Part 4

When the pain finally subsided, I found myself standing at the check-in counter, ready for the flight.

The loss of the mate bond felt strangely liberating. It was as if a heavy weight had been lifted from my shoulders, allowing me to breathe more easily. For the first time in ages, I felt like a new person—a fresh start.

I let out a sigh of relief, gathered my things, and boarded the plane.

No one could have predicted we would end up here.

Jeffery Hoffman had never hidden his affection for me. Since the moment he was twelve, it was clear to everyone that he had fallen for me. He wore his heart on his sleeve. Our friends would joke, “Jeffery is one of the best Betas in the pack, good family, strong, loyal. You should just say yes to him.”

But I hadn’t seen it back then. I was too wrapped up in my studies, too focused on my future. With my wolf unawakened, I paid no attention to him. I was a bookworm, consumed with academics and the world inside my head.