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..."