chapter 1

"Excuse me, I need to register to leave the pack."

Bella Winthrop stood at the counter, sliding the form to the registrar.

When the registrar saw the name Ryan Kingswell on the contract, her eyes widened. "Ryan? The Alpha of the Nightshade Pack? You're saying you're his human mate?"

Her stamping hand froze. She glanced up at Bella. "The Alpha just slaughtered an entire pack last week for mocking you. And now you want to leave Nightshade Pack and go back to human life?"

Bella said nothing, just pressed her fingertips into the edge of the paper until her skin turned red.

Behind her, the other registrars were already whispering.

"That's the human mate he hid away in the castle, right? Didn't he even ignore his elders' marriage plans for him?"

"She's lost her mind. Without the Alpha's protection, she'll get torn apart by evil werewolves.

"They're bonded already. Even if she leaves, he can chase her down through the bond. There's no way she's escaping him."

This station sat on neutral ground, right between the human world and the werewolf world. Everyone knew the rules; even if a registrar saw someone leaving, they couldn't tell a soul. Not even the Alpha.

Bella chuckled. What they didn't know was that Nightshade Pack hadn't always been strong. Long ago, Ryan's ancestors made a deal with a witch to gain permanent power. But the price was steep—they could never step out of werewolf territory.

So, this was Bella's only opportunity at truly breaking away from Ryan. As long as she broke the mate contract and crossed out of werewolf territory, Ryan would never be able to track her through the bond again.

The registrar's words cut sharply, but Bella only curled her lip, took the stamped receipt with its blood-red seal, and tucked it into her hand. In 15 days, it would be official.

Everyone believed Ryan loved her.

Three years ago, she had wandered into Rogue territory by mistake. Surrounded by dozens of werewolves, she thought it was over—until Ryan tore through the circle alone and dragged her out, blood pouring from his wounds. Even then, he wrapped his tail around her waist, whimpering gently like he was trying to calm her down.

Two years back, she had offhandedly said she wanted an edelweiss from the freezing werewolf territory. Ryan trekked across mountains and rivers just to get it for her. By the time he came back, his body was stiff from the cold, but he only smiled and said, "If it's what you want, I'll make sure you have it."

The real reason Bella said yes to Ryan was because of her parents' sudden death. Ryan was in the middle of a deal with the Bloodmoon Pack, but he ran back without resting. Still half-shifted from wolf form, he pulled her into his arms and said, "Bella, stay with me. I'll never leave you."

In that moment, when she saw herself reflected in his eyes, she believed she had found a forever shelter.

But the same man who swore he'd be with her for a lifetime started staying out late three months ago. The castle walls, the garden lawn, even the wolf-fur rug she once slept on were stained with another Omega's sugary pheromones.

Ryan thought he was clever. He didn't realize that pheromones linger like pungent perfume to humans. He didn't know she had already caught him tangled up with Liliana Montague behind her back.

Liliana was the Omega sister of Ryan's friend, left in his care.

I couldn't help remembering the time I was bullied by human thugs and stumbled into werewolf territory. It was Ryan who stopped the werewolf registrar from throwing me out and gently calmed me down when I was panicking.

When I first met Ryan, he told me I was his destined mate. I didn't get what that meant, but he said it was love at first sight and started chasing after me. In the end, I gave in to his gentleness, and he promised me I'd be the only partner he'd ever have.

But that day, when Ryan tangled with Liliana, the way he lowered his head to her was the same as when he used to whisper sweetly to Bella.

Bella tightened her grip on the receipt, turned, and walked out of the border station. She flagged down a cab and gave the driver the address of Riverstone Villa, the human-style villa Ryan had built for her.

The moment she opened the door, a sickly sweet smell hit her—Liliana's signature scent. Ryan and Liliana, who had been hanging decorations on the stone wall, turned at the same time. Ryan rushed over and took her hand. "Honey, why are you dressed so lightly? Weren't you supposed to be meeting human friends at the border?"

The bite marks on his neck were still raw. Bella's eyes shifted past him to Liliana, who was wearing an off-shoulder dress. Her collarbone was dotted with bruises, glowing under the firelight.

"Wow, Bella, Alpha must really love you—he even threw this huge anniversary celebration for your first meeting anniversary."

Liliana paused on purpose, then pointed at the couch piled with presents. "Look, all of these are for you."

Bella followed her gaze. Under the mountain of presents on the rug, she spotted a wet stain mixed with Liliana's perfume.

In that moment, it felt like lightning had struck her straight through. The smell she caught at the door, and the marks she was staring at now, completely proved the one thing she had been dreading deep down.

Love her?

So this "surprise" was nothing more than preparing her presents while making out with another Omega on her couch.

So this is what it's like to hurt to the core.

Ryan didn't notice her face. He only placed a wolf fang necklace around her neck, his tone was overly sweet. "Honey, happy anniversary. I even planned a candlelight dinner for us."

Bella trembled and shook her head. "I'm not hungry. I ... don't feel well."

Every moment with him now felt like torture.

She always said she was a one-person kind of girl. In her world, human love couldn't have any cracks or stains; it should've been even purer than the werewolves' loyalty bond. But he just had to mess it up.

Then he shouldn't have come after her at all. If he chose to, why betray her now?

The moment Ryan heard her say she wasn't feeling well, he acted like it was a full-blown emergency.

Ryan totally panicked. He called in his private werewolf doctor, ordered the staff to bring calming water, and spent over four hours fussing over her until she finally fell asleep.

Late that night, Bella woke up thirsty. When she opened her door, faint moans coming from the room next door. Through the crack, the moonlight spilled across two tangled bodies on the bed. Liliana lay across Ryan's chest, her fingertips tracing the old scar on his abs. She whispered with a sly smile, "You never gave me that necklace."

Even after the heat died down, Liliana kept her legs wrapped around his waist, her words dripping with jealousy.

Ryan frowned and pulled away.

"Haven't I made your place clear? I only love Bella. The only reason I'm with you is so you can have my child.

"If you want this to keep going, it must remain a secret. If she ever finds out, you know exactly what'll happen."

Liliana's face went pale, but she crawled up and hugged him from behind. "I know you love Bella, but I love you, too. Can't I be jealous?"

He didn't answer—just bent down and pulled out another necklace from the drawer, the same design as Bella's, but in another color.

"Don't pout. I got you one too. But you can only wear it in private. If she knows, we're done."

Liliana's face lit up with excitement. She quickly grabbed the necklace and held it against her neck, which was still covered in hickeys.

"Thank you, Alpha! I knew you still cared! But ... are you really so scared Bella might leave?"

"Yes," Ryan said without hesitation. "I can't live without her. If she leaves, I'll lose my mind."

As he spoke, he pushed her down again, starting another round.

The bed squeaked with every movement, and Liliana's nonstop moans cut through the silence—echoing straight into Bella's ears. She stood frozen a few steps away, tears sliding down her face.

Her eyes reddened as she stared at the wedding photo on the wall, at Ryan's smiling face.

Ryan, in 15 days, I'll watch you lose your mind.