Chapter 1My Alpha mate told me all males cheat--I believed. Just as I know cheaters' lives are nightmares--and that’s females' job.
I signed the dissolution papers-- took eighty percent of his assets.
Then I gave them to his rivals, with only one condition: destroy him.
They did it!
He lost everything. Now he's bonded to a female thirty years older than him.
That female is tougher, by the way.
His life is a living hell now — I did my job and I love it.
......
My Alpha mate's precious little playthings had bolted again.
This time, his method of luring them back was a signed dissolution agreement.
This twisted game had played out countless times before my eyes.
I'd cried, I'd raged, I'd even mimicked his mistresses by leaving myself.
But each time, all I got was a check with another zero tacked on.
Nate Covington would smirk condescendingly, "Enough for you?"
This time, I calmly took the dissolution papers and signed my name.
Nate patted my head with satisfaction.I could smell his pleasure.
"Good girl. It's just temporary. Before the cooling-off period ends, I'll withdraw it."
"I'm glad you're finally seeing sense. What male doesn't have conquests to make? Especially when it's a pair of untouchable beauties. Once I've claimed them, I'll come back and be a proper mate to you."
I didn't argue. I simply picked up the check from the floor.
He had no idea I wouldn't be waiting for him anymore.
---
"Your dissolution registration has been entered. It will be finalized in one month."
I took the receipt from the clerk, but Nate immediately snatched it from my hand to take a photo.
Then he stared at his phone with a stupid grin, like some lovesick pup.
The young she-wolf behind the counter gave me a pitying look.
To coax back his precious playthings, I'd performed this fake dissolution charade with Nate countless times. The staff all recognized me by now.
After a while, Nate finally looked up, his face suddenly tender as he pulled out a red velvet box.
He opened it in front of me. "Audrey, aren't they beautiful?"
"Do you think Giselle and Celeste will like them?"
Looking at the two obscenely expensive rings in the box, I nodded calmly. "They're nice."
I unconsciously rubbed my ring finger, where only a faint imprint remained.
A week ago, Giselle had holed up in some remote place, threatening to slit her wrists with silver, while Celeste had run off and swallowed wolfsbane liquid. Both demanded Nate propose to them—specifically with the same rings he'd given me when we bonded.
Those rings had been custom-made, one-of-a-kind pieces he'd designed just for us then.
He'd removed mine while I was sleeping, claiming it needed cleaning.
I knew he was lying. He had destroyed both rings—his and mine—all to make his playthings smile.
These painful memories made my wolf howl inside me.
As we got into the car, he automatically reached for my hand.
I ignored his movements and turned my gaze to the car.
The interior I had designed was now pink. Noticing my stare, Nate quickly explained, "Those silly girls are so childish. They insisted on changing the color. I'll change it back later."
I gave a quiet "Mmm," thinking that since we were dissolving our bond, of course the car should reflect that.
Whether it was the overpowering new perfume scent or the trunk full of fresh flowers, I couldn't stop sneezing.
Only then did Nate finally tear his gaze from his phone. Seeing the rash spreading on my neck, he frowned. "I forgot about your pollen allergy."
Then he immediately instructed the driver to take us to the healer.
But while waiting at a red light, he received a call and his expression instantly darkened.
"Pull over!"
Nate turned to me. "Giselle got splashed with hot water and now she's got this tiny blister. She's actually crying and begging for me to come over. I need to go check on her."
"Audrey, you're gonna have to go to the healer on your own."
"What!" My wolf said in disbelief.
But before I could react, he pushed me out of the car, leaving me standing bewildered in the middle of the street.
Only when my phone pinged with a flight booking confirmation did I snap back to reality.
I hailed a cab and headed to the healer.
The nurse seemed surprised to see me alone. "Your mate didn't come with you this time?"
My body is fragile — I'm allergic to almost everything. Normally, if I so much as sneezed from a speck of dust, Nate would rush me to the healer like a man possessed.
Without exception, he'd even delayed pack meetings for me before.
But this time...
I smiled and shook my head. "He's busy."
After getting my treatment, there was a commotion at the front desk.
"Oh my God, that male is so hot."
"Have you ever seen anyone bring ninety-nine roses to the healer's for his mate? And carrying both her AND the flowers!"
"It's just a small burn that was already healing. If they'd waited any longer, it would have healed itself."
Through the window, my eyes fell on that extravagant bouquet of deep red roses.
The male was bent over his phone, typing something.
Ping!
My phone pinged with a message from Nate: "Audrey, how you feeling? Any better?"
Looking down again, I saw he had already put his phone away and was leaving with the girl.
Their fingers intertwined, matching rings glinting conspicuously on their hands.
I suddenly felt a pang in my heart, and my wolf whimpered inside me.
I looked down at my phone and accepted two friend requests.
Their profile pictures matched Nate's recently changed one. Before this, his picture had always been of me.
The entitled young she-wolf weren't exactly polite:
[Since you're already dissolved from Nate, please move out today. And clean up after yourself.]
They didn't know that out of guilt, Nate had given me eighty percent of the assets in our dissolution agreement, including the house where we lived.
I circled the relevant clause in the agreement and sent it to them:
[You should have read the agreement.]
They went silent.
Then a call came in: "Audrey, what theme would you like for the mating ceremony?"
Chapter 2
I didn't have much to take with me. One suitcase was enough to hold everything.
As I came downstairs, I found Nate curled up on the sofa.
I went straight to pour a glass of water, grabbed some stomach medicine, and walked over to him.
But he suddenly stood up and slapped me hard across the face.
His scent was full of irritation.
"Audrey fucking Sinclair, you crossed a line!"
"Who gave you permission to show our dissolution agreement to them?!"
"I've explained this a million times—they're just playthings. They won't affect your position. Once I've had my fun, I'll come back and be a good mate. What the hell are you being so dramatic about?"
"People in our world all have a mistress or two. Even your father…"
My eyes instantly blazed with fury as I glared at him. My wolf snarled inside me, hackles raised.
Then his voice softened as he pulled me into his arms. "Besides, in all these years together, I've only ever been with you. Don't you feel how much I love you?"
"Be good. I promise that after this, I'll stay faithful to you for the rest of my life."
Years ago, the notorious playboy had pursued me relentlessly for three whole years. He swore I would be his only one forever. He promised to protect me and my family with his life.
I believed him.
But now, hearing the same promises, I felt nothing but numbness.
When had my trust eroded completely?
Was it when his playthings first disappeared, and he used my social media to publicly declare his love for them, making me the laughingstock of every pack gathering?
The next day, I was surrounded by reporters, helpless and alone in the face of flashing cameras. I could smell their excitement, their hunger for scandal.
Or was it on our bonding anniversary when he abandoned me to perform some dangerous stunt to impress them, leaving me to face his family's accusations that I didn't care about my mate's safety?
Was it when he ignored my one hundred and one desperate calls for help while he was having the time of his life with his playthings?
Or was it when he forced me to donate blood just because I shared the same blood type with his playthings, causing me to lose my barely-formed pup—only to blame me for not being able to protect our child?
Or the day before he handed me dissolution papers, when he reassigned all the healers to treat his playthings, leaving my mother—my only family—to die with no one to save her...
My whole body trembled, water soaking my clothes.
He still held me, his skin now permeated with a fragrance he'd never worn before—their scent mixing with his, making my wolf feel disgust.
I turned my face away, only to see a string of numbers tattooed on his collarbone—the birth dates of those playthings, which also happened to be the day my mother died.
Remembering my mother's last words, I subtly pulled away from his embrace. My wolf whimpered softly, mourning what we'd lost.
He shoved an $80 million check into my hand. "They like this house. You need to move out."
I took the check and quietly said, "Fine."
Then I handed him the medicine.
Nate's eyes softened, and he was about to take my hand. "Audrey..."
Just then, a series of agonized howls came from outside—
Maple.
I rushed out in panic, only to see Giselle and Celeste viciously kicking my dog, who lay barely breathing on the ground. The scent of blood hit my nose, sharp and metallic.
I violently pushed them away, tears streaming down my face. "Maple! Maple!"
The poor pup was barely breathing but still managed to wag her tail at me. I could feel her fading life force, smell the fear and pain radiating from her.
Giselle and Celeste stood by, watching coldly.And I could smell their satisfaction, their cruel pleasure:
"Oh, it's your dog? We thought it was some stray that wandered onto our property."
"Why are you still here anyway? Didn't Nate tell you to leave?"
I stood up and slapped Giselle hard across the face.
But the next moment, a slap landed on mine...
Chapter 3
Celeste saw Nate and immediately turned on the waterworks. Her scent was full of grievance: "Nate, she hit my sister!"
Yet Nate stared at his palm in shock, then looked at me with guilt. "Audrey, I didn't mean to..."
But Giselle cut off his apology and scoffed. "Is this how the great Nate Covington proves his devotion to us? Still entangled with your ex-mate even after dissolution?"
"If that's the case, my sister and I simply can't be with you."
"We come from a respectable family. We absolutely refuse to be homewreckers."
With that, she gave me a pointed look, her scent full of hostility. "Unlike some people who can't take a hint and leave. Is this what passes for dignity among you pack wolves?"
Nate's face tensed. "Audrey, apologize to Giselle and Celeste."
Snow began to fall from the sky. I clutched Maple's stiffening body tightly to my chest, her warmth fading against me.
My eyes blazed as I defiantly met his gaze. My wolf pushed forward, letting her rage show through my eyes. "They killed my dog."
They killed the companion who had been with me for fifteen years—the last thing my mother had left me in this world!
Compassion flickered in Nate's eyes, but Celeste grabbed her sister's arm. "Nate, that beast attacked my sister first!"
My blood boiled. My wolf howled in fury inside me. Maple was gentle—she would never attack anyone unprovoked.
Nate immediately went to check Giselle's hand, looking at the supposed injury. "Does it hurt?"
Giselle turned away petulantly. "What does it matter if it hurts? The real culprit won't be punished anyway."
Nate's voice turned indulgent.His scent wrapped around them. "My little one, what do you want me to do?"
Giselle gave me a malicious look. I could smell her malicious. "Since your ex-mate has so much empathy for a dog, why doesn't she spend the night outside with it?"
Without a second thought, Nate agreed. "Fine. Whatever makes Giselle happy."
Giselle finally smiled, a smile so dazzling that Nate was mesmerized, unable to tear his eyes away from her face.
Then Nate looked at me with disgust and ordered his guards: "Do as Miss Beaumont says!"
The guard hesitated, reluctant to follow through. "But sir, it's below freezing outside. Miss Sinclair, she…"
Giselle's face darkened, her scent turning acrid with anger, and she turned to leave. "Even your guards listen to your ex-mate more than you. How am I supposed to believe you'll be good to me and my sister?"
Nate immediately chased after her, taking her in his arms. "Alright, alright, sweetheart. We'll do exactly as you say!"
He then glared at the guard. "What are you waiting for? Get on with it!"
I struggled violently, but I was still locked outside.
Celeste picked up Maple by the tail and turned to Nate with a coy smile. "Nate, it's freezing today—perfect weather for some hearty stew. Let's celebrate our move-in by cooking up that mutt, what do you say?"
I clutched at the door in desperation. "No! Please!"
"I'm begging you! Nate, don't do this to Maple!"
I fell to my knees in the snow, banging my fists against the door over and over, tears falling drop by drop.
But Nate was entranced by Giselle's face, holding her hand to his lips and warming it with his breath.
He didn't look at me again as he put his arm around Giselle's waist, took Celeste's hand, and walked into the house.
I called his name over and over, each cry more desperate than the last, my wolf howling alongside me in anguish.
I don't remember when I passed out from the cold. When I came to, the smell of cooking wafted from the house—and underneath it, a scent I knew too well. Maple's scent, changed by heat and death.
A bowl of crushed bones sat in front of me.
I clutched Maple's leash, my nails digging deep into my palm. Blood dripped onto the snow. "Nate Covington, I will NEVER, EVER forgive you."
But when I woke up the next day, he was sitting by my bed, his eyes red. And I could smell regret on him.
