Marked by a Stronger Alpha After Being His Stand-in

I sat in the empty living room, staring at the circled date on the wall. Twelve days until my flight.

My phone screen lit up with a message from Rocco's assistant: "Luna Caterina, the Alpha has an important meeting today and may be home late."

Late? Or not at all?

I put my phone away and picked up the rejection agreement I'd prepared.

If he wouldn't come home, I would go to him.

It was time to end this.

As I stepped out of the elevator, the receptionist at Rocco's company greeted me with a professional smile. "Luna Caterina, perfect timing! The Alpha arranged a spectacular light show on the building for your anniversary."

I paused.

Anniversary?

The anniversary of our Mate Bond was indeed approaching, but it was also the day I was set to leave.

"It's so romantic!" another colleague chimed in. "The whole neighborhood is taking pictures."

"Wow, this is unbelievably romantic!" a young woman exclaimed, recording a video. "I heard the CEO of this building arranged it to celebrate his anniversary with his love."

I stopped and looked up at the cascade of brilliant lights.

Three days ago, I might have been moved.

Now, the dazzling display was nothing but a mocking decoration.

I looked at my reflection in the window—my pale face, my tightly pressed lips, and the exhaustion I couldn't hide in my eyes.

The signs of the breaking bond were already showing.

Ding.

The elevator doors opened, and I walked straight toward Rocco's office, clutching the document in my hand.

On the surface, it was a simple Pack Asset Authorization Form, meant to quell the recent rumors about our relationship.

In reality, it was a key step in the Rejection ritual, blessed by the Moon Goddess herself.

Every letter on the document had been enchanted by Sage with ancient runes. The moment Rocco signed it, our Mate Bond would begin to fracture, breaking completely on the next full moon.

I stood before his office door and took a deep breath.

Then I pushed it open.

I never expected the "gift" he had waiting for me.

The scene inside made me freeze.

Scarlett was curled up on the black leather sofa, dressed in a cream-colored knit sweater, its collar open just enough to reveal her delicate collarbones.

Her face was as pale as porcelain. One hand was pressed to her chest while the other hung limply over the side of the sofa. She looked so fragile she might shatter at a touch.

Rocco was kneeling beside her, his large frame protectively shielding her.

He was stroking her hair, a potent, soothing Alpha aura radiating from him, warm and dense.

"It's okay, Scar," he murmured, his voice low and gentle, as if coaxing a child. "The malicious auras of those lesser wolves can't get to you. I'm here. No one can hurt you."

His voice was tender, but it made me want to vomit.

"Rocco," I said, my voice calmer than I'd expected.

His head snapped toward me, his face twisting into a flash of annoyance, like someone interrupted during something vital.

"Caterina? What are you doing here?"

He didn't stand up. He didn't even take his hand from Scarlett's hair.

"There's a document that needs your signature," I said, holding out the disguised agreement, my tone strictly professional.

At that, Scarlett lifted her head, her eyes wide and watery like a frightened fawn's. "Luna, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to bother you two." Her voice trembled with what sounded like genuine apology.

"Downstairs… a few wolves from other packs were emitting hostile auras, and my wolf was frightened. I tried to bear it and not bother Rocco, but…"

Tears welled in her eyes and began to fall.

If I didn't know the truth, I might have been fooled by her innocent act.

"You see, Caterina?" Rocco finally stood, though he stayed by Scarlett's side, his gaze fixed on me with disapproval. "Scar is so fragile. Can't you be more considerate? Is this really the time to talk about work?"

His tone was thick with accusation, as if I had interrupted some sacred moment.

I looked at him, remembering how he had used the excuse of "taking care" of Scarlett to stay away from home for a week.

"This authorization is important," I said calmly. "I just need your signature."

Rocco took the document and, without even glancing at the first page, flipped straight to the end to find the signature line.

He was in too much of a hurry to comfort his childhood sweetheart to waste another second on paperwork.

His pen flew across the paper, the dark blue ink leaving his swift, confident signature.

The instant the ink touched the paper, a sudden, ice-cold pain shot through his chest.

"Ah—" Rocco gasped, the pen slipping from his fingers and clattering to the floor. He instinctively clutched his chest, his face turning deathly pale.

I felt the same tearing sensation, as if a silver blade had been dragged across my very soul.

But I was prepared. I bit the inside of my cheek, using the sharp sting to suppress the groan that threatened to escape.

"What is it, Rocco?" Scarlett shot up from the sofa, grabbing his arm in concern.

Rocco's brow was furrowed, sweat beading on his forehead. "It's nothing…" he panted. "I probably just over-exerted my Alpha power calming you down."

He chalked the strange, sharp pain up to power expenditure.

He had no idea it was the first sign of our Mate Bond beginning to break.

I took back the signed document. "If you're alright, I'll be going."

"Wait," Rocco called out, the lingering pain in his chest shortening his temper.

"Caterina, stop being so cold all the time."

He drew himself up, his voice laced with an Alpha's unshakeable command. "As my Luna, you should be more considerate of your Alpha," he commanded.

I turned back for one last look at the man who was once my world.

He was rubbing his chest with a frown while Scarlett fretted over him, the two of them overlapping into a perfect picture.

And I was, as always, the one who didn't belong.

"I will be, Alpha."

My voice was placid, but my heart was a wasteland.

In twelve days, it would all be over.