Alpha Joseph didn't stop. No matter how many times I rejected him, he kept coming to my apartment, trying to apologize, to win me back. I was beyond tired of it. It was clear to me that the only way to truly start fresh was to leave the pack and take the job offer. I needed a clean break.
Yes, that was what I was going to do. Today, I would inform Tom of my decision.
But when I arrived at the office, I sensed something was off. There was a strange buzz of excitement and whispers all around, many of them directed at me.
As soon as I sat down in my office, a group of my colleagues burst through the door.
"Why didn't you tell us?" one of them demanded, her eyes wide with disbelief.
I raised a brow, completely confused. "Tell you what?"
"That you're Alpha Joseph's mate!" she exclaimed.
"What? Who told you that?" I frowned, trying to process what she was saying.
"It's all over the internet! You haven't seen it?"
I quickly grabbed my tablet and searched the news. And there it was—a video of Alpha Joseph holding a press conference. He debunked every rumor about marking Nelly as his mate, making it clear to the world that she was just a friend. Then, he dropped the bombshell: his true mate was me, Anita.
I stared at the screen, too stunned to speak.
"You didn't tell us!" one of my colleagues nudged me playfully, like this was some romantic revelation.
I forced a smile, but my mind was racing. "Don't get it twisted. Whatever I had with that man is over," I said sharply, hoping to end the conversation. I turned my focus back to my work, trying to ignore the whispers and the curious looks. But my peace didn't last long.
A commotion outside my office broke my concentration. I stood up and rushed to the door, my heart sinking as I saw Alpha Joseph standing there. He was holding a bouquet of flowers, smiling like he hadn't caused all this chaos.
"Hello, Anita." He grinned, placing the flowers into my hands before I could react. "Tomorrow, I'm inviting you to the mating ceremony. I'll mark you there and make you my Luna officially."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away, clearly afraid of what I might say.
"Oh my goodness, you're so lucky!" my colleagues squealed with excitement. They had no idea how annoyed I was, how much I wanted to disappear from this situation.
I marched straight to Tom's office, my decision firm. I slammed the letter on his desk. "I've made up my mind."
Tom looked up, surprised. "Are you sure, Anita? I heard about everything going on with Alpha Joseph…"
"Yes," I said firmly. There was no hesitation in my voice, and I wasn't about to let anyone talk me out of it.
After leaving his office, I saw a trash can by the exit. Without a second thought, I threw the flowers in it. There was no going back.
Tomorrow, Joseph would be in for a rude awakening at his so-called mating ceremony. I wasn't going to be there. I wasn't going to be anyone's Luna—not his, not ever. It was time to start a new chapter in my life, one where I was free from him and this pack.