Is there anything worse than catching your mate cheating?

Yeah, there is-hiring a lawyer to fight for you and realizing it's your ex-mate.

Delmora Town, Equitas Law Firm.

I'm sitting in a sleek conference room.

My face might look polished, but I'm bone-tired.

Never in a million years did I think I'd be facing a fight to break my bond just one year after forming it.

The door swings open, and a tall figure strides in.

"Sorry I'm late," he says, voice cool as winter.

He sits across from me, all business. "Ella, I'm your attorney for this case. Matthew Grant."

I stare at the wolf in the sharp suit, his air of untouchable refinement, and it's like lightning cracks through my skull.

My high-priced lawyer, the one I hired to shatter my bond, is my ex-mate? How does this kind of soap-opera nonsense land in my lap?

I grip my fingers tight, forcing calm into my voice.

"Easy."

Matthew flips through the file in his hands. "Two months ago, you caught your mate, Ryan Whitmore, stepping out on you. Got it on video, too." He glances up. "You suspect he's hiding pack funds, and you want him left with nothing. Anything else to add, Ella?"

His detached tone hits me like a bucket of ice water.

Bitterness stirs in my chest, but I keep my face blank and shake my head.

"Nope."

He sets the file down, all professional, like we're strangers.

"The video you took won't hold up as evidence, but it's enough to justify breaking the bond. Still, you might not get the payout you're aiming for."

I frown. "I did my homework. If he's the one who messed up big-time, I can leave him with nothing."

Ryan didn't just betray me-he's trying to hide our pack's wealth and kick me to the curb. Like I'd let that slide.

Matthew raises an eyebrow, giving me a look that cuts deep. "Weren't you the one who messed up back then? Funny how you didn't walk away with nothing."

His words choke me silent.

We were mates once, the kind other wolves envied. Hell, the day before we broke up, we were planning to form our sacred bond. But the night before, Matthew vanished.

All I got was a cold text with a photo-me, hand-in-hand with some other wolf, strolling through Uldrath Town.

One sentence: "We're done. I can't stand disloyalty."

I'm not the type to beg.

After 99 unanswered calls, I packed my bags and vanished from his world.

I meet his gaze now, my voice steady.

"Matthew, we're here to talk about breaking my bond. Let's keep personal stuff out of it."

His face goes stone-cold, lips pressed tight, eyes flicking back to the file.

"Fine. Think hard-anything else that could help your case? Right now, it's a weak fight."

I hesitate for a beat, then say, "Does it matter that I'm carrying a pup?"

His eyes snap to mine, sharp and piercing.

"If you're carrying a pup and your mate stepped out, you'd win in any pack's court. You wouldn't even need me." His tone is icy, like he's annoyed I'm wasting his time.

I squirm under his stare, embarrassment burning my cheeks. I close my eyes for a second, then mutter, "I don't know if it's Ryan's."

The room goes dead quiet, like a graveyard at midnight.

Matthew lets out a bitter laugh.

"You haven't changed a bit, have you?"

I drop my gaze, wishing I could burn a hole through the floor.

He always had a sharp tongue, but now, as a lawyer, it's lethal.

He might as well have said I'm still the same screw-up.

His mocking look makes my skin crawl, but he doesn't press further.

"Does your mate know about the pup?"

I shake my head. "Haven't told him."

A crack of thunder rumbles outside, and I flinch, my face draining of color.

Matthew waits until I steady myself before speaking, slow and deliberate.

"Given how this could shift things, I'd keep quiet about the pup for now."

His gaze lingers on my stomach for a few seconds, then he stands.

"If you've got no other evidence, we're done for today. Reach out if anything else comes up."

I let out a shaky breath and follow him toward the door.

As I step out of the conference room, I overhear a clerk call Matthew "Pal."

I freeze mid-step.

Glancing around, I take in the law firm's sleek, modern decor-freshly renovated but with a seasoned vibe that screams Matthew.

It fits him perfectly, all polished edges and no-nonsense grit.

When he glances back at me, I can't help but say,

"Congrats, by the way. Pa already? That's fast."

Matthew pushes open the front door, his smile sharp and cold, not reaching his eyes.

"Guess I owe it to the tough lessons you taught me."

His jab stings, a little knife twisting in my chest. Is he saying I broke him so bad he threw himself into his work? That's the vibe, right?

Rain whips in on the wind, speckling my face. I brush a strand of hair aside, keeping my voice light. "If that's how you wanna spin it, I'll take the credit."

I start to walk away, but Matthew's voice stops me. "You ever regret it?"

I halt, turning to face him, my expression cool as stone. "Regret what?"

Regret breaking things off with him? Or forming a bond with Ryan?

At this point, what's the use of regret?

Matthew's gaze is colder.

"I mean, if your mate's cheating hadn't landed you with a pup, this case wouldn't be such a mess."

His sarcasm cuts deep, and embarrassment flares hot in my cheeks.

For a second, I thought he might actually care.

Stupid me.

Five years since we split, and now he's seen the wreckage of my bond with Ryan. Caring? Nah, he's probably just disgusted.

"Equitas Law's got a rep for being top-tier. I trust you won't let me down, Matthew."

With that, I slip through the door he's holding open and head for my car.

By the time I slide inside, my dress is half-soaked, clinging to my skin and sending a chill through me.

My hand drifting to my stomach, staring out at the rain-soaked world.

A month ago, after a blowout fight with Ryan, I hit a bar and got plastered. Woke up in a hotel room, my body aching in ways that told me exactly what happened. Problem is, I don't remember a damn thing about that night. It's a blank, and that scares the hell out of me.

A flash of lightning snaps me back to reality. I start the car and peel out.

The rain's coming down in sheets, blurring the road ahead. Matthew's sharp words keep circling in my head like vultures.

"Weren't you the one who messed up back then? Funny how you didn't walk away with nothing."

"You haven't changed a bit, have you?"

I'm so lost in thought that I don't notice the car in front of me until it's too late.

My car jolts with a crunch, and I slam on the brakes. Grabbing an umbrella, I step out.

"I'm so sorry, I wasn't paying attention. I'll call my insur-"

My words die when I see the wolf stepping out of the other car.

Ryan, dressed casual, looking younger than he should.

His brows are knitted tight.

"You following me now?"

"Get over yourself. It's just the rain and a slippery road."

He snorts, not buying it.

"Rear-end's on you."

I glance at the young she-wolf in his passenger seat and let out a sharp laugh.

"Whitmore boss stepping out with a college pup. How's that for a headline?"

Ryan's face darkens, his jaw tight.

"We're already breaking the bond, Ella."

I rest a hand on my car door.

"I'm done too, but I'm not walking away without what's mine. Not a single cent less."

"You've been leeching off me for years, and now you want to strip me bare?" he snaps. "You-"

I slam the car door, cutting off his rant.

But his disgusted glare cuts through the rain, slicing into me.

Watching his taillights fade into the storm, I feel a knot in my chest.

I let out a bitter laugh.

The only two wolves I've ever been bound to-both of them look at me with the same damn loathing.

The rain pounds the car like a tidal wave, roaring in my ears.

As I step out of the conference room, I overhear a clerk call Matthew "Pal."

I freeze mid-step.

Glancing around, I take in the law firm's sleek, modern decor-freshly renovated but with a seasoned vibe that screams Matthew.

It fits him perfectly, all polished edges and no-nonsense grit.

When he glances back at me, I can't help but say,

"Congrats, by the way. Pa already? That's fast."

Matthew pushes open the front door, his smile sharp and cold, not reaching his eyes.

"Guess I owe it to the tough lessons you taught me."

His jab stings, a little knife twisting in my chest. Is he saying I broke him so bad he threw himself into his work? That's the vibe, right?

Rain whips in on the wind, speckling my face. I brush a strand of hair aside, keeping my voice light. "If that's how you wanna spin it, I'll take the credit."

I start to walk away, but Matthew's voice stops me. "You ever regret it?"

I halt, turning to face him, my expression cool as stone. "Regret what?"

Regret breaking things off with him? Or forming a bond with Ryan?

At this point, what's the use of regret?

Matthew's gaze is colder.

"I mean, if your mate's cheating hadn't landed you with a pup, this case wouldn't be such a mess."

His sarcasm cuts deep, and embarrassment flares hot in my cheeks.

For a second, I thought he might actually care.

Stupid me.

Five years since we split, and now he's seen the wreckage of my bond with Ryan. Caring? Nah, he's probably just disgusted.

"Equitas Law's got a rep for being top-tier. I trust you won't let me down, Matthew."

With that, I slip through the door he's holding open and head for my car.

By the time I slide inside, my dress is half-soaked, clinging to my skin and sending a chill through me.

My hand drifting to my stomach, staring out at the rain-soaked world.

A month ago, after a blowout fight with Ryan, I hit a bar and got plastered. Woke up in a hotel room, my body aching in ways that told me exactly what happened. Problem is, I don't remember a damn thing about that night. It's a blank, and that scares the hell out of me.

A flash of lightning snaps me back to reality. I start the car and peel out.

The rain's coming down in sheets, blurring the road ahead. Matthew's sharp words keep circling in my head like vultures.

"Weren't you the one who messed up back then? Funny how you didn't walk away with nothing."

"You haven't changed a bit, have you?"

I'm so lost in thought that I don't notice the car in front of me until it's too late.

My car jolts with a crunch, and I slam on the brakes. Grabbing an umbrella, I step out.

"I'm so sorry, I wasn't paying attention. I'll call my insur-"

My words die when I see the wolf stepping out of the other car.

Ryan, dressed casual, looking younger than he should.

His brows are knitted tight.

"You following me now?"

"Get over yourself. It's just the rain and a slippery road."

He snorts, not buying it.

"Rear-end's on you."

I glance at the young she-wolf in his passenger seat and let out a sharp laugh.

"Whitmore boss stepping out with a college pup. How's that for a headline?"

Ryan's face darkens, his jaw tight.

"We're already breaking the bond, Ella."

I rest a hand on my car door.

"I'm done too, but I'm not walking away without what's mine. Not a single cent less."

"You've been leeching off me for years, and now you want to strip me bare?" he snaps. "You-"

I slam the car door, cutting off his rant.

But his disgusted glare cuts through the rain, slicing into me.

Watching his taillights fade into the storm, I feel a knot in my chest.

I let out a bitter laugh.

The only two wolves I've ever been bound to-both of them look at me with the same damn loathing.

The rain pounds the car like a tidal wave, roaring in my ears.