CHAPTER 1

Chapter 1

On my wedding ceremony, My mate received a call that his childhood sweetheart was having an allergic reaction. He dropped the ceremonial bracelet and ran off to the healer leaving me in front of the entire pack.

Through my mindlink, I started feeling pains all through my wolf. It wasn't just pain, I could feel her pleasure, his grunts and the way their bodies connected. They weren't at any healer's place. They were having sex while I stood humiliated before everyone.

My legs trembled. I wanted to run, to disappear, but my feet wouldn't move.

I remained frozen as whispers spread through the ceremony hall. The Alpha's son had abandoned his chosen mate for another wolf.

"Did you see his face when he left?"

"Poor thing, standing there all alone."

"I knew Vivian would always come first."

Their voices cut through me like claws. Each whisper was another wound.

"I'll continue the ceremony," a deep voice announced just as I was about to flee.

I turned to see Damian, Kian's brother and rival pack Alpha. He walked straight to me with red roses while everyone watched in shock.

"Your mate has chosen another. I've been watching you for months. Join my pack and be mine instead."

He knelt and offered me a silver moonstone bracelet. Way more expensive than the cheap one Kian had dropped.

"Violet, If you'll accept these roses and this bracelet, I promise to value you as he never could."

I could still feel Kian thrusting inside of Vivian through our mindlink as I accepted Damian's roses and the silver bracelet he slipped onto my wrist.

The pack elders murmured among themselves before the Chief Elder stepped forward. "The Alpha will need to approve this transfer in ten days, for you to officially leave the pack as his mate."

Damian simply nodded with a quiet smile. "Ten days is sufficient." He hugged me tightly, then broke away, jumping in excitement like a pup.

Two days later, a text from Kian appeared: "Prepare dinner. I'll be home soon. Viv's now feeling well from the allergic reaction."

I stared at the message. No apology. No explanation. Just an order.

Meanwhile, my phone was flooded with notifications. All over the wolf net were pictures of Kian and Vivian – kissing passionately at the Blue Lagoon, him helping her change dresses in boutiques, them wrapped around each other at every tourist spot I had once dreamed of visiting.

The pictures brought back memories of all the times he'd chosen her over me.

For my birthday last year, he'd taken me to a food truck for tacos, claiming pack finances were tight. The very next day, he'd thrown Vivian a lavish party with a professional chef he'd flown in from Paris. I'd seen the photos on social media while eating leftover tacos alone.

When I needed surgery last spring, he couldn't take time off to drive me to the hospital. My neighbor had driven me instead. I later discovered he'd taken a week-long business trip to a beachside resort with Vivian. He'd posted sunset photos while I recovered alone in my apartment.

Over six years together, he always found excuses not to meet my parents on holidays.

"The pack needs me," he'd say.

"Something came up," he'd text at the last minute.

Now I understood he'd been spending those holidays with Vivian's family instead.

When my mother died three months ago, he'd missed the funeral. Said he had urgent Alpha training that couldn't be rescheduled. I'd buried her alone, stood by her grave alone, packed up her belongings alone. The day after the funeral, I'd seen him tagged in Vivian's post at an amusement park. They were on a roller coaster, hands in the air, laughing. My mother's funeral, and he was riding roller coasters with her.

Whenever I questioned his closeness with Vivian, he would always say he was honoring her parents' dying wish—that he look after her. Now I realized it was just another excuse to keep her in his life. To keep me quiet. To keep me waiting.

I had thought today, our wedding day would finally be different. Today, he would finally focus on me, cherish me and choose me.

What a fool I'd been.

I didn't reply to his text. Instead, I emptied our refrigerator, tossing everything into the trash. The salmon he liked. The expensive cheese. The craft beer. All of it went into the garbage bag with satisfying thuds.

When Kian finally strolled in, he had the audacity to look annoyed. He glanced at the empty kitchen counter, then at me.

"Where's dinner?"

"Gone, just like our relationship," I replied coldly.

He rushed forward, wrapping his arms around me. "I'm so sorry about that day. Vivian could have died from that reaction. You understand that, right? An Alpha must protect all pack members."

"Of course," I remained stiff in his embrace, noticing the scent of her perfume on his neck.

"Look how thoughtful she is," Kian said, handing me a small gift bag. "She even sent you an apology gift. She doesn't want to ruin our relationship."

Inside was a collection of lingerie, lacy bras and underwear. My stomach turned when I recognized one of the black lace thong. I'd seen it in his office months ago, crumpled behind his desk. When I'd questioned him, he'd claimed it was from a prank the pack boys had played.

Now her used lingerie was his idea of an apology.

I shoved the bag into his chest, stepping back. “If she’s so thoughtful, why’s her scent all over you? Care to explain that?”

Kian stood frozen, his mouth opening and closing without words. The silence between us confirmed everything I had suspected.

“I'm done," I said finally. "I'm leaving, Kian. It's over."