Goodbye, My Alpha

I had not even made it home when I spotted Andrew and Louise just outside.

Louise, always the wanderer, made an unexpected return to the Blood Moon Pack.

Her first move was to corner Andrew right at our doorstep, her face a mix of pride and defiance. "After all these years, you couldn't even bother to tell me about the imprinting ceremony? Scared I'd swoop in and take you from her?"

"It wouldn't matter, you'll never be my Moon Queen."

Tears sprang to Louise's eyes. "Oh, I see how it is! You've moved up in the world and found your true love? Well, hear this: being a Moon Queen is nothing but chains and frustration, not to mention dealing with your impossible mother. I don't want any part of it! I crave dreams and the thrill of the world beyond, not you!"

With a heavy sigh, Andrew drew Louise into a hug. "I know, and I couldn't stand to put you through that. That's why I had no choice but to choose Lina—she's docile and agreeable."

'Could not stand it'? He used the excuse of pack duty to strip me of my inheritance.

His mother, ever so picky, had once thrown a basin of scalding foot water at my back. He claimed I was his mate, meant to serve him body and soul, suggesting I would be better off learning bedroom tricks than medical knowledge to keep him entertained.

Did he ever truly care about my well-being?

Catching my eye, Louise's lips twisted into a sly smile. "You even had Lina quit her job as a healer for me. Aren't you worried she'll fight back?"

"Not a chance. She's head over heels for me. Besides, she'd rather be my Moon Queen than a healer any day." Andrew's embrace tightened around Louise. "Without her, you're free to chase your dreams and become the most renowned healer in Southland."

I could not help but scoff.

The day I met Andrew, he was sprawled out by Twin Shores Lake, a victim of wolfsbane poisoning, his life hanging by a thread. I brought him back from the brink with my healing touch and a handful of herbs, but it knocked me out cold for three days straight. He stayed by my side the whole time.

"Lina, you're the best healer I've ever seen," he told me then.

When I finally came to, Andrew was there, looking at me with eyes so soft and warm that I could have sworn he felt the same instant spark I did. I was all in, ready to ditch my healer's path to be his rock, his Moon Queen.

It turned out that he was seeing someone else's ghost in me—Louise. All that warmth was for Louise, and he wanted me to give up my dreams for Louise, too.

However, then I got the truth, and I headed back up to Northland. I went back to chase my dreams, to dive into the herbs I loved, for whatever time I had left.