Ciara POV

9:00 AM

The sounds of my alarm wake me up as usual. And I glance at the other side of the bed was cold empty. I stared at it for a few seconds and my chest rising and falling slowly, then I pushed myself up. I didn't really feel disappointed again. That feeling had worn itself out somedays ago. Now, it was just part of my daily routine. As 

I moved through the bedroom quietly, washed my face, tied my hair back, and headed into the kitchen. As I prepared breakfast as the same way I always did toast some bread ,and eggs with my black coffee. Out of habit, I set two plates on the counter as I paused.

Then I slide one plate back into the cabinet. No point in pretending anymore 

Nelson hadn't come home or had breakfast at home for a while. I hadn't expected him to. So I ate my meal standing up, i barely taste the food. My body felt light, hollow, like I was moving through air instead of time. When I finished, I washed the dishes, wiped the cabinets  and grabbed my bag heading to the office it just another day in a broken marriage.

The underground parking garage was quiet when I got there. My heels echoed loudly against the concrete floor as I continue walking toward my car. I pressed the unlock button, reached out for the handle and froze.

A sleek black SUV parked a few rows away suddenly start

Running.

The engine purred low and smooth, like the driver is on emergency 

My eyes lifted without permission.

Through the tinted back window, I saw him.

Nelson. Relaxing against the leather seat like a king on a throne.

And pressing against him was 

a girl with short hair and a soft, round face. Young fresh floral laughing at something as he whispered into her ear. Her slim body leaned into him without hesitation, like she belonged there.

and I didn't.

My chest tightened sharply. Then a shout come out all of suddenly 

"Alpha Nelson!" Beta Henry's voice cut through the air, sharp with panic.

Tires screeched.

The SUV jerked to a stop.

But it was already too late.

Nelson looked up.

Our eyes met through the thick glass.

His face darkened instantly, flashing black with irritation and something close to anger.

Mine didn't change at all.

I felt nothing.

No shock.

No tears.

Just a dull, dead stillness.

Across that silence, the girl finally noticed me.

She followed Nelson's line of sight, her eyes landing on my face.

For a brief second, curiosity flickered across her features.

Then-

She smiled.

And instead of pulling away, she wrapped her arms around Nelson's neck, pressing closer, her lips brushing his ear as she whispered something I couldn't hear.

But I didn't need to.

The partial mate bond flared in my chest, sharp and cruel, like someone had poured acid straight into my veins. My eyes burned. My lungs struggled to pull in air.

This wasn't private.

This wasn't a mistake.

She was challenging me.

Publicly.

Claiming her place.

My fingers trembled on the car door.

Every instinct screamed at me to march over there, to drag her away, to remind her who I was.

But I wasn't a wolf.

I was just a human.

A foolish woman who had believed in forever.

I tore my gaze away, got into my car, and slammed the door shut. My hands shook as I started the engine.

I didn't look back.

I drove out of the parking lot with my jaw clenched tight, my vision blurring, my heart pounding painfully against my ribs.

I missed the turn to the company.

Didn't care.

I drove aimlessly for nearly an hour, letting the city blur past me. When my chest finally felt steady enough to breathe again, I turned the car around.

And went home.

The apartment was quiet when I arrived.

Too quiet.

I dropped my bag on the couch and kicked off my shoes. I barely had time to take two steps toward the bedroom when movement outside the window caught my eye.

Headlights swept across the concrete below.

Nelson's car pulled into the garage.

My stomach sank, twisting with a mix of dread and slow-burning anger.

I turned away from the window and walked straight into the bedroom.

The walk-in closet felt too small, too tight. I stood in front of the glass cabinet and reached for the diamond necklace he'd given me last month.

Another apology wrapped in glitter.

Another lie.

I unclasped it slowly, letting it slide into my palm.

Before I could put it away-

A wall of muscle pressed suddenly against my back.

I stiffened.

The familiar cold scent wrapped around me, sharp and suffocating. Once, it had meant safety. Comfort.

Now, it made my skin crawl.

Nelson braced his hands on the glass cabinet on either side of me, caging me in. His reflection stared back at me from the mirror, eyes dark, expression unreadable.

"Are you angry?" he asked.

That tone.

Commanding.

Possessive.

The tone that had once made my knees weak.

I didn't look at him.

I placed the necklace carefully back into its box, my movements slow and deliberate.

"For what?" I asked calmly. "I thought she was your sister. Why should I be mad at you and your so-called sister?"

The air shifted.

Nelson went still.

His wolf stirred beneath his skin, assessing, listening.

He watched me for a long moment before speaking again, his voice carefully controlled.

"The Ned family is interested in collaborating with us on the Star Energy Project," he said. "I've been in discussions with Davin, their eldest son. The girl you saw is his sister."

I turned then.

Slowly.

Faced him fully.

"So," I said quietly, "you need to get cozy with his sister to secure his business?"

My gaze sharpened.

"Is that how the powerful Alpha Nelson handles his deals now?"

His jaw tightened.

"I'm trying to explain," he snapped. "So don't assume everything bad about me. And stop being sarcastic."

A bitter laugh escaped me before I could stop it.

"There's nothing to explain," I said. "If you're tired of me as your wife, I don't mind stepping aside. Let her come in. Make her your new Luna."

I turned to leave.

The next second, his hand closed around my wrist.

Hard.

He yanked me back against him.

"Did you mean that?" he growled, eyes glowing faintly red.

I looked up at him.

Unflinching.

"If you want a divorce," I said clearly, "I can give it to you."

His wolf surged.

The room filled with pressure, thick and heavy. His face flushed, anger rolling off him in waves I could almost taste.

"Don't even think of leaving me," he snarled.

I inhaled slowly.

I had already set plans in motion.

But I didn't say that.

Instead, I whispered, "You're hurting me."

His grip loosened instantly.

He stepped back like he'd been burned.

For a moment, something like guilt flickered in his eyes.

Then it vanished.

Without another word, he turned and walked out, slamming the door to his office behind him.

The sound echoed through the apartment.

I stood there, rubbing my wrist, staring at the empty space he'd left behind.

My heart was calm.

Too calm.

And that scared me more than his anger ever could.

Because calm meant I was already gone.

That night, I packed another small box.

Quietly.

Carefully.

One more month.

And then I would leave.

Nelson POV

I bang the door to my home office the minute I stepped inside.

The noise of the door closing echoed through the room, banging on the walls, angrily . The noise give me a certain sense of satisfaction. It matched the storm raging inside my chest.

I stood still there for a few seconds, breathing hard.

My thoughts were racing. all my best efforts to rest, my thoughts would not slow down. Simply racing in circles, painful and sharp, like a sharp object rubbing against my skull. Even though I can't thought of anything, I can sense that something is off, and I detested that feeling .

I turned away from the door and began restlessly moving around the room, long work from one end to the other. My fists tightened, then opened , then close again. A lot of questions running through my mind freely like a runway.

Why didn't she react?

That single question kept ringing in my head.

Why wasn't Ciara angry?

I stopped walking and frowned.

Any normal wife would have caused a scene. Any woman who truly cared would have been jealous, cried and shouted, accused me, or at least demanded an explanation.

But Ciara did none of that.

She stood there calmly, her face was unreadable, her voice steady like

too steady.

And I was more upset by that composure than I ever was by anger. I shook my head and gave a little scoff. "What's the real issue with her?" I said in a whisper.

Did she really believe my explanation?

Did she truly accept that Flora was just like a sister to me?

For a little moment, doubt creep into my my mind . A small, unease doubt.

But I pushed it away quickly.

Of course she believed it.

Ciara always believed me.

She was gentle by nature. Kind. Patient. The type of woman who swallowed her pain and smiled through it.

The perfect wife of a powerful Alpha and CEO.

She knew her place.

A slow smile appeared on my lips as an understanding settled in.

Ah.

That was it.

She was not calm because she did not care.

She was calm because she was scared. And 

Afraid of my anger.:::::::::;:::

Afraid I would get tired of her.

Afraid I would chase her out and replace her with Flora.

The thought pleased me.

I straightened my back, my confidence slowly returning.

Yes... Ciara was scared.

She didn't dare fight for me. She didn't dare demand anything. She didn't dare act like a real Luna, marking her territory and challenging another woman.

She wasn't strong enough for that. I chuckled quietly. I addressed the empty room, saying, "She doesn't even know how to throw a tantrum." "What a lackluster woman." Even yet, my smile dimmed a little. There is one thing she must never do and one thing she must never even consider.

Leaving me or Divorce.

The tought of it alone made my wolf gene shook violently under my skin. A growl rumbled in my chest for a while before I could stop it.

No.

That can never happen.

Ciara leaving me was completely impossible.

Her life was built around me .

Everything she had her comfort, her security, her position in this world came from being my wife.

I was the Alpha.

I was the provider.

I was the center of her world.

Without me, she was nothing.

I had given her everything.

Diamonds that sparkled brighter than most people's futures. Gold jewelry worth more than years of salaries. Expensive clothes. A respected name.

She lived in luxury because of me.

She enjoyed power because of me.

She could walk with her head held high because she was Mrs. Nelson . .. wife of an Alpha, wife of a CEO.

She couldn't leave.

And if she ever tried...

My eyes darkened.

...I would destroy everything she held dear.

I would make sure she regretted even thinking about it. That was my promise.

Yet, even as I convinced myself of all this, a strange unease settled deep in my chest.

Why wouldn't her calm expression leave my mind?

Why did her cold voice echo so clearly in my ears?

"If you want a divorce, I can give it to you."

I clenched my jaw.

She was bluffing.

She had always been like that-quiet but dramatic in her own way.

Ciara didn't have the courage to walk away.

She needed me too much.

As I stood there, lost in my thoughts, my phone suddenly rang.

The sharp sound cut through the silence of the room.

I frowned slightly and reached into my pocket, pulling it out.

My expression changed the moment I saw the name on the screen.

Sugar Baby 💋

A smile slowly spread across my face, genuine this time.

I answered the call.

"Hello?" I said, my voice softening immediately.

A sweet, youthful voice flowed through the speaker.

"Nelson," she said playfully, dragging my name in a way that made my lips curve upward. "Your sugar baby is bored."

I leaned back against the desk, feeling the tension in my body ease.

"Is that so?" I asked lightly.

"Yes," she laughed. "I want us to grab a drink. Me, you, and some friends. We're already at the Marathon Exclusive Bar."

I didn't hesitate for even a second.

"Okay, baby," I replied smoothly. "No problem. I'll be there soon."

"Good," she said happily. "Don't keep me waiting."

The call ended.

I stared at the phone for a moment before slipping it back into my pocket.

That was more like it.

That was the life I enjoyed.

No questions.

No heavy emotions.

No silent accusations.

Just youth, beauty, and admiration.

I pushed myself away from the desk and left the office, heading straight to the bedroom.

Ciara wasn't there.

Of course she wasn't.

I stripped off my clothes and stepped into the shower. Hot water poured over my shoulders, steam filling the room. I closed my eyes, letting the water wash away the last traces of irritation.

Women like Ciara needed reminders.

They needed to be reminded of who held the power.

And tonight, I wasn't in the mood to explain myself to anyone.

After showering, I dressed carefully. A dark shirt that fit perfectly. Tailored trousers. An expensive watch.

When I looked in the mirror, I saw exactly what I expected control 

A man no woman would dare abandon.

I adjusted my cuffs and smile at my reflection.

"Where can you even do without me?" I said to myself 

I picked up my keys and walked out of the room without looking back.

Ciara was in the living room when I got there on her phone talking to who I don't know but I'm it just one of her female friends.. I waves to her and said I'm going out with the guys, when I got back we can plan a couple trips to Paris by weekend like you always wanted and I left the room

Ciara POV

It occurred when I was on my phone.

Nelson bent over and gave me a fast kiss on the cheek.

It was intended to appear loving.

I would have smiled once upon a time. I would have felt warm. I would have leaned into it.

But today, my skin crawled.

The kiss felt wrong. Forced. Dirty.

As though it were no longer of mine.

I jerked without intending to.

He didn't notice. Or maybe he did and didn't care.

Now, I hated everything about him, his voice, his touch, even the manner of his breathing in this house. I must have occasionally questioned myself how I should still be living on the same roof with him. How I did not scream in the morning when I woke up and 

Maybe that was why I said yes.

Why, when Joana had requested me to come out, and I accepted 

I drew my phone nearer, and looked away at Nelson to some extent.

The voice of Joana was heard through the speaker, cheerful and lively.

"Ciara, you need to get out. Tonight. No excuses."

I smiled slightly in spite of myself.

Joana had always been that, daring, noisy, irresistible. A socialite, a family lawyer by profession. She changed party, to club, vacation to vacation, and was one of the keenest brains in court.

Sometimes, I envied her.

No... not sometimes.

All the time.

She had a life i wished for. Freedom. Noise. Choice.

I said to myself, as I looked at Nelson back, as he walked away. "I'm tired."

It was precisely the reason why you should come, she pinned on that. "We'll drink. We'll dance. We'll forget stupid men."

I hesitated.

Nelson had attempted on numerous occasions to sever the union between us. He hated Joana. Said she was a bad influence. Said she will stuff my head with nonsense.

Thank God I never listened.

If I had listen to him, I would be done by now and indeed be lonely.

"Okay," I said quietly. "I'll come."

"Yes!" Joana laughed. "Meet me at the club. I am not sure, perhaps I will be late just went in and wait, till I come. I said ok  and 

The call was terminated, and I came to my feet.

I did not allow myself time to thought.

If I did, fear would stop me.

I took my bag and trailed out of the house minutes after Nelson had gone.

I was late and the club was already alive.

The walls throbbed with music. Lights flashed. The night air was filled with laughter.

I paused at the entrance.

I felt my heart sinking to the ribs in agony.

Recently I had been the subject of the town.

The stupid humans who believed that she could become a Luna.

The outsider who got married to an Alpha.

I pushed back my head and strolled in.

I felt it the moment I had stepped inside.

all Eyes On me.

Some were curious.

Some amused.

Some sharp with mockery.

Others were full of open hatred.

Like shadows fell whispers behind me.

I forced myself to breathe.

Head up, Ciara.

I passed to a table towards the middle and sat down. My fingers were slightly trembling as I ordered an item. As the glass came I took it in my hand, as though it were the only solid portion that kept me down.

Joana still hadn't arrived.

I was alone.

In no distant place not much away there was a crowd of laughing people. Too loudly.

I did not want to hear--but my ears were false.

That is her, right, said a woman, and did not even lower her voice. "The so called Luna."

Another snorted. "Soon to be ex Luna, more like. Everybody is aware of the fact that Alpha Nelson is already engaged to Flora. The she-wolf of Agnes Clan

Another replied, "He carries Flora around. Business trips. She is already his virtual wife.

Laughter erupted.

I felt my jaw tighten.

But what is that one doing here? said another. "She's human. I have never seen her in such places.

Perhaps she had been chased away, another said sneeringly.

More laughter.

Then a male voice came out, idle and sadistic.

And so, in case it is so, I would not have minded spending some time with her. She's beautiful, after all."

They laughed again.

Something inside me snapped.

It would have been the case that I would have risen and walked away.

That was who I used to be.

And  in my head I heard the voice.

Give them a piece of your mind.

I stood.

Fear had no chance to seize me and my legs were in motion.

I went directly to their table.

The man had not stopped smiling when I came up to him.

Silently I picked up my glass and poured the drink over his head.

The liquid sprayed down his hair, his face, his garments.

Silence exploded around us.

What in the world was this ! he jumped up. "How dare you he shouted. What can you do remember I'm still the Luna of longwei family I interrupted rudely.

My voice surprised even me. It was steady. Sharp. If I want 

I see to it that Alpha Nelson cuts your head off before sunrise, I go on, bending nearer, should you ever disrespect me again. Gasps were passing through the group. Keep it in mind, I said slowly smiling. It does not matter whether he plays with toys, he is still my mate. And he listens to me."

Their faces drained of color.

I grabbed a bottle before they had time to re collect, and broke it against the head of the first woman who had spoken.

The sound was loud. Final.

Shouts filled the air.

I do not care what you what ever you think; my chest went up and down. Even when I am driven out of the Longwei family, I am still not the one a lowlife beta animal such as you can feel.

I straightened.

"You are nothing but animals."

My body felt light. Free.

Like chains had fallen away.

The man tried to put up his hand to hit me and he froze immediately 

The music seemed too dim.

Some one whom I knew came rolling through the room as a cold wave.

Nelson stood at the entrance.

His gaze was fixed upon the scene.

There was a moment when shock flashed on his face but it was soon replaced by his Alpha coldness.

are you going to slap my wife? he said coldly The man immediately dropped his hand.

"No, Alpha! We were only fooling around, you know, he muttered. "We apologize to Luna. Thank you for correcting us."

The same words were repeated.

I stared at Nelson whose anger still blazed.

Is this the way you give them a chance to insult me? I asked.

He frowned. His eyes were cold.

What else do you want, You've already punished them he said Don't be petty."

I laughed softly.

"Oh, I forgot," I said. "I'm just your human wife. A decoration. A baby factory."

His jaw tightened.

But bear in mind this, I said, and looked him full in the face. Once they disrespect me, they disrespect you.

His arm held me by the hand.

"Enough," he growled.

He pulled me out of the door, shouting at his assistant on his way.

Terminate all contracts associated with these individuals. And punish all the members of the Longwei here as per family law.

Fear erupted behind us as he drag me 

outside, there was one more figure in sight.

Flora.

Shorts. Heavy makeup. I have a smile face untill I made her look at me.

Something wrong? she said, and held Nelson by the arm. "Why are you dragging her?"

I smiled sweetly.

What hast this got to do with you . seeing of me and my husband here, I said, What do you mean she said ?

Her eyes burned.

You might have seduce him to come out side with you I said in a careless way. "But we're going home now."

I leaned closer.

"To make a baby. You see I must still provide him with a future Alpha.

I laughed.

Nelson froze.

The face of Flora twisted with rage.

Nelson dragged me to the car saying to her, See you later.

My smile had gone away as the door had swung behind us.

Tonight, I had spoken my mind.