The Research Claim for the Anti-Feral Serum I spent five years developing had someone else's name on it. Theo. My fated mate Seraphina's novice. I walked straight into her office and slapped the document on her desk. Seraphina, Head Healer of the Ironveil Pack Infirmary, barely glanced up. "I told him to put his name on it. So what? Theo is young. He needs this win." "Can you stop being so petty? Give a newblood a chance. Is that so hard?" I told her this was formula theft. Academic fraud. A Pack Law violation. She stripped my title as Senior Healer on the spot and assigned me to Omega Duties—cleaning the kennels. That afternoon, Theo posted a photo on the Pack social feed. Two hands locked together on a bed. I recognized the bond ring immediately. The one I had custom-made. One of a kind in the entire world. The caption read: My leader and my mate. I liked the post and commented: Congratulations to you and Head Healer Sera. May your bond be eternal. The next morning, Theo was announced as Senior Healer. I walked in, threw the Council Decree and the Bond Severance Papers on the table, and walked out. On my way out, I sent my father a message. Withdraw the Pack Alliance resources from the Infirmary. --- Later, I left for the Bloodmoon Pack in Europe. Seraphina lost her mind. --- I had just posted the comment when Seraphina's messages started flooding in. "Leo, are you insane? That's not me!" "Delete that comment right now. People are going to think I'm cheating!" I almost laughed. That bond ring was designed exclusively for her. There was no other like it anywhere. And she wanted to deny it. My phone rang. Tonight was supposed to be a celebration dinner. Two seats reserved. Mine and Seraphina's. Not anymore. "Sir, I'm calling to confirm your private booth for two at seven o'clock." I paused. "Change it to a table for one." I hung up. The Pack group chat pinged. Theo had posted a video apology. His voice cracked, eyes wet:"I'm so sorry, Leo. There's a misunderstanding. That's my girlfriend in the photo. She loved Seraphina's bond ring so much that I had one made just like it. I should have told you first. I'm sorry. Please forgive me." Seraphina added one line below it: It's fine, Theo. Don't apologize. A dirty mind sees dirt everywhere. The moment the Head Healer spoke, the chat erupted. "No one here is confused. Some people are just too small-minded." "Exactly. We've all seen Seraphina and Theo's character. Sounds like someone is just too sensitive." I read every reply and felt nothing but contempt. Every wolf in this Infirmary knew exactly what Seraphina and Theo were. And here they were, lying through their teeth. Then again—I was just a kennel-cleaner now. How could I compete with the Head Healer and her favorite? I didn't reply. I opened my desk drawer and took out the Bond Severance Papers. She had signed them a month ago. She was rushing off to take Theo's parents' blood pressure that day, barely home five minutes, and signed without reading a single word. I couldn't remember when Theo's schedule started outranking mine. But it didn't matter anymore. There was nothing left to hold onto. My phone rang again. Seraphina. Again. Nearly ten calls. For a moment, I thought—maybe she knows she crossed a line today. Maybe she's calling to apologize. I took a breath. I picked up. I was wrong. "Leo!" Seraphina's voice was sharp with anger.
"Where are you? Do you know what time it is? You're abandoning your post. Get back here. Now." I leaned back in my chair, fingers tracing the edge of the Severance Papers. "Abandoning my post?" I laughed once, short and flat. "Seraphina. You personally reassigned me to kennel duty. I'm not Senior Healer anymore, remember? Tonight's shift belongs to the new Senior Healer. Theo." Silence on the other end. She hadn't expected pushback. "Theo has a family emergency tonight. He can't cover the shift. I need you to come in." So she had already forgotten about our celebration dinner. Or she never listened when I told her about it. "Theo has an emergency? Find someone else. Or cover it yourself. After all—you are his leader and his mate. Isn't that your responsibility?" "Leo, you—" I hung up. Then I blocked her. I checked the time. The reservation was now. I drove to the restaurant. --- I sat alone at the table for one, staring at a full spread of food I couldn't eat. Maybe five years just couldn't compete with something new. I used to believe we were untouchable. That nothing could come between us. Then Theo arrived, and everything changed. I kept telling myself it was just a phase—that the excitement would fade and she'd come back to who she was. I was wrong. They only got worse. I lifted my fork. Put it down. The food had no taste. From the private booth next door, I heard cheering. "Congratulations to Healer Theo for completing the Anti-Feral Serum!" I gripped the fork. The voices next door filled my empty booth like a tide. "Theo is so young and already this accomplished! Incredible!" "Seraphina has such an eye for talent! Without her championing Theo, none of us would be celebrating tonight!" "Wait—is Leo not here?" "I heard Seraphina reassigned him to... kennel maintenance?" Someone dropped their voice, but the mockery was intact. "Probably too jealous of Theo's talent. Too embarrassed to show his face." "Don't mention that bad omen. Come on—a toast to Seraphina and Theo!" Then a voice I knew better than any other. Soft, warm, the tone she hadn't used with me in years. "Theo. Don't feel any pressure. This serum's success—you earned it."
"Thank you, Seraphina. Thank you, everyone!" Theo's voice, smug beneath the false humility. "Without Seraphina's guidance and your support, I wouldn't be standing here. This achievement belongs to all of us!" The food in front of me looked perfect. My stomach turned. I put my fork down hard. It cracked against the table. One more second in this place was too much. I pushed out of my booth and headed straight for the exit. I was almost at the corner when the restroom door swung open. Seraphina walked out. Her cheeks were flushed from drinking. The second she saw me, she stopped. "Leo?" She frowned, voice carrying its usual authority. "What are you doing here? Did you follow me?" Follow her. I almost laughed. "Your imagination is something, Seraphina." I turned to face her. "You forgot. Tonight. This place. This was supposed to be my celebration dinner. Ours." Her expression froze. A flicker of guilt crossed her face and vanished fast. "I've been busy. I forgot." She waved it off. "Look—Theo needed this formula claim to establish himself. The Infirmary needed a young symbol of success. Whoever the formula is credited to, it still benefits our pack. What does it matter whose name is on it? I know the truth. That's enough." She stepped closer. Her voice softened to something almost patronizing. "Here's what I'll do—in a few days, once the attention dies down, I'll reinstate your title. You go back to being Senior—" "No." I cut her off. My voice was flat. No anger. No grief. "Keep the position. Keep the formula. Give it all to you and your prized man." She blinked. A flash of surprise. She had assumed I would fold. That a little softening, a small concession, and I'd swallow it all again. Like always. "Leo! Stop being so impulsive. I'm giving you a way out of this. You—" Her phone rang. The moment she saw the name, her face transformed instantly. Every trace of irritation vanished. Her voice dropped to something gentle and indulgent. "Theo? I'm just outside. Coming back right now…" She couldn't quite hear whatever he was saying, but the tone on the other end was whiny. Dependent. "Okay, okay, don't worry." Her voice softened even further, like coaxing a pup. "I'm right here. Coming back now. You can't settle down without me there? Silly boy… be good. I'm on my way." She was already moving as she spoke. She glanced once toward the private booth—and walked away. She didn't look at me again. "Wait for me. Almost there." The hallway went quiet. Just me. I looked once at the closed booth door. Then I walked out of the restaurant without a single hesitation. My phone buzzed. A message from my research mentor. "Leo—you haven't submitted the Research Claim yet, have you? Don't. There's a problem with the compound."
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