Chapter 3

Elena's POV

The shock that played across Michael's face was priceless. Not to mention his parents and Ashanti.

They had their my jaws almost dropping to the ground.

Sure, they hadn't seen that coming. They had expected me to act like the calm and weak housewife I've always been and accept every shit they threw my way.

Something icy and new flickered in Michael's gaze.

"What the hell did you just say?" He rasped as he approached me.

I stood my ground, refusing to buckle or show any signs of the fear that ran through me.

"You heard me correctly. I'm done with this hellhole you call marriage!" I spat.

"You've got to be kidding me, Elena!" His face was tomato red when he reached me.

"This isn't an issue of divorce. I've always wanted kids and you know it. This isn't going to change anything between us. It's only a temporary arrangement."

"We could have an open marriage for two years so I can spend some time with Ashanti because of the baby, of course. Then, everything could go back to normal. Is that too hard to do for me?"

I couldn't even believe he was actually spewing all those gibberish. An open marriage? He must be going soft in the head.

But it was all my fault. I had made him see me for a wife miserable enough to do anything just for crumbs of his affection.

But now, it was all going to change.

"I wasn't making a request or opening a discussion about it!" I stated clearly. "I'll send you the divorce papers as soon as possible, so get ready to break our matebond!"

He cackled with laughter. "Really? You really think you can survive without me? You don't even have a job. You'll only come back begging, Elena. Don't do what you'll regret."

"The only person who's going to regret today is you, Michael." I retorted. "You have no idea what's coming for you!"

Without waiting for his reaction, I turned and walked out of the door. As I walked to the garage, my wolf let out a distressed cry.

The breaking of the matebond was going to bring so much pain to us, but I couldn't care less. I was done being a fool.

I entered my car and tore off the road to the White house.

From now on, I would take my life seriously. Just like they destroyed my chance at being happy, I'll destroy all their plans.

In record time, I reached the white house street. Trepidation settled over me as I parked my car at a parking lot across the street.

At the White house, there were a number of burly looking guards outside so I created a distraction by throwing a stone at side, taking their attention away from the gate.

With their attention gone, I slipped inside and made for the stairs that led to the main floor.

Immediately I got to the main floor, a voice rang out.

"There's an intruder inside!"

It was unmistakably Ashanti's voice. Did she stalk me?

Or she saw my car from across the street?

Before I could process my thoughts, I heard heavy footsteps advancing the stairs so I quickly looked for a hiding spot, but found none.

Just when I thought I was going to get caught, someone tugged at my wrist and pulled me into a room, locking the door immediately.

"Thank you so."

Everything changed the moment I raised my gaze, and I froze.

Standing few millimeters away from me was the Alpha king of crimson moon pack, Horace Andreas.— And he was watching me with an unnerving curiousity.

But that wasn't the only thing that caught my attention.

Rather, it was the scent of sandalwood that was thick in the air, making it clear that he was the one who had saved me yesterday.

That was probably why the nurse had refused to reveal his identity.

As if he could hear my thoughts, he asked.

"What did you leave the hospital already?"

I wanted to answer but my wolf was really giving me a hard time.

Only few minutes ago, she'd been whining in pain in my head, but now, she's purring with desire at the mere sight of Alpha Horace,  at his thick scent that filled my head without mercy.

This had never happened before,  not even when I'd discovered my matebond with Michael. What was this supposed to mean?

But even as I questioned myself, my gaze raked over him involuntarily, and that was when I realized he was almost nude except for the shorts that hung low on his hips.

Hell! Those shorts should be illegal. They showcased every inch of his taut waist and lines of muscles that led to places my eyes should have no business roaming.

Goddess divine, my eyes really shouldn't roam such places because as far as I knew, I was still mated and married to Michael.

Get a fucking grip! I almost cursed my wolf out.

"Well? Did you have fun checking me out?"

His words made me angry. Not at him, but at myself for having such sudden and unwanted attraction to him.

"I wasn't checking you out." I replied calmly. "I'm a licensed doctor and I heard about your son's condition."

My voice was too smooth to be a lie.

But somehow, he saw through it.

His cocked his head and I could have sworn I saw him smirk amusedly.

"All the doctors have already been dismissed. How come you're just coming?"

Wait, what? I had definitely seen 1 pm in Michael's and Ashanti's chat. Did they change the time after then?

Or was the chat a sort of trap?

"Did you really come here for my son or for me?" He gaze turned heated. "You thought you should repay me for saving you yesterday by giving me something."

There was a way he emphasized "something" that made cheeks burn. I just knew I had to leave his presence.

Without thinking it through, I turned the doorknob and fled outside.

However, a gasp soon left my lips as my gaze trained on the two figures standing outside the door— Michael and Ashanti.

"What— what were you doing in the Alpha's room." Michael was the first to react.

I rolled my eyes. "None of your damn business."

Michael's eyes narrowed, surprise flickering subtly.

But as he opened his mouth to say something, Ashanti beat him to it.

"When I saw your car across street, I knew you were up to no good. Just because of a little issue with your husband, you're already whoring around?"

"You think you're on the same level as Alpha Horace?"

My throat just went dry. Not from pain or hurt but from disbelief. How could someone who slept with another woman's husband even have the right to judge?

"Look, Elena, enough with this your childish tantrum" Michael said. "We'll sort things out when we get home so let's just leave,"

"Is this the way you talk to your wife, Michael?"

Alpha Horace's voice sounded behind me and I almost jumped.

He knew I was Michael's wife? More than that, he knew Michael's full name?

I turned my gaze to Michael now. His eyes held both surprise and confusion, then it was quickly gone as he shrugged.

"I'm sincerely sorry to have disturbed you, Alpha Horace." His voice was unusually respectful.

Then he paused, squinting his eyes. "But, Cousin, what was my wife doing in your room? How do you know her?

Wait, what?

I sucked in a breath.

Michael was Alpha Horace's cousin?