SIENNA
"But what about your wife?"
That was the first thing I heard as I approached Adrian's office. Those words immediately made me stop. The voice belonged to Adrian's best friend—and the soon-to-be Beta of the pack—Silas Mercer.
I heard a chuckle before my husband's voice filled the air.
"You know very well that Sienna was just an emergency measure," Adrian replied, his tone casual, dismissive. My throat tightened, a lump forming as I struggled to breathe. "I admit she took care of me when I was down, but that's all. What do you expect me to do? Reject my fated mate?"
Fated mate?
I fell in love with Adrian when I was sixteen. It was love at first sight. When I turned eighteen, he suffered a terrible accident that left him bedridden—and an orphan. With his injuries, which we didn't know if he'd ever recover from, his uncle, Edward, took over as Alpha of The Nightveil Pack in his place.
I found Adrian in the forest and cared for him. Later, back in the pack, he promised to marry me if I stayed by his side. Of course, I said yes. He told me that even though I hadn't awakened my wolf yet, he wanted me. That he admired my strength of spirit more than anything.
For two and a half years, I was more than a wife—I was his healer, his protector. I dedicated my days, every hour, every moment, to making him happy, to helping him stand again so he could reclaim his title as Alpha.
"Of course not! That's not what I meant!"
"Then what?" Adrian let out a mocking sigh. "I was a good husband all this time, but now, I want my freedom. I'm going to marry my fated mate—Vivianne."
Then, I heard it again. That same mocking chuckle from my so-called husband.
"Sienna is nothing but a rogue."
Vivianne? Vivianne Lorne?
She was the daughter of Tobias Lorne, the current Beta—the man who had served both Adrian's father and his uncle. I had always noticed how close Adrian and Vivianne were, but he would brush it off, saying they had been best friends since childhood, just like Silas.
"Don't interfere," he told me once.
And I listened. Humiliation after humiliation, I swallowed it all, convincing myself I was just being paranoid.
But a fated mate?
Why didn't he tell me? Did they know all along?
Vivianne and I were the same age. In fact, we shared the same birth date. That meant Adrian had known about their bond since the moment she turned eighteen.
I felt ridiculous.
While I spent my birthday cleaning up after him, nursing his wounds… he was eating the cake I baked. With her. Celebrating the fact that they were destined for each other.
The sound of their laughter echoed through the office, ripping through me like a blade. Tears blurred my vision, but I wiped them away and stepped inside.
I had to face this. But the moment I entered, none of them looked surprised.
Silas seemed a little uneasy, but Vivianne and Adrian? She sat on his lap, her arms wrapped around his neck, not even bothering to hide it.
"What is this, Adrian?" My voice came out more strained than I intended.
"How long have you been standing there?" he replied with another question. "Judging by your reaction, long enough to have been eavesdropping behind the door?"
"How dare you…?"
He stood up, gently lifting Vivianne off his lap, then walked toward me, towering over me. I could see the amber glow of his wolf flickering in his brown eyes.
"How dare you raise your voice at me? How dare you question me?!"
I snorted. Oh, so I was the insolent one now?
"How dare I?"
I pointed at him—at Vivianne.
"You've been cheating on me with her!"
A melodic voice filled the room, light and sweet.
"A woman is only 'cheated on' when she is actually loved."
Vivianne.
She was smiling.
I lunged toward her, rage burning through my veins, but Adrian moved faster.
His hand wrapped around my throat, pushing me back. I hit the floor hard, pain radiating through my body. And he just stood there, looking down at me like I was nothing, like I was an insect he could just step on!
"She is my fated mate, Sienna. I didn't betray you. You're the one who's been occupying her rightful place all this time."
I pushed myself off the ground, my entire body trembling—not with fear, but with realization.
For two and a half years, I endured Adrian's coldness, his dismissive tone, his moments of cruelty. I convinced myself he needed love, understanding.
But the truth? He never saw me the same way.
"You could have told me," I whispered, voice hoarse. "I would have left."
Adrian chuckled. "And make Vivianne take care of an invalid?"
I stared at him, stunned. Did he really just say that?
"She is your fated mate," I shot back. "Wouldn't it be an honor for her to care for her destined mate? A man she loves?"
Vivianne peeked from behind him, her big, innocent brown eyes and pouty lips creating the perfect picture of a helpless little damsel.
"Don't be selfish, Sienna," Adrian sneered. "I was your husband for two and a half years. I tolerated your nonsense. What more do you want from me? My real mate has suffered enough, being forced to hide our relationship."
"Adrian…" Vivianne murmured softly, tilting her head. "I think it's time to end this."
He clicked his tongue, adjusted his jacket, and strolled to his desk.
I watched as he pulled a folder from the drawer and tossed it onto the wooden surface with absolute indifference.
"Sign this and get the hell out of my pack."
I didn't need to open it. I already knew what that was about. The divorce papers.
A new law allowed couples to dissolve a marriage easily if they hadn't marked each other. Adrian never marked me—he claimed it wouldn't work anyway, since my wolf hadn't awakened yet.
He wasn't Alpha yet, so we didn't even need to take this to the King.
I stepped toward the desk, my body heavy like lead.
My movements felt slow, distant, like I wasn't even in control of them.
I picked up the folder, took the pen from its holder, and flipped to the last page.
The contract stated that we were divorcing by mutual agreement. That I, as a rogue, would leave with nothing. That this was my own decision.
I let out a hollow laugh.
And to think… I believed love was enough.
But love means nothing when only one person feels it.
If I hadn't heard those cruel words with my own ears… if I hadn't seen Vivianne sitting on his lap… if Adrian hadn't choked me before pushing me to the floor…
I might have begged him to reconsider. I might have cried. But now? Even though it hurt, I refused to humiliate myself any further.
I signed my name. I placed the pen down on the folder, my signature lying next to Adrian's.
"If you had waited just six more months, Adrian. Just six months…"
He scoffed. "Six months? What would have happened in six months? You don't actually think I would've fallen for you, do you?"
I exhaled, shaking my head.
"It doesn't matter anymore."
I lifted my chin and met his gaze. I couldn't read what was there, but in the end, I couldn't care less.
"I wish you both all the happiness you deserve."
I turned to leave.
But just as I passed through the door, someone grabbed my wrist.
I spun around.
Vivianne stood there, a wicked smile on her lips.
"I hope you enjoyed your time here," she whispered. "Now that I'm the future Luna, I'll make sure to erase every trace of you…"