There, standing tall in a dark form fitting suit, was Kieran, his brown eyes piercing into mine. I should have checked the peephole before opening. That way, I wouldn’t have opened the damn door in the first place.

"Kieran," I breathed, my fingers curling around the edge of the door. "What are you doing here?"

He offered me a small smile, his gaze roaming over my body in a way that made my skin crawl. "Selena, my love. I've missed you."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, instead leaning against the doorframe and crossing my arms over my chest. "How did you even find me?" I asked, bypassing his sentimental declaration.

He chuckled, as if the answer should have been obvious. "We're mates, remember? I can always sense where you are, just as you can sense me. It's a bond that can never be broken, no matter how much you may wish it so."

My jaw tightened, and I remembered that we were technically still mates. None of us had rejected each other, which meant we were still linked. I had hoped, foolishly, that in this new apartment, in this fresh start, I might be able to finally free myself from Kieran's all-encompassing presence. I was definitely going to reject him but I was not going to do it where no one was watching. It was going to be out in the public so I could humiliate him just like he had done to me. He needed to have a taste of his own medicine.

"So what do you want from me now?" I asked in an exasperated tone.

Kieran's expression softened, and he took a step closer, his hand reaching out to caress my cheek. I fought the urge to lean into his touch, to allow myself to be drawn back into his orbit. "My darling Selena, I simply can't stay away. Not when I know you're hurting."

I scoffed, pulling away from his gentle touch. Now I was his darling Selena? He always referred to Nina in that manner and not me.

"I'm not hurting, Kieran. I'm free.For the first time in years, I'm finally able to breathe, to live my own life. Can't you understand that?"

He opened his mouth to argue, but I held up a hand, cutting him short. "Look, I don't have time for this right now. I have a lot going on, and the last thing I need is you complicating things further."

He shot me a narrowed gaze, his jaw tightening. "What do you mean, you have a lot going on? What's more important than us?"

He took a step forward, and I instinctively retreated, my back pressing against the door frame. His eyes traveled down the length of my body, and I couldn't help but feel a bit self conscious.

I had chosen to wear a simple, black dress - nothing too fancy, just comfortable lounge wear for a night in. But the way Kieran's gaze lingered made me quite aware of the way the fabric hugged my curves.

"You look breathtaking, Selena," he murmured, a small smile playing on his lips. "Even just sitting at home, you take my breath away."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes again, instead fixing him with a pointed stare. "Kieran, I thought I made it clear that I don’t have time for any of this.You need to leave right now."

His expression shifted, but he regained his composure quickly. "Didn't you get my texts?"

I sighed deeply and replied him. "Yes, I got your texts. All twenty of them. Didn’t you get mine where I said I wouldn’t be attending your mother’s birthday party?."

I even considered blocking him because he was blowing up my phone with stupid texts earlier that morning. He was staring at me now as if he could see right through me and it made me somewhat uncomfortable.

"Kieran, please," I said, my voice trembling with my best efforts to sound firm. "I've already told you, we are not together anymore and I have no intention of celebrating anything with you."

He arched a brow, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features. "Selena, why must you be so stubborn?" he murmured, his thumb tracing the line of my jaw. "I've made it abundantly clear that you're mine, and I have no plans to let you go."

I tensed, the hair on the back of my neck standing on end. "That's where you're wrong," I retorted, "You don't get to decide that for me. I'm my own person, and I won't be bound to you or anyone else against my will."

Kieran's grip on my cheek tightened ever so slightly, a subtle warning. "Against your will?" he echoed, his voice low and dangerous. "Darling, I think you forget – we're still mates and you’re not going anywhere."

"We are over and I do not want anything to do with you. Aren’t you smart enough to understand that Mr Alpha?"

He was confidently going on about this mate thing because he thought that I would never reject him but that was where was wrong. I couldn’t wait to end his delusions on the cruelest way possible.

His hold on my cheek loosened, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of hurt in his eyes. But it was quickly replaced by a cold, calculating expression that sent a chill down my spine.

"Is that so?" he murmured in a deceptively calm tone. "Well, then, I suppose I'll have to change your mind.But now, we have something more important to tackle."

Before I could react, he pulled away, turning his attention to the limo parked just beyond the threshold of my door. "Joe," he called out to his assistant in that authoritative tone of his and ordered him to bring out some package of some sort.

I watched as Joe hurried over with a black box clutched in his hands. My stomach twisted with unease as Kieran turned back to me, a triumphant smile playing on his lips.

"Selena, my love," he purred, "I have something for you."

"Kieran, I already told you – I don't want anything from you," I protested, my voice laced with frustration. "Why can't you just accept that and leave me alone?"

His smile only widened, his gaze not even breaking for a second. "Oh, but you haven't even seen what I've brought you. I'm sure once you lay your eyes on it, you'll change your mind."

With a nod, he gestured to his assistant Joe and the package was thrust into my hands. I stared down at it, and clearly told him that I didn’t want it.

"Didn't I make it clear yesterday that I'm not accepting any of your gifts?" I asked in irritation.

"Ah, yes, the wedding dress. I still have that carefully kept for you but right now you have to focus on this. It is something different entirely, trust me."

I eyed him warily, my grip on the package tightening. "What is it, then?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me despite my better judgment.

"Why, it's a dress, of course," Kieran replied, sounding so proud of himself. He got me another dress?

"A custom-made gown, all the way from Turkey. I had it specially commissioned for you, to wear to my mother's birthday party tonight." he added.

I stared at him, dumbfounded. "Your mother's birthday party? For goodness sake, I already told you that I'm not going to be attending any of your family events."

His smile faltered, a flash of annoyance crossing his face. "Selena, don't be ridiculous," he chided, his voice taking on a hint of steel. "Of course you're coming. You're my mate, and it's only right that you be there to celebrate with us."

I shook my head, resisting the urge to throw the offending package back in his face. " I have no intention of going to your mother's party," I retorted, my voice rising with frustration. "How many times do I have to tell you that before it sinks in?

"Okay now, you're being unreasonable," he said, his tone clipped. "This dress is a gift, and I expect you to accept it and wear it tonight. It's the least you can do, after everything I've done for you."

I scoffed, the absurdity of his demand nearly overwhelming me. "Everything you've done for me?" I echoed, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "You’ve done nothing but make my life a living hell. I'm not going to wear some fancy dress to your family's party just because you demand it."

His jaw tightened, and I could see that his temper was beginning to flare. "Selena, you're being incredibly stubborn," he growled, his fingers flexing as if he were itching to grab me.

"Newsflash, I didn't speak Spanish when I wrote that message to you. I meant every word – I want nothing to do with you, your pack, or your family members."

He wasn’t still getting what I was saying. I didn’t even know if he was deaf or just trying to be difficult as usual.

"You don't mean that. All the pack members will be there, important high-profile people. And it's my mother's birthday – you can't honestly expect me to attend without my mate by my side."

I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest. "When my own mother was dying, where were you, Kieran?" I snapped.

He was nowhere to be found, too busy with his pack duties and his precious Nina to even spare a thought for me.

"That's why I'm trying to make it up to you,” he pleaded. “Let me shower you with love and make you happy."

I yanked my hand away, glaring at him. "By forcing me to go to your mother's birthday party?" I hissed, my temper flaring. "Kieran, that's not making up for anything. That's just you trying to control me, like you always have."

His eyebrows drew together, and he shook his head. "No, no, that's not what I mean at all," he rushed to explain. "I just want you there with me, to celebrate with our pack. Please, Selena, reconsider. Come to the party with me."

I fell silent, my wolf, Skylar's voice echoing in my mind.

"Don't fall for his charm, Selena. Stand your ground."

Taking a deep breath, I lifted my chin, meeting his expectant gaze. "Okay fine then. You can go wait in the car while I get ready."

His face lit up and he smiled widely, reaching out to cup my cheek. "That's my girl. I knew you'd come around."

I resisted the urge to recoil from his touch, instead offering him a tight-lipped smile. "Just go wait in the car, Kieran,"

As he turned and made his way back to the waiting limo, I let out a shaky breath, and got back into the house.

"What are you doing, Selena?" Skylar's voice echoed in my mind in a concerned tone.

I assured my wolf that I got it under control. With quick light steps, I made my way to my bedroom.

After a long while, I stood before the mirror, scrutinizing my reflection with a critical eye. The short, scarlet dress hugged my curves in all the right places, accentuating my hourglass figure. Of course I wasn’t going to be wearing the gift Kieran brought me.

With a steady hand, I applied my makeup, painting my lips with a deep crimson hue that complemented the fiery tone of the fabric.

I was aware Kieran was waiting for me outside, no doubt growing impatient, but I couldn't afford to rush. Everything had to be perfect – the makeup, the hair, the outfit – if I was to pull off this deception without a hitch.

I had my black hair curled with a curling iron in loose waves and held it in place with pins.By the time I was done, it was exactly time for Kieran's mother's birthday party. In fact, we were even fifteen minutes late.

"Perfect," I thought to myself, grabbing my purse and the package containing the dress Kieran had gifted me.

As I stepped outside, I spotted Kieran leaning against the car, scrolling through his phone. The moment he heard my approach, he turned, his expression shifting from one of impatience to surprise as he took in my appearance. I couldn't help but feel a thrill of satisfaction at the way his eyes widened, his gaze sweeping over my form.

"Selena?" he breathed, pushing himself off the car and striding towards me. "What – what is the meaning of this? What the heck are you wearing?"

I didn't answer, instead keeping my expression neutral as I walked straight up to him. Without a word, I held out the package, letting it drop from my hands and into the large, dirty trash bin that sat at the curb.

His pupils seemed to shrink, his jaw tightening with rage. "What the hell did you do that for?" he growled, his voice laced with fury. "Do you have any idea how much that dress cost?"

I smiled coldly, unconcerned by his outburst. "I didn't tell you to get me a stupid dress, Kieran," I replied, my tone dripping with disdain. "From now on, you can direct all your little gifts to your mistress, Nina."

Kieran's expression morphed into one of exasperation, and he ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "Nina is not my mistress, for crying out loud!" he exclaimed, his voice rising in pitch.

I simply shrugged,staring at him deep in the eye. "I don't care what she is to you. I'm done with you wasting my time."

I turned to leave, but he reached out and grabbed my arm, yanking me back. "Oh, no, you don't," he snarled, his grip tight. "I've been standing here waiting for more than an hour, and I'm already late to my own mother's birthday party. You're not just going to walk away like nothing happened."

I snatched my arm away from his grasp in irritation. "You're one stubborn alpha, aren't you, Kieran?" I hissed.

"Didn't I tell you to sit and wait in your car? Why did you have to stand out here like a lovesick puppy?"

Kieran's expression darkened, and I could see the vein in his forehead throbbing with barely contained rage. "Because I was waiting for you, Selena," he snarled, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. "And now you've just wasted an hour of my time, not to mention ruined a perfectly good dress that I had specially made for you."

I let out a derisive laugh, shaking my head in disbelief. "Kieran, I never asked you to get me that dress. And I certainly didn't agree to come to your mother's party, no matter how much you begged."

His eyes turned darker. "My mother doesn't tolerate tardiness, and because of your little stunt, I’m fucking late. Go inside and change to something else so you can look presentable for the party. That dress is way too short and I can’t have other men ogling at my property."

Kieran still thought I was his property and that infuriated me more than anything else. There he was, trying to control what I wore again just like he had been doing for five solid years! I had to resist the urge to give him a neat slap on his face to remind him I wasn’t obeying any of his shitty orders ever again. But he was an Alpha, and way stronger than me. If he hurt me, it could take a while before my wolf healed me.

I stared at him with a cold expression. "No. I'm not going anywhere with you and I’m definitely not changing my dress. Now, you have to reject me from your pack officially. Reject me right now!"