---- through the early dawn fog. She leaned against the stone pillar of the eastern gate, her Beta aura bristling beneath her flawless skin. "Have you finally come to your senses?" I sighed. Kiera, my Alpha David's mistress, always knew when to strike with her venomous charm.Dorian adored her. She never let me forget it. lignored her and kept walking, but she stepped into my path, tilting her head in amusement. "Eight years, Becky," she continued, crossing her arms. "Eight years of playing house, of waiting for an Alpha who never claimed you. And now, after all that time, you' re finally leaving." She chuckled. "Took you long enough to realize that Alpha David andDorian will never love you. You've been nothing but a worthless concubine." I met her gaze, my expression unreadable. "Enjoy it, then," I said simply. "Do whatever you want. None of this concerns me anymore." ---- Her smirk widened. "Oh, I will. Don't worry," she whispered. "Soon, I'll move in and take your place." Before I could respond, the front doors swung open. Alpha David stepped out, followed closely byDorian. And in an instant, Kiera's entire demeanor changed. She gasped dramatically and dropped to her knees, clutching the hem of my coat as if her life depended on it. "Becky, please!" she sobbed, her voice thick with desperation. "Please don't go!Dorian needs you! You've been taking care of him all these years- how could you just leave him like this?" I stared down at her blankly. "Corvin loves you, he really does," she continued, ---- her voice cracking. "He's just a child! Please, don't leave him. I'm so sorry for everything, just please, Becky-" Alpha David let out a harsh sigh, his patience clearly worn thin. "Enough of this nonsense," he snapped. "Stop creating a scene and go back inside." His eyes were cold, as they always were. "I'll get you another cat if you want. Stop making Kiera stress herself." Kiera. The one he always called by her name. She had a place. A title. I had nothing. I clenched my fists, but before I could say anything,Dorian ran toward Kiera, throwing his arms around her. "Stand up, Kiera," he said softly, his small hands wiping away her tears. And just like that, the bond I'd nurtured for years ---- shattered.