Chapter 2 Marked by Pain, Not Love

Seraphina's POV

The second I pulled into the driveway, it hit me-there's nothing in this Alpha estate that actually belongs to me. Not a single damn thing.

I've got no clue where I'll be in 29 days, but right now? I've got to get out of here. Get away from Marcus. The only thing I'm taking with me is my dignity-probably the only thing I've got left.

I was zipping up my suitcase when Marcus barged into the room. His tall frame immediately took over the space, like he owned it-like he still owned me.

He came up to me like nothing had happened, leaning in to kiss the side of my neck. And damn that bond-it still made my spine tingle. A small gasp slipped out before I could stop it.

He got bolder, sliding one hand beneath my bra and shoving it aside like he had every right to. His fingers found my nipple, and before I knew it, my legs were jelly. Part of me wanted to lean in, to just lose myself in him-

Then his phone rang.

That stupid ringtone snapped me right out of it. I shoved him away.

"Seraphina? What the hell?!" Marcus barked, his tone all fire and fury. Seriously?

I stared him down, heart slamming in my chest, blood boiling. I despised how the mark still let him get to me. I needed out-like yesterday.

"I'm leaving," I said, steadying my breath. "Marcus, I want a divorce."

Crash!

The word hit him like a bomb. Behind me, the glass cabinet exploded, shards scattering across the hardwood like glittering confetti of destruction.

Alpha Marcus was standing there, unhinged, his fist still clenched from the blow. A pissed-off predator in human skin.

Bits of glass landed near my feet, a couple strands even tangled in my hair, but I didn't flinch.

My eyes didn't even flick toward him-instead, they fixed on the gaping hole he'd left in the cabinet. Fitting. That shattered mess? That was us.

"Divorce?" His voice turned cold, thick with command-Alpha energy rolling off him like heat waves. "Say that again, Seraphina."

I didn't blink. Didn't hesitate.

"I said, I want a divorce. It's over." My voice was calm. Clear.

He gave a low, scornful laugh. "All because of Maria? You've got to be kidding me. Seraphina, she's a business associate. You're blowing this up for nothing."

Business associate? I almost laughed. What was that supposed to be-a new euphemism for banging someone in the backseat of your Bentley?

"Don't you dare insult my intelligence, Marcus!" I spat, my voice low but trembling with rage. "I may be human. I may be weak to you. But I will never-never-tolerate betrayal."

Marcus stepped closer, eyes turning red like some predator ready to pounce. "Where'd you suddenly get all this guts from, Seraphina? You're just a fragile human. Everything you have, I gave to you! Without me, you'd probably still be scrubbing dishes in some diner back in the human town. That kind of life-you really think it's worth leaving me for?"

He grabbed my chin, jerking my face up to meet his. Those amber eyes I used to lose myself in-they were nothing but cold now, sharp with control.

Every word he spat was a needle straight to my chest. It hurt. That kind of deep, gnawing pain, like something crawling under my skin and chewing on my bones.

Damn it.

Of course he thought I could never leave. Like some pampered bird in a golden cage, too scared to fly.

Too bad he didn't know this bird picked the lock a long time ago. Just thinking about the signed divorce papers-that little trick I pulled-sent a jolt of satisfaction down my spine. A bitter smirk tugged at my lips before I could stop it.

He caught it. He knew me too well to miss that look. His eyes narrowed, voice hard. "What the hell did you do behind my back?"

"Why so shaken, Marcus? Didn't you say I'm powerless? That I'm nothing?" I glared at him, refusing to look away.

In a flash, his hand clamped around my throat, slamming me back against the busted cabinet door. Sharp pieces of glass dug into my skin, but the sting barely registered. All I could feel was the choking pressure stealing the air from my lungs, forcing me to meet those fire-filled eyes.

"I don't care what tricks you've pulled. I will never let you break the matebond, you hear me? You're mine, Seraphina. You always will be."

I struggled, slapping at his arms, pushing with everything I had. I wasn't going down like this. Not now. Just then, his phone rang-Maria's ringtone.

His grip twitched, loosening slightly. He shot me a warning look, then stepped away to the balcony to answer.

"Hey, baby. What's going on?" His voice was all syrupy sweet, the kind that used to be mine.

I couldn't catch the exact words, but that sickeningly soft tone? Hard to miss.

"Don't cry... I'm on my way... Be good."

Leaning against the shattered cabinet, I felt every shard under me, but it hurt less than whatever the hell was going on in my chest. All that comfort, that concern-it was hers now.

He kept murmuring into the phone, low and coaxing. Then he hung up without so much as a glance at me, straightening his wrinkled collar like I wasn't even there.

"Pack business. You clearly need some space to sort out your mess of a mind. I won't be home for a few days."

The door slammed behind him, taking his scent with it.

And I couldn't hold it in anymore. I slid down the wall, breathing in sharp bursts.

For a second, I'd really thought he might kill me. I still didn't get why he was clinging to the bond. He already had Maria. She seemed like a better fit for his luna anyway.

She came from a shiny pedigree and was even an alpha wolf-while I was just a plain human.

Sure, I was good at my job, no doubt, but compared to Maria and her mountains of cash, I might as well be roadkill.

As a werewolf, I understood how powerful the bond was between mates. Breaking it messed with your head and heart in ways only the Moon Goddess could've dreamed up-but Marcus was an alpha. He could take the hit. So why couldn't he just let me go?

He was the one who crushed our bond. I wasn't buying it for a second that he still had feelings for me.

If he dared whisper the word "love," I swear, I'd drive a knife straight through his cheating heart.

I stood up, flipped open my laptop, and started browsing apartments near Moonlight Bay Area. Then I dragged out my biggest suitcase and got to packing.

My stuff? In this massive, suffocating mansion? Barely anything actually belonged to me.

Every gift he'd ever given-from the high-end jewelry to limited edition heels, designer bags, the ridiculous overpriced birthday or anniversary crap-I stuffed everything into that suitcase. All of it was going. Selling it all was the plan.

When I picked up that velvet box, the one with the wedding ring he'd designed himself, my hands couldn't stop shaking just a little.

Inside, it read: Marcus & Sera.

I really used to believe that actually meant something. Like, forever.

Now it just felt like carving "I love you" into sand right before a wave washed it away.

I tossed the ring into the suitcase and slammed it shut. That sound? That was me sealing off whatever tiny spark of him I had left.

Of course, Marcus didn't come home that night. "Cool off a bit," he said. All he meant was "I've got a night booked with that skank."

First thing I did was toss every photo of us into the fire. Burned all of it.

*****

A few days later, my phone buzzed. Grimhilde. Her voice always had that cold, metallic chill to it-like a silver dagger dipped in ice. She "invited" me to the family estate to sign some so-called "updated agreement."

"Sure," I replied, keeping it cool.

The Grimhilde estate sat up on Silver Peak Mountain like some brooding beast watching over the whole of Moonlight Forest.

My Maserati gave up halfway up the hill. Just died on me. I didn't even bother calling a tow truck. Locked the doors, shrugged, and started walking up that stupid winding private road. Thank god I wasn't wearing heels. I just hoped I'd actually make it without tripping or breaking my neck.

I hardly ever came to this place-why would I? Grimhilde and I never exactly exchanged friendship bracelets. She wouldn't invite me for afternoon tea.

But the crisis was over, I was out of the family picture, Marcus and I were seconds from breaking up-maybe she just wanted a friendly farewell.

That thought made me relax a little. Until I stepped into the main hall... and saw the place decked out like some over-the-top ballroom.

And just like that, I knew-Grimhilde had her own damn plans for this meeting.