Farewell, Alpha

The next morning, photos of Alpha Silas getting into a massive brawl with humans outside a bar over Chloe were splashed across every supernatural and human tabloid.

It was the first time he had allowed his infidelity to be so public.

The paparazzi swarmed the entrance to the Packhouse. The moment I stepped out, they ambushed me, shoving microphones and cameras into my face.

A young female reporter pushed her way to the front. "Luna Aria, do you have any comments on the relationship between the Alpha and Chloe?"

I kept walking, too bothered to even look at her. "One is a married man breaking his vows, and the other is a homewrecking slut who's proud of it. What exactly do you want me to say?"

The girl chased after me, shouting, "But everyone knows you dumped him when he was broke! You abandoned him for money! And once he built his empire, you used an ancient blood oath to force him into the mate bond!"

"Now the Alpha has found his true love. He and Chloe are soulmates. You're just a parasite, clinging to the Luna title. Don't you think you're the bully here?"

I stopped in my tracks, turned around slowly, and reached out to snatch the press badge from around her neck.

I looked at her with dead, empty eyes. "You're Chloe's friend, aren't you?"

"When Silas decided to mate with me, he used ruthless tactics against my family. Do you really think I wanted to be tied to him? The pack elders all know this. Or are you just here to smear my name so your little friend can steal my place?"

She paled and snatched her badge back. "I am her friend, but I'm an objective reporter! If you don't want to be with him, why don't you break the bond?"

I smiled and was about to answer when a sudden wave of dizziness hit me. Thick, black blood gushed from my nose, dripping down my chin.

Someone in the crowd sneered. "Look at her, pretending she doesn't care, but she's so worked up she's getting a nosebleed."

Trembling, I raised a finger and wiped the blood from my lips.

"I'm not worked up," my voice was eerily calm. "My body is failing. I'm dying. I get nosebleeds a lot lately."

The chaotic crowd instantly fell dead silent, the mockery catching in their throats.

Only Chloe's friend muttered under her breath, "Stop faking. Playing the victim over a nosebleed... It's pathetic. Relying on pity to keep a man is shameful."

She flipped her hair and stormed off. From the back, she was just as obnoxious as Chloe.