Chapter 1

Bella's POV

My entire body ached as I dragged my feet through the long hallway leading to my husband's chamber. Alpha Lucian. My hands trembled around the flowers I had picked myself from the garden earlier that morning. Their sweet scent mixed painfully with the smell of sweat still clinging to my skin after hours of work.

The pack house buzzed with life tonight because of the visiting guests, yet none of them cared that their Luna had spent the entire day serving tables, organizing rooms, and helping the kitchen omegas until my back nearly snapped in half.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced myself to keep walking.

Maybe if I worked harder, they would accept me someday.

Maybe if I kept trying, Lucian would finally look at me the way he used to.

The thought alone made my chest tighten painfully.

I had been married to Lucian for fours years now, but it was never a peaceful marriage. It was filled with constant humiliations both from him and the pack members.

Still, I came to him carrying flowers like some foolish girl in love.

Because despite everything… I loved him.

Even after the insults.

Even after the coldness.

Even after the bruises he left behind whenever his temper exploded.

I still loved him.

“Pathetic,” I whispered to myself bitterly.

The guards outside his chambers lowered their heads when they saw me, but neither of them opened the door for me. They only exchanged awkward looks.

My brows tightened together. That was strange. Usually, they announced me immediately.

I pushed the thought away and opened the chamber doors myself.

The parlor was empty but filled with a strange sound floating through the silence.

A soft moan.

Then another.

My steps froze.

My heartbeat suddenly pounded hard against my ribs.

No…

My fingers tightened around the flowers as I slowly walked toward the bedroom door that was slightly open. The sounds grew louder with every step, making my stomach twist violently.

Then I pushed the door open.

And my entire world shattered.

The flowers slipped from my fingers one after another, falling helplessly to the floor.

Lucian was on the bed.

Half naked and two women beneath him.

They turned their gaze to me in shock and I recognized them.

The twin girls he had brought back from war recently, Maya and Naya.

The same girls he claimed he rescued.

The same girls he said would work as omegas in the pack.

One of them laughed breathlessly while Lucian kissed her neck. The other ran her fingers down his chest possessively.

I couldn’t breathe.

I just stood there frozen while my wolf, Ava cried painfully inside me.

Lucian turned toward the door sharply, irritation flashing across his face.

“What the hell are you doing here, Bella?” he snapped harshly.

My lips parted in diagust, but no words came out at first.

He climbed off the bed lazily without even bothering to cover himself properly. “How many times have I warned you not to enter my chambers without permission?”

I stared at him in disbelief.

My chambers. Not ours.

My voice came out cracked and small. “Lucian, today is our anniversary, I… came to wish us a happy anniversary.”

The words tasted like poison now.

The twins looked at me from head to toe, their eyes full of mockery. One of them smirked openly while the other whispered something that made them both giggle.

Humiliation burned through my body so violently that my eyes filled with tears.

But Lucian only sighed impatiently like I was disturbing his peace.

“Just leave, Bella.”

Something inside me finally snapped.

“Leave?” I repeated shakily. “I walked in on my husband sleeping with two women, and you’re telling me to leave?”

His jaw tightened with annoyance. “Lower your voice.”

“Why?” I asked, my voice rising despite the tears burning my eyes. “Are you ashamed now?”

The room fell silent for a second.

Then one of the twins walked to him and wrapped her arms around his waist possessively and smiled at me.

“We didn’t mean for you to find out this way.” she said her smile tugged at her lips.

My nails dug into my palms so hard it hurt.

“Find out what?” I whispered.

Lucian looked directly into my eyes.

“They’re my mates.”

The words slammed into me like a blade straight through my chest.

I quickly staggered backward.

“No,” I breathed.

My wolf screamed in agony inside me.

That was impossible. He was already mated to me.

I shook my head repeatedly. “No… no, that can’t be true Lucian…not possible”

Lucian rubbed his temple impatiently. “Enough with the dramatics.”

Dramatics?

A broken laugh escaped my lips.

“After everything I did for you?” I rasped painfully. “I gave up my Alpha title for you, Lucian. I stood beside you through everything. I let your people insult me every single day. I stayed when everyone told me to leave.”

Tears finally spilled down my cheeks, but I quickly pushed them away.

I refused to break in front of him again.

“I loved you,” I whispered brokenly. “Even when you hurt me.”

Lucian’s expression remained unmoved.

“I don’t want you anymore, Bella.”

Those six words destroyed whatever hope I still had left.

“I need an heir,” he continued coldly. “I need a Luna who brings prosperity to my reign, not bad luck. Since marrying you, everything has gone wrong.”

I stared at him like I no longer recognized the man in front of me.

“This marriage should’ve ended long ago.”

The twins smirked proudly behind him.

Then Lucian straightened fully, his Alpha aura pressing heavily against the room.

“I, Alpha Lucian Draven, reject you, Bella Nightwood, as my mate and Luna.”

Pain exploded through my chest instantly. I gasped sharply, clutching my heart.

It felt like someone had ripped my soul apart with their bare hands.

My knees nearly buckled as I felt the bond breaking inside me.

Tears blurred my vision, but I forced myself to look at him.

“You reject me lucian?” I uttered my heart shattering.

He stood frozen my eyes still fixed on his, and for a brief second, I saw something flicker in his eyes. Something like a regret.

But it vanished so quickly the second one of the twins touched his chest gently.

My entire body shook violently from the pain, still wondering about it.

“Yes,” he answered without hesitation. “I’ve only tolerated this marriage for the pack’s sake. But now I finally found women worthy of standing beside me. Women who can satisfy me. Women who can give me heirs.”

Each word stabbed deeper into my chest.

Worthless.

That was what he truly thought of me.

One of the twins smiled sweetly at me. “You should be grateful, Bella. We’re freeing him from his misery.”

I didn’t even look at her. My eyes stayed locked on Lucian’s face. The man I once would’ve died for saving during a fire outbreak.

Slowly, painfully, I nodded.

“I, Bella Nightwood…” My voice trembled horribly. “Accept your rejection.”

The mate bond snapped completely.

Agony tore through me so violently that I nearly screamed. But no way I would break infront of him again, and no way I would beg him.

“I promise you something, Lucian". I continued.

His brows lifted slightly.

“One day…” I whispered hoarsely, “you’ll regret this, you will regret ever rejecting me.”

He burst out of a cruel laugh which hurt me deeper.

“Regret about what exactly?” he said mockingly. “Look at yourself, Bella. You’re nothing but a barren, useless omega pretending to matter.”

My breathing stopped.

Omega.

The daughter of Alpha Nightwood…

Reduced to an omega in my own home.

“You’re ugly,” he continued. “Weak. Incapable of satisfying your Alpha. No man will ever want you.”

Every word sliced deeper than the last, and I felt his hatred finally burned through me.

“Womanizer,” I hissed bitterly. “I hate you.”

Lucian’s expression darkened instantly.

“You dare hiss at me?”

He stormed toward me angrily, but I stepped back before he could touch me.

Fear crawled through my body. Not because I loved him anymore. But because I knew exactly what kind of monster he could become.

“You think you can walk away from me?” he growled. “Prepare to rot in the dungeon, Bella. I’ll show you exactly how worthless you are in this pack.”

My blood turned cold as I turned and left the room. I knew he meant it. Lucian would truly lock me away If he wants, and nobody would stop him.

I ran out of his chambers while my vision blurred with tears. My chest hurt so badly I could barely breathe, but I forced my legs to keep moving.

I wasn’t going back to my room. I couldn’t.

Not after this. Not after losing everything.

I just needed to reach the back exit before Lucian changed his mind and sent guards after me.

My father’s face flashed through my mind.

Alpha Nightwood.

The strongest Alpha our pack had ever known.

Two years ago, he handed Lucian his title because he believed Lucian loved me enough to protect both me and the pack.

If only he knew.

A sob nearly escaped me.

“I need an heir.”

“You’re worthless.”

“No man will ever want you.”

Lucian’s words echoed endlessly inside my head.

I stumbled deeper into the long corridor, my tears falling harder now. My head stayed lowered as I wiped my face desperately.

Then suddenly—

Bam.

I crashed into something hard.

A strong arm instantly wrapped around my waist before I could hit the ground.

My breath caught sharply. Warm fingers tightened against my side.

Slowly, I lifted my tear-filled eyes and froze.

Alpha Xander Marco stared down at me.

The most feared Alpha in the entire world.

The monster who erased entire packs with

out mercy.

The same Lucian feared more than death itself.

His dark eyes locked onto mine with dangerous intensity while his grip on my waist slowly tightened.

And for the first time tonight…

Someone looked at me like I was worth noticing, not knowing I just stepped into hell.