Chapter 1

May 8, 2023, my Alpha Mate, Ethan Hawthorne brought his mistress to our pack, and I decided to deceive him into divoring me.

Standing in front of his office, I took a deep breath, knocked on and stepped inside.

The polished wood door swung closed behind me with a soft click.

I clutched the file in my hands, forcing a mechanical smile to my lips as I approached his desk. Ethan didn’t glance up. His focus remained on the laptop screen.

“Are you busy?” I asked, my voice even, polite.

He looked up, his gray eyes meeting mine without any flicker of warmth.

“A bit,” he said, voice low and rough. He leaned back in his chair. I placed the folder on his desk, already flipping to the marked pages where his signature was needed.

“Just a few spots to sign.”

Without reading, he picked up the pen lying next to his laptop and began to sign, page after page, his hand moving automatically, his gaze occasionally drifting back to his screen.

I watched silently. Ethan looked… worn out. His usually sharp grey eyes were dull, and there were deep shadows un- der them. He had just come back from London after two weeks at the Annual Alpha Conference – a gathering of pack leaders across the globe.

But he hadn’t come back alone.

My wolf Yve stirred uneasily inside me. ‘He reeks of her.’ I pushed her down gently. There was no point in flaring up.Not when the papers he had just signed held the ending we both needed.

When he was finished, he clicked the pen closed and slid it across the table toward me.

“Thanks,” I said, sliding the documents back into my folder.

I paused, hesitated, then asked, “Will you be home for dinner tonight?”

Predictably, Ethan shook his head. “Got some things to wrap up here. Don’t wait.”

I nodded, plastering the same empty smile across my face. “Got it. See you around, Alpha,” I said, forcing my voice to sound like any other obedient wolf under his rule-not like the Luna and fated mate he seemed to have regretted

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claiming.”

I turned away, letting my smile fade once my back was to him.

My heels clicked softly against the hardwood floor as I walked toward the door. The air shifted slightly when I passed the annex lounge, and Yve immediately bristled.

‘Smell.’Sweet vanilla perfume – too sweet.I glanced sideways without thinking, my enhanced senses sharpening the image beyond what human eyes would see.

Half a box of artisanal pastries sat abandoned on the low glass table. A lipstick-smeared coffee cup beside it. And near the plush lounge chair, a black high-heeled shoe.

Yve snarled deep within me, the sound more a vibration across my bones than a true noise. He brought her here. Here. Not just to London. To our den. Our Pack. He stains our space.’

My throat tightened painfully.

My chest felt heavy, like something was sitting right on top of it as I turned on my heel and head back, away from this awful place that made me feel disgusted.

By the time I got back to my office, exhaustion hit me hard. I dropped into my chair, not even bothering to turn on the lights.

Slowly, I pulled out the divorce agreement from the lowest drawer-the very document Ethan had just unknowingly signed.

My fingers brushed over his perfect signature.

Firm. Bold. Unwavering.

Just like the way he had pledged himself to me during the mating ceremony years ago. Back then, Ethan had been so firm, so sure. He looked at me like I was his whole world. I had believed it, like a fool.

That familiar scent I sniffed earlier-I knew exactly who it belonged to. I’m smarter than this. I should’ve seen it coming.

I could still feel the phantom brush of his lips against the mark he placed on my neck.

I leaned back in my chair, staring blankly at the ceiling. I could almost hear Ethan’s mother Amelia’s voice again- calm, cold, and cutting. “Don’t be naive, Olivia. Men—even Alphas-always want more. They don’t stay faithful.”

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. “You were always spot on, Amelia,” I muttered.

I realized then that I had been wrong. So, so wrong.

Not only had Ethan cheated, but he had taken his mistress to our office.

‘We deserve better’, Yve whispered.

‘We do’, I agreed.

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υπαρισ

Steeling myself, I picked up my phone, snapped a clear photo of the signed divorce agreement, and attached it to a

new message.

To: Amelia HawthroneSubject: Agreement CompleteMessage: Ethan has signed, as per our understanding.

I hit send without hesitation.

The previous week, Amelia had approached me in private. If I agreed to file for divorce quietly, without confronting Ethan or exposing the affair publicly, she would ensure a settlement of $150 million transferred discreetly to my per- sonal accounts.

In the world of packs and politics, image was everything. An Alpha embroiled in a public scandal would weaken the Hawthrone Pack’s standing – something Amelia would never allow.

Neither would I, truthfully. No matter how broken Ethan had left me, I would not humiliate myself by causing a spec-

tacle.

I had my dignity.

After a month – the grace period to finalize everything – Ethan would be free. And so would I.

I let out a slow breath, settling into my chair. That’s when a knock came at the door.

“Come in,” I said.

Ethan’s beta, Reed stepped inside, carrying a small, elegant box in both hands.

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“Luna Olivia,” he said formally, not quite meeting my eyes. “Alpha Ethan asked me to deliver this to you. He bought it for you during his trip to London.”

Reed placed the box on my desk and I flipped the lid open.

Inside, nestled on deep blue velvet, was a gleaming diamond set – necklace, earrings, bracelet. The same set I had seen in a photo…on her.

Disgust crawled up my throat.

“Alpha Ethan mentioned he… he picked it out personally. Wanted something special for you.” Reed added quickly, like the words might make it hurt less.

I forced a smile, tucking the box back into my desk drawer like it meant nothing.

“How thoughtful of him,” I said. “Even with his busy schedule and all” I said lightly, my tone dripping with sarcasm.

Reed flinched slightly. “I should get back,” He was slipping out, leaving the door swinging shut behind him with a

soft thud.

My eyes dropped back to the jewelry sitting on my desk, gleaming under the harsh office lights. My stomach twisted in disgust.

Without wasting another second, I snapped a photo of it and forwarded it to a second-hand luxury dealer.Me: Donate

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the full amount to the werewolf orphanage fund.

I shut the box with a click, wiping my hands like I’d just handled garbage. Because, honestly, that’s what it felt like.

By five in the evening. I was wrapping up, gathering my things, and heading to the parking lot. The day had drained me, but it was the kind of exhaustion that sat deeper than muscles or bones.

As I stepped outside, the wind shifted, carrying a familiar scent Leather. Musk. Vanilla.

My eyes narrowed instinctively.

That’s when I spotted Ethan’s car, parked near the exit.

Through the window, I caught a glimpse-Ethan, sitting in the back seat.

And right beside him, a vibrant blonde, laughing like she didn’t have a care in the world.

Reed was behind the wheel.

The second he saw me, he slammed on the brakes, hard enough that the car jolted.

For a heartbeat, everything went still.

My eyes locked with Ethan’s through the glass.

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