Chapter 2

The old Reynolds house smelled of dust and the faint lavender scent my mother used to soak herself in.

After spending hours cleaning up everywhere, I sighed out and collapsed at the dining table where I slowly fell into a trance.

Damian had promised me so many things over the years.

Not only would he always reassure me that our mating ceremony would happen exactly as planned, he’d also guaranteed that he was going to unfailingly mark me that night.

He would kiss my head and whisper promises that he’d never leave me and how he couldn’t see himself with any other she-wolf than me.

And I? I was always filled with excitement. I completely trusted him and believed nothing and no one could come between us. Now I realized, I couldn’t be more wrong.

My eyes flickered to the table. On it was a settlement agreement.

It was already printed, prepared and with my name boldly written across the first page.

Just as I reached out to look through it again, my cell phone rang. I slipped it out of my pocket. My best friend’s name lit up the screen.

“Hi, Leah.” I answered the call with the notion to keep my voice neutral and conceal how I was feeling, but I had barely finished speaking when Leah chimed.

“Emery, have you seen Chloe’s thread?” Her voice was shaking with anger.

“No, I haven’t. Why?” I suspiciously asked her.

Leah didn’t respond. Instead, she forwarded the thread’s link to me.

I tapped it. The picture showed Damian’s SUV in another territory. Chloe was seated near him with a green tea in her hand and looking perfectly relaxed.

Worse, Damian’s hand was visible beside her.

The engagement ring I had personally shopped by myself could still be seen on his finger.

My eyes dropped to the caption.

‘He promised; a week in the same territory. Seven nights waking up to the same view.’

My stomach gnawed with distaste while Leah let out an angry breath. “Tell me that isn’t your mate.” She demanded.

“It is, Leah.” I sighed.

My answer only made Leah angrier. “Oh goodness. I can’t believe Damian would cruelly take his childhood love away on a trip, and bail on his own mate. Seriously, how could he do that to you, Em?”

“Don’t worry Leah, I will be fine.” I simply told her.

After the call ended, I kept staring at the picture. Tears should have welled up in my eyes. I should have crouched down on the ground crying, but my heart felt cold.

My gaze fell to the ring on my finger.

I had seen Damian with Chloe more times than I could count and every time, I had warned him of the same thing.

If he ever betrayed me, if he ever became unfaithful, I would never mate with him.

I had made that boundary clear from the beginning. Surely, he hadn’t forgotten.

My fingers tightened around the ring, but I didn’t take it off.

The ring’s crown caught the light, making the spot where Damian’s name had been engraved even more clear.

He had chosen the engraving himself and back then, he’d laughed it off when I called it corny.

“Let it be corny. Now nobody can mistake who you belong to.” He’d said.

I used to think it was sweet. But strangely, looking at it now, I didn’t feel anything.

Just as I took my finger off the ring, someone knocked on the door.

I went to open it and found Conrad, The Anderson family’s driver at the porch, holding a long garment bag.

I stepped aside and he entered, carefully placing the bag on the sofa. “It’s your mating dress, Ms. Emery.” He told me as he straightened up.

Then a faint cinnamon scent from the open space of the bag reached my nostrils.

I stiffened instantly in recognition.

It wasn’t that noticeable under the fresh scent of the fabric but there was no mistaking it.

The scent on my mating dress belonged to Chloe. And surrounded by it was another familiar scent… Damian’s.

My stomach turned.

I couldn’t believe their scents had mingled together on the very dress I was to wear on my mating ceremony.

I reached out slowly, letting my fingers brush the fabric and in that moment, the scent became thicker.

I realized I didn’t mistake them.

Not when I had spent enough time around Chloe and my mate to know exactly what I was smelling.

I snatched my hand away from the dress.

For a long moment, I stood still, staring at it. And I could feel something inside me had dropped dead.

Damian had known my boundary, he knew exactly what I would do if he betrayed me and yet he’d done it anyway.

When I still didn’t mutter a word or take the dress, Conrad became very interested in the floor.

My heart turned colder in my chest and I broke the silence with four words, “Please, take it back.”

Conrad’s eyes snapped up to look at me, his expression changing. “You… mean back to Mrs. Anderson?”

“Yes.” I picked up the bag and opened the small inner pocket. Then I slipped the engagement ring off my finger and placed it inside.

“Tell her I won’t be wearing the dress.” I zipped the bag shut. “As for the ring, it should be handed over to her son.” I said firmly.

Once I’d given the garment back to him, and the driver reluctantly made his way out, I slammed my door closed.

By evening, I had just finished going through the settlement agreement and sorting the replacement paperwork when a video call came through my cell phone.

My jaw set seeing Damian’s name across the screen. I let the call ring. Then the second time, I answered.

“I heard about the ring. Tell me it isn’t true.” He was the first to speak.

I leaned back against my chair. “It is. I’m sure your mother has no reason to lie.”

He answered confidently. “You’re right. So let me ask, why would you send it back, Emery?” His voice carried the infuriation of someone who couldn’t understand why I would do something he felt was stupid.

Behind him, I could see cars driving off from the territory’s port. Then came Chloe’s soft voice.

“Have any idea where my shirt is, Damian?”

“I think it’s beside the luggage.” He went to take it to her without hesitation. Then returned to me like it was nothing.

“Emery, don’t start anything while I’m away.” He warned, dead serious.

I almost snickered. Of course, he thought this was just me throwing a tantrum.

Pain threatened to claw up my chest, but I buried it.

“I didn’t start anything. I only returned it because I no longer wanted it.” I told him without as much as a stammer.

There was a brief silence. Then his eyes narrowed in disbelief. “Then what about the dress? Don’t tell me—“

“Yes. I’m not wearing it either.” I sharply cut him off.

Which left Damian staring at me speechlessly.

“So that’s it? You’re calling off our mating ceremony?”

“I am.” I confirmed, voice cold and final.

Then the look that came on his face was as if his world had stopped spinning.