Chapter 1

"Sign it, Atlas."

Atlas glanced down at the Mate Bond Severance Agreement.

He looked stunned at first, then let out a scoff of pure anger.

"Cora, what kind of tantrum is this?" His eyes were cold, radiating that heavy, oppressive Alpha aura. "Just because I touched her hair? Are you out of your mind?"

"Yes, just because of that," I admitted, nodding calmly.

The banquet hall instantly fell dead silent.

Atlas stared at me in disbelief, acting as if I had committed some unforgivable sin.

"Cora, you’re being unreasonable," the pack’s Head Elder said, stepping forward with his cane to smooth things over. "You two have been mated for seven years. How can you throw it all away over something so trivial? This is absurd. Put the papers away."

"Absurd?" I picked up my champagne glass and downed it in one go. "Elder, do you have any idea how I've spent these past seven years?"

I turned to look at Atlas.

"When you lose control during your rut, the name you call out is Beatrix."

"The passcode to the safe in your study is Beatrix’s birthday."

"You even tossed aside your precious Alpha dignity for her," I said, pointing coldly at the agreement while staring dead into his eyes. "Is it really out of line for me to ask for a rejection?"

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Atlas’s face turned crimson.

Feeling humiliated, he pointed at me in a rage. "Cora! Are you drunk? Stop this nonsense right now!"

I gazed at the man standing in front of me.

A month ago, in this exact hall, I had simply tried to straighten his crooked tie.

He had roughly slapped my hand away, lowering his voice to warn me to mind my dignity as the Luna.

And now, he was being so gentle to another woman in front of everyone.

It was just so pointless.

"Remember to sign it," I dropped the words lightly, grabbing my coat from the chair and turning to leave.

Before I could take two steps, Beatrix blocked my path.

Her eyes were red, making her look pitiful and delicate, but she couldn't hide the smug smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"Cora, don’t misunderstand Atlas." She intentionally emphasized her words, flaunting like a winner. "He was just taking care of me out of habit. After all, we used to be so close. Please don't ruin your relationship over me."

"Get out of my way." I didn't waste another word, silently swatting her hand away and striding out the door.

The winter night wind was freezing.

I had just reached the parking lot and pulled my car door open when rushed footsteps sounded behind me.

Atlas caught up, slamming his hand against the window to keep it shut.

"Have you forgotten your place as Luna?" he roared, his eyes flashing a furious red. "Making me lose face in front of the whole pack, are you happy now?"

I stared at him coldly.

His expression grew even more irritated.

"Can you drop your controlling act for once? I’ve already buried my past regrets for her. What more do you want? Do you expect me to only have eyes for you and no one else?"

"Besides, I told you long ago, if I wanted to be with my first love, do you really think I would have married you?!"

With those words, the string in my heart that had been pulled taut for seven years finally snapped.

I shoved the car door open hard, making him stumble back a few steps.

"Then why didn't you choose her?!" I finally let out my suppressed anger and screamed at him.

Seven years of grievances erupted all at once.

"Do you think I don't know? You've been emotionally cheating on me for seven straight years!" I stepped closer, glaring at his hypocritical face. "All your coldness towards me was just because I wasn't her! Even when we were intimate in bed, you closed your eyes and fantasized about Beatrix!"

Atlas froze.

He probably thought he had hidden it well. Being exposed like this made a flicker of panic cross his eyes.

"I'm tired, Atlas." I looked at him, feeling an unprecedented exhaustion, as if my inner wolf was withering away.

"I can't do this anymore." I took a deep breath, turning away. "Let's just sever the mate bond."

I waited for his rage or his hypocritical excuses.

But the only response I got was the sound of the silent wind.