The Secret Lover He Finally Lost

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In the fourth year of being Liam's secret lover, he found his fated mate.

At the party, I heard his friend ask him:

Liam, now that you've found your fated mate, what about Aria? Don't you have any feelings for her at all?

Liam chuckled softly, his tone casual.

Her? She's great as a bed partner.

As for other feelings... none. After all, we're just too familiar with each other. There's no excitement left.

"But I'm planning to transfer her to the guard squad. Best to keep her far away from me, so Chloe doesn't get jealous."

So all along, he only saw me as a bed partner.

But when I truly left him and went to a new pack thousands of miles away.

He followed me, begging me to look back at him just once.

Aria POV

The 99th time I had sex with my childhood friend Liam, he was still incredibly wild.

The next morning, I was covered in kiss marks. Just moving slightly made my lower abdomen throb.

The intimate atmosphere still lingered in the room. Liam's slender hand wrapped around me as he said casually, "Tomorrow, dress formally and come with me to the 18th birthday celebration for those young pups."

Hearing this, I lifted my head in shock, my voice full of hope.

"Are you finally going to... make our relationship public?"

The pack held an annual celebration for members turning 18.

Because 18 was a very important day for werewolves.

Most of them would awaken their wolves on this day and find the mate the Moon Goddess had arranged for them.

Every year's celebration was hosted by the Alpha and Luna.

Or handed over to the Alpha's heir and his mate.

Liam raised an eyebrow and glanced at me sideways. "Make what public? My fated mate might be among them. I might not be able to take care of everyone, so I'm asking you to help me maintain order at the event."

Each word fell on my ears like thunder.

My heart nearly stopped beating. My entire mind went blank. "You still haven't given up searching for your fated mate? Then what am I to you?"

Liam had already gotten up to get dressed. He glanced at me lazily. "You? You're my partner in everything. We eat together, game together, train together, and we're also bed partners who satisfy each other's desires."

A chill spread through my body. The color slowly drained from my face. My lips trembled lightly.

Seeing my expression, the smile on Liam's face gradually faded. He slowly leaned closer to me. "Wait, Aria, you didn't think we've been mates all these years, did you?"

His playful tone pierced through my heart like a sharp blade.

I forced down the stinging sensation in my nose. My voice became broken and out of tune. "How, how could I? I'll go take a shower first."

I got up in a panic and walked unsteadily into the bathroom.

As soon as the door closed, I felt all my strength drain away. I collapsed to the floor.

Those words still echoed in my ears. I looked at the dense kiss marks Liam had left all over my body. Tears fell like rain.

We'd known each other for over twenty years and grew up together. We'd drunk from the same glass of milk and flipped through the same comic books.

Even at eighteen, because neither of us had found our fated mates, we drunkenly slept together.

Once led to a second time, and a third time...

At night our bodies were incredibly compatible. During the day, we did all the intimate things that only mates would do.

Holding hands while walking in the forest, kissing when the new year arrived and promising to stay together next year...

Even things that should have been handled by his mate had all been handled by me over the years.

I always thought we were together, just that we hadn't performed the official marking ceremony yet.

Now Liam was telling me we weren't mates?

So this was why he refused to mark me...

The pain made it impossible to breathe. I turned the water to maximum with trembling hands before I dared to cry out loud.

I don't know how long it was before my tears dried up and I finally pulled myself together enough to come out.

Liam had already changed clothes and was sitting on the sofa making a phone call.

"Set up a few more chairs in the dining room tomorrow. There are many young ladies and lads turning 18 this year. For the cake, get blackberry honey cake and prepare plenty of it. They'll love it. For flowers, get moonflowers and night glow grass. Send me pictures after you've decorated. Then prepare a dozen formal outfits for me to choose from when I get back."

He was making such detailed and careful arrangements for his potentially appearing fated mate.

Yet he didn't care about me right beside him.

The light in my eyes dimmed.

The heart pain that had just stopped for a moment surged up again. It hurt so much I couldn't hold my phone.

With a bang, Liam turned around at the sound and smiled. "Done showering? Then let's go home. Get ready... maybe that fated mate of yours who never showed up is among these guys too."

He picked up his jacket and got up to leave. Before walking out the door, he turned back to look at me once more.

His eyes carried a silver light, letting me know his wolf was in control of his body at this moment.

"Ari, I've always considered you my best friend. Don't show me that deathly expression in the future, or I'll think you've fallen in love with me. I know you inside and out, and with just one look you instantly know what I'm thinking. Don't you think living like that is too boring? If we actually got together, it would feel like life reached its end point right away."

The voice gradually faded with the footsteps but kept echoing in my heart.

I sat on the cold bed, then laughed and laughed until I cried.

So all these years, this was what Liam had been thinking.

I sat alone until late into the night before going downstairs to check out of the room.

It was pouring rain outside, but I walked through it as if I couldn't feel it, returning home in a daze.

Seeing me drenched like a drowned rat, my parents quickly brought dry towels, their voices full of concern. "It's raining so hard. Why didn't you use an umbrella?"

They were always like this, still treating me like a fragile little pup.

But in reality, I'd had my wolf for years and hadn't been sick in a long time.

I looked at my parents numbly, my eyes lifeless, my voice hoarse.

"I'm fine."

My father, William, the current Alpha's beta, rubbed my head.

"Tomorrow is the pack celebration. Get ready. Maybe your fated mate will appear at the celebration."

I hummed in response and returned to my bedroom, throwing away everything related to Liam.

The thick albums of photos I'd carefully preserved for over a decade, the various necklaces he'd given me, dresses, hand-carved statues...

All of it was now thrown into the trash.

"Aria, all these nice things, you don't want them anymore?"

My friend Davies, who had come to invite me out, asked in surprise.

Seeing the regret in Davies' eyes, I nodded lightly, my voice flat.

"I don't want them anymore."

Not just these things. This relationship, and Liam himselfI didn't want any of it anymore.

The next day, I was woken up by messages from Liam.

He sent dozens of messages asking when I'd come over.

My heart felt bitter. Liam, do you realize how cruel you're being?

With trembling hands, I simply replied: "Not feeling well today. Not going."

Soon after, my parents came knocking on my door.

"Aria, even if you're having a fight with Liam, you can't act up at a time like this. Hurry up and change clothes to go to Liam's house. You don't knowLiam found his fated mate early! She's a very smart girl. She didn't need to receive the Moon Goddess's blessing and help at the celebration. She awakened her wolf on her own."

"That's right, Aria. Since Liam has found his fated mate, this year's celebration will be assisted by her and Luna Eleanor. But she hasn't learned how to do it yet. You need to go quickly and teach her the important things. We can't let the pack celebration be ruined."

When I wouldn't go, Liam actually went straight to my parents!

Hearing their earnest persuasion, I could only hold back my tears and went downstairs to wash up.

The two houses were close. Ten minutes later, I stood at the Alpha's front door and opened the shoe cabinet.

It was empty. I couldn't see my favorite fuzzy slippers.

I searched up and down several times before finally finding the slippers in the trash bin outside the door.

Besides the shoes, there was also a water cup, toothbrush, towel, pajamas...

All belonging to me.

"Aria, Liam threw all these away. Please use shoe covers instead."

Looking at the trash bin, I was silent for a long time.

Because Alpha Benjamin and my father beta William were close, I came over to visit almost every day and occasionally stayed overnight.

Liam had specially prepared a bedroom for me and bought many daily necessities, specifically choosing styles I liked.

He said this was my home and I shouldn't be shy about it.

We hid from both families, hugging and kissing at the doorway, holding hands under the dinner table, being intimate and tender in the study.

Now that he'd found his fated mate, he threw away everything related to me.

It took me a long time to calm down before I changed into the shoe covers.

As soon as I entered, I saw Liam peeling fruit for a woman. The two of them were laughing and talking.

He sat on the sofa wearing a custom satin formal outfit. His hair had been carefully styled and he wore cologne.

He carried the mature handsomeness unique to Alphas.

I'd often heard the pack say he looked good, that he'd be handsome even in a burlap sack, and if he dressed up more, more girls would definitely want to sleep with him.

But Liam was naturally wild and unrestrained. Usually he just wore ordinary t-shirts and dress shirts. He didn't like to dress up.

So even in front of his fated mate, he would display himself like a peacock?

I also knew that woman.

I was the beta's daughter and had received training from the pack's elite warriors since childhood.

So I was occasionally commissioned to go to the school and teach students some necessary combat skills.

This girl was named Chloe, a school director's daughter. She was smart and learned combat techniques quickly.

I forced myself to greet them despite my sadness.

The man who had been intimate with me in bed yesterday now acted like he didn't know me. He only glanced at me once before shifting his gaze back to focus on Chloe.

They chatted about hobbies, weather, work, jewelry brands, childhood stories, and school days.

Watching Liam constantly finding topics and talking eloquently, I lowered my eyes in self-mockery.

So in front of someone he liked, he could be this proactive.

"I never thought my fated mate would be you. Many young ladies in the pack have a crush on you and fantasize about marrying you."

Hearing Chloe's laughing teasing, I watched Liam's reddening ears and smiled silently.

So this was the charm of a fated mate? Even someone like Liam would blush.

While I was lost in thought, I suddenly heard my own name.

"You're Aria, right? I took your combat class. I heard you and Liam have a very good relationship."

I froze slightly. When I looked up, I saw Chloe's probing gaze.

Before I could speak, Alpha Benjamin and Luna Eleanor cheerfully chimed in.

"Pretty good indeed. The two have been inseparable since childhood. Originally we planned to let Aria and Liam..."

Halfway through, Liam's face darkened. He directly interrupted them.

"Mom, Dad, don't talk nonsense. I'd like anyone before I'd like Aria."

I lowered my eyes to hide the loss in them and forced out a smile. "Me too. I'd be with anyone before I'd be with Liam."

Hearing this, Liam's expression froze for a moment before quickly returning to normal.

He put his hand on my shoulder, looking unconcerned. "Exactly! Aria and I are just like Dad and beta William."

For a moment, the atmosphere in the living room relaxed considerably.

I laughed along and vaguely heard Liam's relieved whispered thanks.

"Not bad. You even help me smooth things over now. Thanks."

I said nothing, just imperceptibly shifted a few steps to the side, distancing myself from him.

Smooth things over?

No. I meant what I said.

Near evening, we prepared to attend the evening celebration.

Moonclaw Pack was a very large pack with extensive territory.

The celebration was on the other side of the forest. Driving there would take a full half hour, so my father arranged vehicles for us.

Liam, Chloe, and Ithree young peoplerode in one car.

Throughout the journey, Liam, sitting in the middle, took meticulous care of Chloe.

He adjusted the air conditioning temperature, got a blanket, helped her get water and unscrewed the bottle cap.

I sat on the left, watching the two of them chat animatedly, silently turning to look at the scenery outside the window.

Halfway there, a torrential rain started pouring from the sky.

The road surface had poor lighting, and the car ahead turned on its high beams. James, who was driving, was blinded and couldn't dodge in time. He crashed straight into it.

The instant the danger occurred, Liam instinctively protected Chloe in his arms.

Bang

The car window glass shattered and flew everywhere. I, sitting on the inside, was hit and covered in blood.

Intense pain spread throughout my body. I felt like my whole body was falling apart.

In my hazy consciousness, I saw the right car door open.

Liam anxiously carried Chloe out of the car.

It was as if he'd forgotten there was another person in the car. He paid no attention at all.

The healer who rushed over urgently suggested taking the more seriously injured person for treatment first. But between me lying in a pool of blood and Chloe, who was frightened and disoriented in his arms, Liam only hesitated for a few seconds before still choosing to take Chloe to the hospital first.

Watching that figure move farther and farther away, the focus in my eyes slowly dispersed. I couldn't hold back my tears anymore.

So this was the relationship between fated mates.

More important than my twenty-plus years of connection with him.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find someone who loved me, and the person I loved didn't love me at all.

My eyelids grew heavier and heavier. That continuous tormenting pain dissipated like mist.

My wolf anxiously called out to me in my mind.

But my eyes went dark and I completely lost consciousness.

I don't know how long it was before I heard noisy voices.

As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw my mother patting her chest, her voice full of worry and relief.

"Thank the Moon Goddess, Aria, you finally woke up. Luckily your wolf contacted me in time, so we could rush back to save you. Three of you were in one car. How come that girl only scraped her hand while you were hurt so badly?"

My father also breathed a sigh of relief and picked up a water glass for a drink.

"That's naturally because of Liam's protection. After all, they're fated mates. The pull of destiny can't be changed. Plus Chloe is strong too, which is good for the pack. I really hope she'll become a Luna like Eleanor in the future."

I listened quietly. When they finished talking, I spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Dad, Mom, I want to leave the pack."

Father froze for a moment, but he didn't get angry at my words.

Werewolves valued loyalty. My father was Alpha Benjamin's beta and had deep loyalty to the Alpha and the pack.

But at the same time, he also loved his daughterme.

"Sweetheart, why? What happened?"

Tears immediately welled up in my eyes. I hugged my mother and told them everything about Liam and me.

After hearing everything, Father couldn't believe such things had happened.

"How could he do such a thing? We all know we must remain loyal to our mates... He dared to treat you like this! I'm going to find him..."

"No, Dad, don't go. I don't want others to know this happened."

Mom held me. "My daughter, how could you experience something like this?"

"Mom, I want to leave here."

I didn't want to make things difficult for them.

If it were an ordinary werewolf who had played with my feelings, my father would definitely beat them up.

But Liam was the Alpha's son, the next Alpha.

They couldn't betray the Alpha and the pack for me.

"Maybe if I leave here, I can find my fated mate and forget Liam."

I couldn't.

I was deceiving myself.

Even if I met my fated mate and was drawn to him by destiny, I could never forget Liam.

He and I grew up together. I'd admired him from a very young age.

"Baby, listen to me." Mother held me. "I won't abandon you. We can tell Alpha Benjamin you don't want to see Liam and have him transfer us to other positions..."

"No, Mom. As long as I'm still in the pack, I'll always see him. Liam is the next Alpha. We can't possibly never see him. Mom, let me leave alone."

"Aria." My father stood up. His eyes held sadness and determination. "If we leave, it doesn't necessarily mean betraying the pack. Liam found his fated mate. Soon he'll be crowned as the new Alpha with that woman as Luna. They'll appoint a new beta. At that time, my mission will be over. You remember, Alpha King once invited me to be a trainer at the kingdom's school... Alpha William will agree."

I hesitated for a while, then nodded in agreement.

Father and Mother went to discuss this matter with the Alpha and Luna.

The injuries on my body had mostly healed. Thanks to my wolf, she was always working hard to heal me.

I left the hospital just in time to catch the end of the celebration.

Surrounded by young werewolves, Liam was holding a large bouquet of roses and confessing to Chloe.

"Chloe, my fated mate, I've searched for you for many years. Are you willing to come to my side, become my mate, and belong only to me?"

After hearing Chloe say "I do," I smiled softly and turned to leave the celebration venue.

The moment I turned around, enthusiastic applause erupted from the crowd of onlookers.

Hearing the sound, Liam turned his head and saw my lonely, solitary figure.

The smile on his face froze. An odd feeling arose in his heart.

This slight discomfort only lasted an instant before being quickly drowned by overwhelming joy.

He reached out his hand, openly and generously.

He pulled Chloe into his arms.

That night, my parents came to see me at the hospital.

They also handled my discharge procedures.

Luna Eleanor personally rushed over to express her apology to me.

"Dear, I didn't know this would happen. In fact, we truly expected you to become Liam's mate more." She held my hand. "Even if you can't be together, you shouldn't have been hurt by him."

I was very grateful for this.

"Can't you really stay? You could become captain of the guard squad. Your abilities are sufficient for this position."

"No." I shook my head. "Liam and I were once secret lovers. If Chloe finds out about this, she'll be angry too. I must leave here. You know that."

I didn't want to become a third party.

Luna Eleanor sighed and eventually nodded.

She could understand what I meant. If it were her, she also couldn't accept Alpha Benjamin keeping some lover around him.

"I'll personally write a letter to the Luna Queen to express your wishes."

After saying this, Luna Eleanor looked at me with guilt.

I knew she wouldn't reveal what Liam had done to me.

That was fine. I wouldn't resent her for it.

Luna Eleanor had just left when Liam arrived with Chloe.

"Aria, I have good news for you. In a while, Chloe and I will hold our marking ceremony. You're the first person I'm telling."

Looking at their tightly clasped hands, I nodded, my tone flat.

"Congratulations."

Chloe's eyes overflowed with happiness. She smiled shyly. "Thank you for your blessing. Beta William said you were seriously hurt. Are you feeling better now? I brought fish soup. Have some."

As she spoke, she had Liam hurry and serve the soup.

Seeing him obediently comply, I was stunned for a moment before reacting.

"Thank you, but I don't need the fish soup."

Hearing this, Liam's face immediately turned cold. He looked at me with displeasure. "This is soup Chloe personally cooked. I didn't want to give it to you in the first place. Chloe was concerned about your injury, so I reluctantly agreed to bring you a serving. How can you be so ungrateful?"

As he spoke, he poured a bowl and shoved it into my hands, insisting I drink it right now.

I tried to explain, but he grabbed my wrist.

In the struggle, the bowl was knocked over and hot soup spilled all over my wound.

"Ah!"

The pain made cold sweat break out on my forehead. My whole face crumpled. I was as pale as paper.

Chloe was startled and pulled out tissues to help wipe it, her face full of guilt.

Liam was afraid she'd get burned, so he quickly protected her behind him. "Chloe, this has nothing to do with you. She's been rough and tough since childhood. It's not a big deal. Don't blame yourself."

My hand holding the tissue trembled several times. My heart constricted.

The next second, my father pushed the door open. Seeing my wound starting to bleed again, he was so frightened he quickly called for a nurse.

My mother was heartbroken, but she still patiently put away the fish soup and explained to Chloe.

"Chloe, Aria is allergic to seafood. She can't have fish soup. We appreciate your thoughtfulness. Thank you."

Liam stood frozen in place, his expression becoming unnatural.

"Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Looking at the gauze stained red with blood, my heart was full of bitterness.

Before, he always remembered my dietary restrictions.

Every time we went to a restaurant, he would emphasize repeatedly to the servers: no peanut butter, no seafood.

But now with Chloe, his heart and eyes were full of her. Naturally he wouldn't remember such small things.

A person's heart is only so big. It can only hold one person.

The one they love most.

After a long silence, I smiled and answered him.

"You didn't give me a chance to speak."

The hospital room fell into dead silence. Chloe looked like she was about to cry from guilt.

Liam felt sorry for her. Without saying anything, he left with her.

I originally thought the wound suddenly bled because it hadn't fully healed yet and had been pulled open.

But when the healer came to examine me, they told me there seemed to be some silver seeping into the wound, which caused the bleeding again.

I was stunned for a moment but ultimately only told the healer it was an accident.

Even though I had my suspicions.

After applying more herbal medicine and the wound healed again, I went home with my parents.

The kingdom school had already sent Father an invitation.

Alpha Benjamin and Luna Eleanor also agreed to let our family leave.

They had already chosen a new beta and gamma for Liam.

Upon receiving the notice, the family immediately started packing.

My parents couldn't spare the time, so they prepared a generous gift and had me make a trip to the Alpha's house.

As soon as I entered, Luna Eleanor pulled me aside again and kept apologizing.

"Ari, I'm so sorry. After all these years of connection between you and Liam, in such a dangerous situation like the car accident, he only protected Chloe and ignored you, causing you such serious injury. I feel terrible about it. We'll definitely make him apologize to you."

I shook my head and gently comforted them.

"Chloe is Liam's fated mate. He searched for her for so long. It's right that he focused on protecting her. I'm fine. You don't need to worry."

I didn't tell them about the "silver" matter.

Seeing I didn't take it to heart, Alpha Benjamin and Luna Eleanor finally let go of their guilt.

The three of us exchanged pleasantries for a while before I brought up the real business, telling them the specific timeline for our family's departure.

Alpha Benjamin sighed.

"So soon?"

I apologetically answered, "I think perhaps leaving Liam as soon as possible is the best choice for all of us."

Longtime old friends were leaving. Alpha Benjamin and Luna Eleanor felt sad, their voices full of reluctance. "Perhaps in the future, you can still come back to visit."

I smiled. My voice was especially clear in the quiet living room. "Once I leave this time, I won't come back again."

Liam, who had just returned, pushed open the door and frowned as he looked over.

"Who's not coming back?"