Prologue:

JAMES.

Five years earlier...

"Alpha, the bouquet of roses you ordered has arrived," Clara, my secretary's voice, resonated from the doorway of my office.

I lifted my gaze from the computer screen, where numbers and reports had held me captive for hours, and greeted her with a smile, acknowledging the arrival of the roses.

"It's about time... Thank you, Clara. Please, place them on my desk," I replied. She complied, her grin revealing a row of pearly whites.

"Miss Jasmine is indeed fortunate to have a gentleman like you," Clara remarked.

A sigh escaped me, not of exasperation, but of contentment. In truth, I considered myself the fortunate one because Jasmine and I chose to love each without the mate bond. Life in general was great so far and I couldn't have it any other way.

"Yes, we're both lucky," I agreed. Glancing at the wall clock, I noticed it was well past her working hours. "Are you heading out now?"

Clara nodded. "Yes, Alpha. Unless there's anything else you need?"

I shook my head. "No, that'll be all. See you Monday," I said, and she offered a respectful bow before exiting.

Alone, I let out a soft sigh, a sense of completeness washing over me. I had it all: a formidable pack, steadfast friends, and a beautiful fiancée whom I was to marry in two days.

Jasmine, my childhood sweetheart, the one I had chosen to be with for life, despite us not being destined by the moon goddess. To me, that mattered little. She was my indispensable other half…

With our song serenading me (My girl, by temptation), I drove to her apartment in the pack house, my heart brimming with anticipation.

Upon reaching the parking lot, I parked and strode into the pack house, making my way to Jasmine's first-floor apartment.

The bouquet in my hand, a vibrant array of colors, was sure to lift her spirits after her challenging day she had told me about earlier when we spoke.

I entered her apartment without knocking, an intimate privilege of our bond. But the sight that greeted me rooted me to the spot.

What the fuck… I felt a sharp pain strike my heart making me clutch my chest as I watched in disbelief.

My Jasmine was locked lips with another man…

And to make matters worse, the man she was kissing was not just any ordinary packmate, but one of my betas of my top office in the pack army. My body felt numb all over.

How could they do this to me?

How could they betray me like this?

How long had they been sneaking behind my back?

I felt a surge of rage, pain, and disbelief consume me all at once. I wanted to rip them apart, to make them pay for their treachery. But I couldn't move from the corner of the hallway which led to her living room.

My presence went unnoticed, as they were too busy devouring each other more than I had ever remembered kissing her.

"This can't be real," A low growl escaped my lips as my vision blurred to red...

Jasmine was only supposed to love me. I couldn't understand the scene before me... My body jerked with shock, my back immediately hit against a vase next to where I was standing. It tipped over and broke.

Jasmine shuddered, she opened her eyes and saw me. She gasped, pulling away from her lover. She looked at me with fear, guilt, and regret. She tried to say something. But I didn't want to hear it.

How could the one woman I deeply loved do this to me? I didn't want to see her face. I didn't want to feel anything for her. I gritted my teeth with a scowl.

"James... I-I can explain..." she stammered, reaching out to me.

"Don't you dare say my name!" I snapped, backing away from her. "Don't you dare touch me with those filthy hands!"

"Please, James, listen to me. It's not what it looks like. It was a mistake. I love you, James. I love you so much."

"You love me? You love me? How can you say that after what you did? How can you look me in the eye and lie to me like that? You don't love me. You never loved me. You only loved yourself. And him." I glared at the beta, who was still standing next to my woman holding her hand, looking terrified and ashamed. He bowed submissively.

"James, please, don't blame him. It was my fault. I seduced him. He didn't want to do it. He tried to resist. He's loyal to you, James. He's your friend."

My friend who kisses my woman??? How despicable. I clenched my fists so hard, I could feel my nails digging into my flesh with every second passing. I wanted to snap their necks.

"He's no friend of mine. He's a traitor. A backstabber. A snake. He betrayed me as Alpha. And you... you betrayed me too."

"James, honey, I'm so sorry. Please, forgive me. Please, give me another chance. Please, don't leave me. I need you, James. I need you more than anything." Tears began trickling down her face. I felt no sympathy for her crocodile tears.

How could she cheat on me when I had given her my all?

"No. You don't need me. You don't deserve anything. You're nothing to me. Nothing. You're dead to me… And as Alpha of the Yellowstone, I hereby strip you both of any ties to the Pack." I denounced immediately feeling a tear through my chest and I gasped.

"I don't accept your banishment, Alpha James. I love you and this silly little mistake can be fixed, please," Jasmine implored reaching out for me, but I stepped back further.

"Whether you accept it or not. I have severed any ties with you," I declared firmly even though my heart told me not to let the only woman I had ever loved in my life go.

"James, no. Please, don't do this. Please, don't say that. I'm sorry James..." she knelt down on the floor and begged.

I felt my wolf trying to crawl out and take over so that he could rip their hearts out… But I kept taking short breaths to control my consuming rage.

" You have 30 minutes to pack your stuff and leave the pack, never to return… consider it my last favor by sparing your lives," I threatened because no matter how much rage consumed me, I couldn't bring myself to hurt the one woman I loved with every fiber in my body.

"James No!" she sobbed even louder.

I turned around and ran out of her apartment fearing I couldn't hold myself any longer from killing her for her actions.

I ran until I reached the woods, where I shifted into my wolf form. I howled lonely heartbreaking howls, letting out all the anguish and anger that was tearing me apart. I howled, hoping to find some relief, some peace, some escape.

But I found none.

All I found was darkness.

Darkness consumed me.

Darkness changed me.

Darkness drove me to hate all women because all women are the same no matter how good you treat them. I vowed to never love one.