Chapter 1

My mate was the Alpha of the Crimson Pack, and he had a habit of hiring Omegas as pack maids.

At first, I didn't think much of it.

Gradually, though, he started bringing those female Omegas right into our manor, letting them take over my bedroom and use my personal things.

He even slept with them in my bed.

He told me, "You’re just a human anyway. You can’t even feel the full mate bond. Your only purpose is to serve me well."

That was the moment I realized the relationship I had guarded so carefully was already rotten to the core.

On our fifth anniversary, I formally rejected our mate bond in front of the entire pack.

All I received in return was his cold mockery.

"Joyce, you’re not young anymore. Do you really think any other man would want you if you left me?"

I slipped off the platinum ring from my finger and tossed it straight into the trash can.

"You're right, I'm not young anymore. That's exactly why I need to cut my losses now."

Ethan spent the entire night smoking in the living room.

At dawn, he walked into the bedroom and told me to get over myself.

"Lily is just an Omega staying at the manor temporarily. If you're throwing a tantrum about rejecting me just because of her, there’s really no need!"

Looking into his venomous eyes, my heart grew colder inch by inch.

My mind raced, involuntarily flashing back to the countless photos of different females stored on his phone.

Lately, though, he seemed to have settled down and become devoted to just one.

Rumors had been spreading fast throughout the pack that he was completely obsessed with the newly hired Omega, Lily.

Not only had he set up a private lounge for her in his office, but he had also custom-ordered an oversized luxury bed from overseas just to pamper her delicate body.

The pack members were even placing bets, wondering how this innocent-looking Omega had managed to keep Ethan away from the manor for three straight months.

They whispered that she would become the next Luna.

Halfway through our argument, Ethan got a phone call and rushed toward the door.

Before leaving, he turned back to glare at me.

"Joyce, you need time to calm down. I’ll book you an appointment with a Healer."

A solitary tear fell in silence.

During our hardest year, our entire pack was crammed into an old apartment on the outskirts of town. The boiler was broken, and it was too cold to reach basic room temperature, so we had to survive the winter with space heaters and thick blankets.

Back then, I wasn't sick or crazy.

Yet after the pack moved into this grand manor and life got good, I became the hysterical lunatic in everyone's eyes.

My phone on the nightstand buzzed twice, followed by a stream of photos popping onto the screen.

At the very bottom was a taunting message:

"Joyce, do I look pretty in this wedding dress? Ethan says I look like a princess. He wouldn't just be humoring me, would he?"

In the picture, Lily was draped in pure white lace, her slender arms wrapped around Ethan’s neck, her face glowing with triumphant arrogance.

My knuckles turned white as I gripped the phone.

So Ethan was busy, but he still found the time to do a wedding photoshoot. In his groom’s tuxedo, he looked even more handsome than I remembered.

I had been his Luna for five years, yet we had never taken a single wedding photo.

In the past, the pack had truly been broke.

Ethan had once promised me:

"Joy, once the pack’s finances turn around, I’ll make you the happiest Luna in the world."

"Don't you love diamonds? You said they represent eternity. One day, I’ll have a custom wedding gown made for you, completely covered in diamonds."

"Okay, it's a promise," I had replied with a sweet smile.

Later, the pack’s business grew bigger and bigger. He started staying out late, and the promised wedding photos vanished into thin air.

I gave a self-deprecating laugh, tears spilling over uncontrollably.

Ethan, you really broke your promises so many times.

I waited up until three in the morning when the front door finally clicked open, just as I expected.

Lily walked in, supporting a dead-drunk Ethan.

"Ethan, please hold back a little, okay? There are other people in the house."

I looked up, only to see Ethan holding Lily, kissing her passionately without a care in the world.

Noticing my pale, furious face, Lily quickly apologized in a trembling voice.

"Joyce, I'm so sorry! I didn't realize you were still here."

Her words made me laugh out of sheer anger, my voice icy cold.

"I am in my own home. Do I need to report my whereabouts to you?"

That single sentence made Lily’s eyes well up with tears.

Ethan noticed she was crying. Without missing a beat, he leaned down to kiss away her tears, then turned to snap at me.

"Look what you did! You scared an Omega to tears. You really outdid yourself, didn't you?"

I bit my lip, forcing back my own tears.

"Ethan, could you please... stop bringing other females into this manor?"

He knew I had emotional boundaries, especially when it came to loyalty.

I had zero tolerance for cheating.

Yet he kept doing the exact things that tore me apart.

A second ago, Lily was melting into Ethan’s embrace, but now she shrank back like a startled fawn.

Looking at me timidly, she whimpered, "Joyce, I know you hate me. I'll leave right now."

However, before she could take a single step, Ethan pulled her back into his arms and held her tight.

"No! I forbid you to leave."