I walked in on Landon Hayes, only to find him gulping down a bottle of champagne like he had no care in the world.
My gut clenched the moment I saw him sprawled out on that sofa, because right there before him were three women, kneeling and bobbing their heads on his cock like they were worshiping a god.
He groaned in ecstasy, his arms spread arrogantly across the armrests, head bent back as if this was his throne and he was their king.
My jaw tightened. The sight of him like that made my stomach twist. Rage and disgust boiled inside me, but I buried it deep. I kept my expression unreadable, except for the disgust I allowed to slip. He needed to see it.
" Aren't you going to stop?" I asked, my voice colder than I intended.
He didn't answer. Not even a glance.
Instead, he let out another groan, deliberately loud, as if to mock me, while the women kept licking and sucking like he hadn't already had enough the night before.
I swallowed hard. The insult burned deeper than any words could.
This—this filth—was how he celebrated his welcome party? After three rounds with me last night weren't enough?
" Stop this madness, Landon!" The words burst out of me, my voice thick with pain even though I tried to hold it back. "I know I permitted you taking ladies, but not in my presence! This is literally you cheating on me for crying out loud!"
Ten years. Ten years I'd been with him, through everything and still, he could do this to me.
Was this all I got in return for loving him helplessly, for excusing every one of his excesses?
I hated how my chest ached more tonight than ever before. He'd cheated on me countless times—men, women, both in one night—and I'd swallowed it all. But watching this? Watching three women kneel before him while last night's memory haunted me? That cut deeper than I could admit.
Because I remembered.
I remembered sliding into him when he was half-sober, remembered how tight he'd felt. Too tight. Landon had always been loose—years of indulgence had made sure of that. But last night was different. His hole was tight, like it had never been touched before.
The thought had clawed at me since. Had he gone and gotten surgery without telling me? Me—his partner of ten years?
Or worse… had someone else been inside with us?
My gut twisted. The paranoia burned.
I stayed frozen at the door, dread crawling up my throat as the women continued, as he basked in it, as if I wasn't even there.
He lasted longer than usual. Normally, he'd come quick when being pleasured, but tonight, he dragged it out—had them lick his chest, his thighs, his neck—delaying his release until finally, after forty agonizing minutes, he spilled into one woman's mouth.
I wanted to look away, but I didn't. I made myself watch.
He paid them and then dismissed them. They left with wads of cash clutched in their greedy hands.
And then, without shame, without clothing, with his cock still dangling, he lit a cigarette, sat back down and finally turned to me.
"What do you want, Lance?" he said, cold as ice.
My name and no pet names. No endearments. Just "Lance," spat like I was dirt under his boot.
My heart cracked, but I forced myself to stand tall. "We need to talk."
"There's nothing for us to talk about. How much settlement do you want? I want us to call off this relationship, at least for some time."
The words hit harder than any blade. My breath caught. I'd only come to ask him one question about the scent I'd picked up last night. Now, he was asking to end it all.
"I don't understand, Landon. Why would you suddenly—"
"What's there to understand?" he snapped, cutting me off.
" Aren't you aware of the reason I came back to Ravenshore?"
I shook my head slowly, though I knew. I just needed to hear him say it.
"I've returned as the Alpha heir to my pack," he said coldly. "I'm sure you know what that means. In the same vein, you should know why I'm ending things with you."
"I don't see why that's a reason to—"
"It's enough reasons, Lance!" His voice cracked like a whip. "I'm going to become an Alpha, whereas you…? You're just the adopted son of the Carters, there for cleaning up their mess! You and I can't be together anymore. You're nothing, whereas I'm everything you'll never become! So whether you want this or not, it has to happen!"
His words cut me open. I staggered inside, clutching onto whatever dignity I had left, but he wasn't done.
"Those dreams of yours, of becoming the heir to the Carters' empire? They can't come to pass anymore. You don't honestly expect me to sit back and watch you try to steal my sister's mate's inheritance, do you?"
My world tilted. My chest heaved. All the confusion that had clouded me cleared in an instant.
"Is it because of him?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
"Because of who?" His eyes darted away from mine.
"The third man in the room with us last night."
He froze. He wouldn't meet my gaze.
"I don't know what you're talking about. There was no other man with us last night," he lied.
I laughed bitterly, though it felt more like choking. "I had my doubts—the scent, your change, everything—but seeing you avoid my eyes like this? That confirms it. You're hiding something."
He stayed silent, refusing to acknowledge it.
"Who is he?" I demanded.
"I told you, there was nobody. Accept this break-up, Lance, and stop creating sob stories to make yourself feel better. I'm breaking up with you because we're not on the same level anymore. And there's no way I'll have a man by my side when I become Alpha. Didn't you see your brother Adrian? Isn't a woman—my sister—the mate standing by his side?"
My chest caved in. I stared at him for a long, painful moment, disbelief washing over me, before I turned, opened the door, and walked out.
I slammed it behind me, the sound echoing like the final nail in a coffin.
Behind me, I knew he was relieved. I could feel it.
And that was the final betrayal I will ever endure from Landon Hayes. I told myself.