I never thought happiness could be so fleeting.

For five years, I have lived in this wheelchair, my left leg lost to the accident that reshaped my life. And in those five years, I have clung to one thing that made me feel whole—Theodore Holland, my mate, my husband, my Alpha. He was my everything. My love for him had been unwavering, unquestioning. I devoted myself to him completely, convinced that he was my one solace in a world that had taken so much from me.

So, when I rolled my wheels down the hall, excitement bubbling in my chest as I clutched the tuxedo I had bought him, I never expected my world to shatter once again.

“I’m going to divorce that crippled Luna soon.”

My heart stopped. My hands trembled as my grip tightened on the suit. Had I misheard? Maybe I was imagining things.

“She’s just dead weight. Once she’s gone, her family’s wealth will be mine,” Theo continued, his voice so casual, so cruel. “Suzanne and I will be free.”

I sucked in a breath, choking on the air as tears welled in my eyes. No, no, this can’t be real. My cousin, Suzanne? My own flesh and blood?

And then, as if fate hadn’t stabbed deep enough, another voice chimed in.

“But what if she doesn’t die soon?”

Mr. Smitty. My family’s trusted butler. A man my parents believed in. A man I had believed in.

Theo chuckled darkly. “She will. One way or another.”

I couldn’t breathe. My entire body felt numb, my soul breaking into a thousand jagged pieces. I had loved him, worshiped him. And he—he had been waiting for my death.

I didn’t wait to hear more. I turned the wheelchair, retreating down the hall as fast as I could. The walls closed in on me, the grand house that was once my home now felt like a prison. When I reached my room, I barely had the strength to push the door shut before the sobs wracked through me.

How could he? How could he betray me like this? I thought I was unlovable after my accident, and he proved me right.

A knock on the door. I wiped my tears hastily.

The door creaked open, and there he was, smiling. As if he hadn’t just sentenced me to death. “Sabrina, love,” Theo murmured as he knelt before me, wrapping his arms around me. His scent, once my comfort, now made me sick.

“I missed you,” he whispered, his fingers trailing against my cheek.

I wanted to recoil, to scream. But I forced myself to stay still. If I let him see my fear, my hurt, he would know. And I couldn’t afford that. Not yet.

“Everything okay?” Theo asked, tilting his head at me.

I swallowed down the lump in my throat and forced a smile. “Of course. Just tired.”

He kissed my forehead. “I have news, my love. I’m throwing a party here—Suzanne’s birthday party.”

My stomach churned. That woman? In my home? He wanted to celebrate his mistress under my roof?

“I… I don’t like crowds,” I mumbled, my fingers digging into the armrest of my wheelchair.

Theo chuckled, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “You need to socialize more, darling. It’ll be fun.”

I nodded, even though I wanted to scream. He was throwing this party for her. To flaunt her. To mock me.

His lips brushed against mine, but I turned my head. It was small, but it was enough to make him pause

“Sabrina?” His brows furrowed in confusion.

I forced another smile. “I just need some time alone.”

He hesitated, but then he nodded. “Of course, my love.”

When he left, I gritted my teeth. He thought I was weak. Helpless. But he was wrong.

Thursday arrived like a storm. The house pulsed with music, the air thick with perfume and alcohol. When I rolled into the hall, I felt like a stranger in my own home.

And then I saw them. Theo and Suzanne, dancing in the center of the room. His hands roamed over her body; her fingers tangled in his hair. Their bodies moved together like they had done this a million times before.

I wanted to look away. But I couldn’t.

I turned, bile rising in my throat, only to come face to face with Smitty. I hated him. I hated them all.

“Would you like to go somewhere peaceful, my lady?” he asked, his voice calm.

I hesitated. And then I nodded. “The garden.”

The cool air wrapped around me as I stared at the stars, feeling so small, so alone.

Until Smitty moved behind me, gripping the handles of my wheelchair.

I stiffened. “What are you doing?”

“We need to talk.”

He pushed me behind the bushes, away from prying eyes. My heart pounded. Was this it? Was this where I died?

And then he knelt before me, his eyes serious. “Sabrina, Theo is planning to kill you.”

I stared at him. Then, slowly, I smiled bitterly. “I know.”

He blinked, taken aback. “Then why are you still here? Why haven’t you run?”

I lifted my chin. “Because I am not a coward. I will not run from my own home.”

Smitty’s jaw clenched, and then, to my shock, he took my hand. “I never betrayed you. I only pretended to be on Theo’s side to learn his plans.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Why should I believe you?”

“Because I made a promise to your parents before they died.” His voice wavered. “I swore to protect you.”

My throat tightened. For so long, I had thought I was alone. That no one was truly on my side. But I was wrong.

Smitty had stayed. He had always stayed.

Tears blurred my vision, but I swallowed them back. I wasn’t done crying. I wasn’t done being a victim.

I was going to fight.

When I returned to the mansion, my blood boiled at the sight of strangers turning my home into a circus. The once dignified halls of my pack, built on love and respect, were now tainted with alcohol, sweat, and reckless laughter. My hands tightened into fists on the armrests of my wheelchair. This was my home, my legacy, and yet Theo disrespected it without a second thought.

"Smitty," I said, voice low but firm. "Push the emergency button."

A second later, the shrill sound of alarms rang through the halls. Panic spreads like wildfire. Guests bolted in every direction, knocking over expensive vases and leaving their drinks sloshing on my polished floors. And then, through the dissipating crowd, I spotted them—Theo and Suzanne. Their confusion quickly morphed into anger.

"Sabrina! What the hell do you think you're doing?" Theo barked.

I leveled my gaze at Suzanne. "If you want to celebrate, do it at your own home. Get out."

Suzanne scoffed, flipping her hair. "Oh, come on, Sabrina. You're making a fuss over nothing. Just because you're stuck in that chair doesn't mean you have to be bitter. Maybe if you learned how to have fun—"

My lips curled into a smirk. "Fun? Watching my husband parade around with my cousin under my own roof? No, thanks. Now, leave."

Her face twisted with irritation, but she knew better than to argue. With a huff, she stormed out. But Theo? He stayed, eyes dark and furious.

"You're such a bitch, Sabrina."

I tilted my head, feigning innocence. "Why? Because I ruined your little date night?" His jaw clenched before he spun on his heel and walked away. I watched him go, my smirk widening. He thought he could humiliate me? Not without a fight.

Theo didn’t come home for the next few days. Smitty was the one who confirmed what I already knew—he was with Suzanne.

I scrolled through my phone, Suzanne’s messages flooding my screen. Photos of her and Theo at the beach, laughing, drinking, touching. She wasn’t even trying to be subtle anymore. They thought I was weak. That I’d sit back and let them walk all over me.

They were wrong.

"Smitty," I called, my voice sharp. "Start making arrangements. We're leaving soon. But before that, I have unfinished business."

Smitty hesitated before nodding. "Of course, Luna."

I exhaled slowly, determination settling in my chest. If Theo thought he could discard me like an old doll, he was in for a rude awakening.

The next afternoon, Theo finally decided to show his face. He walked into the room with a bouquet of flowers, smiling as if nothing had happened.

"Sabrina," he said smoothly, holding the flowers out. "I missed you."

I accepted them with a tight smile before plucking one petal and letting it fall to the ground. "Flowers and chocolates? You’re really putting in the effort."

His grin faltered when I raised the box of chocolates. "Did you forget, Theo? I’m allergic."

He scratched his nape, his discomfort clear. "Ah… I guess I did. I just wanted to make it up to you."

I let out a bitter chuckle. "Like the time I almost drowned in the pool, and you just stood there? I used to think you were frozen in panic. But now I see the truth. You were waiting for me to die."

His eyes widened slightly, but he recovered quickly, forcing a smile. "Sabrina, that’s ridiculous—"

I tossed the flowers onto the table. "Save it."

That night, I sat at my desk, typing. My escape plan was nearly complete. And then, warm arms wrapped around me from behind.

"I’m sorry," Theo whispered, his lips grazing my ear. "Let me make it up to you."

I tensed, my stomach churning. "Sorry? For what?"

"For everything. I don’t want to fight anymore."

I laughed, the sound hollow. "If I were mad, Theo, you wouldn’t still be living in this house."

He chuckled, thinking I was playing. His lips trailed down my neck, his hands moving to undo my blouse. But I grabbed his wrist, stopping him.

"Not in the mood," I said flatly.

His grip tightened slightly. "You’re acting like a child, Sabrina."

I turned in my wheelchair, facing him fully. "And you’re acting like you actually care. If you want attention, go to Suzanne. She seems more than willing to spread her legs for you."

His face darkened. "What the hell are you talking about?"

I picked up my phone and held it up for him to see. "Here. Pictures. Suzanne was kind enough to send me proof of your little getaway."

Theo’s mouth opened, but no words came out.

I tilted my head, smirking. "What’s wrong? No clever excuses? No empty promises?"

He clenched his fists. "You’re being dramatic."

I arched a brow. "Dramatic? I think you mean perceptive. And for the record, Theo, I stopped caring about your apologies a long time ago."

For the first time, he looked unsure. Good. Let him feel even an ounce of what I’d felt for months.

The game was over. And soon, I’d make sure I was the one walking away—while he was left with nothing.

The last thing Theo said to me replayed in my mind like a broken record, a cruel echo that refused to fade. He didn’t care about what I felt. He never did. He admitted, so easily, that I was nothing more than a means to an end—a source of wealth, a stepping stone to his ambitions. And I was expected to hand everything over and disappear.

Pathetic. That’s what he thought of me. But he’d made one crucial mistake—he underestimated me.

I rolled my wheelchair out into the living room, my fingers gripping the armrests with quiet restraint as I took in the disgusting display before me. Alpha Theo sat on the couch, relaxed, as if he didn’t just drop a bomb on me the night before. But what set my blood boiling was the woman perched comfortably on his lap—Suzanne. She glanced up as I entered and had the audacity to smirk before waving at me like this was some casual gathering and not my own home they were tainting with their presence.

“Morning, cousin,” she chirped, her voice saccharine and dripping with mockery. “You don’t look so happy. Are you still sulking?”

I bit my tongue, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a reaction. Instead, I turned to Smitty, my loyal confidant, who had already appeared at my side, as if sensing I was moments away from snapping. “Take me to the garden.”

The moment we were out in the open air, the sun warming my skin, Smitty let out a frustrated sigh. “Are you really just going to let him do this to you?”

“They think they’ve won,” I murmured, closing my eyes as I let the light seep into my bones. “Let them think that.”

Smitty was quiet for a moment before he spoke again. “The documents you requested—they’re ready.”

My lips curled into a smirk. Perfect.

He crouched beside me, voice low. “Your flight is set for Sunday. I’ve arranged a place for you in London. It’s safe.”

“Thank you, Smitty.” I turned to look at him, sincerely lacing my words. He wasn’t just someone who worked for me—he was my only true ally. “For everything.”

“You don’t have to thank me.” His expression darkened. “I just want to see that bastard pay.”

And he would. Soon.

Three days passed, bringing with them the cruelest gift fate could give me on my twenty-fourth birthday. I should have known better than to expect anything else.

I rolled down the hallway, my heart heavy, my breath tight, and then I saw it.

My mate. My supposed fated one.

In our bed. With her.

Something inside me cracked, but no tears fell. I had already cried enough over him. I felt nothing but cold detachment as I turned away and wheeled myself back toward Smitty, who was already waiting by the door, our bags packed and ready.

No more hesitation. No more second chances. I was done.

Hours later, we were on the plane, Smitty sitting beside me as he pulled out his phone. “I left the documents in the living room,” he informed me. “He’ll see them soon.”

Almost on cue, my own phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen—Theo’s name flashing like an unwanted reminder of a past I no longer wanted any part of. He was looking for me.

Too late. I ignored the messages, staring out the window instead, watching the world I once called home shrink beneath me.

London was a fresh start. A place where Theo’s reach couldn’t touch me. As the plane landed and we arrived at my new apartment, I felt something I hadn’t in a long time—peace. The sunlight streamed through the windows, bathing the room in a warm glow. A new beginning. A new life.

But peace never lasted long.

Smitty’s phone rang, slicing through the moment. He shot me a look before putting it on speaker.

Theo’s voice exploded through the speaker, raw with rage. “Where the hell is she?”

Smitty leaned back, utterly unimpressed. “Busy.”

“Don’t play games with me, Smitty! You think you can just betray me?”

“I think we already did,” Smitty mused.

Theo’s breathing was harsh, unhinged. “You think this is funny? You think you got away with something? The documents—” There was a pause, then a loud crash. “They’re fake! The mansion—her aunt took it!”

Ah, so he finally figured it out.

“You really should read the fine print,” Smitty said lazily. “It was never yours to begin with.”

Theo let out a string of curses before his voice dropped to something more menacing. “You don’t know who you’re messing with.”

Smitty scoffed. “Neither do you.”

I took the phone from Smitty then, pressing it to my ear, savoring the moment. “You sound stressed, Theo.”

“Sabrina,” he snarled, voice venomous. “You little—”

“Ah, ah,” I cut him off, smirking. “That’s no way to talk to your former mate. And honestly, you should be thanking me. I gave you a free lesson on why you should never underestimate me.”

He was silent for a moment, probably seething, probably trying to think of some threat that would scare me.

But I wasn’t that woman anymore.

“I’ll find you,” he finally said, voice dark with promise.

I laughed softly. “You can try.”

And with that, I ended the call, tossing the phone onto the couch before turning to Smitty, who was grinning like a proud accomplice. “Well, that went well.”

I exhaled, rolling my shoulders as I took in my new home. London. A new city. A new life.

Let Theo rage. Let him spiral. I was finally free.

And I couldn’t wait to watch him burn.