Kaelen was back, holding a bouquet of flowers.

He walked toward me, his face showing no hint of guilt. “Alia, I brought you your favorite eustomas.”

Eustomas, the flower of loyal and unchanging love. In his hands, they felt like a cruel joke.

I took the flowers. Kaelen, probably thinking I was no longer angry, began to explain.

“Layla has a rare disease, Silverbane Sickness. Her only wish is to have a bonding ceremony with me. We grew up together, Alia. I can't let her pass away with regrets. So, in three days, I’m getting engaged to her.”

“You’ve always been so strong. You can understand, right?”

His tone wasn’t an explanation; it was an announcement. Engaged to Layla in three days?

Perfect. In three days, I planned to leave him for good.

I nodded quietly.

In the past, Kaelen couldn't stand what he called my "princess attitude," always pestering him about whether he loved me over the smallest things. I had slowly learned to swallow my feelings.

My lack of drama now seemed to surprise him. He gave me a strange look.

“I’ll be moving in with Layla tomorrow. You might have to be alone for the next few months.”

“She’s very sick, Alia. She needs me more than you do.”

I smiled faintly and put the flowers down. Seeing that I wasn't arguing, Kaelen reached out to touch my face.

I pulled away.

His collar was stained with Layla’s lipstick. The sickeningly sweet scent of another she-wolf—her pheromones—clung to him, turning my stomach.

My rejection angered him. He didn't say another word and stormed out.

And I threw both the flowers and the cake into the trash.

I didn't want the flowers, and I didn't want Kaelen anymore. I had no attachment left to this place I had poured six years of my life into.