Chapter 1 Celebration and Betrayal

The champagne tower caught the light from the crystal chandelier, sending sparkles dancing across the room, while the air reeked of cold hors d''oeuvres and cloying perfume. I was Leah Thorne, standing in the most out-of-the-way corner of the ballroom—like some old forgotten furniture nobody even bothered to haul away. The outdated dress I had on? Marcus Bloodclaw just tossed it to me three years back, no thought at all. He said Betas didn''t need to dress fancy anyway.

Today was his big day. He’d gone from being the heir of a no-name pack to the new Alpha ruling three counties. Guests had these fake grins plastered on their faces, gushing about Marcus’s smarts and strength. Every now and then, their eyes’d flick to me, but they’d look away fast—disdain practically dripping off their stares.

Ten years. I''d stuck by him from nothing to everything. None of them knew—or cared—that every "lucky break" Marcus ever had came from me quietly channeling nature''s power to help him. I’d hidden all my talents, happy to be the quiet, unremarkable Beta wife behind him. I thought that’s how I paid back his family for taking me in all those years ago—our little unspoken deal.

"Leah." Marcus Bloodclaw’s voice came from behind me, slurred with alcohol and short on patience.

I turned, forcing a smile. Maybe—just maybe—now that he was on top, he’d finally acknowledge what I’d done for him…

He had a velvet box in his hand, and it sure wasn’t for me. He didn’t even glance my way; he just scanned me like he was checking if a chair was still in place. Behind him stood Anna Silver Ridge—a young, gorgeous Omega and the Silver Ridge family’s second daughter—staring at me like she was judging a mess.

"The ceremony’s starting soon," Marcus said, adjusting the cuff of his fancy suit—embroidered with his new wolf-head symbol, all showy to flaunt his power. He finally looked at me, eyes cold as ice. "You, come with me."

My heart sank a little. That weird uneasy feeling I’d had for days got sharper. I followed him toward the ballroom’s central platform. Spotlights hit us, making my eyes burn. Below, the crowd went quiet—like a sea of faces frozen in place.

Marcus grabbed the mic, his voice booming through every corner "Thanks to everyone who came to witness this new chapter in my life—Marcus Bloodclaw’s life!"

The crowd cheered so loud it hurt. He drank it all in, paused, then swerved "A strong Alpha needs a mate just as strong to back him up. Someone who can bring more resources and glory to our alliance."

I stood a little behind him, my fingers turning ice-cold. I could hear my heart thudding—like drums in my ears.

"So," Marcus’s voice cut through the air like a poisoned knife, "I’m announcing right now I’m ending my mate bond with Leah Thorne—this Beta who’s done nothing but hold our pack back."

The crowd went dead silent for a second, then exploded into gasps and whispers.

I couldn’t believe my ears. Ending it? In front of everyone? After everything I’d given him?

Marcus turned to face me. No guilt in his eyes—just plain disgust, like he couldn’t wait to get rid of me. "We got nothin’ in common anymore. You’re just stopping me from making our pack’s future better."

He reached out—not to comfort me, but to yank the simple collar around my neck. That collar? It was the symbol of our mate bond. He’d put it on me himself when we bonded.

"No…" I stepped back instinctively, trying to hold onto it. It wasn’t just a symbol—it felt like it was weakly holding something back inside me.

But Marcus was rough, and he wasn’t letting go. You could feel an Alpha’s strength now—no hiding it. He pulled hard!

The sound of tearing leather cut through the air like a knife. He ripped the collar off and threw it on the floor. My neck burned, and something inside me felt like it’d snapped—empty, painful.

The cold air hit my bare neck, making me shiver.

"Get out, you worthless thing." He looked down at me like I was a stray dog he didn''t want. "Don’t let me see your face again."

The crowd stayed quiet, all eyes on me. Pity, contempt, even joy at my pain—like a million needles stabbing my skin. Anna Silver Ridge’s lips curled into a victory smile.

Ten years of giving everything. Ten years of holding back. And what did I get? Called "worthless" and humiliated in front of everyone.

The pain in my neck mixed with the cold in my chest. Looking at his smug face, at all those indifferent or mocking faces below, something I’d never felt before exploded in my chest.

Anger. Raw, destructive anger.

He’d torn more than just the collar.

But I didn’t get what that meant yet.

I just bent down, picked up the broken collar off the floor, and squeezed it so hard my hand hurt. Then, with everyone watching silent, I straightened up and walked—step by step—down from the platform toward the dark night outside the ballroom doors.

Every step felt like walking on broken glass.

But with each step, that anger burned hotter and brighter.