Chapter 2

Ignoring our son’s death and focusing solely on his pregnant mistress—did he really expect me to understand? The smug arrogance in his eyes made me question how I had been mated to this man for twenty long years.

I slid the divorce papers I’d prepared onto the table. 'Sign them,' I said, my voice steady. 'Then you can give all your attention to your pregnant mate.'

When I brought up divorce, Makai’s expression twisted with disdain. 'Seems I’ve let you live too comfortably all these years. You’ve forgotten your place. Without me, the Watson Pack would be nothing.'

I almost laughed. Did he really believe the pack’s success hinged on him? That I was helpless without him?

I didn’t argue. 'I’m done with this bond,' I said simply.

Makai’s anger flared. 'What are you doing? Our son would never agree to this.'

'You can have the divorce,' he sneered, 'but only if our son tells me himself.' With that, he stormed into the bedroom.

In the past, I would’ve tried to calm him down. Not this time. I signed my name on the papers and left without a backward glance.

The next day, I picked up my son’s ashes from the funeral home, planning to take them to the Watson ancestral grounds. Just as I was about to leave, Makai called, his voice sharp. 'You’re upset, fine, but don’t take my son and disappear all night. Today’s the pack’s anniversary, and I’m announcing him as my successor. Bring him here. Now.'

I looked at the urn in my hands and replied coolly, 'Alright, Alpha. I’ll bring him right over.'

---

I first met Makai in college. He was cornered on the rooftop by a group of rival pack heirs. Even as they beat him bloody, he refused to beg for mercy.

I admired his grit. Stepping forward, I glared at the bullies, and they scattered like they’d caught the scent of an Alpha.

Once they were gone, Makai turned to me. Despite his injuries, he warned, 'Those guys are dangerous. As a she-wolf, you shouldn’t be up here. You don’t want their attention.'

I smiled. 'They wouldn’t dare mess with me.'

He looked at my simple dress and scoffed. 'Don’t kid yourself. They’re heirs to some of the most powerful packs. Why would they fear someone like you?'

'I don’t underestimate ordinary wolves,' he added smugly.

I found him amusing and didn’t explain. Later, I learned his pack was struggling, teetering on collapse. His father, the former Alpha, had taken his own life under crushing debt. Makai had fought hard to get into a prestigious university, hoping to revive his pack.

Maybe I was tired of spoiled heirs coasting on their status. His determination was refreshing. We started talking regularly.

As I got to know him, I discovered he was thoughtful and caring. He’d bring me coffee when I was cramping, go out of his way to cheer me up, and shield me with his coat on rainy days.

---

But that was then. Now, as I stood in the grand hall of the Watson Pack, clutching my son’s urn, I felt nothing but cold resolve. The whispers of the pack members buzzed around me, their judgmental eyes boring into me.

Makai stood at the center of the room, his posture commanding, his voice booming. 'Today, we celebrate the legacy of the Watson Pack. A legacy that will continue through my son—'

His words died as his eyes landed on me, on the urn in my hands. The room fell silent, heavy and suffocating.

'Amber,' he said, his voice low and dangerous. 'What is this?'

I stepped forward, my voice steady despite the storm inside me. 'Our son is here, Alpha. You wanted him to tell you himself, didn’t you?'

The room erupted into gasps. Makai’s face paled, his composure cracking. 'What are you talking about?'

I placed the urn on the table, my fingers lingering on its cold surface. 'He’s gone, Makai. Because of you.'

The words hung in the air, sharp and unyielding. Makai’s eyes burned with anger, but beneath it, I thought I saw a flicker of guilt. Too little, too late.

'You think this is the time for your drama?' he snapped, his voice rising. 'You think you can humiliate me in front of my pack?'

'Humiliate you?' I echoed, my voice trembling with fury. 'You humiliated yourself the moment you chose your mistress over your son.'

The room fell silent, the weight of my words sinking in. Makai’s fists clenched, his aura flaring with rage. But I didn’t flinch. I was done with his dominance, his arrogance, his lies.

'Sign the papers,' I said, my voice cold and final. 'This bond is over.'

For a moment, he just stared at me, searching my eyes for the woman who had once stood by his side, the mate he had once claimed to love. But she was gone, just like our son.

As I turned to leave, the whispers of the pack followed me, a chorus of judgment and pity. But I didn’t care. I had nothing left to lose.