“I just—”Mira’s voice broke.
“I just wanted something for our future.”
Adrian nodded without hesitation, grabbing the pen from Mira.
He picked up the document on the coffee table, nodding rapidly into the phone.
“Yes bab—Ivy.” His eyes—wide, panicked—snapped to Mira, checking to see if she noticed the slip.
Mira’s expression was blank.
He signed the document without a second thought, stood and placed a kiss on Mira’s head before disappearing into the hallway, distracted by the call.
He didn’t even notice the small smirk playing on Mira’s lips.
She picked it up, the bold letters glaring at her.
MARITAL PROPERTY SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.
She wondered how the man who took pride in his intelligence had missed it.
Again.
“Mira.”
Mira snapped her head up to the doorway, where Adrian was staring at her with one brow raised.
“I’ve been trying to get your attention for a minute now.”
She smiled.
A real one.
“I’m sorry,” she giggled.
“I’m just really excited about the house.”
She raised the document up for emphasis.
“Yeah,” he brushed her off.
“I have to go.
The pregnancy hormones.”
“Yeah,” Mira nodded.
“I’ll see you later.”
Adrian nodded, then left.
Mira could swear there was a slight spring to his step.
But it didn’t matter.
He’d grown comfortable, believing she was okay with Ivy’s pregnancy and she in return had handed him documents, claiming they were for the purchase of a car, or house, or anything extravagant that had come to her mind.
While in reality, she’d been slowly handing him documents, transferring the assets Adrian had absorbed through their marriage back into her parents’ company.
She’d planned it, waited till he got on a call with Ivy, when he was too distracted to go through the documents.
Now, all that was left was to break the soul-bond which was exactly what she was working on.
She glanced at the wall clock on the side.
3:00 pm
She was supposed to meet her best friend Jenny for tea by 4:00 pm.
She secured the document in her dresser and locked it then proceeded to get ready, humming to herself lightly.
At exactly 3:30 pm, the doorbell rang.
Mira frowned.
Adrian wouldn’t use the bell, Jenny wouldn’t come over.
So who was at the door?
She peeked through the peephole.
A familiar figure with blonde hair and blue eyes stood there, hands in his pockets.
Mason—Adrian’s Beta.
“What do you want?” Mira demanded, the moment she swung the door open.
Mason’s eyes dragged over her lazily, stopping when he caught her gaze.
“Good afternoon to you too Luna.”
Mira clenched her jaw, recalling the conversation she’d overheard that night.
How this man—who she once thought respected her—mocked her, talking about her trauma like it was a joke.
“I’m here to inquire about the new house you just purchased.”
Mira froze.
He emphasized “new,” the word curling with quiet disapproval.
“What about it?” She raised her chin.
His blue eyes—sharp, cold—bore into her, looking for something.
Shit.
Mira hadn’t thought of it.
She’d been too eager to fulfill her end of the bargain to the King, too eager to finally be rid of her husband, so much that she’d completely forgotten about the ever sharp Mason.
“Alpha Adrian wants to know where it is located.” He answered.
“Why didn’t Adrian ask me himself?” Her voice was calm, steady.
But her heart pounded frantically in her chest.
“I don’t know,” he shrugged casually.
“He’s busy.”
“Yes,” Mira agreed, taking the opportunity.
“He’s been too busy with Ivy.
Did you know she was pregnant?” She tilted her head.
Mason’s eyes widened but he didn’t lose his composure.
He was good at that, staying calm under pressure.
It was what made him a good Beta.
“I suppose you did,” she sighed.
“Of course you do.
If the damaged goods like me would know,” she leaned in.
“Why wouldn’t the Beta know?”
Mason’s eyes widened even further, shock then guilt flashing in his eyes.
He snapped his gaze to the ground, his head hung low.
“Damaged goods sometimes need something to hold on to Mason,” she straightened.
“Even if that something is as vain as a house.
I’m sure you understand.”
“Of course.” He swallowed, nodding.
“I’ll—”
Mira shut the door in his face.
She pressed her hand against her chest, trying to steady her racing heart.
She’d gotten lucky, managing to destabilize the Beta with a conversation she shouldn’t have heard.
Next time, she wouldn’t be so lucky.
She needed to speed things up if she wanted to get away successfully.
***
“Mira!” Jenny exclaimed, standing to hug her friend.
“It’s been far too long.”
The two women had been torn apart by life, with Mira choosing to marry and settle down in the pack—and Jenny choosing to explore the world.
Despite the distance, their friendship had never strained.
They always made time to see each other and catch up.
Mira giggled, holding onto her friend tighter.
“I’ve missed you too, Jenny.” She whispered.
Jenny pulled away, guiding Mira into her seat.
“Now tell me,” she smiled widely.
“What has been going on with you?
And,” her smile dropped.
“I hope that no good Alpha of yours has been treating you well.”
“Jenny!” Mira glanced around.
“Someone could hear you!” She whisper yelled.
“Oh please,” Jenny leaned back in her seat.
“No one would hear.
Or no one important.
Isn’t that why you picked this spot?”
She was right.
Mira had made sure to pick a cafe far away from the Pack house, a spot where people hardly went.
“Still,” Mira pressed.
“You can never be too careful.”
“Fine,” Jenny rolled her eyes. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
“I’ll be careful.
Now spill.”
Mira bit her lip, but told her friend everything that had happened.
As expected, Jenny blew up.
“No fucking way,” she hissed, her eyes blazing with fury.
“Those shameless bastards.”
“Jenny—”
“How dare they?!”
Mira glanced around.
They were starting to draw attention from the few customers present.
“We have to do something Mira,” she continued.
“We can’t let them get away with this!”
“Jenny pl—”
“As for Adrian, he’s not just a sorry excuse for a mate, he’s a sorry excuse for a fucking Alp—”
“Jenny!”
Her friend finally stopped talking, breathing heavily.
Her face was flushed, hazel eyes wide with rage.
“Breathe.” Mira soothed.
Jenny leaned in her chair, taking deep, heavy breaths to control her rage.
“Are you okay now?” Mira asked after a minute.
“I’m sorry for exploding.” Jenny whispered, her eyes downcast.
She always had a temper.
That’s why they’d made a good pair.
While Jenny was the hot headed aggressive one, Mira was the level headed, calculative one.
“It’s okay,” Mira reassured.
“I understand.
We can’t do anything about them.”
Jenny sighed.
“Unfortunately.”
“We can only figure out a way to get Adrian to reject me.”
“We can.” Jenny perked up.
“How about you fake your death?”
Mira narrowed her eyes.
“Jenny, death would automatically break the bond.
He wouldn’t have to reject me.”
Jenny settled back in her seat, defeated.
“Oh!” She perked up again.
“You can claim an illness that requires him to reject you!”
“No, Jenny.”
“How about you tell him you’ve been fucking my mate.
He’ll reject you to save his pride.”
Mira palmed her face.
“Jenny, you don’t have a mate.” She groaned.
“And why the hell will I be sleeping with him if you did?!”
Jenny giggled.
“It’ll be cute.”
“You’re crazy.”
They spent the rest of the evening discussing ways to get that rejection from Adrian.
But none of them seemed like they’d work.
By the time the girls finally said their goodbyes, it was well past 8 pm.
The street was completely deserted.
She’d picked somewhere far to avoid being eavesdropped on, but she hadn’t thought about the dangers returning would pose.
As she walked, she felt a prickle of unease.
The hairs on her neck rose.
She stopped, glancing behind her.
Nothing.
No single person, no movement, nothing.
But her wolf stirred, growling lowly.
She continued walking again, her steps quicker.
Her heart pounded in her chest, the realization of her situation hitting her.
She was alone in a deserted area in the middle of the night.