After 9 PM My Alpha Was Never Mine

My fated mate, Alpha Kian of the Valerius Pack, had an unbreakable rule. After 9 PM, he cut off the mind link. No calls. No exceptions. He called it his "absolute radio silence." A time for the Alpha to calm his inner beast. Even when my heat hit the hardest. Before 9, he’d comfort me. The second the clock struck 9, he pushed me away without a second thought. Once, I was patrolling the borders late at night and got ambushed by rogues. My wolf howled in pure agony as blood spilled. Panicking, I pushed through our mate bond, begging for help. All I got was his voice, dripping with extreme annoyance. "Do you have any idea what time it is? Do not disturb me!" That night, I tore those rogues apart myself. I dragged my bloody, battered body back to the Pack House at dawn. He didn't even bother to bandage me. Just frowned dismissively. "You're the strongest female warrior in the pack. It's just a few rogues. Stop being so dramatic." To him, my strength was a given. Until today. I was cleaning his study and accidentally bumped his private phone. In the encrypted logs, I found a call. From 9 PM to 9 AM. Twelve hours straight. Every single night. For five years. I knew the number. Lily. The weak Omega daughter of his mother's old friend. The only one he bent his rules for. The one who got to stay in the Pack House. In that moment, my wolf let out a tragic, broken whimper. I sat staring at the screen for a long time. The morning light finally crept through the windows. In silence, I picked up the printed schedule for our Luna Mating Ceremony on his desk. I tossed it straight into the fireplace. His heart was never open to me. And now? My door is permanently closed to him. Chapter 1 [Supreme Lycan Council: Your application for Special Envoy has been approved.] My phone lit up in the dark. The shower stopped. Kian walked out. A towel hung low on his waist, water trailing down his Adonis belt. His signature cedarwood scent wrapped around me, suffocatingly strong. He walked up, his large, warm hand gripping my waist. He dipped his head, sniffing my neck. Wet kisses trailed up my skin. His eyes darkened with a mate's pure possessiveness. His breathing grew heavy. Once upon a time, I would have melted. But now, my heart was ice. Feeling me tense up, Kian paused. He glanced up at the wall clock. 8:55 PM. The lust in the Alpha's eyes vanished instantly. Replaced by cold, hard logic. "Aurora, it's almost 9." He let go, taking a swift step back. "I need my space. Any pack reports today?" This was how he loved me. Restrained. Routine. Never breaking the rules for anyone. Even during the most painful nights of my heat, once 9 PM hit, he pushed me away. I looked at him calmly. "No. Nothing at all." Satisfied with my rationality, Kian turned into the study. The door didn't click shut. I stood in the shadows of the hallway, watching him with dead eyes. Tick, tock. 9:00 PM. His private phone lit up instantly. A name flashed. Lily. The Alpha who needed "absolute silence" moved impossibly fast to answer. I let out a bitter, mocking laugh in the dark. He didn't hate exceptions. I just wasn't one of them. Late that night, I went back to the master bedroom. Kian laid with his back to me. Fast asleep, or so it seemed. But in the moonlight, I saw it clearly. That burning hot phone was face down on the nightstand. In his right ear? A micro Bluetooth bud. He was falling asleep listening to another Omega's breathing. Expressionless, I pulled out my phone and replied to the Council. [I accept the appointment as Envoy to the Northern Tundra. I leave in three days.] Sent. I closed my eyes. My wolf was eerily quiet. For the first time in five years, I slept peacefully. The next morning. I changed into my black tactical gear, shoving the transfer papers into my bag. Walking past the nightstand, I grazed his private phone. Still burning hot. The lingering warmth of a 12-hour unbroken call. "Aurora." Kian's voice came from behind. He was in a crisp white shirt, holding a dark grey tie. He stopped in front of me naturally, dipping his head. Waiting for me to tie it, just like I had for the last five years. I didn't move. Kian frowned, confused. He grabbed my wrist. "What's wrong? Why aren't you doing my tie?" His thumb rubbed my pulse. A look of fond exasperation in his eyes. I pulled my hand back. My voice was ice. "Learn to do it yourself. Or get your precious, attentive Omega to do it." Hearing "Lily", Kian's harsh features softened instantly. A subconscious urge to protect flashed in his eyes. He smiled faintly, lips curving up. "You're throwing a tantrum again, Aurora. The whole pack knows you're the future Luna." He reached to touch my face. I dodged. He pulled his hand back, annoyed. "Lily is just a fragile Omega. It's hard for her here. She isn't tough like you. She can't handle stress. Can you stop being so petty?" Petty. I didn't even bother to scoff. "Think whatever you want." I grabbed my bag and turned away. "Stop." Kian's voice dropped, dripping with Alpha command. "If you're going to have this attitude, skip making my calming tea at noon. Lily said she'd do it." An Alpha's instincts are prone to feral rage. I spent two hours every single day brewing rare herbs to calm his nerves. Never missed a day. Now, just to defend another woman, he wiped out all my efforts. "Fine by me." I looked back and smirked. "Saves me the trouble." Kian froze. I ignored the confusion in his eyes and walked out the door. 10:00 AM. Council Hall. The Elder handed me a red-stamped file. "Aurora, this is your Envoy Seal. Once activated, you are officially out of the Valerius Pack's jurisdiction." "Thank you." I looked out the window. The white roses were in full bloom, petals dancing in the wind. The suffocating weight on my chest vanished. Pure freedom washed over me. I pulled out my phone, opening the Elder Council's chat. Pinned at the top were the details for next month's Mating Ceremony. Without a second thought, I typed: [Cancel all preparations for the ceremony. I will not be attending.] Sent. A dull ache throbbed in my chest—my wolf's lingering instinct for her mate. But it faded into nothingness almost instantly. I locked my phone and tossed it in my bag. Chapter 2 Leaving the hall, I swung by the Pack Headquarters. The Elders needed a territory defense map. Rounding the corner to the lounge, I caught guards whispering. "See that? Lily came with the Alpha again today." "His scent is always so gentle around her. They're a better match, honestly." "Shh! Aurora is the future Luna!" "So what? The Alpha never looks at her in public. It's just a political marriage to secure the pack." I stopped walking. Right. The whole pack knew I was the Luna-to-be. But to them, Kian and I looked like strangers. Because he said an Alpha must maintain absolute authority. No public affection. No weakness. I thought that was the price of being a leader. Until I walked past his private lounge. The door was cracked open. Through the gap, I saw Kian. He leaned back on the sofa, tie loosened, looking exhausted. And Lily? Kneeling by his legs, softly offering him a steaming mug of hot cocoa. "Kian, just a sip. You're too tired." I gripped the map hard. As an apex predator, Kian hated sweet things. He claimed it dulled a wolf's senses. Once, seeing him work late, I brought him a cup. He glared at me, smashed the mug on the floor, and accused me of trying to dull his fangs. And now? He looked at Lily and just furrowed his brows slightly. His dominant, imposing eyes were full of sickening indulgence. He leaned down and drank the cocoa right from her hands. And that wasn't all. He reached out. His thumb naturally, intimately, wiped a smudge of chocolate off her lip. As his skin touched hers, Lily blushed. Her voice trembled. "Kian... will I break your mental wall after 9 PM again tonight?" Kian didn't hesitate. His deep voice pierced through the door, striking my eardrums. "It's fine. You're an exception." You're an exception. The words wrapped around my heart like poisonous vines, choking the life out of me. The sheer agony almost suffocated me. My wolf completely stopped fighting and simply closed her eyes. After the pain, a weird numbness spread through my veins. I didn't even want to push the door open and scream at him anymore. I turned and quietly left the Pack Headquarters. 7:00 PM. Kian called. "Come down." His voice came through the speaker. That familiar mix of intimacy and command. "My mother wants us at the Pack House for a family dinner. I'm waiting downstairs." Right. He still cared about me. He'd take me to family dinners. He'd claim me fiercely in bed. But he gave his soul's only "exception" to another woman. Without a second thought. I walked downstairs. His black SUV sat in the dark. I walked over, habitually reaching for the passenger door. The Luna's seat. But as the door pulled open, I froze. Lily was in my seat. Nibbling on a butter cookie. Crumbs were falling onto the leather. Kian was fiercely territorial and a neat freak. No weird smells in his car. Definitely no eating. I once brought raw meat with a faint scent of blood inside. He kicked me out instantly, telling me to control my wild side. But now? Kian stood outside the driver's door, looking at the crumbs. His face was calm. Not an ounce of anger. Seeing me, Lily shrank back like a scared rabbit. "Aurora..." Her eyes turned red. She fumbled with the seatbelt. "I'm sorry. I felt dizzy, so the Alpha let me sit here. I'll move." She said she'd move, but she took her sweet time. Kian walked around the hood and stood in front of me. His massive frame blocking my way. He grabbed my hand, thumb stroking my palm. His little way of comforting me. "She doesn't feel well." Kian looked at me. Calm. Unapologetically taking her side. "Sit in the back. Don't fight with her over this." He was waiting for me to cave. Waiting for me to swallow my pride and protect his ego, just like I did for five years. I stared into his deep eyes. There was love for me in them. But also absolute certainty that I would step aside. I slowly pulled my hand away. "It's fine." I even smiled. I was shocked by how calm I sounded. "You keep it." I looked at Lily. "It's just a seat." Lily froze. Kian froze too. I caught the flash of shock and confusion in his eyes. He probably expected me to blow up. To scream. To assert dominance like a real wolf. But he didn't know—you only fight for things you still care about. I walked straight to the back and got in. I didn't look at Kian's empty hand. Or his suddenly furrowed brows. The car started, merging into the night. A suffocating silence filled the space. Kian checked the rearview mirror multiple times. His eyes were searching. There was a hint of annoyance, a panic of losing control that he didn't even realize. He tried to break the ice. "Aurora, my mother made your favorite..." "I'm tired. I want to rest." I shut my eyes, cutting him off coldly. Kian's breath hitched. His knuckles turned white on the steering wheel. But he didn't snap. He just quietly turned up the heat. I turned my head, watching the dark trees blur past. No tears. No heartbreak. I realized I genuinely wasn't sad anymore. Looking at the man I loved for five years in the front seat, I just felt... light. It's just a seat. It's just a man. To me, they're exactly the same. Trash meant to be thrown away. Chapter 3 The car pulled up to the Valerius estate. Kian's mother, the former Luna Anya, was waiting on the steps. Seeing the headlights, she rushed over. But she walked right past Kian. And completely ignored me in the back. She went straight to the passenger side and opened the door herself. "Lily, finally!" Anya beamed with affection, grabbing Lily's hands to help her out. "You must be exhausted at the Pack Headquarters today. Look at you, so pale!" Lily blushed, flattered. She leaned into Anya, shaking her head timidly. "I'm not tired, former Luna. Kian handled so many pack disputes today. He's the tired one. I just poured him water." "Such a good, sweet girl. Not like some people who only know how to fight." Anya laughed loudly. Arm in arm, they walked toward the door like mother and daughter. A few yards away, Anya finally seemed to remember me. She threw a dismissive glance over her shoulder. I calmly got out, standing in the night breeze. Kian walked around the car to my side. His warm hand naturally slid to my lower back, pulling me in. An absolute, possessive claim of a mate. But right now, his touch burned. My stomach churned with physical disgust. I shifted slightly, smoothly dodging his hand. Kian grabbed empty air. His face darkened instantly. His brows slammed together, annoyance flashing in his eyes at being rejected. "Aurora, what is your problem?" He glared down at me, voice low, dropping a harsh warning. "Drop the attitude. I don't want to see this cold face in front of my family." I looked up, meeting his eyes dead on. For five years, to protect his image, I was the one who compromised. The tolerant, flawless mate. And for what? My nails dug into my palms. Not from sadness, but from how absurd this all was. "I'm just in a bad mood," I shot back smoothly. "Kian, I'm not your subordinate. I don't have to walk on eggshells for you." Kian froze. In five years, I had never spoken to him with such venom. His face visibly darkened. His Alpha pride couldn't handle the disrespect. "Aurora! Watch your tone!" He grabbed my wrist, his grip terrifyingly strong, stopping just short of hurting me. "You're the future Luna. Can't you control your damn emotions? If you don't know how, go learn from Lily! Look how docile she is!" Learn from Lily. What a joke. I stared at him for two seconds. Stared at this handsome, dominant face that was so incredibly cruel to me. "Okay." I chuckled softly. I stopped fighting and lowered my eyes obediently. "I promise." My quick surrender shocked him again. His rage hit a brick wall. A flash of panic he couldn't understand flickered in his eyes. But he said nothing. He just gripped my hand tight and dragged me into the dining room. The long table was packed with meat. I glanced over it. Medium-well venison. French lamb chops. And a thick soup garnished with Silver-leaf. Anya sat at the head. "Lily, eat more of this. I had them add your favorite sweet berries." "Thank you, Ma'am!" Lily smiled sweetly, her eyes drifting toward me. Anya followed her gaze. She raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with fake pity. "Aurora, I'm so sorry. You always have that cold face on. I honestly have no idea what you like. Just make do, okay?" I didn't say a word. I just picked up my ice water and took a sip. Kian, sitting next to me, finally sensed the tension. Trying to smooth things over, he grabbed a spoon and scooped a bowl of the soup with Silver-leaf. He placed it in front of me. "Drink this." His tone softened, like he was doing me a favor. Then he complained, "Mother is right. You never share what you like. You need to change that. Be more like Lily. She's simple, cute. She wears her heart on her sleeve." I stared at the silver leaves floating in the bowl. My throat felt like it was stuffed with wet cotton. Silver-leaf was a common werewolf stimulant. But to me? It was a deadly allergen. One sip, and my throat would swell shut. My wolf would crash into severe weakness. Five years together. He remembered Lily loved sweet berries. He remembered Lily had low blood sugar. He remembered Lily was afraid of the dark. But he didn't even know what could literally kill me. Not only did he not know, he stepped on my "coldness" to praise Lily's "cuteness." Looking at that soup, I wanted to burst out laughing. Five years. Reduced to this pathetic joke. Bzz. My phone vibrated faintly in my pocket. I put the glass down and pulled it out. An encrypted text from the Supreme Council. [Envoy Aurora, the escort to the Northern Tundra is ready for 8 AM tomorrow. Meet at the territory border on time.] My heart settled completely. I didn't touch the soup. I didn't touch the silverware. I sat up perfectly straight in my seat. Across the table, Anya was showing Lily an expensive moonstone necklace. Kian chimed in, indulging them, his eyes constantly drifting to Lily. I just sat there like a spectator, watching their happy little family. I didn't fit in. And I didn't want to anymore. Chapter 4 On the ride back, Lily took the passenger seat like she owned it. I sat in the back, eyes closed. I didn't even waste a glance on them. Back at our apartment, Kian was in a great mood. He took off his suit jacket, unbuttoned his collar, and walked over to me. He was holding a thick catalog of Luna ceremony gowns. "Aurora, come look." He sat next to me, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. His voice held a rare, genuine warmth and excitement. "The Mating Ceremony is next month. I picked out a few dresses. Tell me if you like them." He opened the book and pointed at a page. "This one is perfect for you." His deep eyes reflected my face, like I was his most precious treasure. I looked at where he was pointing. A pure white gown. The hem and collar were heavily hand-embroidered with silver thread. The pattern? Lilies of the valley. Lily. Her favorite flower. The symbol of her name. Even for our most sacred mating dress, his subconscious was entirely focused on another woman. I stared at the dress, a deep sneer flashing in my eyes. "It's beautiful." I looked up, meeting his eager gaze. My voice was dead calm. "Let's go with this one." I wasn't going to wear it anyway. Hearing my instant agreement, Kian's smile grew huge. He was thrilled with my "obedience" tonight. He cupped my face and kissed my forehead. A kiss that felt like a reward. "I knew you'd love it." His deep voice brushed my ear, full of Alpha charm and indulgence. "Aurora, as long as you don't throw tantrums, we are the perfect mates." He let go, grabbed his pajamas, and walked into the bathroom, practically glowing. The second the bathroom door clicked shut, my calm mask shattered. I grabbed a sanitizing wipe from the table and scrubbed my forehead. Hard. Once. Twice. Three times. I didn't stop until my skin was raw, red, and burning. Everywhere he touched made me physically sick. The clock struck 9:00 PM. Kian walked out of the bathroom on the dot. The Bluetooth bud was already in his right ear. He didn't even glance at the wide-open closet. Half of my clothes were gone. He didn't notice the black suitcase sitting at the foot of the bed. He just put his phone face down on the nightstand, turned his back to me, and used his softest voice to start another endless night with another woman. I turned my back to him, quietly waiting for dawn. Midnight. A feral roar ripped through the bedroom. I snapped my eyes open. Kian—the man who prided himself on absolute logic and control—shot up from the bed like a madman. His eyes were bloodshot with pure panic. His wild Alpha scent exploded, filling the room until I couldn't breathe. "Hold on! I'm coming!" Kian's voice shook. It was terror from the absolute depths of his soul. He didn't even put his shoes on properly. He stumbled out of the room, slammed the front door open, and sprinted into the night. From start to finish, he didn't look at me once. Like I was totally invisible. I sat up, leaned against the headboard, and opened the pack's forum. Ten minutes later, a video was pinned to the top. It blew up instantly. In the video, a border outpost was up in flames. Lily had been ambushed by rogues on her patrol. The footage showed Kian in his massive wolf form, ripping a rogue's throat out. He didn't stop until the rogue was nothing but blood and bone. When the guards arrived, he was clutching Lily. He held the trembling Omega against his chest, his massive body curled protectively over her, his face buried in her hair. Even through the screen, I could feel his lingering terror. I watched the video in silence. Watched the man who swore he loved me, who was about to mate me, completely abandon every rule and disguise for another woman. A comment caught my eye: [Look at them holding each other. Their souls are resonating. Wishing the Alpha and his Omega happiness.] I read the comment. A relieved smile touched my lips. I hit the thumbs-up button. In that exact second, I felt it. The bleeding wolf inside me finally turned to ash. Kian didn't come back that night. 6:00 AM. The morning sun tore through the dark, lighting up the empty apartment. I put on my black trench coat and grabbed the handle of my suitcase. At the entryway, I stopped. I pulled the bone ring out of my pocket—the symbol of the future Luna—and set it gently on the shoe cabinet. No regrets. No looking back. I opened the door and walked out. 7:00 AM. The armored convoy to the Northern Tundra sped down the highway. I pulled out my phone and tapped into the Valerius Pack's mind-link broadcast. I opened the text box, typed one line, and hit [Pin to All]. [Announcement: I, Aurora Thorne, due to personal reasons, officially step down from the position of Luna, effective immediately.] Then, I powered off the phone. I pulled out the SIM card I'd used for five years, cracked the window, and tossed it into the howling wind. The second the convoy crossed the pack borders, the chains that had choked me for five years shattered. Kian and I were done. Forever.