Aliyah stood frozen, breath shallow. Leo's words echoed in her mind like thunder: "Come with me… I want to make you mine."
But desire didn't change reality.
She thought of Leo's mother's cold disdain, Bayle's vicious whispers, and the stifling rejection she'd felt in his pack treated like an outsider, unworthy of being there. And here, in Alpha Dominic's territory, she'd found a fragile semblance of safety. Not love never that but stability. Beta Garrick had been kind and generous. Alpha Dominic, though distant, had defended her once.
Leaving now would feel like betrayal.
Her heart raced. Her body screamed yes. Her mind begged her to wait.
"I… I don't know what to do," she whispered.
Leo stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her. "Then let me carry this with you," he murmured. "I'll speak to Dominic. And if you're thinking about my mother, I'll handle that too. I'll do whatever it takes to show them how much you mean to me."
She closed her eyes, leaning into his warmth, his scent, the steady rhythm of his heart. It was almost enough to silence the fear.
"I can't lose you again," he whispered. "I won't. I'll marry you, make you Luna. No one will ever question your place."
Aliyah's throat tightened. She wanted to believe him. But this choice could spark conflict, stir unrest, break the fragile balance.
Still, she didn't pull away.
What if Alpha Dominic saw her as a traitor? What if Garrick turned cold or worse, furious?
Garrick…
Her chest ached. He had been more than a Beta to her more than just a friend. A silent guardian. A quiet strength. And now, after hearing him confess his feelings, the weight of hurting him felt unbearable. The thought of breaking his heart nearly undid her.
"I don't want to cause more trouble," she said softly. "What if everything falls apart? What if your mother never forgives you?"
Leo pulled back, cupping her cheek. "Then let it fall apart," he said. "I've already lost you once. I won't survive losing you again."
"I'm scared, Leo."
"So am I," he admitted. "But loving you… that's the only thing I'm sure of."
He wiped a tear from her cheek. "We'll face it together. The council. My mother. Anyone who stands in our way."
She leaned into his hand, drawing strength from his certainty. But her thoughts still raced. Garrick. Dominic. The pack.
Leo kissed her forehead. "Don't answer now. Just… think about it. Tomorrow night. If you choose me, I'll be waiting."
Aliyah nodded, barely a breath. "Okay."
He gave her one last look, and they clung to each other for a long moment, as if letting go might shatter them. Then, slowly, they parted, each retreating into the silence of their own chambers.
---
Aliyah didn't sleep, her mind restless and tangled in frustration as thoughts churned endlessly.
By dawn, the weight of her decision pressed harder. Leaving meant risking everything her standing in the pack, Garrick's trust, Dominic's wrath. But staying meant burying her heart. Again.
After training, a summons came: Alpha Dominic wanted to see her.
When she entered, he sat calmly, a smirk on his face. She bowed low, unable to meet his gaze.
"You know inter-pack relationships are forbidden," Alpha Dominic said, his voice cool and commanding.
Her stomach dropped.
"Alpha Leo told me he wants to take you to his pack," Alpha Dominic said, his tone unreadable. "He told me everything about your… relationship. And because of that, I've made my decision I'm allowing you to go."
Aliyah blinked, stunned. Her breath caught in her throat. She hadn't expected Leo to approach Dominic so quickly it revealed just how desperate he truly was.
She barely registered the next words, but the way Dominic agreed so easily unsettled her. It didn't feel right. She hoped his decision was made with a clear mind, but she knew better than anyone that an Alpha could show you kindness on the surface while harboring darker thoughts beneath. I hope it's not what I'm thinking, she thought, fear gnawing at her.
"Leave now," Dominic said, dismissing her with a flick of his hand.
Aliyah didn't hesitate. She rushed from the chamber, disbelief and relief crashing over her in equal measure.
Aliyah had barely taken a few steps out of Alpha Dominic's chamber when a sharp voice cut through the silence.
"Aliyah."
She turned and froze. Garrick was standing in the shadows of the corridor, his eyes locked on her like a storm brewing. His jaw was clenched, his hands fisted at his sides.
"I heard," he said, stepping forward. "You decided to leave."
She opened her mouth, but no words came out.
His voice dropped, low and intense. "So that's it? After everything, you're leaving the pack that stood by you?"
Aliyah took a shaky breath. "It's not like that. I didn't mean to..."
"No, you didn't have to," he cut in. "Because I was the one watching your back. Even when your wolf never emerged, I made sure you were protected."
He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming his voice a quiet storm. "And now, just because he finally said the words, you're ready to walk away? From all of us? From everything you built here?"
"I never asked to be caught between you," she whispered.
"You didn't have to," he growled. "But you were."
A tense silence settled between them. Garrick's eyes searched hers, but whatever he was hoping to find… wasn't there.
Finally, his voice dropped, cold and simmering. "Don't expect this to end clean. Alpha Dominic may have let you go, but that doesn't mean the rest of us do."
Aliyah's heart pounded. "Is that a threat?"
His gaze darkened. "It's a warning. Don't think leaving this pack for him will be simple."
Then he turned and walked away, the echo of his anger trailing behind him.
Aliyah stood still, his words echoing in her mind. A warning not a threat but it shook her. For a moment, fear and doubt crept in.
But when she entered her room, she pushed it all aside. A smile broke through. She laughed, spinning in a breathless blur. She could go. It was really happening.
Laura, who had been talking with others nearby, looked over in confusion. "Aliyah?"
Aliyah rushed to her. "He said yes," she beamed. "Alpha Dominic's letting me go!"
Laura's eyes widened. "Wait really?"
Aliyah nodded, breathless. "I'm going to Leo. I can finally leave."
For a moment, Laura was silent. Then, she smiled and pulled Aliyah into a hug.
"I'm happy for you," she said, voice thick. "But I'm going to miss you."
"I'll miss you too," Aliyah whispered. "More than you know."
Laura wiped away a tear. "Just promise me something."
"Anything."
"Be happy. Don't forget us but don't forget yourself either. You deserve this."
"I promise," Aliyah said, voice trembling.
They held each other tight two friends on the verge of change.
When they parted, Aliyah's eyes gleamed with purpose. "I have to find Leo," she said, heart pounding.
And this time, she didn't hesitate.