Chapter 1

Mia’s POV

I hurried up the long marble staircase, heading up towards the auction house.

A man was waiting for my by the entrance, Adrian’s secretary.

“You are 30 minutes late, Luna Mia,” he said to me icily. “Alpha Adrian asked you attend tonight’s auction with him at 7.”

“I—I know. But I got caught up in things…”

I gasped for breathes and tried to mention the million tasks that piled up in my calendar.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new business arcade, the hand-shaking event at the local hospital, the interview with the Daily News, the emails that awaited for my reply…

I only had 2 hours of sleep in the past 7 days. I hadn’t had any food or water in the last 48 hours.

“Alpha Adrian is not pleased.” The secretary said.

I gulped nervously. I knew that Adrian didn’t appreciate late-comers, “Let me explain it to him myself…”

“Alpha asks you to stay outside. Reflect upon your mistake.”

…What?

It was 14 degree Fahrenheit outside! Freezing cold.

And all I was wearing was a crop-top gown made of flimsy material. I even left my coat in the car.

I couldn’t believe this. I tried to talk some sense into the man, “I didn’t mean to be late. The meeting that Adrian asked me to attend on his behalf ran late. He should know about that…”

“The Alpha doesn’t care.”

The secretary turned his back on me and left.

I cried urgently behind his back, “A—At least let me grab a quick bite first! I haven’t eaten anything since last night…”

Yet the secretary had disappeared into the lobby.

The freezing wind pierced through my clothes brutally. I hugged myself as tightly as I could. But that still wasn’t enough to provide the warmth that I needed.

10 minutes later, I couldn’t feel my hands and legs anymore.

I was freezing.

To make it things worse, a wave of low blood-sugar hit me. My vision blacked out momentarily and I staggered back weakly—

“HEY!”

One guard standing by the entrance yelled at me.

“Stay where you are! Alpha’s order!”

I took in a deep breathe, regaining my balance, and stood up straight again. The snow started to fall, pilling up on my naked shoulder.

Just then, I heard a round of stammering applause from the inside. And then a booming voice announced:

“…10 millions going once! Twice! Sold! Congratulation Alpha Adrian! You just won a gorgeous diamond necklace!”

I blinked slowly, shaking off the snowflakes on my eyelashes.

…Adrian bid a diamond necklace? For whom?

It was going to be my 23th birthday soon.

Was it possible that…the necklace was my birthday gift?

A wave of joy washed over me like warm spring.

He still remembered my birthday, which meant that he still cared about me, which meant that he would forgive my late arrival!

The auction came to an end not long after.

Elegantly dressed guests exited the auction house and gathered by the door, wrapping their coats around their bodies and waiting for the valet to pull their cars over.

I heard a couple of girls chatting enthusiastically.

One girl said, “Have you heard? Lorelei Monroe is back to Night Howl Pack! Do you know her?”

“Of course I do!” another girl gasped. “I am huge fan of her!”

…Lorelei Monroe?

My heart skipped a beat as though I just missed a step going downstairs.

Not only did they know Lorelei. So did I.

The only difference was that they knew Lorelei as the world-famous super model.

Whereas I knew Lorelei as the love of Adrian’s life.

Even till this day, the photo that sat on Adrian’s desk was not our family portrait, but Lorelei’s hardcover shot.

That was how much Adrian loved her.

If Lorelei didn’t leave Night Howl Pack a couple years ago to pursue her career, I would never have the chance to marry Adrian.

And now…Lorelei was coming back?

I parted my lips, which were blue with cold, and asked those girls:

“…Excuse me. When…is Lorelei coming back?”

Those girls were startled since they didn’t notice that I was standing outside in the snow.

They jerked around and stared at me in shock.

Then, they started to jeer.

“Luna Mia? What are you doing outside in the snow?” one girl giggled, “Are you not invited to the auction?”

“Or maybe the Alpha just didn’t want her inside,” said another one, sneering. “And now she is freezing herself on purpose trying to get the Alpha feel sorry for her. Manipulative whore.”

I ignored those girl’s insulting words and asked one more time:

“…When is Lorelei Monroe coming back?”

One of the girls rolled her eyes. Before she could answer me, we all heard a series of steady footsteps.

All guests turned around at once and lowered their backs humbly as a towering figure appeared in the spotlight.

His piercing gaze froze, icy blue like glaciers. Chiseled jaw, sharp as a blade. Hair dark as midnight, swept back with precision.

His presence commanded attention, oozing confidence and arrogance. Incredibly handsome, yet chillingly aloof.

This was the Alpha of Night Howl Pack, CEO of Sinclair Enterprise, Adrian Sinclair.

My husband, my mate.

His gorgeous, freezing eyes traveled around the bowing crowd and eventually fixed upon me.

I shivered involuntarily under his cold gaze, “…Adrian.”

He gave me a look of disgust, “Come along.”

He strode out of the door and walked into the snow, down the marble staircase. Servants hurried behind him, holding up an umbrella to stop the snow from falling onto his expensive suit.

I trotted at their heels.

My heels slipped on the icy stairs and I tripped.

Yet Adrian and his servants didn’t even slow their steps for me.

I quickly climbed back up and caught up with them.

Adrian got up to his Maybach and got inside. I wanted to sit in the back with him as I always did. But his guards stopped me.

The window rolled down, revealing his gorgeous profile.

“A—Adrian…” I held my arms in the snow, begging. “Can—Can you let me into the car first? My gown is all wet…I—I am freezing…and dizzy…”

“We need to talk,” his tone was cold.

My heart sank.

Nothing good ever came after that sentence.

So I forced out an awkward smile and tried to change the subject, “OK, we can talk. What’s your schedule next week? Are we still going to that convention in High Gale Pack?”

He didn’t answer. This silence was killing me.

A huge downfall was waiting ahead but I was trying to drag it as long as possible.

“You bought a necklace for me tonight, right? Do you think I should wear that necklace to the convention?” I asked, my voice slightly quivering, “Or is it a bit too high-profile to—”

“Mia,” he cuts me off, determinedly.

I stopped, nibbling my bottom lip.

“I am divorcing you,” he said.

The hanging sword finally fell on my neck.

My nerve snapped.

I clenched my gown so hard till my knuckles turned white and gasped, “Why? What have I done—”

He interrupted me crudely, “Don’t forget what you agreed to in the first place.”

Words froze on my lips.

3 years ago, I was still his lowly assistant, living paycheck to paycheck. One day he came into my little cubicle and placed a life-changing agreement on my desk.

“I know you are my mate. But I have no feelings for you,” he said. “Sign this contract and become my Luna. No questions asked. And I get to terminate this agreement anytime I want. In exchange, I’ll take care of your troubles.”

I was in a huge amount of debts, hunted by my landlord and creditors. He gave me a way out, knowing that it’s a proposal I wouldn’t be able to reject.

He kept his promise and rescued me from my hell.

But now, he was taking everything away.

I stared at him in a trance. Light-headed, desperate and heart-broken, “W—Was it because of…Lorelei?”

He narrowed his eyes at me, which was the first time he looked at me seriously tonight.

“If you dare cause her any troubles, I will expel you out of my pack,” he threatened.

…So it was because of her.

Desperate tears streamed down my cheeks.

“Adrian…” I sobbed in a quivering voice. “Can you at least think about it again? It’s been 3 years. I have done everything you asked. I’m good at being your Luna, managing this pack…Please don’t divorce me!”

I was throwing my pride and self-esteem away, basically begging him.

“I’ll give you another 2 million as settlement f*e. Our marriage is business. Don’t make it personal,” he said.

My knees dropped to the snowy ground with more tears streamed down my cheek. My whole world collapsed at this very moment.

Then I heard his cold voice again:

“And that diamond necklace is not for you. Don’t touch it when you leave my house.”