Chapter 1 The Heartbreak

"What have I done to deserve this?" Iris cried. Emmett, the Alpha of the Moonbay Pack, was expressionless as he stood unmoved by her pleas. He just wasn't interested in hearing whatever she wanted to say. Iris kneeled at his feet; she'd given her all trying to make their marriage work out; she'd ignored all his excesses, but suddenly, just suddenly, he told her he wanted a divorce. "It's best you start packing up your things, Iris. Emmett told her. "You have just 24 hours to be here; that's after you sign those divorce papers." "I won't sign them till you tell me what I've done wrong." Iris cried, "What haven't I done to be a good mate?" "Save your questions for someone ready to answer them; the earlier you get on with it, the better, Emmett voiced. Tears poured down her eyes. Her heart was hurting with the pain she felt. They'd only been married for two years, and he wanted a divorce. She'd tried her best to make their marriage grow. Emmett, as she knew, was arrogant and a womanizer, but she still went ahead to be his mate because she loved him. In two years she'd turned a blind eye to his immorality and cheats; she'd pretended not to notice the way he eyed other women even before her. "I've tried, Emmett, to be a good and loving mate, and this is what I get?" Tears slid down her cheeks. "I have done nothing wrong to you; just give me a reason why you're suddenly asking for a divorce." "I owe you no explanation, Iris; before we joined, you know I never had feelings for you. I only wanted to get married to you so I would take over my position as the Alpha," he told her. "You knew about that." "I wanted us to work out. I was ready to give anything so you'd love me, but no, you keep hurting me just more," Iris said. "I want to move on, Iris. I'm sick and tired of being with you," he yelled. She cried even more, her whole body trembling as she did. "Please don't do this to me, I beg you." She pleaded "This was what my parents wanted before they died, and now that they're gone, I can't continue to tolerate you. " He said, "Just sign the freaking divorce papers." "Give me one more chance, Emmett. I promise I'll do whatever you want. I have nowhere else to go. I love you." He cut her off. Well, I don't love you, Iris. How hard is that for you to understand?" "We can make this work, please, "she begged. "I'm fed up, Iris. " I don't wish to have you as my mate anymore, he said simply. "Why are you treating me this way? "What have I ever done to you?" "Everything. You've done everything, Iris. I can't stand you any longer. Our marriage had always been a loveless one, and you know it. "I beg you, Emmett, don't do this, she cried. "It's already done," he said. She shook her head vigorously. "No. I won't do it. I won't sign them. "I'm afraid you have no choice, Iris because tomorrow I'll be presenting my new mate to the council." Iris's mouth dropped open; she couldn't believe her ears. New mate? How could it be? Tears ran in full force down her eyes as she realized he had always had someone; he had been waiting for the perfect time to divorce her and move his new mate in. Iris choked on her tears. She wondered where she'd gone wrong in ever loving him. Why was he hurting her the way he was? She glanced across at the divorce papers lying some inches from where she kneeled; it brought tears to her eyes. "You have a mate already?"She asked, "We're barely even separated, and you're planning on bringing another woman." "She's not just another woman, Iris; she's someone better than you, someone I love and not someone who I'm forced to be with because of some position," he told her. His words stabbed her like a thousand daggers; she fell to the ground and sat hopelessly on it. "How could you say that to my face?" she cried. "The heavens know I loved you with all my heart. I loved you with everything in me." "Save it, Iris. I'm not interested," he snapped. Emmett signaled to two hefty guards at the doorway, and they came marching to them. Iris looked from one guard to the other as they stood on either side behind her, waiting for their command. "Pick up the divorce papers, Iris," Emmett ordered. She shook her head again; she wasn't going to do it. "You'd have to kill me first, Emmett. It's over my dead body. I sign those papers." She cried, "I'm not leaving you for any lady—not now, not even in a thousand years." "I don't want you to go through the signing process the hard way, Iris." Pick it up nicely and sign it, or I'd have you face my wrath." He thundered. "How can you be so ruthless, Emmett?" she cried. "Who made you turn your back against me this way?" "I don't owe you anything like I said—not even the smallest piece of information," he told her. "Don't I deserve to know?"How can you treat me so unfairly as if I'd never mattered to you? she intoned. "That's because you never did. He plainly said. "You promised to love me. You promised right before the park and the council that you'd love me all the days of your life, Emmett." She cried bitterly. "Let's say I lied, Iris. Now what? Tie me to a stake and whip me." He said I see you want to go about this the hard way." Iris watched fearfully as he nodded to the guards; they seized her up by the arm immediately and roughly, dragging her to her feet. "Let go of me, Iris protested as their nails dug into her flesh, holding her up. "Get your hands off me, you pigs." "I think you need to learn the hard way. Are you going to sign those papers peacefully and without force or not?" He asked. She stared at him, cursing the day she'd met him. "I won't," she said, holding his stare. He nodded slowly, enjoying her boldness. "Take her away.”