Chapter 1

**Verena**

"Rena, I want to reject our bond. I want a divorce." Elijah''s voice is completely flat as he sits across from me in our dimly lit living room. I''d been waiting all evening for him to get home so we could celebrate our third wedding anniversary together. But when he finally walked through the door, there was this wall of ice around him. I thought maybe he''d just had a rough day at the office, but then he told me to sit down and completely blindsided me.

"Why?" I blink, trying to process what he just said. He has to be kidding, right? But the cold intensity in his eyes kills that hope real quick, replacing it with this sinking dread in my stomach. I already know the reason – the one I''ve been terrified of for years.

His mate came back.

Elijah is the Alpha of the Iron Claw Pack, one of the most powerful packs in Fenrisa. I''m his wife and his mate. You''d think that being fated would make our relationship solid, but that''s nowhere near the truth.

The thing is, I''m his second-chance mate.

Elijah''s first mate bailed on him right before their mating ceremony. Nobody ever found out why, but everyone figured she just didn''t want to be tied down and was in love with someone else. The same day she left him, Elijah found me and realized I was his second chance.

Second-chance mates are incredibly rare – it''s basically a miracle when the Moon Goddess gives someone another shot at love. He never officially rejected his first mate, but you can find a second mate whether you reject your first one or not. It''s complicated and goes against everything we know about mate bonds, but it''s supposed to be a blessing for people whose first mate dies or abandons them.

Elijah sighs heavily. "You know about Nixie. She wants us to be together again."

My hands ball into fists. "And you want to get back with her?" My voice cracks, and I can''t stop my whole body from shaking.

Even though I''m Elijah''s second chance, he''s my first. My first mate, my first love, my everything. No matter who your second chance is, the bond with your first mate is always stronger – like that first love you can never really get over. I know Elijah feels the same way about Nixie, but how can I just accept that?

His expression stays completely detached. "Nixie is sick from everything she went through. She needs me, Verena. She''s my mate, and my wolf needs her."

His first mate showed up a week ago, claiming she''d been kidnapped by an enemy pack and held prisoner for three years. The pack that took her was wiped out in a pack war, and all the hostages were freed. That''s supposedly how Nixie escaped and made it back to us.

"I can''t handle having two mates at the same time. Having both of you is putting too much strain on me and weakening my wolf. It''ll only get worse over time. So I have to reject one of you," he says in this eerily calm voice while my world is falling apart.

"And you''re choosing her," I whisper, tears burning my eyes.

I knew Elijah had never gotten over his first mate when I came into his life. But I thought I could heal him, show him that I could love him even more than she ever did. I did everything I could to make him happy after we got married.

But she''s still the one he wants.

What about us? Everything we built together over the years – does none of it matter to him? When I first entered his life, he was emotionally shut off and treated me like garbage. But I stuck it out, and he gradually started warming up to me. We worked through everything together, and he promised he''d never leave me.

I know I can''t give him healthy children because I never shifted after turning eighteen – it''s been five years since I became wolfless. But I felt the mate bond the moment I saw Elijah at the Mating Ball. He agreed to marry me because his pack needed a Luna, and having a second-chance mate was better than having no mate at all.

"You said you''d never leave me. You promised," I remind him, my voice breaking. "How can you throw that away for someone who walked out on you years ago?"

His presence turns arctic, sending chills through the room. "Rena, watch your mouth. Remember who you''re talking to," he warns, his tone sharp as a knife. "And did you really think I wouldn''t find out that you deliberately drove Nixie away because you wanted me for yourself?"

My eyebrows shoot up. "What are you talking about?"

He stands up from the couch. "You think I don''t know? Nixie came back to this pack just one year after our wedding and wanted to see me. But you got to her first and threatened her to stay away from me and disappear from the pack."

Wait, what? She came back one year after our wedding? How is that even possible if she was trapped by the enemy pack?

Shadows fall across his sharp features, making him look deadly and dangerous. I''ve always been drawn to his ruthless side, especially when he protects me from anyone who tries to hurt me. But right now, he''s looking at me like I disgust him.

"Because of you, Nixie couldn''t contact me and tell me what happened to her. I couldn''t be there for her when she needed me most. All because of you." He''s basically accusing me of ruining his life, and it feels like someone just drove a knife through my chest.

"I didn''t do that!" I say, and he tilts his head like he didn''t expect me to deny it. As much as I want Elijah all to myself, I know he feels incomplete without Nixie. I would have stepped aside for his happiness if I''d known she was back. But how could I do something when I had no idea she''d returned two years ago? I thought she''d just recently escaped and joined us.

He raises an eyebrow. "So you''re not going to admit it?"

"Admit what? I have no clue what you''re talking about," I protest.

"Fine, I''ll call him in then." Elijah''s dark eyes glaze over as he mind-links someone. Seconds later, the door swings open and Joshua walks in.

"What''s going on?" he asks, looking between both of us. He''s Elijah''s Beta.

"Rena is denying that she tried to force Nixie out of the pack when she returned two years ago. You saw what happened, right?"

I look at Joshua expectantly. He''ll tell Elijah the truth. I relax slightly, waiting for him to clear this up. But why do I have this awful feeling in my gut?

"Actually, I did see them together two years ago," Joshua says calmly, with this subtle smirk on his face. "The Luna definitely threatened her and told her to leave the pack."

What the hell?!

"Joshua, what are you saying?! I never even met Nixie!" I jump up from my seat, staring at him in complete shock.

"Keep your voice down, Rena. Joshua is telling me what he witnessed, and I''m surprised you thought he''d lie for you. After all, he''s the one who showed me the photos of your little encounter with my mate." Elijah throws some pictures on the coffee table, and it feels like the floor just disappeared from under my feet. These photos are fake – they have to be manipulated.

I stare at the Beta who gives me this satisfied smirk. He betrayed me. I thought we were friends, but...

My shoulders drop as I stare at the floor. This can''t be happening.

"Do you have any proof that the Beta is lying?" Elijah asks.

I don''t have an answer. My head is spinning, trying to make sense of what''s happening.

"No," I whisper. If I''d known he would stab me in the back like this, I would have been more careful. But why would he do this to me?

For several minutes, heavy silence fills the room until Elijah gently grabs my chin, forcing me to look at him. His messy black hair falls across his face, reminding me of how soft it felt when I used to run my fingers through it.

"It''s over, Rena. You knew how much I loved Nixie, yet you drove her away from me. Then you pretended to love me when all you really wanted was the power and wealth that comes with being my wife. I can''t let this slide," he says, his voice soft but cold and terrifying.

Pretended to love him? After all these years, he thinks it was all an act. I know I don''t have any evidence to prove I''m innocent, but won''t he at least try to believe me just once? I can''t help wondering if he would have believed Nixie if she were in my position. He probably would have forgiven her, because mates are supposed to be possessive – it''s natural. But he won''t give me that same consideration, because to him, I''m just his second choice. I''m nothing compared to his first true mate, his first love.

Tears fill my eyes as pain rips through my heart. "Elijah, I''m telling you the truth. I don''t give a damn about the title. I just want you."

He growls, showing his canines, his eyes flashing. "I''ve heard enough. You should be grateful I''m not throwing you in the cells for pulling something like this. So if you don''t want to end up in a dungeon, I suggest you sign the divorce papers and accept the rejection." He lets go of my chin and pulls out the divorce agreement.

He slams it down on the coffee table, making me flinch. "Sign it."

I stare at the papers with my heart bleeding. All our good memories flash through my mind. What did any of those moments mean? Was he lying when he said I made him smile? That I was special to him? That our bond was just as strong as a first-mate bond?

I slowly lean forward and grab the pen. I sign the papers while fighting back tears. "Here. It''s done," I whisper, holding out the divorce agreement. For just a split second, the coldness in his eyes melts, replaced by shock and what looks like hurt. But he quickly pulls himself together and takes the papers from me.

"I didn''t want it to end this way, but you didn''t give me a choice."

A sad smile crosses my lips. So he would have left me anyway. It didn''t matter what I did – he just needed an excuse to reject me and get his mate back.

"When''s the rejection ceremony?" I ask, staring down at my shaking hands. If I look at his face, I''m afraid I''ll completely fall apart.

"Tomorrow. I expect you at the training grounds at eight in the morning. Once the rejection is done, you can stay in the packhouse. Though I''d prefer if you kept your distance from my mate. I don''t want you causing any drama," he says, and it kills me how he calls Nixie ''my mate.''

I stand up and turn around. "Don''t worry, you won''t see me anywhere near you or Nixie after the rejection is over. Consider that my gift to you. Happy Anniversary, Alpha Elijah."