Chapter 1

Three years ago, on what should have been the happiest day of my life, my mate, Rex Wallace, a Delta in the Crimson Fang Pack, tragically died in a rogue attack.

I was heartbroken, trapped in a mire of memories every day since.

Three years later, I attended a pack gathering, a celebration of unity among the packs.

There, I saw Rex Wallace with his childhood sweetheart, Scarlet Austin, an Omega from the Crimson Fang Pack, confidently speaking on stage.

He noticed me and stepped down from the platform, tossing a yellowed mate contract at my feet.

“Three years ago, I lost my memory in the attack, and it was Scarlet who saved me. Now she’s expecting my child, and I need to be there for her.”

“Let’s just consider our past a distant memory. The mate bond is over. Please move out of the pack house in the next few days; Scarlet needs a place to stay.”

Seeing his cold, indifferent face, I felt a sting of anger mixed with a bitter smile.

I shakily took out my phone and sent a message to the pinned contact.

"Alpha Seth Patterson, I accept your proposal."

.............................................

On the other end of the line, Seth’s voice was brimming with excitement.

“Send me your bank account number!”

I was taken aback; before I could even process his request, a notification popped up on my phone.

It was a transfer confirmation showing a deposit of 10 million dollars.

Alpha Seth’s voice was loud enough for those nearby to overhear.

“Julianna, being with me is the best decision you could have made. I just transferred 10 million dollars as a bridal gift, and if that’s not enough, let me know.”

“Do you want gold bars? Or maybe you prefer jewelry or diamonds? A ten-carat diamond doesn’t do justice to your majesty; I’ll have someone dig up bigger ones for you from Africa.”

Watching Alpha Seth Patterson’s charming antics, my earlier disappointment faded, and I couldn’t help but smile.

Seeing how happily I was talking to Alpha Seth, Rex sneered, frowning as he approached me.

“Julianna, I know I’ve wronged you, but Scarlet and I are truly in love.”

“There’s no need to stage a call with someone like that just to get back at me. Ten million dollars as a bridal gift and diamonds from Africa—it’s absurd.”

His tone drew chuckles from the onlookers.

After chatting with Alpha Seth briefly, I hung up the call.

I lifted my head and met Rex’s smug gaze.

Five years of painful memories melted away in that instant.

I even regretted letting those memories affect me for so long.

“Rex, you overestimate yourself.”

“If you could fake your death for three years, cheat on me, and have a child with someone else, why should I waste another moment mourning over a man like you? I’m just as entitled to seek my own happiness, aren’t I?”

Seeing my response, he let out a derisive chuckle, his lips curving into a mocking smile.

“Must you be so harsh, Julianna? I just explained that Scarlet saved me, and I lost my memory before getting involved with her. Unlike you, who’d latch onto any guy.”

“If you really can’t let go, I wouldn’t mind keeping you on as a maid. At least you'd see me every day and wouldn't feel so wretched.”

Listening to his self-indulgent reasoning, I let out a bitter laugh.

Back when we were together, he was just a struggling Delta.

I hid my high status as the daughter of an Alpha to help him climb the ranks, supporting him until he became a respected Delta in the Crimson Fang Pack.

In the years following his "death," I maintained his position and kept everything intact.

Now, he had the nerve to ridicule me. His arrogance knew no bounds.

I looked at him with icy determination, staring into his self-assured eyes.

“Are you giving yourself too much credit?”

Yet he still maintained his superior demeanor.

“Julianna, you’re just trying to provoke me by acting tough.”

“When we were together, you were like a loyal puppy, doing everything for me.”

“Now that I’m with someone else, it must eat you up inside.”

He stepped closer, appraising me from head to toe.

Then he sneered and held out a bank card.

“Here’s three thousand dollars, consider it payment for what you did for our family over the last three years.”

“I can’t give you more; Scarlet’s pregnant and every penny counts.”

Back then, I’d invested much more into his position.

And now he was trying to settle with three thousand dollars for all those years of my youth and effort.

With a derisive laugh, I snapped the card in half and tossed it back in his face.

“Save it for your kid’s diapers.”

In an instant, he was furious, gripping my wrist with a force that felt like it could break bones.

“Julianna, don’t push your luck with me. Who do you think you are?”

“I’ve long been annoyed by your holier-than-thou attitude. Don’t want the three grand? Have you ever even seen that much money? I bet you’ll be crawling back within half an hour.”

I lifted my foot and stomped hard on his.

“Let’s see about that.”

I walked straight toward the exit of the gathering hall, removing the bracelet he’d given me seven years ago.

Three years of waiting and four years of love, making it a total of seven years, all just to see it go down the drain.