Chapter 1

It was the beginning of the end. The last day of my mating and the first day of my freedom. The day I divorced my cold and uncaring mate. I’d prepared for six months to leave this man and now my preparations were done. I just had to serve him the divorce papers and be on my way. It should take a few minutes to finalize because I knew my mate, the cold and heartless Alpha, would be excited beyond words to no longer share a bond with me.

“What’s this?” His deep green eyes raised to look at me as I carefully placed the paper and his ring in front of him.

“Divorce papers,” I said. “Here is a pen.” I fished out a pen from my bag. “Don’t worry, I don’t want any of your properties so once you sign, I will go file it and it’ll be the end.”

“You’re divorcing me?” He asked, his brows furrowed as he scowled, his expression dark.

“Yes.” I nodded flippantly. “There’s no need to mask your excitement. I’m giving you what you want so hurry up and sign.”

“Don’t get on my nerves, Natalie.” He tossed the papers to the floor. “And get lost!”

“I’ll get lost as soon as you sign the divorce papers.” I calmly gathered the papers he threw to the floor and placed them back on his table.

“Don’t bother me!” He barked, his expression worsening.

His deep scowl used to frighten me; the anger and annoyance seemed ingrained in his very being. But not today. Today was the beginning of the end so I was prepared to face this hostility for the last time.

“Sign the papers and you’ll never have to deal with my annoying self ever again.” I pressed my hands together to stop myself from fidgeting.

“Is this a trick? Are you trying to get my attention with such a silly method?” He stood as he snarled at me, causing my wolf to sneer.

“No, I – What the hell are you doing!?” I watched in horror as he ripped the divorce papers into shreds right in front of me. “Kian!” I shouted in horror, reaching out my hands to catch the pieces of paper falling, my mouth wide open.

“Do you think our mating is a joke?” He glared down at me after he finished ripping the papers to tiny shreds. “Do you think you can wake up one morning and say you’re bored and get a divorce? You’re the Luna of the largest pack in the entire western and eastern regions so take your duties a bit more seriously and get out of my office!”

“Kian, I’m giving you what you want!” I lost my mind as I saw the papers strewn across his desk and the floor. “How could you rip the papers like that?”

For six months, I’d put together everything and meticulously planned my exit but I didn’t dream that my mate would tear the divorce papers like this.

“Natalie, you don’t know what I want so don’t anger me anymore.” If he got any angrier, he’d combust.

His face had turned a ghastly red and his chest was rising and falling at a rapid pace, expanding so much that it felt like a button from his shirt would fly off at any moment and hit my nose.

 “We are mates and this mating is for life! I take my vows seriously and you should too.”

“What vows? Why are you being like this? There’s no reason for us to continue this relationship. You have to divorce me, Kian. You must!” Only then could I put all this in the past and start my new life far from him. As long as I was still bound to this man, he could do to me as he pleased and I’d had enough.

“I’m not divorcing you.” He said and bellowed, “Matthew!”

A few seconds later, his Beta rushed into the office with a pale face. He looked around at the scattered paper and then at me before he turned to Kian.

“Is there a problem?” He asked as he schooled his expression.

“Yes.” Kian adjusted his tie. “Natalie isn’t feeling well. Take her home.”

“Luna Natalie –“ Matthew turned to me with a terrified expression. “Let's go. I’ll drive you home.”

“Don’t call me that! Don’t call me that! I’m nobody’s Luna. Kian, you have to divorce me!”

“You’re driving me crazy,” he muttered. “You’re driving me crazy, Natalie,” he continued to whisper, “You’re driving me fucking crazy, Natalie!” He ended up shouting.

“Divorce me and I won’t drive you crazy anymore. You hate me and I’ve come to dislike you. There’s no love lost between the two of us so let me go.”

“No love – no love –“ His nostrils flared and a fire lit up his eyes. Sensing danger, Matthew and I took several steps back. “You’re my mate. We’re bound to each other even in death.”

“Kian –“

“Shall I call in the warriors to drag you home?” I swallowed at his fierce expression.

No, I didn’t want that to happen. I had suffered enough humiliation. I wanted to walk out of the Dark Howl pack with my head held high.

“Good, now, go with Matthew. Matthew, drive her home. I’ll have your head if you don’t deliver her to the mansion within the next thirty minutes.”

“You can’t be serious?” I gaped at him as the colour drained from Matthew’s face.

“Try me and see.” He sat down and turned his gaze away from us.

“Luna – Luna Natalie, this way, please.” Matthew opened the door and escorted me to the car.

As we walked out, the other workers in the office stared and snickered at me as I left with my head down. My legs shook and Matthew had to support me all the way to the car as I stared blankly at the ground in disbelief.

I never thought that Kian would not want to divorce me but I must have underestimated how much he hated me. He hated me enough to shackle me to his side, to deny me my freedom even if it meant he too, would be bound.