CHAPTER 1

Nadine Smith had just been released from being imprisoned in the dungeon for several days so the first thing she wanted to do was to speak with her husband, Alpha Marcus of White Pride. But he flatly refused her request to have a proper conversation and they ended up having a fight. 

After several hours, Nadine realized she shouldn’t prolong the agony any further. She had to confront him as soon as possible! But before that, she had to get ready. First, she took a quick shower, and then she chose an appropriate dress. 

Then, she stopped in front of the mirror to examine her image. Her normally twinkling mauve eyes betrayed her grief and fear. While staring at her reflection, she tried to smile but it came out weak. Her husband’s indifference lately had taken a toll on her. 

But, she had always been stubborn! Instead of staying inside the room or crying her sadness away, she decided to confront Alpha Marcus. Then, not wanting to look less attractive in his presence, she checked her long, golden hair for the nth time. She wanted to look perfect in front of him! 

Through the years, she had always been proud of her strength and as the daughter of an Alpha, she was no stranger to challenges. But this was different! The man she loved, the one who had once been her became cold and indifferent to her! He looked at her like she had a contagious disease and his insensitive actions have hurt her so much! 

She wanted to make their marriage work but everything was just slipping away from her. Initially, she was in denial and refused to believe that Marcus would be capable of doing such a thing, but the whispers of his infidelity had reached her ears. As she kept believing her husband’s lies, she dismissed them as malicious rumors, but later on, she could no longer ignore them. 

A deep sigh escaped from her lips as she checked her appearance for the last time. She was still young and beautiful, but why was her husband treating her like trash? She had to know the truth, or else, their union would be doomed forever! 

Back in her home at Lunar Crest, several young women considered her the luckiest one. Beauty, brains, and money; she had it all, and the perfect blend of the three made her stand out. It wasn’t just about the external charm; it was also about the undeniable self-assurance that flowed through her being. As an Alpha’s daughter, she was confident and knew her worth all the time. 

And she believed she was the luckiest when her love turned out to be her mate! They were childhood friends who became sweethearts in their teenage days. While dating as teenagers, Marcus Caldwell also knew that her wolf hadn’t awakened yet, and he assured her it wouldn’t be a problem at all. 

Because of his assurance, Nadine loved Marcus even more, and she was willing to do everything just to be at his side. Fortunately, she was chosen to become the Luna of Marcus Caldwell when they reached the legal age. His kindness and thoughtfulness toward her convinced Nadine that Marcus truly loved her. 

In fact, Marcus showed her how to be treated properly. As a boyfriend, he never disappointed her. He was perfect, so she believed that first love never dies because of him. However, after their wedding, Nadine realized that nothing was permanent. The sweet words he whispered into her ears were merely part of their past. 

Marcus had changed. He became different. And she was disheartened and greatly disappointed! When she married the man who captivated her heart with promises of eternal love, she believed she was living a fairytale, but everything was just a lie!

In the beginning, Marcus personified everything she had ever dreamed of, and she found him to be perfect. Aside from his lovable personality, he was also gorgeous! He was a complete package especially when he was blessed with a chiseled jawline and tantalizing eyes. 

He was just so perfect!

So, that night, when he slipped the ring on her finger, she believed they would be happy forever, but fairytales have a way of unraveling into a reality starkly different from the dreams she nurtured. The man who once whispered sweet nothings began to scream at her. The gentle caresses were replaced by harsh gusts of words that cut deeper than any blade. The man she married, who was meant to be the guardian of her heart, had transformed into a total stranger and he was even mean to her.

After a long time of enduring his indifference, Nadine decided to confront him. Once and for all, she wanted to settle the score with Alpha Marcus. She wanted to know if their union was worth saving, or it had to end. 

Then, once she was satisfied with her outfit and style, Nadine sashayed her hips toward the door and went to the adjacent room. But when she got there, she couldn’t bring herself to knock on the door especially when she knew Alpha Marcus was inside. 

They had a big fight earlier, which made her nervous. But she couldn't wait any longer. She needed to have a serious talk with her husband. Taking another deep breath, she slowly opened the door after knocking three times.

Then, the creaking sound of the door intensified her nervousness, yet she knew she had no choice but to proceed. As she stepped into the room, darkness enveloped her, and her hands fumbled as she reached for the light switch. 

As the light flickered to life, her eyes widened in shock to see Marcus in bed, but he had company. It was a woman, and the pitiful mistress panicked as she tried to hide her face. She grabbed a blanket before leaving through the connecting door, and Nadine frowned because her back view seemed familiar.

“Why are you here, Nadine? Didn’t the guard tell you to stay inside your room?” he screamed, but as a dutiful Luna, she tried to ignore his outbursts, but he just brushed her off with a dismissive wave of his hand.

“We need to talk,” she demanded. “I don’t understand why you are like this, Marcus. You used to be sweet and kind, but now, you don’t even care about me! You flaunted your mistress without considering my feelings!” 

"Just leave." 

"What's wrong with you, Marcus?" Nadine asked, but he just glared at her. As his loyal partner, she moved closer to him, but he dismissed her with a single wave of his hand. 

"Stop pretending to care about me, Nadine," he said as he was busy putting on a robe to cover his nudity, and then he went to sit in a nearby chair. 

He didn’t even bother to offer a chair for her. Nadine was just standing in front of him while he grabbed a bottle of whisky. Truthfully, his outburst shocked her. Why was he so angry? It wasn't like him to slump in a chair with a bottle of whiskey. 

"Can you tell me what's bothering you, Marcus?" Nadine asked.

"Please, just leave. We'll talk some other time," he said without looking at her.

"Are you sure? It makes me nervous that-" she started, but he interrupted her.

“Why? Did you care for my feelings when you slept with another man? Did you consider my reputation before you let him fuck you?” he shouted once more.

His manner of speech took her aback, and she frowned at his accusation. When did she let anyone sleep with her? When did she let another man touch her body? She furrowed her brows while trying to comprehend his accusation. Then, she shook her head in confusion. 

“I don’t understand what you are talking about, Marcus. I didn’t sleep with someone else, and you are aware of how much I love you!”

“Shut the fuck up, Luna!”

Nadine flinched when he shouted at her but before retreating back to her room, she decided to end everything with Marcus Caldwell, the Alpha of White Pride. She had enough of his maltreatment but she endured them in the name of love. Then, she smirked before glaring at her future ex-husband. 

“Look, if you are no longer happy with me, Marcus, then let’s break up,” she announced.