RUBY

ONE MONTH AGO

"Congratulations, Mrs. Osborne! You and your husband will be discharged by tomorrow," the doctor said.

I smiled, though the acupuncture point and surgery stitches still hurt. I could barely move my mouth.

The doctor checked my husband's pulse before leaving. I wheeled my chair closer to him, where he lay in bed.

His face lit up with a gentle smile that I adored. "Thank you so much, Ruby. I’ll never forget this."

I chuckled softly and leaned over to feel his pulse. His temperature was stable, and I felt grateful.

"Hubby, are you okay? Do your stitches still hurt?” I asked, pushing aside my own pain.

He smiled again. “Worry about yourself first. How are your stitches?”

“The transplant was a success. We share the same kidney now, so don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine soon," I whispered, holding his hand.

"We are one. One soul, one body, one heart. I will never leave you, my wife," Michael replied, gently patting my head.

He looked at me with love.

"I promise to make you the happiest woman on our wedding anniversary next month. Get ready, because I'm marking you."

I laughed with delight.

TODAY IS OUR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

"Congratulations, Ruby! But where's Beta Michael, your husband? I haven’t seen him," a friend asked.

The celebration under the full moon was filled with guests from the neighboring pack. Lycans, Betas, Omegas, and Deltas came to wish me a happy anniversary and a new marking day.

"Besides the wedding, I'm happiest he found a kidney donor," a Lycan commented, and everyone laughed.

Most guests knew that Beta Michael needed a kidney two months ago. Despite our offers, no one was willing to sell theirs. They didn’t know I was the donor—his Omega wife.

"Hello, sister! Happy Anniversary!" A sing-song voice came from the crowd, holding a flower bouquet. It was Ella, my stepsister.

I rolled my eyes and stepped away. Today was too special to let her ruin it.

"So cold," I heard her scoff, but I didn’t care. I accepted more congratulations before slipping back into the house to find Michael.

"Babe, where are you?"

No answer.

"Honey...?" I called as I walked up the stairs, but still no response.

Finally, near our bedroom, the door opened, and Michael stepped into the hall. His powerful frame was illuminated by the chandelier.

My heart skipped a beat. He wore an outfit that matched mine perfectly.

"Babe, why are you here? Everyone is waiting," I asked.

His expression was colder than usual, eyes distant. Despite his frown, he remained strikingly handsome, his dark hair gleaming and shoulders broad.

“You can keep welcoming them; I’m not in the mood to see anyone,” he said, which struck me as odd.

"Come on, honey, we can’t leave them waiting. Just make an appearance," I urged, moving to embrace him.

But Michael averted his gaze, his eyes vacant. He didn’t return my smile. Instead, he stepped back, creating space between us. "Ruby," he said, his tone lacking warmth, "we need to talk."

His coolness caught me off guard. I felt my joy dim. Swallowing my nervousness, I forced a soft smile. "Is everything alright?"

Michael hesitated, looking down before finally meeting my gaze. "Ruby, I felt my mate near."

My heart sank. How could I forget we weren’t mates, even though we were married? We had promised to reject our mates if we met them.

"You feel her?" I whispered.

Michael nodded, his expression guarded. "Yes. We met before she joined the party, but I can still feel the pull. I can’t resist her. She wants to be close to me."

His words hung heavy in the air. Why did his mate have to show up today? I felt my heart ache, knowing he wouldn’t mark me as long as she was here.

“Who is she?” I asked slowly.

Michael hesitated, brows furrowed. "It… it’s… Ella. Your sister."

"What?" The excitement I felt moments ago turned to pain. Ella—my rude stepsister—was his mate?

They had met several times, but he never mentioned anything. Could it be… No, Michael would never cheat on me, especially not with her.

I pushed aside my doubts and took a deep breath. "I understand, but you’re going to reject her, right?” I asked, expecting a positive answer. Instead, I felt his coldness.

I swallowed my emotions. "I’m asking you, Michael. You’ll reject my sister and mark me tonight, right?"

Michael shook his head. "No, Ruby, let’s get divorced."

RUBY

I stood frozen in the grand foyer, my heart racing. His words echoed in my mind: "Let's get divorced."

His declaration hit me like a tidal wave, leaving me breathless. Did he really say he wanted a divorce? Me, Ruby Moon, who gave him my kidney? On our wedding anniversary, while guests waited outside? No! He can't do this.

"Michael, please," I begged, stepping closer. Desperation clawed at my voice. "Can we talk? I know things are tough, but we can work it out. I can’t lose you! We’ve been married for years. We share a kidney! We promised not to leave each other!"

He looked at me coldly, and the distance between us felt immense.

"Ruby, there's nothing left to discuss," he replied flatly, his tone lacking warmth. I felt his rejection wrap around me, suffocating my hopes. "The mate pull is too strong. I have to mark her tonight. I’m sorry."

"You can’t decide this so quickly! What if this isn’t the first time you meet her?" I urged, fear racing through me.

He didn’t respond. He just walked past me, showing he didn’t want to engage.

Desperate for answers, I hesitated only briefly before quietly following him. I wanted to understand why he suddenly wanted a divorce. Rejecting his mate shouldn’t mean divorce.

I loved him, and it was clear he loved me too—until now.

As he slipped out to the garden where the ceremony was held, I rushed after him. But as I stepped outside, my leg hit the steep stair, and I groaned in pain.

“Mich, help me! I hurt my leg!” I called out. He walked into the crowd, and before anyone noticed him, Ella rushed into his arms.

Jealousy twisted my stomach. From the stairs, I watched my husband hug my stepsister tightly, savoring her scent.

I couldn’t hear them, but I saw Ella whisper to him, making him smile. My heart clenched. I wished I could turn back time and protect him from this ceremony.

No, I can't let him go like this; the pain of losing my kidney came rushing back.

Ignoring the pain in my knee, I climbed the stairs and walked toward the garden. Over my dead body would I let Ella take my man. Mate or not.

With a boldness that made my stomach churn, I moved closer. But before I could reach them, I heard Ella’s moan.

She wasn’t hurt or anything else, but there he was—Michael’s fangs in her neck.

Ella’s eyes met mine, and I caught her smirk through her pain. He marked her. Michael… Michael marked my sister!

“Oh look, Beta Michael is already marking his wife,” someone yelled from the crowd. Everyone turned to look.

I quickly turned away so no one would see my face.

“Ruby looks so good in that blue gown; what brand is that?”

Damn! I looked back—Ella wore the same dress. Did she plan this?

After marking her, she wrapped her arms around Michael’s neck and pulled him down for a kiss.

The sight made me sick, sending waves of betrayal through me. Michael responded easily, making it clear this wasn’t their first moment together.

He had betrayed me. He’d already been with Ella. My heart raced as I fought back tears, hiding my face in my disheveled hair. The disgrace would be too much if all the guests saw me watching while my husband marked my sister.

Seeing me fueled Ella’s boldness. She leaned deeper into Michael, deepening their kiss—a silent declaration that she now held his heart.

Sensing my gaze, Michael turned slightly. His expression was unreadable as our eyes locked. Unspoken emotions flowed between us.

Heat flooded my cheeks, mixing shame and defiance. It wouldn’t matter to him, so I turned and left the garden. It was over.

I ran to our room, tears streaming down my face. Happy memories flooded my mind. ‘Is it really over?’ This question replayed in my head as I glanced around. There, on the bed, were the divorce papers.

A shiver ran through me as I stared. Each page was crisp and clean, the legal jargon stark and cold.

I felt sorrow at the sight but also a strange relief. Here it was—the end of everything, proof that my life with Michael was ending.

I loved him and wanted his happiness. If his happiness lay with Ella, so be it. I would give him what he wanted. My fingers trembled as I picked up the pen, hovering over the signature line.

For a moment, I hesitated, remembering his promises. Even giving him my kidney felt useless. I masked my fears and signed the papers.

As I put down the pen, a tear slid down my cheek, but I quickly wiped it away. This was my reality now. I was not his mate, and he didn’t want me anymore. So be it.

I packed my bags and took a last look at the room filled with memories. I hissed and left.

RUBY

“Ruby, wait! You should take the alimony for your safety,” Michael called after me.

I reached the front door just as he rushed in. He had chosen this way since the guests were in the backyard.

I paused a few steps from the door and turned to look at him. “You wanted me to leave, right? So let's not meet again!”

I turned to leave again, but he rushed after me and grabbed my hand, trying to force the check into my palm. “You can’t survive out there alone, Ruby. Take this money,” he pleaded.

It seemed that even he had some compassion left. I had to remember I was a motherless child with no good relationship with Ella’s mom.

I hissed and tore the check in half. “Enjoy your honeymoon with your mate. I want nothing to do with you—save your money for the dogs!”

“But you have no one! Everyone knows you as my wife. It would be foolish to leave you poor. Take the money and live happily.” His words only fueled my anger.

I glanced back at him, pained. “You knew I had no one but you, yet you left me for my sister? Your story is for the gods, Mich. I have no time for this! Remember, your so-called mate isn’t there when you’re in pain. She wasn’t there when you needed a kidney donor. I was the one who suffered so you could live.”

“Ruby, I—”

“Stop!” I raised my hand to cut him off. “Go to your mate, Mich.”

After saying this, I left the house carefully.

It was hard to leave the home we had bought together, but I had to go. I had no child with him, nor was I pregnant. Clinging to him would be foolish.

As I dragged my bags toward the gate, some guests noticed me. I heard their whispers.

“Isn’t she a bride celebrating an anniversary? Where is she going with her bags?”

“She looks disheveled; did she lose a pregnancy?”

I could only hiss at their words as I walked on.

My legs felt heavy, but I held onto my resolve.

Just as I reached for the gate, a hand suddenly grabbed my wrist, stopping me.

My movement halted, and the atmosphere grew cold. I looked up slowly, but the man’s long hair covered part of his face.

His grip tightened, making me alert as I tried to pull away.

Then, in a calm voice, he asked, “Aren’t you the woman I slept with last year?”

I hissed softly and tried to snatch my hand back. “Are you drunk? Look for the woman you slept with elsewhere. I don’t know you.”

His lips quivered, unsure. Then he sniffed the air and held me tighter. “Last year at Drunk Stature Hotel. I can never forget this scent; it’s you.”

This man was clearly drunk. Gathering my strength, I pushed him back. His grip loosened, allowing me to grab my bags.

Why waste time with a drunk when I had bigger issues?

I reached for the gate handle again, but he grabbed me once more. A strange wind began to blow, lifting me slightly. His grip tightened, and I felt my head grow heavy.

The wind slowed, and my eyelids grew heavy. Then... everything went black.

***

An odd smell filled my nostrils. My eyes were shut tight, and I tried to move, but I couldn’t.

I heard a faint sound nearby and groaned.

My headache was severe, and I opened my eyes to a dim light, my heart racing.

I was terrified, wondering where I was and how I got here.

Suddenly, footsteps approached.

“Oh, you are finally awake,” an unfamiliar voice said.

A man stood before me, average height with short dark hair. In the dim light, I could see his blue eyes fixed on me. Who was this handsome stranger?

He smiled. “How do you feel now?” He sat beside me, but I didn’t answer. His kindness made me uneasy.

He took out some pills and a glass of water, offering them with a pleasant smile. “Here, take this; it will help you recover.”

I turned my head away. Yet, he smiled. “You don’t have to be afraid of me. I’m here to help you,” he said.

Despite my fear, there was a warmth in his voice that was hard to resist. But I remembered fainting in a stranger's arms after Michael's betrayal. I was done trusting.

“Who are you?” I croaked, my throat dry.

The man adjusted himself and sighed. “Sorry for not introducing myself. I’m Leo, the pack doctor.”

“Pack doctor? Why?”

He smiled again. “You were brought here last night after fainting. You also have a deep wound on your leg that needs time to heal because you haven’t felt your wolf yet.”

Suddenly, memories flooded back—Michael!

The image of him marking Ella was vivid.

My heart twisted with pain as tears welled in my eyes. Who would sympathize with a woman who gave her kidney to a man who wasn’t her mate?

Scoffs.

I scanned the room, raising an eyebrow. Something felt off. This hospital and this doctor didn’t seem familiar.

“Where is this, and who brought me here?” I asked.

Dr. Leo took off his gloves and washed his hands at a nearby sink. His smile never faded, making him look suspicious.

I doubted that drunk man brought me here; he was clearly intoxicated when he asked those strange questions.

“You’re in the Dominant Lycan pack, our Regal Pack,” he announced.

My eyes widened in shock.

“Lycans? Regal?” I mumbled.

I had heard so much about the Lycans and their power. A Regal Pack? The most feared pack in North America, cursed Lycan King included.

I felt dead inside.

“Did a drunk man bring me here? Or… how did I get here?” I asked nervously. An Omega like me in a Lycan Pack was serious trouble.

Leo laughed. “No drunk man brought you. The man who brought you was perfectly fine. Why do you look so tense? Lycans don’t hurt, even if we are different.”

I was skeptical but curious. “But… I am an Omega?”

“There’s no discrimination here in the Regal Pack,” he replied with another smile.

Suddenly, the door opened, and a tall man walked in. His raven-black hair was the longest I had ever seen on a man.

His hair covered his face, but when he stepped fully inside, I gasped at his beauty. This couldn’t be the drunk man from last night, could it?

“You…”