Chapter 5

Today was my last patrol as Kyle’s deputy.

And Selena’s first public mission since returning as territorial liaison.

I was in the restroom, carefully adjusting my black combat uniform, when the door opened softly and Selena walked in on high heels.

She leaned against the doorframe and let her eyes drag over me.

“How pathetic,” she said. “You’ve been with Kyle for five years, and he still can’t even publicly admit you exist. Looks like in his eyes, you’ll always be someone he keeps in the dark.”

I kept adjusting my cuff as if I hadn’t heard her.

“Do you know what Kyle said to me that night in Central Park?” Her red lips curled. “He said what he missed most was the time we used to patrol together.”

My fingers tightened slightly. The metal edge of the cufflink dug into my skin.

“Thank you for all your hard work these past five years,” she continued, stepping closer. “His deputy by day, his bedmate by night. But I’m sure you’ve noticed by now—the positions he likes most? I taught him those.”

“If that’s what you want to say, you should be saying it to Kyle.” I turned to face her. “Or is bragging only fun when you do it in front of me?”

Her smile froze. Clearly, she hadn’t expected me to hit back.

“Layla, don’t you feel humiliated?” Her voice dropped. “Clinging to an Alpha who doesn’t love you? You know perfectly well Kyle has only ever wanted me. He was just using you to kill time.”

She took another step forward.

“Those ‘gifts’ he gave you? They were all styles I didn’t want. Even him—I had him first. He and I fit each other best. In every way.”

I looked at her calmly and suddenly found the entire scene ridiculous.

She thought I would break.

But ever since I found those flirtatious texts on Kyle’s phone, my heart had already become a dead flower.

No amount of provocation could make it bloom again.

“If the two of you are that perfect together,” I said coolly, “then enjoy your reunion.”

I shot her one last cold glance, turned, and pushed open the restroom door.

Summer sunlight spilled down over my black uniform. I narrowed my eyes and let the warmth settle on my skin.

From today on, my life would be like that light too—

bright, clean, and warm.

…

In the command room, Kyle was running final patrol checks.

We worked together flawlessly, just as we had for the past five years.

“Eastern border check confirmed.”

“Eastern border, confirmed complete.”

“Patrol formation adjustment.”

“Adjustment complete. Confirmed.”

But every command he gave was telling me the same thing—

today was the goodbye.

As the convoy rolled out of the fortress, I watched the New York skyline recede outside the window and knew this would be the last time I ever stood at his side.

From here on, I would lead my own unit.

I would patrol territory that belonged to me.

Halfway through the route, Kyle ordered a short stop, and we got out one by one to inspect the surrounding area.

The moment I stepped into the supply zone, I ran straight into Selena.

“Kyle.”

She called his name sweetly, but her eyes flicked across my face with open provocation.

Then it happened.

A heavy supply crate stacked on the overhead rack suddenly came loose and crashed straight down.

For one frozen second, time stopped.

I saw Kyle instinctively yank Selena into his arms—

and the crate slammed into my right shoulder.

The pain exploded through me. I staggered, but I still looked up at once to check the safety of the overhead rig.

“Layla!” one of the patrol members shouted.

I forced myself forward despite the pain and started handling the situation immediately.

I glanced at Kyle.

He was still holding Selena tightly. His expression darkened for a moment, then he looked away.

“Go calm the others first,” I told the patrolman. “Tell them it was just an accident. Today’s patrol continues as planned.”

After the others left, I looked up at the loosened latch.

“Whose responsibility is this?”

Selena lifted her head from Kyle’s chest, her gaze flickering.

“Sorry. I took something from there just now. Maybe I didn’t secure it properly.”

I rubbed my throbbing shoulder and kept my tone hard.

“You can’t even handle something this basic? What if it had hit someone else?”

“Layla.” Kyle finally spoke, frowning. “It was an accident. Don’t be so harsh.”

The words hit like a stone in my chest.

Three months ago, a rookie had forgotten to lock a supply truck during patrol. After that mission, Kyle had called a full one-hour safety meeting.

“There’s no such thing as an ‘accident’ during territorial patrol.”

That was what he had said back then.

I opened my mouth—

and then only let out a bitter laugh.

Without another word, I turned and walked away.

Back in the command room, the air between us felt frozen solid.

He tried to speak several times, but no words came out.

At last, Kyle said quietly, “About what happened just now… I’m sorry. But Selena was closer to me. I just reacted on instinct—”

“It’s fine.”

I stared out at the dark line of forest rushing past the window and suddenly found the whole thing absurd.

“Anyway, this was the last patrol I was ever going to do with you.”

His expression stiffened. His fingers curled tighter.

“You’re still angry about what happened?”

I looked away from the distance and shook my head lightly.

“No.”

He studied my profile and deliberately softened his voice.

“Selena’s been away from this position for five years. She needs time to adjust again. You shouldn’t be so hard on her.”

Those words were the final straw.

My shoulder was still throbbing, but what truly made me go cold was his attitude—

the one who made the mistake was protected gently,

while the one who got hurt was blamed for being too harsh.

How pathetic.

This final patrol, which should have ended with dignity, had turned into something this ridiculous.

I never said another word.

The pain in my right shoulder landed like the clearest period imaginable at the end of these five years.

Some roads are meant to be finished alone.