
Isabelle answered.
8.3%
<Zoe’s Story 1
After several “bellos” without a response, she started calling for Ethan.
“Ethan, who is this Zoe Madison? She’s mind–linking, but not speaking.”
A moment later, his low, calm voice came through the speaker to my ear.
“Someone insignificant. Don’t worry about it. Be good, go back to sleep.”
At that moment, I knew it was time for me to leave.
I packed my things, preparing to leave, but bumped into Ethan at the door.
Because we slept together every day, I was staying at his place, but now, I couldn’t stay anymore.
Seeing me carrying my bags, his gaze flickered, but he didn’t try to stop me.“You wanna move out?”
“Yeah, my old place. I’ve made arrangements with the owner, renting for a year.”
Hearing this, Ethan frowned slightly.“A year? Why?”
I was about to explain, but he didn’t seem interested, and said gravely, “I’ll take you.”
I wanted to refuse, but Ethan insisted. “It’s snowing heavily, and it’s late. If anything happens to you, Lydia will be upset.”
I had no choice but to get in his car.
Once, we had countless sex in his car, but now I barely recognized it.
The car was filled with cute plush toys, the seat covers were Hello Kitty, and snacks were everywhere…
I found it hard to imagine that someone as efficient and abstinent as him would decorate his car like this.
Noticing my gaze, Ethan explained.
“Isabelle likes these.”
I understood his implication. After a long silence, I softly replied.
“You finally got her back, Alpha Ethan. I’m very happy for you.”
Ethan didn’t expect me to say this, his eyes darkened, and he said nothing more.
Halfway there, Isabelle mind–linked, saying she wanted to build a snow–effigy with him.
He pulled over, intending to go there immediately, but hesitated, looking at me.
I knew what he was worried about, and opened the car door.
“Alpha Ethan, I’ll go back myself.”
Ethan hummed in response, getting out to help me carry my things.
My hand slipped, and the box fell to the ground. He bent down, and through the moon–glow, saw the scattered contents, his body stiffening for a moment.
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Love scrolls bearing his name but never sent, pictures of him I had secretly taken, and things he had casually thrown away, which I had picked up and kept…
My heart skipped a beat. I frantically picked them up.
8.3%
< Zoe’s Story 1
“Sorry.”
Ethan said nothing, got in the car alone, and sped away.
I waited alone in the snow for a long time without moving. My wolf was even trembling, urging me to find a warmer place.
I tried to walk home with my box, but was struck by a snow–scooter.
My leg was cut open, a twenty–centimeter gash bleeding profusely.
Watching the hit–and–run driver speed away, I gasped in pain, lying in the snow for a long time unable to recover.
My wolf helped me cure my wounds but the scar was still there.
After the pain subsided, I limped for four hours through the snow before finally returning to my place.
At that time, I received a mental message Ethan had sent after he left.
【Don’t be so hopelessly devoted to one man. There are plenty of mates you can choose out there. Don’t waste your
I thought about the message for a long, long time. My wolf howled in anguish.
The next morning, I lit a fire outside my place and burned all the contents of that box.
The burning love that had raged within me for eight years turned to ashes along with the box.
time on
me.]
Ethan Gabriel, I will do as you
wish.
