Two:

Grace's POV.

I could barely contain my excitement the next morning.

I could almost imagine the look on Rhyder's face when he found out that he was going to have a little pup of his own.

I got dressed in a mad rush and hurried across the yard to his room.

I stopped in front of the door and took a quick second to catch my breath and compose myself before knocking.

I waited, but there was no answer.

I knocked again, a little more loudly.

"Rhyder? Wake up. I've got something very exciting to tell you."

Still, no answer and no movement from inside.

I just couldn't wait any more. It felt like I was about to burst. I just had to tell him.

So, I tried the door and realized that it wasn't locked. I opened it only slightly - the scene inside made my brows furrow almost immediately.

Clothes were strewn haphazardly across the floor. I recognized Rhyder's boots first, then his shirt, and then his leather jacket tossed over the back of a chair.

I knew that I recognized the other pieces of clothing as well, but I didn't want to admit it to myself.

A feeling of absolute dread fell over me as my heart plumeted into the pit of my stomach. My pulse began to stutter and my mouth went completely dry.

I pushed the door open all the way and had to slap my hand to my mouth to catch the gasp of horror that was trying to escape.

Rhyder was lying on his back, completely exposed to the world. His unruly black hair was even more of a mess than usual and his jaw, neck, and chest was smeared with red lipstick.

Next to him...

I grabbed my stomach as I toppled over - I was sure that I was going to be sick. I could all but feel the colour draining from my face.

It was almost too awful to comprehend.

Next to him, lying on her stomach and only barely covered by the sheets, was my supposed best friend Alexis - as naked as the day she was born.

Anger, sorrow, disbelief, rage, and betrayal mixed inaide me before crashing like a tidal wave. My legs threatend to colapse beneath the weight of this awful reality.

It felt like the world had opened up to swallow me whole - there was a part of me that wished it would.

None of it felt real.

I stepped fully into the room and slammed the door behind me as loudly as I could.

Rhyder didn't even twitch - he was out cold. Alexis stirred and began to turn onto her back.

My breathing grew rapid and shallow as I waited for her to notice me. When she finally did, she gasped loudly, yanked the sheet up over her naked flesh and stared at me with wide eyes - the remnants of red still on her lips.

"Grace," she cried out, "you weren't supposed to see any of this."

"No shit, Alexis!"

My voice sounded surprisingly calm and even. But it felt like a bomb was about to go off inside me.

It was at that moment that Rhyder's eyes began to flutter. He slowly dragged his hand over his handsome face as he moved his head from side to side. Then, he slowly propped himself up on his elbows and looked at me - a smile beginning at the corners of his mouth.

"Hey, babe..."

He began but faltered when he saw the look on my face. That's when he slowly turned his head toward Alexis. He jumped out of bed when he saw her naked figure and clumsily tried to cover himself up.

"Alexis!" He breathed. "What the hell is going on here?"

"I'd like to know the same damn thing!"

Rhyder looked at me again - confusion etched into every curve of his face.

He took a step toward me.

I took one back.

"Grace, please. This isn't what it looks like."

"It's not!? Then what the hell is it, Rhyder?"

"Grace..."

Alexis began, rising to her feet. The sheet dropped, exposing her perfectly naked body once more. She flushed bright red and scurried to cover herself up again.

Rhyder looked mortified. He opened his mouth to speak, but I had seen enough - heard enough. I had no interest in his excuses or his explanation.

This was the absolute betrayal. My heart felt like it had been yanked from my chest.

I felt broken.

I lifted my hand to silence him.

There was only one thing that I could do.

"Rhyder Crimsonpaw, I, Grace Whitefang..."

Rhyder stepped toward me again.

"Grace, please? Don't do this? I beg you, please?"

I ignored his plea.

"Reject you as my fated mate and one true love. I hereby break our bond and set you free just as I set myself free."

I had to steady myself as I felt the bond snap inside. It was the worst pain I have ever felt - like I had just ripped my own soul from my body.

My wolf howled miserably before crawling up into a ball and whimpering like a lost child.

I knew the moment that Rhyder felt it as well. I could see the light dimming in his eyes.

There was a split-second of regret inside me, but I knew that I had no other choice.

Rhyder betrayed me - he betrayed our bond and my wolf. I could never forgive him and I could never trust him again.

He ruined us.

Alexis said nothing. She just watched us in horrified silence. Maybe it was better that way...

Rhyder took another step toward me with his hands reaching for me. He looked like a broken version of himself.

"Grace..."

"No, Rhyder! I'm done! We're done! It's over! I never want to see you again!"

"Please, Grace."

"No! I'm leaving and don't you dare follow me!"

I made it out of the room just in time to hide the tears that began streaming down my face.

I felt like I had been shattered. I just had to get away. I couldn't bare to look at them a second longer.

And I couldn't bare to let them see me break.

I had my pup to think of now and to me, that was the only thing that mattered - the only thing I still cared about.