After being discharged from the hospital, I neither cried nor made a scene.Derek actually came to pick me up and presented me with a massive diamond ring.This was the first gift he'd given me in seven years.In the past, whenever he texted me first, I would reply with hundreds of messages.Even if he just gave me a flower, I would be happy all day longBut this time, I didn't even look at him and tossed the ring straight into the trash.He furiously snapped, "Eliza, you ungrateful she-wolf. Take it or leave it!"I couldn't care less."Who wants your worthless stone? Get out."Derek left with a dark expression.That night, Derek brought Sophia back to the mansion and deliberately kissed her passionately in front of me, his hands gripping her waist.Seeing my indifferent expression, he said with a scowl, "Baby, wait for me a moment. I need to handle some pack business first."He turned and went to his study.Sophia moved closer to me, her lips curled in mockery."Look at you. After ser
After Derek left, I took down the memory crystal ball from the cabinet in our bedroom.Seven years of marriage, and Derek and I only had one memento together—just this crystal ball. How pathetic.I had asked a witch to customize this crystal ball, which recorded the video of our mating ceremony. At the ceremony, the Pack Elder had asked him three times if he was willing to be mated to me.He remained silent until the third time, when he hesitantly answered yes.At the final oath, he told me that he loved me. This was also the only time he ever said he loved me.That's why I kept this memory crystal ball, though Derek didn't like it. I insisted on putting it in our bedroom, and eventually, he gave up fighting me on it.I carefully lifted the crystal ball from its stand, watching the swirling mist inside that contained our past.Suddenly, Derek's voice came from behind me."Isn't this your precious crystal ball? Are you actually willing to take it down?"Usually at this hour, he would be
I hadn't gotten enough sleep when my friend shook me awake."Eliza, wake up! Check the Alpha Council's announcement!"The Alpha Council's latest notice concerned the love-hate triangle between me, Derek, and Sophia:Someone had anonymously reported that Omega Sophia had seduced Beta Derek, openly betraying their mate bond, engaging in intimate relations in their home right in front of his mate, driving her away. This behavior violated pack law, and today there would be a public trial for Omega Sophia.The entire pack was calling Sophia a homewrecker. Many people were protesting outside the Alpha Council, demanding Sophia's expulsion from the pack.This had Sophia's fingerprints all over it.I couldn't understand why she would put herself in such a controversial position.Until Derek rushed over and slapped me without even asking questions."Eliza, I never imagined you could be so vicious. No wonder you had no reaction last night. You planned this attack on Sophia all along, didn't you?
Just then, Ethan burst through the doors of the Alpha Council, his eyes blazing with fury."What the hell is going on here?" he demanded, striding toward us. His gaze swept over the scene, lingering on Derek's arms wrapped around Sophia, then moving to my defiant stance.Derek's jaw tightened. "Brother, this isn't your concern. Eliza has deliberately harmed Sophia and needs to—""Shut up," Ethan cut him off sharply. "I've seen the evidence. I've heard the testimonies. You want to talk about who's harming who? While your mate was recovering from nearly dying giving birth to YOUR child after taking punishment meant for YOUR mistress, you were busy making videos on the beach."He turned to address the Alpha Council directly, positioning himself beside me. "I request the right to speak on behalf of Eliza Reed. She shouldn't have to apologize for speaking the truth."Derek's face contorted with rage. "Stay out of this, brother. This doesn't concern you.""Everything about Eliza concerns me,
Derek was still processing the news, his mind refusing to accept what he'd just heard. The color drained from his face as the words "jumped off a cliff" echoed in his ears.After a long moment, he finally asked in a hoarse voice, "What did you say?" His hands trembled as he gripped the edge of his desk.The subordinate didn't dare speak again. Instead, he opened a video on his phone and held it out for Derek to see."This was uploaded twenty minutes ago, sir," Tyler said quietly.The video showed a cliff in the background, timestamped at a few minutes past midnight. I stood there, my silhouette unmistakable against the night sky. My hair whipped around my face in the wind as I took one final step forward, jumping down in desperation."Impossible, that can't be Eliza!" Derek staggered back a few steps, knocking over his chair. "Check the timestamp, check the location—someone is playing a sick joke."Tyler swallowed hard. "Sir, the pack enforcers have already verified the footage. It's
The brief warmth he had shown me vanished overnight.He even refused to hold the mating ceremony with me until Ethan threatened to challenge him for the position of Beta.Derek said, "Eliza, being able to live in the Reed house is already your greatest fortune. You're only fit to be Mrs. Reed in name. Don't be ungrateful for your blessings!"As for our child, that was Ethan's request.A year ago, I was already tired and wanted to leave. The constant emotional abuse and isolation had worn me down to nothing."I can't do this anymore," I had told Ethan one evening. "I need to leave before there's nothing left of me."The Reed family had few descendants, and Ethan hoped I would give birth to a child for the family line before I left."Just one child," he had begged. "The Reed line must continue. After that, I'll help you leave, I promise."I was very grateful to Ethan for rescuing me from my foster parents, so I agreed, despite the aching knowledge that his feelings for me ran deeper than
"I need this fixed," Derek said without preamble, placing the velvet pouch containing the shards on her table. " I'll pay ten million dollars to have it repaired.""Money means nothing for this kind of magic, Beta Reed. Some things, once broken, cannot be mended."Derek collapsed to the floor, his expression tortured."Eliza, how could you be so cruel? That crystal ball was the only record of our mating ceremony. How could you bear to destroy it?"In truth, before Derek misunderstood me, we had shared a beautiful time together in love.But it was too brief.He had destroyed all the photos from our dates and gifts we had exchanged during that fleeting period of happiness.Derek went to the walk-in closet.All my jewelry sat untouched in their boxes.I had only taken my clothes, leaving behind just one coat hanging in the wardrobe.It was the coat Derek had bought me during our first date at the mall.He hugged the coat, greedily inhaling the jasmine scent that once clung to it.But I ha
That night, after the public humiliation at the Alpha Council, I had gone to the cliff, fully aware that cameras were recording. I stood at the edge, let the wind whip my hair dramatically, and then took that final step—into the safety net Ethan had rigged below the camera's view.He had been waiting for me at the bottom of the cliff, his face a mixture of relief and nervous anticipation."Are you alright?" he asked, helping me out of the net, his hands lingering on my waist longer than necessary."Never better," I replied, the weight of my life with Derek already falling away.As his hand touched mine to lead me to the waiting car, something unexpected happened. A jolt, a flash of warmth, a feeling I'd almost forgotten—the bond of mates forming."How..." he whispered, clearly feeling it too, his eyes wide with disbelief.I stared at him in shock. "I thought Derek was my mate.""Second chance mates," he breathed, his voice filled with wonder. "When a mate bond is broken or rejected com
"If you want to die, that's simple enough. Just don't dirty Eliza's hands."At that moment, Ethan burst in with a group of people."Eliza, don't be afraid. I'm here to save you."He gently fastened my shirt buttons and draped his suit jacket over my shoulders.His gaze shifted to Derek, his eyes flashing with icy fury."Brother, if you had accepted her choice with dignity, I might have respected you. But you tried to force Eliza through despicable means. I've stood by and watched you hurt her for seven years. I won't allow it anymore."Derek's lips curled into a self-mocking smile. He tried to explain himself to me but collapsed weakly to the floor."Eliza, don't go with him! I forbid you to go with him! He's my brother... my own brother..."I no longer loved Derek, but I couldn't watch him die in front of me either.My mate sensed my thoughts and had his people take Derek to the hospital.As soon as Derek was admitted to the hospital, my mate's allies moved to arrest the guards that D
"Derek, what do you really want?" I demanded, backing away from him.He had lost all reason, his eyes wild with desperation.I tried to send my location to Ethan, my mate, but Derek saw me and snatched the phone from my hands."Eliza, you can only be mine!" he growled, his voice vibrating with possessiveness."Since you don't care about James, we'll have another child. And if that doesn't keep you with me, we'll have another. I don't believe you're so cold-hearted that no child could ever win your love!"Derek's eyes were deep and distant, yet sharp with intensity.His wolf was too close to the surface, challenging my own. The air between us crackled with tension."Eliza, you once loved me so much. Why are you being so heartless now?"I struggled to maintain distance between us, my back pressing against the wall."Derek, you're always so self-centered. Someone like you doesn't deserve my love!" I spat back, my voice steel-hard despite my racing heart. "You threw me in prison while I wa
Ethan was dressed very formally today, in a sleek suit and tie.The same style of clothing that made Derek look sharp and imposing with his executive presence somehow appeared softer on Ethan.The rigid edges and intensity melted away, leaving only a gentle, approachable warmth that instinctively drew people in.We had eaten at this restaurant many times before.But this time felt different somehow.He passed me a plate with perfectly cut steak."Eliza, try this. I made the steak myself today."I was surprised—him cooking himself?"It's rich but not greasy. You've managed the cooking time well. Very delicious."He folded his hands on the table, watching anxiously as I finished eating.Only then did I notice how empty the restaurant was today.After thinking for a moment, I began to understand what he was planning.Just then, a server wheeled a cart over to our table.It was a small two-tiered Black Forest cake. It looked like an ordinary cake but stood out because it was filled with a
A few days later, Derek brought our son James to the shop.James looked around curiously, his chubby face with baby fat that made me want to pinch his cheeks.Derek patted him lightly on his bottom."This is your mother. Say 'Mommy!'"The blood connection between us made me instinctively reach out to touch him.As soon as my hand touched James's head, he burst into tears."What are you crying for? She's your mother. I told you so many times before we came. Why can't you learn to say 'Mommy'?" Derek's voice grew louder, making James cry even harder.It was clear that Derek was trying to use our child to win me back, but unfortunately, James wasn't attached to me. He was even a little afraid of me.Thinking about it, perhaps this was for the best.Although James was born from me, he didn't feel close to me, and I wouldn't force closeness with him either.Like two parallel lines, we would never intersect, creating no cause and effect between us.The kitchen door swung open, and Ethan emer
That night, after the public humiliation at the Alpha Council, I had gone to the cliff, fully aware that cameras were recording. I stood at the edge, let the wind whip my hair dramatically, and then took that final step—into the safety net Ethan had rigged below the camera's view.He had been waiting for me at the bottom of the cliff, his face a mixture of relief and nervous anticipation."Are you alright?" he asked, helping me out of the net, his hands lingering on my waist longer than necessary."Never better," I replied, the weight of my life with Derek already falling away.As his hand touched mine to lead me to the waiting car, something unexpected happened. A jolt, a flash of warmth, a feeling I'd almost forgotten—the bond of mates forming."How..." he whispered, clearly feeling it too, his eyes wide with disbelief.I stared at him in shock. "I thought Derek was my mate.""Second chance mates," he breathed, his voice filled with wonder. "When a mate bond is broken or rejected com
"I need this fixed," Derek said without preamble, placing the velvet pouch containing the shards on her table. " I'll pay ten million dollars to have it repaired.""Money means nothing for this kind of magic, Beta Reed. Some things, once broken, cannot be mended."Derek collapsed to the floor, his expression tortured."Eliza, how could you be so cruel? That crystal ball was the only record of our mating ceremony. How could you bear to destroy it?"In truth, before Derek misunderstood me, we had shared a beautiful time together in love.But it was too brief.He had destroyed all the photos from our dates and gifts we had exchanged during that fleeting period of happiness.Derek went to the walk-in closet.All my jewelry sat untouched in their boxes.I had only taken my clothes, leaving behind just one coat hanging in the wardrobe.It was the coat Derek had bought me during our first date at the mall.He hugged the coat, greedily inhaling the jasmine scent that once clung to it.But I ha
The brief warmth he had shown me vanished overnight.He even refused to hold the mating ceremony with me until Ethan threatened to challenge him for the position of Beta.Derek said, "Eliza, being able to live in the Reed house is already your greatest fortune. You're only fit to be Mrs. Reed in name. Don't be ungrateful for your blessings!"As for our child, that was Ethan's request.A year ago, I was already tired and wanted to leave. The constant emotional abuse and isolation had worn me down to nothing."I can't do this anymore," I had told Ethan one evening. "I need to leave before there's nothing left of me."The Reed family had few descendants, and Ethan hoped I would give birth to a child for the family line before I left."Just one child," he had begged. "The Reed line must continue. After that, I'll help you leave, I promise."I was very grateful to Ethan for rescuing me from my foster parents, so I agreed, despite the aching knowledge that his feelings for me ran deeper than
Derek was still processing the news, his mind refusing to accept what he'd just heard. The color drained from his face as the words "jumped off a cliff" echoed in his ears.After a long moment, he finally asked in a hoarse voice, "What did you say?" His hands trembled as he gripped the edge of his desk.The subordinate didn't dare speak again. Instead, he opened a video on his phone and held it out for Derek to see."This was uploaded twenty minutes ago, sir," Tyler said quietly.The video showed a cliff in the background, timestamped at a few minutes past midnight. I stood there, my silhouette unmistakable against the night sky. My hair whipped around my face in the wind as I took one final step forward, jumping down in desperation."Impossible, that can't be Eliza!" Derek staggered back a few steps, knocking over his chair. "Check the timestamp, check the location—someone is playing a sick joke."Tyler swallowed hard. "Sir, the pack enforcers have already verified the footage. It's
Just then, Ethan burst through the doors of the Alpha Council, his eyes blazing with fury."What the hell is going on here?" he demanded, striding toward us. His gaze swept over the scene, lingering on Derek's arms wrapped around Sophia, then moving to my defiant stance.Derek's jaw tightened. "Brother, this isn't your concern. Eliza has deliberately harmed Sophia and needs to—""Shut up," Ethan cut him off sharply. "I've seen the evidence. I've heard the testimonies. You want to talk about who's harming who? While your mate was recovering from nearly dying giving birth to YOUR child after taking punishment meant for YOUR mistress, you were busy making videos on the beach."He turned to address the Alpha Council directly, positioning himself beside me. "I request the right to speak on behalf of Eliza Reed. She shouldn't have to apologize for speaking the truth."Derek's face contorted with rage. "Stay out of this, brother. This doesn't concern you.""Everything about Eliza concerns me,