When the Alpha Chose His Pack Over His Mate Chapter 12

When the Alpha Chose His Pack Over His Mate Chapter 12

The next morning, Sky decided the Alpha’s office was too plain and ordered everything I had carefully chosen to be removed.

It was Rowen’s favorite space, where he spent most of his time. I had put so much thought into decorating it. The soft blue curtains hung just right, filtering the sunlight to create a tranquil atmosphere. The desk ornaments were pieces I had carefully selected, each one meaningful. The small quartz figurine, said to bring protection and fortune, I had placed prominently, hoping it would guard Rowen’s success as Alpha.

But Sky found it all too modest, unworthy of Rowen’s status.

“This office is too dull,” she said, her voice sharp with disapproval. “Rowen spends hours here working. It should reflect his position, not look like some Omega’s den.”

When Rowen walked in, he saw the chaos unfolding. He hesitated, as if he wanted to stop it, but he held his tongue. I could see the conflict in his eyes, but he said nothing.

“Rowen,” Sky called, her tone brightening as she turned to him. “What do you think? Doesn’t it look much better now?”

Rowen glanced at the familiar items being carried away, his expression unreadable. For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something—regret, perhaps—but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

“You’ve put in a lot of effort,” he said, his voice neutral.

Sky beamed, clearly pleased with herself. “I just want you to be comfortable here. After all, this is where you lead the pack.”

Rowen nodded, his gaze lingering on the empty spaces where my things had been. Then, as if eager to escape the tension, he left for a pack meeting.

At the meeting, there were congratulations and teasing remarks from the other Alphas and Betas. Rowen responded with polite humility, but his mind seemed elsewhere. The date for his and Sky’s mark ceremony had been set for three months from now. When he heard the news, his first reaction was relief.

Perhaps he wanted more time to prepare.

When he mated me, it had been a simple affair. No grand celebration, just a small gathering in his family home. I had worn a simple dress I’d sewn myself, and we’d shared a modest meal with close friends and family. It wasn’t lavish, but it had been genuine—full of warmth and love.

Rowen shook his head, as if trying to banish the memory.

“The past is the past,” he muttered to himself. “I’ve agreed to this union, and I need to focus on it.”

When he returned home that evening, Zen, his Beta, met him at the door. “Alpha, Sky had the storage room cleared out today. She said it was too cramped and had a lot of old things burned.”

Rowen’s brow furrowed slightly, but he quickly masked it. “She has her reasons. Let her do as she pleases.”

He walked to his office, but Zen followed him, his expression uneasy.

“Alpha… Ivy’s belongings were among the things she burned.”

Rowen froze, his hand hovering over the book he was about to pick up. After a moment, he replied calmly, “I see. You may go.”

As Zen left, Rowen sat in silence for a long time. Then, as if drawn by some unseen force, he stood and walked toward the storage area.

Before he even reached it, the acrid smell of smoke hit him. In the open space outside the storage room, a fire was blazing, consuming a pile of old items. Sky stood nearby, directing the pack members to add more fuel to the flames.

Rowen’s eyes locked onto a wooden box in her hands, its familiar carvings catching his attention. Without thinking, he rushed forward, snatching it from her just as she was about to toss it into the fire.

Sky gasped, startled by his sudden movement. “Rowen! What are you doing?”

But Rowen didn’t respond. He clutched the box tightly, his hands trembling slightly. Opening it, he saw that some of the papers inside were singed, but most were still intact.

His fingers traced the faded words on one of the pages—Rowen, written in my handwriting.

For a moment, he seemed to struggle for breath.

“This can’t be burned,” he said quietly, more to himself than to Sky. “She must have forgotten to take it with her.”

Sky’s expression darkened. “Rowen, it’s just an old box. It’s taking up space, and it’s not like it’s important. Why are you so attached to it?”

Rowen didn’t answer.

Sky’s frustration grew. “Rowen, you’re acting like you still care about her. What about me? I’m the one you’re going to mark!”

Rowen finally looked at her, his gaze steady. “Sky, the mark ceremony will happen as planned. But this box holds memories from my past. They’re not about love or attachment—just moments from a different time. I hope you can understand that.”

Sky glared at him but didn’t push further. She could hear the firmness in his tone, the subtle warning in his Alpha voice.

Back in his office, Rowen held the box close, his shoulders slumping as he leaned against the wall.

“Ivy,” he whispered, “I almost lost something you treasured.”

His words were soft, almost lost in the silence of the room. But they carried a weight that even he couldn’t fully understand.