Chapter 1"Please, Maddox—don't leave. Not again."
My Alpha mate's already pulling up his pants. Doesn't even look at me.
"I'll be back."
No, he won't.
Already ninety-nine times.
Every single time we're about to cimax, his little "Omega" had a crisis. A rogue. A stalker. A pervert. Always something.
And every single time, he RAN. Left me alone, empty.
Tonight? I'm done counting.
I just called a wolf who actually wants me.
"Come pick me up," I whispered. "Tonight. I'm finally ready."
My wolf is done crying.
The 100th crisis isn't hers.
It's MINE.
This time? I'm not giving them a warning.
I'm giving them a GRAVE.
--
My wolf was right there—claws out, howling inside my chest, about to climax.
Then my Alpha mate's phone started buzzing like crazy.
He didn't even blink. Just pulled out and rolled off me.
Left me there. Shaking. Empty.
I'm still trying to breathe when I hear it—some she-wolf on the other end, full-on ugly crying.
"Maddox, oh my Moon Goddess, there's this rogue following me. He—he literally whipped it out and started jerking off right in front of me. I'm shaking so bad."
His whole face went dark. His wolf's panic flooded the room.
More worry than he's ever shown me. Ever.
"Grab that silver spray I gave you. Now. I'm coming."
I grabbed his wrist. My voice came out cold.
"Maddox. You walk out that door, don't bother coming back. Ever."
Next thing I know, he shoves me into the headboard—hard. Stars explode behind my eyes.
And he's gone. Bolted. Chose that she-self over his own Luna.
I grabbed my phone, eyes burning.
"Hey. Remember when you were seven and said you'd let me be your Luna someday? ...Yeah. I'm ready."
"Wait—are you serious? This isn't some sick joke? Oh my God, you can't take it back!"
"I'm not. Come get me."
I hung up and laughed. Not the fun kind.
Around 2 a.m., keys scratched the lock.
I opened my heavy eyes. "Maddox, we seriously need to—"
CLICK. Every light flipped on.
There he was in the doorway, carrying Quinn Wilde like she was made of glass.
He didn't expect me to be sitting there. Guilty much?
He cleared his throat. "Quinn had a really bad night. Messed up her leg. Can't be alone, so she's crashing here a few days."
Quinn clung to his neck like a hurt pup. Then she slid down.
"Ow—shit."
Fake wince. Fake smile.
"Hey, Arden. Sorry for, like, totally invading your space."
I looked down at her "injury."
A scratch. You'd need a wolf's nose to even find it.
I smiled. Felt nothing inside.
"Yeah. Whatever."
I went straight to the bedroom.
Lying there, my wolf wouldn't settle.
Seven years together. Five years mated.
Tonight felt like the end.
The Alpha who used to curl around me and whisper forever?
Gone.
I wiped my face and got up for water.
Past six months I've been chewing silverweed just to sleep.
Then I saw him.
Maddox carrying Quinn out of the bathroom.
She was in just a towel—barely covered, water still dripping.
He carried her to the guest room like she was some sacred relic.
Then he knelt.
Put a bandage on her little scratch.
So gentle. So soft.
Her towel kept slipping. His eyes kept...
CRACK!
I grabbed my water glass and threw it at the floor. Glass everywhere.
"Want me to leave so you two can finish?"
They both jumped. Quinn clutched her towel, tears already coming.
Maddox shot me a look. "I'm literally just putting a Band-Aid on her cut, Arden. You scared the hell out of her."
I laughed. Sounded crazy, even to my own wolf.
"Oh, my bad. Maybe you should stay and comfort her all night? You know, to make up for my terrible behavior. She'd love that."
I turned and walked away. Didn't hear what he yelled.
Back in the bedroom, I called my pack lawyer.
"Hey. Sorry for the late call. I need severance papers. Like, ASAP."
Next second—my phone ripped out of my hand.
Smashed on the floor.
My wolf howled.
But for once, I didn't stop her.
Chapter 2
"ARDEN!"
Maddox stormed in, his wolf flashing in his eyes.
"Are you seriously still pulling this tantrum?"
"Quinn isn't just some random Omega I help out—she works for me now. She's in actual danger, and you want me to just ignore that?"
"When did you turn into such a heartless bitch?"
He looked at me like I was rogues' filth. Then he spun around and slammed the door so hard the whole pack house shook.
I dug my claws into my palms until I drew blood.
Six months. Six months of nothing but fighting about Quinn.
I've cried. Screamed. Broken down until my wolf couldn't even whine anymore.
But he never once stopped. Never once turned back for me.
He thinks I'm heartless. Dramatic. Unreasonable.
Him and Quinn? "Just packmates." I'm the one with the dirty mind.
But watching them together? My wolf feels like she's being gutted over and over.
He notices every tiny scratch on Quinn. But he can't even see the bump on my forehead from where he shoved me into the headboard.
Not this time. I'm done fighting.
...
Next morning, I drove out to get a new phone and pick up the separation papers.
On the way back, I accidentally opened the GPS.
Was about to close it when that voice came on—
"Your personal assistant Quinn is online! Quinn will be your companion for this entire trip~"
I froze for like two seconds. And right then, some asshole changed lanes without signaling.
I hit the brakes. Too late.
CRASH!
Airbag exploded. Blood ran down half my face.
Everything went black. But right before I passed out, I felt something warm between my legs.
My wolf howled inside me—a sound I'd never heard before.
I bit my tongue hard. Used my last bit of strength to link Maddox.
No response.
Then I called. Rang. And rang. And rang.
Voicemail.
As I faded out, I could feel our pup slipping away. My chest felt like someone was ripping it open with silver claws.
Blood and tears everywhere. Then nothing.
...
Woke up in the pack hospital.
Could hear nurses gossiping nearby.
"This is some crazy Alpha devotion—he called in every single healer because his Luna scraped her knee. Goals, honestly."
"Right? An Alpha that obsessed with you? Sign me up."
"Makes you feel bad for the other patient though. Car wreck, lost her pup, and nobody even showed up. Plus all the healers were busy, so maybe the pup could've been saved. That's so messed up."
One nurse noticed I was awake. Came over.
"Your cuts and bruises will heal fine. But I'm really sorry... we couldn't save the pregnancy."
I put my hand on my empty stomach. My wolf let out a sound—half whine, half scream.
The pup I wanted so badly. The one that took forever to happen. Gone.
I and my wolf couldn't stop crying. Couldn't speak.
Ripped out my IV. Stumbled through the discharge papers.
At the hospital exit, I saw him. Maddox. Being all protective over Quinn.
"Maddox, I feel so much better now. Thanks for bringing me here and getting, like, every healer to check me out."
Maddox's voice was soft. "Your health is everything to me."
I stood there. Crying. Finally understanding.
The one who stole every healer in the hospital?
My own Alpha mate.
Chapter 3
SLAP!
My wolf finally snapped and ran up to slap him across the face.
He turned, saw it was me, and his whole expression went cold as silver.
"Arden, what the actual fuck?"
"You're asking me? You drove me to this!"
Thinking about our pup—the one I'd never get to hold—my wolf let out a broken howl inside my chest.
"Maddox, are you okay?"
Quinn stood there, all wide-eyed and innocent.
"Arden, don't be mad at him. This is all my fault. I'm so sorry..."
SLAP!
I spun around and hit her too.
"Damn right it's your fault! You know he's mated, but you keep throwing yourself at him. What's your endgame here?"
Quinn held her cheek. Tears started rolling. Fake ones.
"I... I didn't..."
Maddox saw that and shoved me hard. His wolf growled—deadly low.
"Arden, stop projecting your toxic bullshit onto everyone!"
"How dare you say such vile things! Do you have no decency at all? Your parents died early and left no one to teach you how to behave like a decent wolf, didn't they!"
My world stopped. I stared at Maddox. My wolf went completely still.
He didn't. He didn't just go there.
My parents burned to death fifteen years ago. Some rogues set the fire for revenge—because little me helped one of their victims escape.
That fire took everything. Left me with nothing.
It's the worst scar my wolf carries. And Maddox just used it to DEFEND Quinn.
The wolf who knows you best? Yeah. He knows exactly where to stick the silver.
I stumbled back. My wolf whimpered. I probably looked white as death.
Opened my mouth. Nothing came out.
I got my parents killed. And now I couldn't even save my own pup.
All my energy drained. I turned and walked off like a hollow shell.
Maddox watched me go. Finally noticed the blood dried on my clothes.
He took a step to follow. Then Quinn piped up.
"I'm so sorry, Maddox. I'm just causing drama between you guys."
"Maybe I should quit. Just disappear."
She forced the words out—pale, tragic, the whole act. Then she turned to leave.
Maddox forgot about me instantly. Rushed to stop her.
"Don't say that. You saved my life once. Everything I do is just paying that back."
...
Got home. Left the signed severance papers on the table. Then dragged myself to the bedroom.
I wanted to pack and leave. But between the crash and losing the pup? I had nothing left. Collapsed on the bed. Blacked out.
No idea how long I was out before someone yanked me off the mattress and threw me on the floor.
"Arden, I never thought you could become such a vindictive bitch!"
