Chapter 5

（Isabella‘s pov）

Jesse and Layla are waiting for me in the entry hall of my pack house. With a smug smile, Jesse hands me the ruling and waits for me to open and read the document:

Isabella Costa, your divorce has been finalized.

Your former mate, Jesse Hansen submitted evidence against you that warranted an investigation by the Elder’s Council. You were found guilty of infidelity and as such are hereby ruled in accordance with werewolf law to leave your marriage with nothing.

All your property ownership is hereby granted to Jesse Hansen. This includes all rights associated with Caladrius Moon Pack, including the status of Alpha.

You must leave the territory immediately upon receipt of this ruling. Noncompliance will result in imprisonment.

“We are here to collect your keys to the house, Isabella,” Jesse says with a grin.

Goddess help me, I want to slap that expression right off his smug face.

“Like hell you are. I will appeal this. I didn’t commit infidelity; Jesse and you know it!”

“The Elder’s Council doesn’t agree. The pack house doesn’t belong to you anymore. You can’t continue living here. Leave now Isabella or face the consequences.”

The entire combined pack has gathered around to watch the spectacle of my humiliation. All I can do is shake my head as tears sting the corners of my eyes.

“Warrior ranks fall in and throw this cheating bitch out,” Jesse says.

The collective whispers of our packs hit me as if I’m standing in front of a firing squad.

Layla steps forward with a hand extended and all five fingers splayed out. “You are to take nothing with you except the clothes on your back. You should consider us gracious for not stripping you of those as well,” she says with a wink.

Layla’s shoulder length bleach blonde wavy hair with the deep side part covers one of her blue eyes near completely when she moves toward me. Her artificially plumped red lips lift in a fake toothy smile.

“You may be deemed a legitimate daughter of your cheating Alpha father, Layla, but you’re nothing more than a mutt. A result of a one-night stand. So, do not speak to me, homewrecker. You sure as hell aren’t going to be Luna over my pack.”

Jesse steps in front of her. “You are ordered to vacate this pack house Isabella. Now!”

“I won’t let the pack house be taken by anyone. It is rightfully mine!”

“If you refuse to follow the Elder Council’s ruling, you will be imprisoned. Are you ready for that?” Jesse asks incredulously.

I look around and notice that the enforcers from the Elder Council have joined Jesse’s warriors and have me surrounded. If I don’t obey the law, they will take me into custody immediately.

Jesse’s nostrils flare as he speaks. His eyes stare into me barely blinking. There’s no grimace, no outward sign of compassion or love for me at all.

He reaches for Layla’s hand.

My wolf whispers to me. “Choose your battles. You can’t go to prison, Bella. You can’t just sit in there and wait for Jesse to take everything. We have no choice. We must leave.”

He’s weaponized my trust and our bond against me. I’ve already lost love, I can’t lose my pack too.

The pack is the most precious thing my parents left me.

I hold my hands up in defeat with tears running down my face. “Fine,” I say. “I’ll go.”

I get to the edge of the forest before I realize I can’t go any further.

Palpitations throb in my neck. Sharp stabbing pain consumes my chest. I double over with my hands clutching it as if that will somehow relieve the pressure and make it stop hurting.

My wolf howls inside my head. The painful cry pierces my ears as she curses Jesse and Layla.

After some rest I am able to collect myself again and make my way slowly to the outskirts of the forest. This is rogue territory. I will need to be careful staying here without a pack to ward off attackers.

I manage to make myself a descent camp for me to stay until my next opportunity to confront them.

After a few weeks of living here, I bathe and prepare to go to Jesse and Layla’s engagement party. It’s tomorrow.

My wolf cries in my head. My body trembles while I toss and turn.

It’s a sleepless night for me. I’m filled with dread and nausea. Every muscle in my body is tense and hurts.

Of course, they expect me to show up on the day of their party, but I don’t care. I have to stop the event.

Once they are officially engaged, the pack legally becomes theirs and will be even harder for me to get back.

Before I can even enter the venue, Jesse is there to stop me.

“You shouldn’t be here! Why are you here? You weren’t invited!”

He yells at me and pushes me backward.

“Because you lying jackass, I am not the one who cheated! You are! I’m here to expose you for who and what you really are,” I say.

He laughs at me. “Oh really,” he says mockingly.

I give a curt nod. “Yes!”

“What evidence are you planning to use? Perhaps the photo of you and your waiter lover?”

All I can do is stare at him for several heartbeats before I find words to speak again.

“I never thought you could be this shameless, Jesse. You won your ruling with fake evidence. You know damn well what you did, that this is all a lie, and yet, you double down on your deceit and mock me?”

“Oh right…poor Isabella. Everyone’s against you, is that it? The evidence is clear. The Elders see it. Both our packs see it…you’ve hurt me through our bond, and now you are here to ruin my chance to move on?”

I won’t lie down for this. I fight back. "You know your so-called evidence was all a lie. None of it was real. The surveillance knows what you and your beta did before. If it’s made public, everyone will know the truth."

Jesse huffs, “Are you saying the photos of you and your lover are fake?”

The wind carries a familiar scent – sandalwood.

I close my eyes for a moment as the scent fills my nostrils, my heartbeat slows down. My mind with all the racing thoughts and flashes of red goes blank for just one blissful second of peace.

From behind me I hear a low, husky voice that could only be described as belonging to a Greek god. It immediately sends shivers through my core.

“You mean me?” he says.