Moving on from My Mate

Because he had more pressing matters to attend to.

I paused the movie playing on my laptop, the soft glow from the screen illuminating the dim room. A notification in the bottom corner grabbed my attention—a message on Ezra Silvan’s account, left open on my device. His conversation with someone named Lyra blinked to life, and I hesitated, my curiosity warring with my better judgment.

The messages were relentless, flowing from past to present and even touching on plans for the future. Not once did Ezra mention me, not even in passing. It was as if I didn’t exist in his life, as if I were nothing more than a placeholder to fill the void she had left behind.

My wolf stirred uneasily, growling faintly in the back of my mind. The betrayal felt deeper with each word I read. I finally pressed the power button, shutting the laptop down with trembling fingers. That night, I fell asleep to silence, a hollow ache where my trust in him used to be.

---

The next morning, the doorbell jolted me awake. Groggy and disoriented, I rubbed my eyes and shuffled into the living room. To my surprise, Ezra was already awake, standing by the door with a bouquet of wildflowers in one hand and a small cake in the other.

“Cressida, did you order a cake? Were you craving something sweet?” he asked, his golden eyes glinting with mild amusement.

I froze in place, his words hitting me like a slap. How could he be so clueless?

“It’s my birthday,” I said softly, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. “A friend must have sent it.”

The room fell silent as the truth settled over him. His gaze flicked to the calendar on the wall, his expression shifting from amusement to realization. July 12th. He had forgotten my birthday.

For a moment, guilt flickered across his face, but it was fleeting. Ezra quickly set down the flowers and cake, his casual charm returning like a mask. “Your birthday,” he murmured, stepping closer to guide me back toward the bedroom. “Let’s do something special. I’ll take you out. What do you feel like doing today?”

I shook my head, exhaustion weighing on me. “There’s no need. We can just stay in.”

But Ezra wouldn’t take no for an answer. He pulled open the closet, retrieving a dress I hadn’t worn in years—a flowing, emerald-green gown that matched the color of my wolf’s eyes. “Here,” he said, holding it out with a smile that once would have melted my heart. “Get ready. Let’s make today memorable.”

I didn’t have the energy to argue. After freshening up, I followed him out.