The Alpha's Dirty Little Secret No More

For five years, my fated mate, Alpha Killian, has used my body to survive his ruts. He’s never marked me. For five years, I’ve choked down suppressants to hide our bond from the world. Until tonight. Tonight, when he was finished, he told me to be at the full moon ceremony. I thought he was finally ready to claim me. To make me his Luna. But he just smirked and told me he was mating Vivian. The daughter of an Alpha. A pureblood. And me? I was nothing more than his dirty little secret. The cure for his rut. He walked away. I wiped my tears, went back to my apartment, and threw out all my suppressants. My best friend thought I’d lost my mind. She asked if I was declaring war on the Alpha. I shook my head. No. I'm erasing him. Then, I accepted Alpha Adrian’s invitation. Alpha Adrian. A rival from Europe. In seven days, I would leave forever. Chapter 1 My fated mate slept with me for five years. I thought he was finally going to mark me, but instead, he chose to mate with another powerful she-wolf. I lay on the tangled sheets, my body aching. Killian sat on the edge of the bed, his back to me. Red scratches covered his broad shoulders. I'd put them there. His long fingers brushed the back of my neck. Right over my scent gland. My breath hitched. Five years. Every time he lost control during his rut, he took me. He used our bond to soothe his inner beast. But he never bit down. Never gave me the mark that should be mine. Today felt different. His fingers lingered there. "Be at the full moon ceremony tomorrow," Killian commanded, his hand dropping away. My heart hammered against my ribs. The full moon ceremony was the pack’s most sacred ritual. Was he inviting me to finally make me his Luna? Hope surged through me. This was it. Everything I had ever wanted. But the passion in his eyes was gone. Killian stood and walked to the closet, pulling on an expensive, tailor-made suit. When he turned back, the wild desire was gone. All that was left was the cold, calculating Alpha. "I need you to manage the press," he said, his back still to me. "I'm announcing my mating to Vivian." Ice flooded my veins. A mating? Vivian? She was the daughter of an Alpha. A pureblood. Everything I wasn't. "What do you mean?" I whispered. He looked at me like I was a stranger, a cruel smirk on his lips. "Freya," he scoffed. "You didn't actually think I'd make you my Luna just because of some twist of fate, did you?" His words were a silver knife twisting in my heart. "This," he gestured to our ruined bed, "is all we are. You're a convenience. A warm body for when the rut takes me." I wanted to scream, but the words were stuck in my throat. "Vivian is the right choice. She has the bloodline, the connections. She brings power to the pack." "What about all these years…?" "You?" He paused, a cruel sneer twisting his lips. "Just do your job. You'll be well compensated." The door slammed shut. The room was filled with our mingled scents, and I was all alone. I sat on the bed and stared at myself in the mirror. The skin on my neck was still smooth. He was right. I was just a tool to satisfy his instincts. Rain began to patter against the window. I got dressed and walked out into the stormy night. Back in my apartment, I ripped open the drawer and stared at the bottle of suppressants. Fifty thousand dollars a bottle, designed to mask the connection between Mates. For five years, I’ve used it to hide his scent on me. To hide him. Not anymore. "God, are you crazy?" my best friend, Maya, stared as I tossed the bottle into the trash. "Do you know how much that costs?" "I don't need it anymore." My voice was terrifyingly calm. "Freya, are you sure? Are you declaring war on the Alpha? Without the suppressants, everyone in the pack will smell the bond between you and…" "I'm not just leaving him," I cut her off. "I'm rejecting the Bond." Maya gasped, her eyes wide with shock. "You're what?" I pulled out my phone and found an email buried in my spam folder. From a pack in Lyon, France. An Alpha named Adrian. He’d been trying to hire me as his personal consultant for a long time. I hit reply. "Alpha Adrian, I accept your offer." Sent. Maya gasped. "You're leaving?" "I am." I locked my phone, the screen going black. "Get my passport," I said, my voice ice. "In seven days, this pack will be a memory." Chapter 2 The next morning, a voice slammed into my mind. Rose Blackwood—Killian's mother, the former Luna. In this pack, no one refused her command. “Freya, you will attend the pack alliance dinner tonight.” Her voice was elegant but firm. “Vivian has not arrived yet. Killian needs someone by his side who knows the rules.” Someone who knows the rules. Not a mate, not family. Just a well-behaved servant. ... That evening, I stood at the entrance to the manor. I once thought this was my home. For five years, I’d run this place like its mistress, even without the title. Now I knew the truth. This wasn't my home. It was just where he kept his tool. The head housekeeper led me to a side room to change. "Miss, your gown is in…" She stopped. The closet was empty. Where my custom gowns used to hang, there was now a row of pink dresses. Vivian’s favorite color. "I'm sorry, Madam said to have it reorganized," the housekeeper explained, embarrassed. "Perhaps you could wear this?" She handed me a plain black dress. The kind the staff wore. "It's perfect," I said, taking it. "Thank you." The dining hall was buzzing. Vivian sat at Killian's right hand, in the Luna’s seat, wearing a custom Chanel gown. Her smile was picture-perfect. Killian looked up, his eyes sweeping over me without a hint of guilt. "What are you standing there for?" He pointed to the far end of the long table, to a seat for the staff. "Sit. And don't say a word tonight." Just then, an elder Alpha from a northern pack sniffed the air. His cloudy eyes locked onto me. “That scent…” the elder murmured, his gaze flicking between Killian and me. “Alpha Killian, this Omega… she reeks of you. The scent of a Fated pair.” The air in the room froze. Everyone stopped. Dozens of eyes turned on me like searchlights. Hiding a Fated Mate was the ultimate sin. A desecration of our most sacred law. My heart pounded. I automatically looked at Killian. All he had to do was nod. Just admit it once. Killian set down his wine glass. He didn't even look at me. He just smiled at the elder. "You're mistaken, Elder." His voice was smooth, without a ripple of emotion. "Freya is my assistant," he said smoothly. "My scent is on everyone who works in my inner circle. It's unavoidable." The elder was clearly unconvinced. "But this is more than just rubbing off…" "Enough." Killian's voice turned cold, laced with an Alpha's undeniable command. "I think we are all clear that Vivian is my only choice for Luna." He shot me a dismissive glance, as if looking at a piece of furniture. "As for any other scent you're picking up," he shot me a dismissive glance, "I can't speak for her private life. But I assure you, we are nothing more than colleagues." No connection beyond a professional one. The words were a slap across my face, so hard my soul left my body. He would rather slander me than risk Vivian’s position. Under the table, my hand clenched the solid silver fork. The silver fork hissed against my palm. Searing pain. The smell of my own burning flesh filled my nostrils, but it was nothing compared to the pain in my heart. Only this pain could stop me from screaming. "Miss Freya?" the elder pressed. I unclenched my burnt hand. I looked up and gave the most perfect, practiced smile of my career. "Mr. Blackwood is right." I looked at the man I had loved for five years, my voice dead calm. "I have nothing but a subordinate's loyalty for Mr. Blackwood. No other feelings. The only one worthy of being the Blackwood pack's Luna is Miss Vivian." Killian’s tense shoulders visibly relaxed. He shot me a look of cool approval. The same look he’d give a dog that had successfully played dead. ... The dinner ended. The guests left. I was putting on my coat in the foyer when Killian walked over. He smelled of wine. As he got closer, that familiar, oppressive feeling washed over me. He leaned in, his lips almost brushing my ear, his warm breath on my neck. How ironic. An hour ago he was denying me, and now he was being intimate in the shadows. "You did well tonight," he murmured, his voice a low rumble. "Very... obedient." "Don't mind what those old fools say. After Vivian and I are mated, you'll still be the one by my side, handling my affairs." He pulled a black card from his jacket and slid it down the collar of my dress, his fingers brushing my collarbone suggestively. "A little bonus," he murmured, his voice a low rumble. "For your performance." I took a step back, putting distance between us. The card fell to the floor. Killian frowned, annoyed by my retreat. I looked at him, and the last shred of hope in my heart died. "Thank you, Mr. Blackwood," I said softly, a mocking curve to my lips. Keep it, I thought, my heart turning to ice. Consider it my severance pay. In six days, we’ll never see each other again. Chapter 3 The next morning, I officially submitted my resignation to the elders, waiting only for my passport to leave. Killian appeared. "One last time," he ordered, buckling his seatbelt. "You've been in charge of the new East District development. Come with me for one final inspection, and then you can take your vacation." In the back seat, Vivian was touching up her makeup in a compact mirror, her smile fake. "Freya, thank you for everything," she said, her voice dripping with fake sympathy. "I heard Killian had your things cleared out. I feel awful, but he can be so… possessive when he wants something." My knuckles turned white on the steering wheel. I was their chauffeur. Brought along to watch his future Luna gloat. The car entered a desolate mountain road. Suddenly, a loud bang tore through the air. The front left tire blew. The car swerved violently, spinning out of control. I fought the wheel, but the impact sent us crashing toward the guardrail. "Watch out!" In the split second before we rolled, I saw Killian in the rearview mirror. He had already half-shifted into his wolf form. Instinct took over. He lunged, becoming a living shield for Vivian. And me? I was nothing. A toy, forgotten in the driver's seat. Left to be crushed. Glass shattered like a rainstorm. Agony. Something sharp pierced my abdomen. A piece of the broken guardrail, plated in silver. The metallic scent of blood filled the car. "Killian… I'm so scared…" Vivian's voice was tearful. She was completely unharmed, held like a precious jewel in Killian's arms. "It's okay. I'm here." Killian's voice was so gentle it was alien to me. He kicked the door open and jumped out, carrying Vivian. I was trapped in the mangled driver's seat. The silver in my stomach was burning through my organs. Every breath was like swallowing lava. Blood poured down my thighs, staining the seat red. "Help… me…" I choked out. Killian turned. He saw me. He saw the gruesome wound in my stomach, my pale face, my desperate eyes. In the distance, the excited howls of Rogues echoed. This was a planned ambush. The roar of the rescue helicopter sounded overhead. A rope ladder dropped down. It could only hold two people. Killian grabbed the ladder, holding Vivian tight. "Killian! What about Freya!" the rescue captain yelled. "She's badly wounded! That's silver poisoning!" Killian looked down at a trembling Vivian, then back at me, covered in blood. That single second of hesitation felt like a century. Then he made his choice. "Take Vivian first!" he roared, his voice cold and hard against the wind. "She's in shock!" "But Freya is dying!" "She's a warrior!" Killian roared. "Her healing factor is strong! She can take it! The next team will get her!" The next team? The sound of Rogue claws scraping on asphalt was already just feet away. The helicopter slowly began to rise. I lay in a pool of my own blood, my vision blurring. I watched Killian hold Vivian, his most precious treasure in the world. And I was just a disposable tool, a meat shield to be left behind. In that moment, something inside me shattered. Not a bone. It was the golden thread that tied my soul to his. Our Mate Bond. It was screaming. The pain was worse than the wound in my stomach. A Rogue’s claw rested on the edge of the broken window. I closed my eyes. If I live, I vowed to the darkness, I curse you, Killian Blackwood. You will be haunted by this. Forever. ———— In the helicopter, a violent tremor shot through Killian. He snapped his head around, staring down at the fragile figure on the ground. In the air, the scent that was Freya was turning into suffocating despair. A wave of panic seized his heart, making it hard to breathe. "Killian?" Vivian whimpered in his arms. "Your eyes… they're red…" Killian’s hands were shaking. His wolf was screaming. Go back. Go back to our Mate. But a second later, he clenched his jaw, violently suppressing the insane urge. She's strong. She'll be fine. She has to be. He turned away and pressed a kiss to Vivian's forehead. "Don't be scared," he said, his voice raspy. "We're going home." Chapter 4 When I woke up, I was in a hospital. Maya was by my bed, her eyes red and swollen. "You were out for two days. You're finally healing. The visa came through." She placed a passport in my hand. "Lyon, France. The flight is in three days." I stared at my picture in the passport. That girl was still smiling. I couldn't remember how to do that anymore. "I'm leaving." "I know." Maya squeezed my hand. "It's time." The door to my room opened. I quickly hid the passport as someone walked in. It was Killian. Vivian was on his arm, holding a huge bouquet of flowers. "Freya, thank God you're okay!" Vivian's voice oozed fake concern. "If only there had been more room on the chopper. We felt so awful leaving you." I looked at their linked hands. "Thanks for your concern." Killian stood at the foot of the bed, his expression cold. "The doctor says you need to rest for a few days." "Yes." "Good." He cleared his throat. "I have an announcement." Vivian lowered her head, feigning shyness. "Vivian has accepted my proposal," Killian said, his voice full of satisfaction. "We will hold our mating announcement ceremony the day after tomorrow." The room fell silent. My heart didn't hurt as much as I expected. It was just… empty. "Congratulations," I said, my voice as still as dead water. "You're a perfect match." Vivian’s smile widened. "These are for you." She placed the bouquet on my bedside table. "Moonshadow, aren't they beautiful? The language of the flower is 'eternal friendship.'" I stared at the silver-white blossoms. Moonshadow. My allergen. Three years ago, at a business dinner, I'd almost suffocated because of these flowers. Killian had carried me out of the ballroom and rushed me to the hospital. He had looked the doctor in the eye. "She is severely allergic to Moonshadow. Remember that." Now, he just stood there, watching Vivian place a whole bouquet of them by my bed. The pollen began to drift through the air. My throat started to itch. It was getting harder to breathe. "Take them away," I said, my voice strained. "Please, take the flowers away." "Why?" Vivian blinked her innocent, wide eyes. "Don't you like them?" "I'm… allergic…" Killian’s jaw tightened. "Moonshadow is harmless to werewolves. Stop the drama." I stared at him in shock. "Pretending?" I started coughing violently, tears streaming down my face. Not from the allergy. From the despair. "You forgot," I whispered, a hollow laugh escaping my lips. "Three years, Killian. And you just... forgot." Killian froze for a second. Then Vivian cut in. "Oh my god, I didn't know! Freya, I'm so sorry!" She immediately took the flowers away, her face a mask of apology. But her acting was terrible. I pressed the call button by my bed. A nurse rushed in and gave me an anti-allergy shot. "You should inform your visitors of your allergies next time," the nurse advised. "I will." Vivian and Killian left soon after. An hour later, Killian's parents arrived. Though they had always been strict with me, they seemed to know I was Killian’s fated mate. "Child, are you alright?" Rose sat by my bed, her eyes kind. "I'm fine, thank you for asking." "We heard you're planning to leave the pack?" I nodded. "My health isn't what it used to be. I want to leave the pack and recover in Europe for a while." "How long will you be gone?" "I'm not sure. Maybe for a long time. Maybe forever." The old Alpha sighed. "If this is because of Killian…" "It's not," I cut him off. "It's my own choice." "He chose Vivian for the good of the pack," Rose said, taking my hand. "About you two, if you're willing to wait…" "Madam." I gently pulled my hand away. "I've waited five years. That… bond… it’s all but severed." They fell silent. "The packs in Europe are different," I continued. "More welcoming to someone like me. A wolf with the wrong blood." "Bloodline isn't everything. We've all seen your contributions to the pack…" "But my bloodline will never be pure enough to produce the pack's Luna, will it?" The two elders looked at each other. They didn't argue. "We won't see each other again," I said, bidding them farewell. "Thank you for your kindness over the years." Just then, the door was thrown open again. Killian strode in, his face dark. "Leaving?" he snarled, his eyes pinning me to the bed. "You belong to this pack. You belong to me. And you don't leave until I say you can." Chapter 5 "Your request to leave the pack has been denied." Killian threw the papers onto my hospital bed. "On what grounds?" "On the grounds that I said so," he said, his tone absolute. "You have work to finish." I glanced at the Alpha and his mate. They stood up awkwardly. "We'll be going," Rose said, patting my hand. "Get some rest." The room was empty except for me and Killian. He sat on the edge of the bed, his eyes dangerous. "Freya, don't test my patience." Two hours later, I was dragged out of the hospital. Killian’s Rolls-Royce was waiting. "Get in." "Where are we going?" "You'll see." The car stopped in front of the city's most exclusive boutique. Valentina Couture. Vivian's favorite. "Mr. Blackwood!" the store manager greeted him, fawning. "The gowns you requested are all ready." "Go try them on," he said, pointing at me. My heart leaped. These were Luna gowns. He wanted me to try them. Was he giving up the union? Did he want me to be his Luna? "This way, please." The manager led us to the VIP fitting area. The lavish room was filled with dozens of priceless gowns. Every single one was designed for a Luna's coronation. "Start with this one," Killian said, pointing to a white gown covered in diamonds. His voice held the Alpha's command. I walked into the dressing room under his gaze. The moment I zipped it up, Killian pushed the door open and came inside. "Killian, you…" He kissed me. Hard, possessive, and absolute. "Mmph…" I tried to push him away, but his hand was clamped on the back of my head, holding me in place. "I know I messed up," he whispered against my ear. "I sent a team back for you. The second I could. Just be good... and I'll make this right." His hands roamed my body. My resolve crumbled. Maybe… maybe he did love me. Maybe he was just forced by his family. Even with the bond nearly broken, the pull of a fated mate was too much to resist. An hour later, it was over. He straightened his clothes, his expression once again cold. "What do you think of this one?" I looked down at the wrinkled white dress. "What?" "Does it suit Vivian?" he mused, walking a slow circle around me. "The waist is a bit tight. The bust is perfect." I froze. My blood ran cold. "You had me try these on... for her?" "To choose her Mating announcement ceremony gown," he said, like it was obvious. "You and Vivian have the same build. It's efficient." Blood rushed to my head. "There are a dozen more. Keep going." For the next two hours, I was a human mannequin, changing in and out of gowns. A tulle dress, a lace gown, a velvet robe… He inspected each one. "This one shows too much of Vivian's chest." "This color doesn't suit her skin tone." Finally, I put on a pure white mermaid-style gown. It was the store's masterpiece, named "The Alpha's True Love." When I walked out, Killian's eyes lit up. He stood and walked toward me, his burning gaze raking over my body. For a moment, I thought he was looking at me. "Perfect," he breathed, his knuckles grazing the lace over my collarbone. "It’s as if it was designed for her. Vivian will be radiant." He looked up, his eyes turning back to that suffocating, cold indifference. "This is the one," he said, his eyes cold again. "Take it off. And don't get it dirty." Don't get it dirty. All the suppressed pain, humiliation, and grief exploded. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and laughed. "Take it off?" I grabbed a pair of tailor's scissors from a nearby table. Killian frowned. "Freya, what are you doing? Put the scissors down." "You want this gown for Vivian?" I was crying, but my smile grew wider. "Fine. She can have it." RIIIP! The sound of tearing lace echoed in the silent room. Killian's pupils shrank. "You're insane!" I didn't stop. I tore at the dress like a madwoman, the scissors slicing through fabric and skin. Blood seeped out, staining the white gown red. "Here's your 'Alpha's True Love'!" I screamed, ripping the ruined dress from my body and throwing the scraps in his face. "Here!" I screamed. "Take your 'True Love' and give it to your precious Vivian!" "Killian Blackwood, you disgust me! As a wolf, you've trampled on the most basic dignity of a mate!" I closed my eyes, summoning all the mental strength I had left. I reached into my mind, found the bond that tied my soul to his... and I tore it to shreds. "What are you doing? Stop!" Killian seemed to realize my intention. His face went pale, and he lunged to stop me. Too late. A wave of agony hit me, but it felt good. "Goodbye." I turned and ran out of the shop, leaving him standing there, stunned and speechless, in the middle of the mess. Then I sent a message to Maya. [Buy me a ticket for tomorrow morning. I'm not waiting another second.] ———— That night, Killian paced his study, agitated. Freya had vanished. He instinctively tried to call her through the Mind-link, to command her to come back and apologize, just like all the other times. [Killian: Freya, stop this tantrum and get back here.] But where her presence should have been, there was only a gaping, silent void. He called again. Freya! Nothing. The tether was gone. Killian's hand tightened around his glass until it shattered, shards digging into his palm. The woman who had always answered, always obeyed, was silent. For the first time in five years, he called her name in the darkness of his mind. And there was only silence. Chapter 6 The next morning, I was in a small apartment I’d bought for myself, ticket in hand, ready for the airport. Just as I was about to leave, my door was kicked open. Killian stood in the doorway, soaked to the bone. His eyes glowed with a feral red light. The color of an Alpha losing control. "You severed the link?" he growled, advancing on me. "Who gave you the right?" I hid the ticket behind my back and forced myself to meet his gaze. "I've left the pack, Killian. I don't owe you anything. You're not my Alpha anymore." "I said no!" he roared, his hands clamping down on my shoulders. "In five years, no one has dared to defy me." I shoved his hands off. "Well, now you've seen it." His eyes scanned the room. Two coffee cups on the table. A man's jacket on the sofa. "Who was here?" "My boyfriend." The words stopped him cold. "What did you say?" "I said, I have a new boyfriend," I said, my voice steady as I picked up the jacket. "He's human. And he's kind," I said, my voice sharp. "He's everything you're not." "Impossible." Killian's voice was shaking. "You're my Mate, you can't—" "I can," I cut him off. "Because unlike some people, he actually loves me." "You're lying!" "Want to know what he's like?" I taunted, stepping closer. "He doesn't humiliate me. He doesn't parade me in another woman's dress. He doesn't leave me to die." Killian's breathing grew heavier. "He doesn't treat me like a tool in his bed." "Shut up!" "And most importantly," I stared into his eyes, "he's not bound to me by fate, but he chose me anyway. That's called true love." SMACK! His palm struck my face. The sound echoed in the quiet room. My cheek burned. "Can I go now?" I said, touching my face. "Go?" he sneered. "You think you can just walk away?" "I'm not your subordinate anymore, not someone you can control—" "You always will be!" He grabbed my throat. "As long as I forbid it, you're not going anywhere!" I struggled to breathe. "Let… go…" "Tell me who he is." His fingers tightened. "I'll kill him!" "You… you forced me to do this…" "What?" I used all my strength to push him away. "You forced me to find someone else!" I screamed. "You didn't want me, but someone else does!" Killian completely lost it. His eyes glowed gold. His fangs descended. He was on the edge of shifting. "Don't talk about him!" "Why? Are you scared?" I laughed coldly. "Scared that I might really not belong to you anymore?" He lunged, pinning me against the wall. "You belong to me! You will always belong to me!" "Then why are you mating with Vivian?" "That's different!" "How is it different?" He couldn't answer. We stared at each other, both breathing hard. Then, he slammed his lips onto mine. A brutal, possessive, conquering kiss. I wanted to fight, but my body betrayed me. Damn this mate bond. The physical pull was a traitor. Minutes later, he pulled back. We were both panting. He sneered, the sound low and dangerous. "Then let me remind you who your Alpha is." Suddenly, a terrifying power exploded from him. It was the absolute, primal power of his bloodline. The Alpha Command. "Kneel." The command ripped through me. My knees buckled, and I crashed to the floor. It wasn't my choice. My body had betrayed me, forced down by a power that crushed my very soul. Endless, soul-crushing humiliation. Tears streamed down my face, but I couldn't move. Killian looked down on me. He leaned down, his fingers gripping my chin, forcing my head up. "Listen to me, Freya. As your Alpha, I command you." "Tonight, you will go to the ceremony. You will wear your most beautiful dress. And you will stand there and watch me claim my Luna." My body trembled, my soul screamed no, but my mouth opened against my will. "Yes… Alpha." Killian let go, satisfied with my broken state. He stood, straightened his collar, and became the untouchable monarch once more. "See you tonight, Freya." He turned and left as if he'd never lost control. The door closed. The coercive pressure finally lifted. I collapsed onto the carpet, gasping for air. I looked at the pathetic creature in the mirror. Humiliation gave way to a cold, hollow calm. "This is the last time," I whispered to my reflection. "The very last time you will ever command me." Chapter 7 At the mating announcement ceremony that night, all of high society was there. I stood in a corner of the ballroom, wearing a simple black dress. The Alpha’s command was a cage, and my body was its prisoner. I had to smile. I had to stand tall. I had to play my part. Vivian was the star of the night. She wore a custom champagne-colored gown, her diamond necklace sparkling under the lights. Killian stood beside her, a dark king in his tailored suit. "My friends!" The old Alpha raised his glass. "Tonight, we witness a momentous occasion!" Thunderous applause. "My son, Killian, will unite with the lovely Miss Vivian!" More applause. Vivian leaned shyly into Killian's embrace. The moment they kissed, my heart clenched violently. "You look like you need a distraction," a smooth voice said beside me. "Care for a dance?" I turned to see a handsome Beta male. Dark brown hair, a gentle smile. "I'm not a very good dancer." "That's alright, I'll lead." He offered his hand. "I'm Marcus, from the Seattle pack." I glanced at the dance floor. Killian and Vivian were sharing the first dance. They spun together, a perfect picture. "Alright." I took Marcus's hand. We moved slowly onto the dance floor. Marcus was a gentleman, his movements smooth and light. "You're very beautiful," he whispered in my ear. "But you look very sad." "It's a happy occasion." "For some, yes," he said, twirling me. "But your eyes tell me you have a story here." I didn't answer. But for some reason, dancing with a stranger felt… freeing. No pressure. No pain. No complicated emotions. Just then, I felt a burning gaze on me. From across the floor, Killian was staring right at me. Vivian was still talking to him, but he wasn't listening. His eyes were murderous. "Your ex?" Marcus noticed. "My ex-boss." "He doesn't look happy." "He doesn't like his... assets... having a life of their own." Marcus laughed. "Then he should be thrilled. You're not on the clock tonight." The music played on. We kept spinning. Killian's gaze followed my every move. The ballroom doors exploded inward. Chaos erupted. A dozen men in black rushed in. Rogues. "Everyone on the ground!" the lead Rogue shouted. Screams erupted. Guests scattered in panic. "Protect the Alpha!" The guards sprang into action. In the chaos, a huge decorative pillar started to tilt. The crystal chandelier above swayed violently. "Look out!" Marcus shoved me out of the way, getting hit by falling debris himself. The pillar came crashing down, right where I had been standing. I closed my eyes, waiting for death. I blinked, the dust clearing. And then I saw it. I saw Killian's broad back. He hadn't moved toward me. He had thrown himself in the opposite direction, shielding Vivian with his own body. And me… a sharp piece of silver-plated debris sliced across my back. Blood gushed out. Pain seared through my body. I collapsed to the floor, the fire in my back spreading. Blood soaked through my black dress. "Vivian, are you okay? Are you hurt?" Killian was already checking Vivian, his hands frantically moving over her. "I-I'm fine, just scared," Vivian whimpered against his chest. "It's okay, I'm here." He stroked her hair. "I won't let anyone hurt you." I forced myself to walk, one painful step at a time, toward the exit. No one noticed me. All eyes were on Vivian. Blood ran down my legs, leaving a red trail on the marble floor. "Freya!" Marcus's voice called from behind. I turned. His forehead was bleeding. "You're hurt." "So are you." "Let me take you to a hospital." I shook my head. "No, I'll be fine." "But…" "Thank you for the dance tonight," I gave him a small smile. "It was the first time I've felt happy in years." I took one last look back through the shattered doors. Killian was murmuring to Vivian, stroking her hair. Then he pressed a kiss to her forehead—a display of tenderness he had never once shown me. I turned and disappeared into the night. Killian’s eyes locked onto the crimson trail I left on the marble. An icy fist squeezed his heart. His wolf screamed at him. Follow her. Follow our Mate. But he didn't move. He just stood there as the doors swung shut, erasing me from his sight. Chapter 8 Two days later, the wound on my back had just started to heal. Maya was throwing me a farewell party at the Nightfall Club. "You've changed your flight three times. Tomorrow, you are getting on that plane to France." She raised her glass. "To freedom!" "To freedom." We clinked glasses and I downed the drink. The alcohol made my head spin. "I'm going to the restroom." On my way, I passed the VIP booths. A familiar laugh came from Booth 101. I stopped. It was Killian's voice. "Alpha Killian, you finally got away," a man laughed. "Is that Freya girl finally gone?" "She should have known her place and left sooner," another voice chimed in. It was Vivian’s brother. "A half-breed wolf like her doesn't deserve to be Killian's Luna. Only my sister is worthy." Then, I heard Killian's voice. "A wolf of her breeding?" I heard Killian's cold, sharp voice. "She's good for one thing: warming a bed. To mate her would be to poison the pack's bloodline." The booth erupted in laughter. "Hahaha! Alpha, you're brutal!" "Still, five years is a hell of a run for a plaything, right?" I leaned against the wall, blood rushing to my head. Five years. For five years, that’s all I was. A tool. A body to use for his pleasure. A toy to be humiliated. So all his attempts to stop me from leaving… were they just so he could sleep with me one more time? I turned and walked away. I couldn't listen to another word. Outside the club, the night air hit my face. I took a deep breath. It was almost over. Tomorrow, I'd be on a plane to France. "Hey, miss. Wait up." A group of ragged, filthy men stepped out of the shadows. Rogues. The lowest of the low. "Well, well, if it isn't Alpha Killian's little leftover," the leader said, showing a row of yellow teeth. He twirled a dagger in his hand. "Heard you're an unmarked prize." I instantly tensed, taking a step back. "Who sent you?" "So, you wanted to be a Luna?" he sneered, closing in. "We'll make you a rogue's whore. Let's see if your precious Alpha still wants you after a dozen of us have left our scent all over you." Vivian. This was her doing. Fear coiled around me like a snake, but I was out of options. When his grimy hand reached for my collar, I was no longer the meek secretary. I am a wolf. Even with a tainted bloodline, I will not be prey. "Get off!" I pulled the silver knife I always carried from my purse and plunged it into his shoulder. "Aaargh!" His scream tore through the night. I used a moment of chaos to break free, running for the light at the end of the alley. Just as I burst out of the alley, a figure blocked my path. Vivian. She saw me, covered in blood, holding a bloody silver knife. A flicker of panic crossed her face before it vanished. The next second, she let out a bloodcurdling scream, then crumpled to the ground. "Freya, no! Please! I didn't mean to make you angry!" She crumpled to the ground, clutching her perfectly fine stomach, tears instantly welling in her eyes. Killian was there in a flash, summoned by her cry. He caught Vivian, then his head snapped up to look at me. He saw the bloody knife in my hand, my torn clothes, my wild eyes. In a single, damning heartbeat, he chose his side. "Freya!" His roar was like thunder. I tried desperately to explain. "Killian, it's not what you think! She sent them—" "Shut up!" He wouldn't listen. He didn't want to listen. He only trusted what he saw: his fragile fiancée, trembling on the ground, and me, looking like a crazed killer with a weapon. "Jealousy has made you a monster!" he roared, his voice thick with rage. "You dare attack your future Luna? You tried to KILL her?!" Chapter 9 I stared at the face so close to mine. The face I had once loved, once worshipped. Now it was twisted into a monster's snarl. I stopped struggling. I stopped explaining. I stopped crying. I just stared at him, like he was a complete stranger. "Killian," I said softly, my voice holding a dead quiet that startled him. "Is this really how you see me?" He flinched, his grip loosening for a second. But then, from behind him, came Vivian's weak moan. "Killian… I'm in so much pain… My spirit is about to shatter… Call my brother…" The last trace of doubt in Killian's eyes vanished. He shoved me away, and I fell hard onto the ground. Then he turned, scooped Vivian into his arms, and gave me his back. "Get out," he snarled, without turning around. "You are banished. If I see your face in this territory again, I will kill you myself." The rain started to pour. Cold water washed over the blood and grime on my body, washing away my last bit of attachment to this city. I climbed to my feet and watched Killian carry Vivian to his stretch limousine. The taillights disappeared quickly into the rain. This time, he didn't look back. Not once. ... Three hours later, at the international airport. I had changed into a clean black trench coat and sunglasses, hiding my swollen eyes and bruised face. The final boarding call for a flight to a neutral European country echoed through the terminal. I stood by a trash can, holding a phone and a necklace. The necklace was simple: a silver ring on a chain. A casual birthday gift from him five years ago. I had worn it like a promise. Now I saw it for what it was. A leash. It was just a joke. I unclasped the necklace. The cedar scent that I had been so careful not to wash off, his scent, still lingered. "Goodbye." My fingers uncurled. The silver ring glinted one last time under the harsh airport lights, then disappeared into the trash. Gone. Next, the phone. I opened my contacts and my finger hovered over the pinned name: "My Alpha." Without hesitating, I hit delete. Then the entire contact list. Everyone connected to the Blackwood family. Wiped clean. I pulled out the SIM card, snapped it in two, and dropped the pieces into the trash. After all that, I felt the massive weight that had been crushing my chest for five years finally lift. It left a hollow ache, a gaping wound where my heart used to be. But for the first time in five years, I could breathe. The air was mine. My life was my own. "Miss, it's time to board," a gate agent said. I nodded, grabbed my single suitcase, and walked toward the security gate. It was a gateway to a new life. The plane taxied down the runway and took off into the clouds. I sat by the window. I watched the glittering city shrink below me, becoming a cluster of tiny lights before being swallowed by the clouds. My youth, my love, my blood, and my tears were all buried there. And so was the man named Killian Blackwood. Tears streamed silently down my face, but I didn't wipe them away. This was the last time I would ever cry for him. Then the words rose from deep within my soul, a final, severing vow. "I, Freya, do hereby reject you, Killian Blackwood, as my mate. The bond between us is broken. From this day forward, you are nothing to me."