Chapter 3

Camellia's POV I stumbled out of the hotel in a daze. My head was spinning as I tried to make sense of everything. Pulling out my phone, I drafted a text to Lionel. "Hey, it's Camellia. Let's just pretend last night never happened? I was totally wasted." But when I hit send, the message bounced back with that awful red exclamation mark. Blocked. Great. I shoved my phone in my pocket, weirdly relieved. At least he wanted to forget this too. I was just about to put away my phone when I suddenly received a text message. It was a photo, and in it, my mate was sleeping in the arms of another woman. My phone case cracked under my grip. Compared to last night's pain, this hurt wasn't enough to break me. The mate bond between us felt like frayed rope about to snap. I carefully made my way back to the room I shared with Esmond. As soon as I pushed open the door, I saw him sitting on the couch. Esmond whirled around. His bloodshot eyes were locking onto me. "Where the hell were you last night? I tried mind-linking you and got static! You weren't in the pack!" Esmond stood up and walked quickly toward me, reaching for my hand, but I dodged. I smelled verbena on him. "Since when do you care where I am during full moon?" The scent of verbena clinging to his shirt making me nauseous. Esmond stepped closer, trying to take my hand again, but I dodged once more. "Don't touch me!" I said. He froze mid-reach. "Cam, come on. It was just pack business, you know how it is-" I didn't say anything. I just stared at him coldly. My hand tightened around my phone, which felt like it was burning from the photo. Esmond's eyes flickered. His hand clenched at his side. "You found it out, don't you?" His voice was calm, without any hint of panic, as if he had expected this day to come. I glared at his unflinching pupils. Lyra grew furious inside me. My canines pierced my gums and extended. He stepped closer. "Don't touch me with a mouth that reeks of another b*tch's scent," I said through gritted teeth, eyeing the half-healed bite mark on his collarbone. "You could've asked for a rejection..." The Alpha's oppressive aura surged. His fingers turned into steel-like claws, gripping the back of my neck. "It was one stupid mistake during her heat cycle. My wolf went feral, okay? It was just a mistaken mark..." "Oh really?" I ripped my collar open. "Guess I'll go let the grey wolf from Red Rock Pack 'accidentally' mark me too then?" The room temperature dropped. Esmond's golden eyes glowed. "Try it. I'll rip out his throat and yours." The ice in his voice finally broke me. My heart turned to ice under his cold, emotionless gaze. So he knew betrayal was unforgivable, yet he still did it. "Remember what I said when you proposed?" My voice shook. "One betrayal and I'm gone." I wiped away a tear from the corner of my eye, my tone mocking and tinged with hatred. "I won't share a mate with any werewolf." "Cam, just give me another chance. She's just my secretary. I'll fire her today and transfer her pack, whatever you want," Esmond said. "Too late. Do you really think that can make up for your cheating? Cheating is unforgivable, among werewolves and humans alike," I replied. Esmond's face darkened even more. "We're mates. That bond doesn't break unless I say so." "No matter what you say, I've already made up my mind. I'll go tell Alpha Drogo and Luna Chelsea and ask for a mutual rejection," I said. Esmond tried to step closer. "Cam, don't do this. You need me, and I need you too." Lyra growled inside me. She hated Esmond. "Stay away from me!" I said. I turned to leave the bedroom. Esmond grabbed my wrist. "You always wanted a kid," his voice rasped. "Let's make one right now. What do you say?" "That was before." I yanked my arm free. "I'll have children someday—just not yours." His amber eyes flashed. Every Alpha-blooded werewolf had that possessive streak. Before I could blink, he slammed me onto the mattress, his weight pinning me down. "Say that again." His growl vibrated against my collarbone. I bared my teeth. "I'd rather die than carry your spawn. You make me sick." His mouth crashed into mine before I finished. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong. His thumb brushed my bare collarbone. Instead of the usual electric shiver down my spine, nausea churned through my gut. "Don't look at me like that," he murmured, lips grazing my earlobe. "You know how hungry my wolf gets after the full moon." Lyra's screech nearly split my skull. My right hand shifted involuntarily, claws ripping through his left shoulder. "F*ck!" Esmond staggered back, smashing into the coffee table. The crystal ashtray shattered. Blood dripped onto the beige rug as he clutched his shoulder. His golden irises trembled violently. He stared at my still-shifted hand as if seeing a stranger. "This... can't be..."