Chapter 3

Rosemarie's POV 

The sharp smell of antiseptic was the first thing that brought me back to reality. I slowly opened my eyes, blinking against the harsh white lights of a hospital room. The steady beep of a heart monitor echoed through the quiet space. I wasn't on the cold concrete porch anymore.

A young girl in a simple cotton dress was sitting beside my bed. When she saw me moving, her eyes lit up with relief. It was Maya, one of the low-ranking maids who worked in the pack-house kitchen.

"Oh, Luna, thank goodness you're awake," Maya whispered, leaning forward. "I found you collapsed by the front door when I went to take out the trash. You weren't responding, so I panicked and called an ambulance to bring you to the town hospital."

I swallowed hard, my throat feeling like sandpaper. "Did... did anyone else come? Did Rex or his mother ask about me?"

Maya looked down at her lap, twisting the fabric of her skirt between her fingers. She didn't need to answer. Her silence told me everything. Nobody cared. My husband, my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law, even my own son—they had all left me lying on the porch like a piece of trash. If Maya hadn't found me, I probably would have died right there in the front yard, and they wouldn't have noticed until the smell bothered them.

"Thank you, Maya," I said softly. "You can go back to work. I don't want you getting into trouble with Helen because of me."

Once she left, the silence of the hospital room settled heavily on my chest. I stared at the ceiling, tears burning in my eyes. Five years. For five long years, I had built my entire life around Rex. 

I remembered the arguments with my parents when I first found out Rex was my fated mate. They had warned me. They told me Alphas were ruthless, that our backgrounds were too different, and that I would lose myself trying to fit into his world. But I was young, foolish, and completely in love. I fought with them, packed my bags, and cut off contact with the only people who truly loved me.

And for what? To be cheated on, insulted, thrown out of my own home, and replaced by his first love. Now I was sitting in a hospital bed with a terminal brain tumor, a ticking bomb in my skull, and absolutely no one by my side. It was tragic. It was so ridiculous that a bitter laugh escaped my lips before turning into a sob. I had sacrificed my family, my health, and my dignity for a man who felt nothing for me.

The door clicked open, and an older doctor walked in while checking a clipboard. He looked at me with a heavy, sympathetic expression. "Ah, Rosemarie. You're awake. Dr. Evans from the pack clinic forwarded your scans to us. We know about the tumor. How is the pain in your head right now?"

"It's a dull ache," I replied, slowly sitting up. "Doctor... I have a question. What would happen if someone in my condition went through a mate rejection?"

The doctor froze, his eyes widening slightly. He set the clipboard down at the end of the bed. "A mate rejected? Rosemarie, breaking a fated bond causes a massive shock to both the werewolf nervous system and wolf spirit. The physical pain is different for everyone, but with your current condition? Your brain is already under enormous pressure from the tumor. If the shock is too great, your body could completely shut down. There is a very high chance you won't survive it."

I looked out the window toward the distant mountains. "Then I will leave it to the Moon Goddess."

"Rosemarie, this is extremely dangerous—"

"If I die during the ceremony, then everything will finally end," I interrupted, my voice turning cold and distant. "The pain, the betrayal, the humiliation... it will all be over. But if I survive? If the Moon Goddess lets me live through it, then I am completely done with that scumbag. I will never look back, and I will spend whatever time I have left actually living for myself."

The doctor looked like he wanted to argue, but something in my eyes stopped him.

I picked up my phone from the bedside table. My hands were completely steady now. The fear was gone, replaced by a cold determination. I opened Rex's contact and typed a short message.

“I agree to the divorce. I will be at your office tomorrow morning to sign the papers and hold the rejection ceremony.”

I didn't wait for a reply. I tossed the phone aside, closed my eyes, and forced myself to sleep. I needed every bit of strength for tomorrow.

The next morning, the hallway outside the Alpha office felt colder than usual. I walked with my head held high, ignoring the whispers from pack staff as they passed. I didn't care anymore. When I pushed open the door, I found more than just Rex sitting at his desk. Tracy was there too, leaning against a filing cabinet like she already owned the place.

The moment I stepped inside, Tracy scoffed and crossed her arms. "Oh, look who finally showed up. You know, Rosemarie, you should stop pretending to be so pathetic. It's embarrassing. Every time things don't go your way, you suddenly act sick just to get Rex's attention. Agreeing to a divorce? Please. This is probably just another desperate attempt to make him feel guilty."

Something inside me snapped.

I didn't feel sad or hurt like I'd thought I would. I just felt….disgusted.

I walked straight up to Tracy before she could react. Raising my hand, I slapped her across the face with every bit of strength I had left.

Slap!

The sharp sound echoed through the room. Tracy's head snapped to the side, her sunglasses flying off and skidding across the floor. She stumbled against the cabinet, clutching her burning cheek in shock.

"Rosemarie!" Rex roared, slamming both hands onto his desk as he shot to his feet.

I didn't even look at him. My eyes stayed fixed on Tracy, who stared back with wide, frightened eyes.

"As long as those papers are not signed, I am still the Luna of this pack," I said, my voice cutting through the room like a blade. "You are nothing more than a mistress, Tracy. You have absolutely no right to speak to me, let alone question my actions in this office. Know your place."

Tracy shrank back, completely crushed by the authority in my voice. Rex let out a deep growl that rattled the windows.

"Tracy, get out. Wait in the car."

She didn't hesitate. She grabbed her purse and rushed out of the office, shutting the door behind her.

Rex glared at me, his eyes dark with anger. "You've completely lost your mind. Let's get this over with." He pushed the divorce papers toward me along with a heavy silver pen.

I walked over, picked up the pen, and flipped to the signature page. Without saying a word, I signed my name and officially cut my legal ties to his life. Then I dropped the pen back onto the desk and stepped into the center of the room.

The rejection ceremony was supposed to be a grand public event before the pack elders, but neither of us wanted the spectacle. We stood facing each other in the privacy of his office.

Rex looked at me, his expression turning cold and emotionless. He drew in a deep breath, releasing his Alpha aura until the air felt heavy and suffocating.

"I, Alpha Rex, reject you, Rosemarie, as my Luna and mate."

The moment the final word left his mouth, a violent wave of pain tore through my body. It felt as if an invisible hand had reached into my chest and ripped apart the silver thread connecting our souls. 

At the same time, the tumor reacted to the sudden stress. A white-hot pain exploded behind my eyes so fiercely that my vision went completely black for two full seconds. My knees wanted to give out, and every part of me screamed to collapse onto the floor.

But I refused.

I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palms, using the pain to keep myself grounded. I locked my jaw and forced my legs to stay steady. I would rather die standing than let him see a single moment of weakness from me again. I forced the darkness back and stared directly into his cold eyes.

"I accept your rejection, Rex," I said, and choked out.