Chapter 002

Ava's Pov

“Make it stop!” I muttered, clutching my head as a sharp pain throbbed behind my eyes. Each ring of my phone seemed to drill deeper, increasing the ache.

Who could be calling me so early? The question barely registered in my mind. But then—suddenly—I felt a bit of clarity, like a switch flipping. My eyes flew open, and I sat up straight, heart pounding as a strange panic found its way up my chest. I scanned the room, suddenly feeling strange. “What the…?” I whispered, confusion taking over my kind. “Where the hell am I?”

I clutched my pounding head, trying to make sense of my surroundings. I was in a room that felt foreign, almost impossible to understand. It was hard to process how I had even ended up here. “What is going on?” I grumbled, looking down to find my clothes scattered across the floor, yet I was completely alone in the room.

I gasped, my mouth falling open at the sight in front of me. I wanted to remember what had happened, but my mind was blank—like my memory had been wiped clean. All I could remember was running out of the wedding hall, everything after that was blank. 

I scrambled for my cellphone, checking the time. It was almost noon. A series of messages popped up on the screen, mostly from my stepmom. She was, of course, going on about how disgraceful and cowardly I was for not making it to my sister’s wedding reception. She even mentioned that they had needed someone to carry the gifts, and I hadn’t been there.

I scoffed at her audacity.

Was that all I was good for? Carrying gifts at my own sister's wedding with my husband as the groom? 

I quickly rose to my feet, grabbing my clothes and putting them on hastily as I made my way out of the room. I was moving fast, nearly running, and the realization hit hard when I stepped out—I was leaving a hotel? 

The whole thing became even stranger. Who had I spent the night with? Whoever it was, they had taken advantage of my intoxicated state, dragging me into something I never would have done if I had been sober. But how did I get intoxicated? Did I go to the bar? What’s going on? 

I rushed into the house, relieved to find no one in sight. I had no idea what to do now. I would be stuck under the same roof as Betty, and I knew she would make my life a living hell. If I could leave, I would, but that wasn’t an option.

Defying Alpha Robert wasn’t something anyone in their right mind would dare.

I hurried to my room, thankful no one else was around—not my sister, not my mate, and most importantly, not my mother. Closing the door behind me, I let out a sigh of relief.

"Where were you all night?" Alpha Robert’s voice thundered through the room. I let out a small scream, startled as I turned and saw him there. He sat casually in a chair, his hair falling effortlessly across his face as he stared at me with those piercing silver eyes.

My heart pounded uncontrollably as I found myself staring at him, angry but unable to deny his perfection. Each feature seemed crafted with care, as if the gods themselves had shaped him to be flawless.

He was perfect, yet he was cruel. So cruel that his very presence made my skin crawl.

"I asked you a question. Where have you been all night?" His patience was wearing thin. His expression suddenly shifted, his eyes darken as he growled, "Why the hell do you smell like another wolf?”

My breath caught in my throat the moment he uttered those words. I opened my mouth to respond but quickly closed it, unable to utter a single word.

He rose to his feet and walked toward me slowly, closing the distance between us. His eyes were cold. “You haven't answered my question, Ava. Where the hell have you been all night?”

“I... I... I...” I stammered, anxiety taking over as he continued to walk towards me, closing the little distance we have between us. I could feel his breath grazing my face, our lips so close that I thought he might lean in and kiss me. 

“Did...” he began, “did you let another man touch you?” The pain in his voice was obvious. I couldn’t believe his audacity. Why was he asking that question as if he wasn’t the same man who had gotten my sister pregnant while married to me? As if he hadn’t refused to acknowledge me publicly as his wife?

“Answer me, Ava!” he suddenly snapped, his tone causing my heart to skip a beat. “Who the hell did you allow to touch you?”

“Why does it matter to you?” I finally asked, forcing myself to meet his gaze, my jaw tightening as I gathered every bit of courage I had. “You are married to my sister,” I continued, my voice filled with bitterness. “She’s your wife. You should be more concerned about her, not me…”

The look on his face vanished the moment I spoke. “Yes, I did spend the night with another man. So what? I am sure you spent the entire night with my sister, too, having nothing but pure passion.” I scoffed, tears streaming down my cheeks, quickly wiping them away with the back of my hand. “The audacity of you to be angry at me for letting another touch me when you are the one who betrayed me by getting my sister pregnant and marrying her while still married to me!”

From the shock on his face, I could tell he was taken aback. I had never spoken to him—or anyone—like this before. Unable to bear being so close to him, I pushed him away, planning to walk off, but he grabbed my arms, pulling me toward him in one smooth motion. I slammed against his rock-hard chest, my body pinned against him, his face just inches from mine. 

I felt the possession and anger in every touch as he asked, “Who was he? I want to know exactly who he was.”

“I don’t know...” 

“I want to know who he was right now!” He demanded. His fingers tightening around my arms. 

“I want out of your life,” I said. His grip on me suddenly softened as I spoke. “I know I have no right to ask you for this, but a divorce would benefit both of us right now, Alpha Rob.” I lowered my gaze, my voice small as I added, “I want a divorce.”

He didn’t say a word. He simply released me gently, stepping back. I lifted my head to meet his gaze and saw what looked like hurt, maybe even sadness, but it disappeared as quickly as it came, replaced by his cold and distant expression once again.

He nodded, understanding the situation as he turned and made his way out of the room, not wanting to argue any further.

I let out a sigh of relief the moment he left. I sank to the floor, tears streaming down my face. My heart felt like it was breaking into pieces at that very moment.

Just then, the door slammed open, and Betty walked in, saying, “What the hell kind of conversation were you and my husband having?” I didn’t say anything as she glared at me, clearly waiting for a response.

I wasn’t in the mood to entertain her, so I stared back with a scowl and said, “Do you mind? Just leave me alone.”

“Let me make one thing clear to you, Ava,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest and stepping closer. “I am not going to waste an opportunity to make this place a living hell for you, so just be prepared.” Her words weren’t warnings; they were threats, showcasing the malice brewing inside her. “Be prepared because I will make every single day nothing but pain for you.”