Chapter 2: I Reject you

Valeria’s POV

"He must really love her," a woman’s voice whispered through the buzzing crowd, sharp enough to cut right through me.

"I mean, look at them," another voice chimed in with a cruel chuckle. "What about his mate? Tch. She hasn’t even been able to give him an heir after five years. Maybe she’s just defective. An Alpha needs a strong, fertile woman beside him, not a wolfless Omega."

Every single word felt like acid poured straight into my open wounds. My whole body started shaking. I couldn't breathe. My hands clutched the sides of my dress as I pushed past the cheering people, my eyes fixed entirely on the stage.

I walked straight toward them, my legs shaking so badly I thought I would collapse right there on the grass.

"Lucien..." I choked out, stopping right at the bottom of the stage steps. My voice was so weak, so broken, it barely sounded like my own.

Lucien turned, his dark eyes landing on me. There was no panic in his face. No guilt. No remorse. He didn't even bother to pull his arm away from Jessica’s waist. He looked at me like I was nothing more than an annoying bug ruining his big moment.

"Valeria? What are you doing here?" he asked, his tone cold and unbothered.

"You... you left me waiting," I whispered, tears spilling over my lashes. "It’s our anniversary, Lucien. And you're up here kissing her? Giving her my credit?"

Lucien let out an impatient sigh, rolling his eyes as if I were a throwing a childish tantrum. "Don't start a scene here, Valeria. Go home and wait for me. I need to handle some things with the team first."

"Go home?" My heart shattered all over again. "Lucien—"

"I said go home," he repeated, his voice dropping into a stern command. "We'll talk later."

Despite the crushing pain tearing my chest apart, a small, foolish part of me clung to his words. He said we'll talk later, I told myself as I turned and walked back to my car with my head down. 

He must have a good reason for this. Maybe it was just for the crowd. When he comes home tonight, he’ll explain everything. He has to.

I drove back to the pack house, trying desperately to piece my broken heart back together. I couldn't just sit around crying. I needed to do something.

I walked into the kitchen, where three household servants were standing around, talking excitedly. They turned to look at me, but none of them bowed. None of them showed me an ounce of respect. To them, I wasn't a real Luna. I was just the useless, childless wife their Alpha didn't want.

"You can all leave for the night," I said softly, keeping my eyes on the floor. "I’ll take over the kitchen. I want to prepare dinner."

They shared a patronizing look, snickering under their breath before slowly walking out, leaving the room to me.

I took a deep breath and started cooking. I made a simple dish for myself, and then I prepared Lucien’s favorite meal, just like I had done a thousand times before. I set the table, lit two new candles, and sat down to wait.

Hours passed. The food turned stone cold. The clock on the wall kept ticking, echoing through the empty mansion as the night grew pitch black outside.

Eventually, I dragged my exhausted body upstairs to our bedroom and fell into bed, staring at the ceiling until my eyes grew heavy.

Sometime past midnight, a violent, burning heat suddenly shot through my collarbone.

I gasped, sitting bolt upright in bed as I clutched my throat. The pain was unbearable, like a red-hot iron pressing directly into my skin. As mated wolves, if your mate made love to another woman... the mark burned like hellfire.

Tears burst from my eyes as I scrambled out of bed. My throat was on fire. He was home. And he wasn't alone.

I ran down the hallway, following the burning ache in my neck until I reached the guest wing on the lower floor. As I got closer, sickening, uncomfortable sounds filled the quiet corridor—groans, soft whimpers, and wet, filthy noises echoing through the thin wood of the doors.

I stopped dead in my tracks, my breathing ragged. I knew those voices.

It was Lucien... and Jessica.

"No, no, no," I whispered, shaking my head, refusing to accept the nightmare unfolding in front of me. "It's not real. It can't be real."

But the pain I felt was undeniable. 

I rushed toward the door, reaching for the handle, but two arms suddenly grabbed my shoulders and yanked me back.

"Luna, stop!" one of Lucien's personal guards growled, holding me back.

"Let go of me!" I screamed, struggling wildly against their grip, my tears blurring everything. "I am your Luna. Let me go. Allow me in right now.”

"Alpha Lucien gave strict orders not to be disturbed," the second guard said coldly, refusing to loosen his grip. "Go back to your room."

A surge of wild, hysterical rage hit me. With every single ounce of strength left in my body, I shoved the guard backward, breaking free from their hold. I didn't care about their rules anymore. I threw my weight against the door, banging it open with a loud CRACK!

The door swung wide, and the scene inside froze my blood completely.

There was my husband, sitting on the edge of the bed with his head thrown back. And kneeling between his bare thighs was Jessica, her long hair messy, her red lips wrapped tightly around his cock.

The entire room smelled of sex, betrayal, and sweat.

I stood in the doorway, paralyzed. The world stopped turning.

A memory flashed through my head—of all the times Lucien had thrown accusations in my face. The times he had called me a whore, an unfaithful traitor, just because a male pack member handed me a towel or spoke to me for too long. 

He had made me feel like dirt, accusing me of cheating when I was completely innocent.

And all those times I confronted him about Jessica? He had sworn on his life, sneering in my face, telling me I was crazy and paranoid. Telling me he had nothing to do with her.

Now, the nasty truth was sitting right in front of me.

Lucien slowly opened his eyes and looked at me. There was no shock. No panic. He didn't even try to push Jessica away or cover himself up. He just looked at me with those cold, lifeless eyes, entirely devoid of remorse.

"You really don't know how to follow instructions, do you, Valeria?" he said casually, his voice calm.

I swallowed the bitter taste in my mouth, wiping the wet tears from my cheeks. For five long years, I stayed here. I had stayed through the humiliation, the cold shoulders, and the emotional abuse. I stayed because I thought he would change one day and grow to love me.

But standing here, looking at the man I loved treating me like garbage... I was finally done. The final string inside me snapped.

I stood up straight, my shaking stopped, and a cold calm washed over my entire body.

"I have tolerated so much from you," I said, my voice steady, clear, and ringing out through the room. "But today, it all ends."

Lucien frowned slightly, narrowing his eyes. "What are you talking about?"

I looked him dead in the eye, pointing a finger straight at his chest.

"I am going to reject you as my mate," I said boldly, every word filled with pain. 

"Enjoy your life with her. Because as of tonight... you mean nothing to me."