“I want to visit your father’s pack,” I said.
Marco's smile faltered, and he blinked rapidly as though trying to process my request. “My father’s pack? Why would you—”
“I haven’t seen him in a while,” I interrupted smoothly. “And I think it’s important for us to maintain good relations with the neighboring pack, don’t you agree?”
Marco hesitated, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed. “Of course, but... wouldn’t you prefer to go somewhere sophisticated? We could visit the new art gallery in the city, or—”
“Are you hiding something? Is there a reason you don’t want me to go?”
He froze. “No, Fiona. I’m not hiding anything.”
“Then let’s go,” I said, brushing past him toward the door. I could feel his nervousness bleeding through our shared bond.
Marco kept glancing at me out of the corner of his eye, his hands gripping the wheel tighter than necessary. Minutes later, the packhouse loomed into view. The sight of it stirred memories of past visits, where I had once felt like I belonged here. Those memories felt like shards of glass now.
Marco parked the car and stepped out, circling to open the door for me like the perfect gentleman. As we approached the entrance, Elder Khan himself appeared at the door.
“Fiona! It’s been too long.”
I forced myself to return his smile as he pulled me into a hug. Just last night, these same arms had welcomed Kira with the same warmth.
“It’s good to see you, Elder Khan,” I said.
As he stepped back, the sound of footsteps on the staircase drew my attention. My breath caught in my throat as Kira appeared, descending the stairs with her blonde hair gleaming under the light. She froze mid-step when her eyes landed on me, her face paling in shock.
My blood boiled at the sight of her igniting the anger I had barely managed to suppress. But I kept my expression neutral, my lips curving into a polite smile.
“Kira. What a surprise to see you here.”
“W-Well, I visited Mom and Dad, but they’re not in the house. So I dropped by the packhouse. After All, we used to work here,” Kira explained, her shock quickly replaced by a forced smile of her own.
“They are not always around. What do you expect?" My gaze was sharp as it lingered on her, and she stared at her feet.
The room buzzed with civility as we all settled at the long lunch table. Elder Khan, at the head, began introducing the lavish spread of dishes, but I couldn’t focus. My attention was locked on Kira.
The bitch sat a few seats away, but I could see the discomfort roiling just beneath her skin. Her eyes darted nervously toward me and Marco, especially when his hand brushed mine. It was subtle, innocent even, but I noticed how her expression darkened. That’s when the idea struck me. If Kira wanted to be uncomfortable, I’d happily help her along.
Turning to Marco, I let a soft smile curve my lips and leaned closer. “Marco, can you help me with my plate? I can’t seem to reach the salad.” My voice was sweet as my fingers brushed against his when he reached for the serving spoon.
His eyes widened slightly, flicking toward Kira. “Uh, sure,” he said, scooping the salad onto my plate.
“Thank you,” I murmured, making sure my fingers lingered just a moment too long on his arm. I didn’t miss the way Kira’s knuckles whitened as she gripped her fork.
But I wasn’t done.
“Marco, would you mind slicing me a piece of that cake?"I asked next, resting my chin on my hand and gazing up at him through my lashes. He hesitated but complied. I took my time with the next act, holding up the fork with the cake piece and teasingly bringing it to his lips. He blinked in confusion, and before he could protest, I leaned in, brushing the icing smudge from the corner of his mouth with a kiss.
“Newlyweds?” Elder Khan chuckled, raising a glass of water. “Perhaps it’s time for vow renewal, eh?”
I laughed, nudging Marco playfully. “Oh, we’ve got plenty of time for that.”
Lunch continued, and Marco steered the conversation to business. “The jewelry campaign is shifting gears. We’re hiring models now instead of celebrities.”
Kira’s face lit up at the mention of models. Now, her discomfort was temporarily replaced by excitement.
And that was where I saw my opening.
“Will Kira be one of the models?” I asked.
“Well, uh, we were considering her,” Marco admitted as his eyes flicked nervously between Kira and me.
I smiled sweetly, letting the silence linger before I sniffed the air and turned to the bitch's direction. “Kira, your scent seems different.”
Kira stiffened, her fork clattering against her plate. I pressed on, tilting my head with mock curiosity. “Are you pregnant?”
“What? No! Why would you—”
“Are you sure? It smells undeniable.”
“Fine. Yes, I’m pregnant,” she admitted. “I have a boyfriend, and he's one of the models.”
Liar. I could feel the fury simmering under my skin, but I didn’t let it show. Not yet.
“Well, that’s going to be a problem for the campaign. We can’t have a pregnant model when the shoots are so demanding. It’s not healthy.”
“I can handle it!” Kira snapped. “It won’t affect my work.”
“I disagree,” I said sharply, pulling out my phone. “Marco, you understand, don’t you? This isn’t personal. it’s business.”
He looked trapped, caught between Kira’s pleading gaze and my firm tone. I dialed my secretary anyway, speaking loud enough for them to hear. “Draft a termination letter for Kira. She won’t be part of the campaign.”
Kira’s chair screeched against the floor as she stood, tears streaming down her face. “You can’t do this!” she cried before storming out of the room.
Marco’s voice cut through the tense silence as soon as the door slammed shut behind Kira. “Fiona, what the hell was that?” His tone was sharp, his jaw tight as he turned toward me. His eyes burned with anger and confusion. “How could you make that kind of decision without consulting me first? Terminating her contract like that. It’s outrageous!”
I stared at him, my blood simmering beneath my skin. There it was—his true colors. He wasn’t upset about my business decision. He was upset because it hurt Kira. The woman who’d stolen the nights I once thought belonged to us.
My voice was quieter than I intended when I spoke, but the venom in my words was unmistakable. “You’re mad because of Kira. Because I dared to stand up to her.”
“Stand up to her? Fiona, this is ridiculous! You’re acting out of jealousy!”
“Cut the crap, Marco!” I snapped, standing so abruptly that my chair scraped loudly against the floor. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. My wolf whimpered in my head, urging me to let it out and say everything I’d been holding back. And for once, I listened to her.
“Since when, Marco? Since when are you sleeping with Kira?”
Marco’s face paled for a moment before he recovered, and a nervous laugh escaped his lips. “You’re being insane, Fiona. I don’t know where you’re getting this from, but you’re overreacting.”
I felt the lie resonate through our bond like a knife twisting in my chest. My wolf snarled, clawing at the edges of my mind, begging for release. Slowly, I shrugged off my coat, letting it drop to the floor and revealing the ugly and purple bruises on my arms and chest.
“Where did those come from?” Marco asked innocently.
I met his gaze. “They’re from your betrayal. They’re from the nights I cried myself to sleep, knowing you were with her. They’re from a mate bond you’ve desecrated beyond repair.”
Marco’s face darkened, his confusion twisting into anger. “What are you talking about? Fiona, stop this—”
“I’m leaving you, Marco. You can have her. You can spend the rest of your life with your mistress. I’m not going to fight for a cheater like you!”
Before he could respond, the door opened, and Kira walked back in, her face smug despite the lingering redness from her earlier tears. “You should’ve left a long time ago. Everyone knows you’re not fit to be Luna. You’re infertile. You can’t even give Marco an heir.”
Her words hit me like a slap, but I refused to show it. Marco, however, turned on her and yelled. “Kira, enough! How dare you say that to your Luna?”
But she only laughed. “Oh, come on, Marco. You agreed to be with me because I can give you what she can’t. She’s useless, and you know it. And admit it, my bed skills are far superior to hers!"
The sound of his palm connecting with her cheek echoed through the room, silencing her cruel laughter. Kira staggered back, clutching her face in shock. "Y-You hurt me."
“You’ve said enough!" Marco growled, gripping her arm tightly. "Take back what you had said and apologize to Fiona!"
I sighed, turning my eyes away from them. But then my wolf advised me to do the next step. So, I turned to Marco, meeting his frantic, pleading eyes with a calmness I didn’t feel. “I, Fiona Henderson, reject you, Marco Grant, as my mate.”
I walked out of the packhouse with my heels clicking against the floor, leaving behind the scandal I had caused. Even Elder Khan had become silent as he observed the fallout of my words.
Marco's desperate protests echoed faintly behind me, but I didn’t stop. “Fiona, please. I’m sorry. Don’t do this.” He caught up quickly, grabbing my arm.
I ripped my arm from his grasp and said, “It’s too late, Marco. You broke us. You broke me.” Tears streamed down my face as I turned and ran, but I didn’t make it far when his alpha aura surged over me, freezing me in my tracks.
“I command you to stop and submit to your alpha!"
My body betrayed me, stopping against my will. I clenched my fists, rage boiling inside me as I felt my neck instinctively bare to him.
He approached. The way he hissed in my ear made my wolf whimpered in fear.
“You’re mine, Fiona. You can’t leave me. You’ll stay, and you’ll obey me until I decide otherwise.”
His words snapped something inside me. My wolf roared, and I straightened, meeting his gaze with defiance. “I’m not your toy, Marco.”
Then, an idea sparked in my mind, and my wolf howled in agreement. If I’m no longer part of his pack, he can no longer control me.
Summoning every ounce of courage, I lifted my head and shouted, “I, Fiona Henderson, denounce my loyalty to you, Alpha Marco Grant, and declare myself a rogue!”
The bond between me and his pack snapped like a taut rope finally breaking. Marco’s aura faltered, and I took the opportunity to shift into my wolf form. Without looking back, I sprinted into the woods.
His voice echoed behind me, desperate and pleading, but I didn’t stop. I wouldn’t stop.
For the first time in years, I was free.
