Ex Mate's Regret: Love Rehab for Her One-Sided Mate

CeciliaAll my life I've been waiting for my mate. I never thought he would turn out to be my boss.I’m his secretary by day, but his secret lover by night. That’s been our status quo for four years now.He says an Alpha in his position must maintain his reputation. “My family’s honor is my greatest privilege,” he once said to me.Honor might keep Emeric Garvalle from claiming me properly as his. But it sure doesn’t stop him from devouring me during our weekly hookups. Nor does it stop him from locking his office door behind us and bending me over his big mahogany desk whenever he feels so inclined. Most of the time, Emeric is nothing but cold to me. But he’s like a different person in bed, where he can’t get enough of me. A secretary with benefits. That’s all he wants me to be.A car accident four years ago changed my horrible crush into something more. Emeric was high on painkillers—more than I realized at the time—and he threw me into his bed, tore my clothes off and fucked me h

CeciliaHis whore.That’s what I am to Emeric, my mate and the father of my child.A sharp pain stabs in the center of my chest, and suddenly it’s hard to breathe. It feels, quite literally, like a knife’s been plunged into my heart. There’s nothing more to say. I run past Emeric and fly out the door. I’ve got no plan right now. No clear thoughts in my head. Only shock and pain and a desperation to get as far away from that man as possible. But I freeze when I get close to the lobby and hear a familiar voice. Serena’s still here. And I definitely just heard her say my name.I linger in the hallway, wondering if she’s already heard my footsteps. Either way, she goes on talking. Loudly—as usual. She’s gossiping about me in my own workplace and not even trying to be discreet. I tiptoe back a few paces so I can hide around the corner.“She’s a manipulative gold digger,” Serena says next. “She’s been obsessed with Emeric ever since the two of them met in college. They slept together o

Cecilia“You can’t keep doing this, Cecilia.”My best friend looks down at me with deep sadness in her big brown eyes. She pats at my forehead with a fresh towel and pushes a lock of hair behind my ear.I have never felt so near to death in my life. I’m on my side in bed, with the covers tucked tightly around me. My entire body feels heavy as lead. “You can’t keep letting Emeric hurt you like this,” Grace continues. “It’s killing you. Tell me that you see that, honey.”I let my heavy eyelids fall closed and exhale a shaky breath.Of course she’s right. But my attachment to Emeric has never been about what’s logically right.He’s my mate. It feels physically necessary to keep myself as close to him as I can, whether or not he’ll ever claim me as his. Whether or not he treats me well.The only reply I can manage is to nod my head. I can’t deny it. Living like this is destroying me.I just haven’t been able to figure out how to live any other way. But I think it’s time I finally put an

Cecilia“Let go of me! ” I shake my head as much as I can with his grip on my hair. He uses his knees to push my legs apart and position himself between them. With a few fluid motions, he reaches down to unclasp his belt and then rips it off, sending it flying across the room with a clatter.Our bodies slip into a familiar fit as Emeric grabs hold of my wrists and pins them over my head. My traitorous legs drift up and circle his waist, giving him a chance to grind his hips down into my pelvis, and for a hot second I want nothing more than to give myself over to this moment completely. I’m too addicted to Emeric’s touch and too starved for him. I choke out a shuddering exhale, overwhelmed with a mix of immense pleasure and terrible self-loathing. How can I be so aroused by the touch of someone who’s been so horrible to me? How can I still want him, after everything he’s done? “Get off of me,” I say with conviction. I struggle against Emeric, but he’s so much stronger than me it’s r

CeciliaOld habits die hard. It’s been a good, Emeric-free week. I’ve been taking better care of myself, using my mornings to sleep in or exercise instead of hurrying out to make breakfast for a demanding boss. My new job is off to a good start, and I’ve spent my evenings cooking for myself and sprucing up my apartment.But when I’m heading home from work on Friday, I guess I drift into a kind of autopilot. Next thing I know, I’m on Emeric’s block, looking up the street at his high-rise apartment building.I only live a few blocks west, so it’s not like I drove very far out of my way. But it’s strange how my unconscious mind brought me here, without me even noticing I’d made several wrong turns.I study the groceries in my shopping cart and frown. It’s all Emeric’s favorite foods that I’ve collected. Another old habit. I’m sure with time, I’ll start remembering my own favorite things. It’s just been so long since I shopped, or did anything, for myself without thinking of his needs fi