chapter 2

 ~ Mira's POV ~

The scent of coffee lingered in the air as I moved around the kitchen, I looked over at the clock, the sun hadn't fully risen when I dragged myself off the bed, aching and swollen but I had no choice. 

I had to do the house chores, clean every part of the packhouse then head over to the office. The same routine everyday.

I forced myself into my routine. Coffee brewed in the corner as I multitasked, scrubbing dishes with one hand and flipping toast with the other. My fingers felt numb, but I kept moving. 

The memory of last night rewinding in my head. He had said there was no "us."

I blinked hard and shoved the thought aside. The kettle whistled.

Just breathe, Mira. One breath. Then another. I poured myself a cup of coffee, catching my breath. 

Footsteps thundered down the stairs and my breath hitched in my throat.

Thousands of questions buzzed my mind as to why he stayed in the packhouse overnight.

“Mira”, he called out and my heart skipped. 

I wiped my hands so fast on the apron sauntering over to his side. 

“Set the table,” he said. My lips parted in disbelief, I blinked.

Realising my mate was serious, I dashed to the kitchen in a flash clinging to some pathetic sliver of hope he had come around. 

I beamed with smiles as my mate sipped his tea, my heart fluttering so fast that I am sure he could have heard a whim of it. Of how excited I am, he demanded a breakfast I cooked. 

Alpha Rowan cleared his throat, wiping his hands on the napkin. Heat flushed to my cheeks as I realised I haven't touched anything on my plate. 

“Check this and sign it before tonight,” he stated in a firm tone, dropping a stack of papers on the dining table. 

I furrowed my brows, my heart hammering against my chest. Is it about office work? I picked the envelope, my hands trembling notching the bold headings of the paper.

Divorce agreement?.

“Wha-t is this?Alpha,” I stuttered, swallowing hard.

“You can read, can't you?," He said, his voice leaving no room for argument. 

“No… noo”, I shook my head, my hands trembling as I dropped the paper on the floor.

“You can't be serious’’, I chortled. 

“I am,” he said, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl like this was just another Tuesday.

“I am not signing this, we are not married only on paper. We are fated mates, fucking dammit it," I cussed out loud, my voice shaking, tears threatening to roll down my cheeks.

He looked at me like I was an annoying child. "Do what you want. But it's happening, Mira. I'm done pretending. You should be too."

“Pretending?Rowan. I fucking loved you and this is all I ever get. Tell me you don't mean this”, I half-yelled, tears flowing like a river on my face. 

But he didn't care. Like always. He casted a dismissing glance at me, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“I am doing you a favor, sign it. I am done pretending, I don't want you, I have never wanted you. You just concluded since we are mates, I would love you and clinged on to me at the ball. Remember?”, he groaned, ruffling his tousled sleek black hair.

“Ye---ah, I remembered. I remembered how you freaking swept me off my feet when you realized we are mates, Rowan”, I shouted, calling him by his name the second time. 

“I am done here. Get the document signed by tonight”, he declared, heading back upstairs.

My legs felt like jelly, I stood rooted to the ground with tears on my cheeks. I grabbed my car keys with my bag, storming out.

I sat at my desk, but my fingers hovered over the keyboard. My brain was stuck in a loop. Divorce. Divorce. Divorce. The word kept flashing like neon behind my eyes.

I couldn’t think. I couldn’t breathe.

My assistant tapped on my door twice. "Alpha Rowan wants you to pick up his parcel from the Royal Crest Hotel."

"Now?" I blinked. "Why me?"

She shrugged. "He said it had to be you."

Of course. It always had to be running the damn errand work and all he ever existed to do was complain about each little thing I did, even when I had always tried my best. To Luna's pack duties, the never ending work at the office, the never ending training session of the female pack warriors every weekend. 

I stepped on the pedal, snapping out of my thoughts. The horns of my car blaring in my ears. I darted out of my car, my hands trembling.

I can't believe I had almost hit someone with my carelessness. My stomach twisted in knots locking eyes with an elderly woman. 

“I am fine,” the woman announced and I placed my hand on my ribcage, heaving a sigh.

I didn't feel like driving anymore. I didn’t even feel like existing. But I did it anyway. Because I always did what I was told.

My heels clicked against the marble floor as I stepped into the lobby. Cold air wrapped around me, mixing with a strange, sharp perfume that clung to the walls. The chandelier above sparkled too bright for this early in the day.

No one greeted me at the front desk.

I frowned.

There was a woman seated behind it, but she didn't look up from her screen. Her fingers paused on the keyboard for a second just long enough to glance at me then resumed like I was invisible.

“I’m here for a parcel. Alpha Rowan sent me,” I said, my voice dry.

Still no smile. No response. She simply slid a keycard across the counter.

“Room 509.”

Room? Not reception?

“Excuse me, is it not at the front?” I asked.

She didn’t answer.

My fingers trembled as I picked up the card. Something was wrong. I felt it in my bones, deep in my gut, a twisting pressure that wouldn’t go away.

The elevator dinged open, and I stepped inside, clutching my bag. Fifth floor. I stepped out, and the hallway was silent. Too silent. The kind of quiet that made your skin crawl.

Room 509 was the last one at the far end. The door looked no different from the others, but my instincts screamed louder with every step. I paused.

Go back, Mira. Just go. I shook my head. 

I am not backing out. He would hold it as an excuse for divorcing me.

I knocked. No answer.

I knocked again, softer this time. But then the door creaked open, a man in a robe was at the door. I looked around wondering if I had got the wrong room.

“I am here for Alpha Rowan's parcel", I informed, swallowing the lumps in my throat. 

“Oh yeah, you are late,” the man said, a frown etched on his face. 

“You can come in. It's waiting for you.” The way he said it, makes my skin. His lips twitching into a smirk, my stomach twisting in knots. 

I stepped back, realizing the danger I am in but it was already too late as the man's loud roared in the hallway. 

“Get her", 

I made a run for it but I was seized by two bulky men dressed in all black attire.

My knees crashed on the cold floor and I winced in pain.

“What do y'all want from me?", I demanded, my voice trembling.

“Just want to have some nice time with you, darling", the man moved towards me and I backed away against the wall. The next few seconds moved with a blur as a hand reached out to me, slamming a handkerchief against my nose. 

I struggled, thrashing to get out from the grip, my eyelids felt heavy and I embraced the darkness. 

—--

I woke up with a banging headache, my body aches all over. My eyelids fluttered open and I stared at a pristine white ceiling.

“Where am I?" Then the memories hit me, I sat up then realized I am naked under the sheet. 

I screamed, rushing out of the bed but the door was flung open and I met with a cold intense gaze.

“Alpha Rowan?", I stuttered, grasping the sheets to cover the last ounce of my dignity, with tears rolling down on my cheeks.

“You cheated?"His Alpha's aura rolled against me and my knees buckled and I fell. 

“Ple–ase”, I choked out. 

What have I gotten myself into? My heartbeat thudded in my ears, louder. I couldn't seem to find a steady breath, and my voice caught in my throat. 

My thoughts disjointed, I couldn't even explain myself to my mate as why I found myself in a hotel room naked with a man–

The parcel? A frown etched on my face as Alpha Rowan neared me.