“Valerie, you’re unreasonable! If I had anything going on with Alanna, do you really think I’d still be with you? Valerie, you’re nothing without me. You’re just a broke orphan living off my generosity. If we broke up, you’d have nothing.” he raged.
We spent a month in cold silence after that. In the end, I swallowed my pride, apologizing and begging for forgiveness.
But love doesn’t vanish overnight—it fades slowly, piece by piece, like ice melting under the heat of the sun. Over the past year, the constant fighting, paired with Alanna’s smug presence, had drained whatever feelings I had left for him.
Now, I couldn’t even summon the energy to feel anything.
I smiled faintly, trying to sound calm. “You’re right. I wasn’t very mature before, but I’ve grown up now. I’ll do better.”
The lie rolled off my tongue effortlessly. After all, in a week, I’d be gone.
That night, while Alpha Waldo showered, my phone buzzed with a notification.
Alanna’s latest post: In every one, she wore my wedding dress, her smile radiant as she clung to my fiancé.
“Getting married to the one I love! OH!”
The comments were predictably fawning.
“Wait… isn’t that Alpha Waldo?”
Alanna’s reply: “Yes! My brother spoils me the most!”
I stared at the photos, a dull ache building in my chest. Then, I did the only logical thing. I liked the post, set my phone down, and climbed into bed.
I had barely settled into the sheets when the bed beside me shifted. Alpha Waldo’s cold skin pressed against mine as he slid an arm around my waist.
“Valerie…” he murmured, his warm breath against my ear as his hand slid under the hem of my nightgown, fingers trailing along my skin.
I shifted slightly, putting some distance between us.
Then, I gently took his hand and said, “Alpha Waldo, I’m tired tonight. I don’t want to.”
In all the years we’d been together, I had never refused him.
Back then, when we fought, things always ended the same way—his patience and teasing slowly wearing me down until I gave in, begging for him. And afterward, he’d hold me close, whispering sweet promises, telling me not to be jealous anymore.
But tonight, I felt nothing.