I Was the Starter Mate

I bolted from pack territory, not waiting to hear the rest.

He didn't come after me.

I hid out for a week in the cave we used to crash in as rogues. When the pain in my body got too brutal to ignore, I finally went to the healer.

When I came back home, the vase we'd shattered during our fight was still all over the floor.

He hadn't been back.

I knelt to clean it up and sliced my palm on a shard.

Black blood—poisoned—slid from the cut.

I just stared at it.

Should I tell him?

If he knew I was dying... would he even care?

My eyes burned. I let out a dry laugh.

Forget it.

He wasn't the Eric I grew up with. Now he'd just say I was faking it to get his attention.

I drew a slow breath.

The door opened.

Eric stepped inside.

A red mark stained the white collar of his shirt.

The air shifted—heavy with a she-wolf in heat.

Not mine.

Velda's.

I'd know that scent anywhere.

He looked at me, eyebrow raised. "Done throwing your tantrum?"

I said nothing. Slid my injured hand into my pocket.

I hadn't expected him home. The black blood soaked into the fabric.

I thought he'd notice.

He didn't.

Instead, he scoffed. "Trying something new? You're getting more pathetic by the day."

Even after everything, my chest still tightened.

There was a time when a bee sting would've had him panicking.

He knew I used to be a warrior. Knew I hated crying. Knew I'd swallow pain without a sound.

Back then, if I got hurt, he'd lose it.

Now?

I cleaned my wounds. Alone.

Seeing me quiet, Eric eased his tone—but the impatience was still there.

"Zara, stop making a scene. Velda's just here temporarily. Other Alphas keep a few she-wolves besides their Luna. Look at you—how much weight have you put on? Compared to them, I've only taken one. And it's just for breeding. You should be grateful."

He always pitched it like that.

Before he could keep going, the mind link snapped open.

"Eric... I had a nightmare. I dreamed vampires were coming to take me. I'm so scared. Can you come back?"

Her voice was soft. Sugary.

The hard lines in his face vanished.

He softened instantly, voice low and careful—like she was something fragile.

That look used to be mine.

He didn't spare me another glance. Just headed for the door.

"Eric."

He stopped. His hand tightened on the knob, irritation flashing. "Velda's scared. As Luna, you're supposed to support our wolves. Don't start being unreasonable right now—"

"Let's sever our mate bond."

He froze.

Then the fury hit.

"What are you insane about now?!"

Disgust filled his eyes.

"First you hurt yourself. Now you want to end this. What's next? Suicide?"

I asked quietly, "No need for anything dramatic... what if I'm really about to die?"

My voice barely held.

But he'd already yanked the door open. Snow and wind blasted inside.

"Then go die. Die somewhere far away."

The door slammed.

Silence swallowed the living room.

A savage pain ripped through my abdomen—the silver poison chewing through my organs.

I grabbed the pain potion the healer gave me and forced it down.

It hurt so bad I could barely breathe.

I wanted to tell him everything.

That a vampire ambushed me.

That silver poison was eating me alive.

That I was actually dying.

I almost took the risk.

Bet he'd come back.

My shaking hand reached for him through the mind link.

Only wind answered.

He'd shut the link off.

A rough laugh slipped out as I looked at my reflection in the broken glass.

Because of the poison, I hadn't eaten in days. I was all bone—ribs sharp under my skin.

And he'd just called me fat. Said my skin was thick.

Nothing hurts like a heart that's already dead.

In his eyes, I'd always be the jealous, dramatic she-wolf.

I counted the time.

"Eric, this is day one of my goodbye."