Chapter One.

“I think we are both done pretending this marriage is headed anywhere, we are both miserable in it.” Asher said, my eyes darting to his dinner, he already took off his ring.

I felt my chest tightened, as tears threatened to tremble out of my eyes.

“Please don’t do this, Asher.” My lips trembled to let out. “I love you, I still do, and I know deep down you love me, you told me all about our perfect life two nights ago.”

I took a step toward my husband, the look in his eyes told me, he was long gone, that dream wasn’t ours anymore.

“Just tell me what I did wrong, please.” I begged.

Asher stared at me for a brief moment.

“Look at you, then look at me Amelia , we look pathetic. You don’t dress up anymore, you look like you have been dragged through the garbage, your hair is unkept, you look like you haven’t taken a shower for a months.”

“You know why.” I yelled. “I have been working day and night for us, because you lost your job.”

“Here we go again.” Asher rolled his eyes at me.

“Give me the ring.”

I froze.

My eyes darted to the ring, I haven’t taken it off for five years, I never imagine a day will come when this will happen.

“What?” I breathed out. “We can’t give up, I can change, once I sign the deal, we would get better, I would become the way I use to be, come on Asher, I told my brother-“

“Your fucking brother.” Asher yelled, his jaw ticked as he stared at me. “He is the reason behind all of this, I told you I don’t want you working for him, you defied me, and guess what, he never liked me, more reason for him to keep you all night because of a stupid meetings.” He yelled

My mind blanked out, Asher never raised his voice, not even in five years of marriage.

My lips quivered, I can’t lose him, I was this close to uttering another word when the sound of his phone ringing sliced through the conversation, my eyes darting to his screen.

Hannah.

I shook my head, it can’t be.

“Why is Hannah calling you Asher?” I asked.

“Just work.”

Work?

A bitter chuckle escaped my lips when the phone rang again, he attempted to not let me see the screen when my body reacted before my mind did, I pulled the phone away from his hand, and in instant, I placed the call on speaker.

“Baby, where are you? Have you told her, don’t let her manipulate you. Say something Asher.” Hannah spoke, her words cutting deep through my chest.

This is his why?

“My therapist.” I breathed out. “You are fucking my therapist Asher.” I yelled, shoving the phone into his hand.

Asher had an unbothered look on his face, he looked like he could be anywhere but not here, my eyes darted to my ring, I felt my fingers trembling when I pulled it out and I threw it toward the other side of the house.

“Hannah was there for me when-“

“I don’t want to hear it, you are a lying cheating bastard who cares for no one but himself, you watched me suffer for months while you were sleeping with her.”

“You left me no choice.” Asher yelled and a chuckle escaped my lips, I wiped my tears as it tainted my cheek, it was a waste of my time, I’m never going to stop crying.

I rushed out of the room, settled in my bedroom, our bedroom, filled with memories, he never wanted me to, he never cared, I should have listened to my brother.

I had my head rested on the couch, I didn’t dare lay on the bed, when I felt a throbbing sensation flowing through my head and by chest tightened even harder, I felt my eyes slipping into a darker state.

A soft chuckle filled my ears, one that caused my eyes to snap open, it wasn’t in my mind, it was real. The moment my eyes darted to my fingers, I realized my nightmare was real.

Asher is leaving me.

I took a step out of the room, the chuckle got louder until I got to the living room, to find my husband, Asher curled up beside my therapist Hannah.

They were deep in their moment. They didn’t even realize I was there, I felt my heart pounding through my chest, the pain I felt was nothing compared to what went through my mind.

Hannah’s eyes met mine and she froze, she quickly tapped my husband.

“What is going on Asher? Why is she here.” I asked

“Come on, don’t pretend like you don’t know what is happening? I’m done giving you your space, I want you to sign the papers.”

“And if I don’t.”

“Either way, this marriage is done and you are never wearing your ring again.”

Asher took a step toward me as my eyes remained on Hannah

“Come on Amelia , just sign them, you don’t always have to be dramatic and I told you, it’s possible Asher moved on, you never listened.” Hannah smiled.

“Shut the fuck up.” I yelled, my breath got uneven.

“Don’t speak to her in that way.” Asher yelled and my jaw tightened, the man I once loved, married, he is no longer in there, this is someone else.

He forced the paper into my hand and the pen on the other

I watched as Hannah stood up and I froze, her stomach was swollen, I imagined she was just adding weight underneath all the large gowns she wore recently.

“She is, but you.” I started to speak when I felt my head throbbing with pain. “You said you don’t want kids.”

“With you.” Asher smirked as Hannah moved closer to us and he placed a hand on her baby bump.

“Sign the papers and get the hell out of my house, I want my space with my new family.”

Amelia .

“Asher please don’t do this.” My voice hitched as the maids placed my luggage by the front door, I should have never allowed Asher to sign the deed to the house, I guess I was stupid, I should have never trusted him.

Never in my wildest dream will I ever think about him leaving me, getting another woman pregnant.

One of the maids flashed me a frown, her eyes softened.

“Asher.” I yelled, as the door closed, he didn’t even even care for me anymore. My feet felt cold, my knee weakened as I stared at the door, my phone on my hand one bag that contained everything.

I worked hard for us, all he ever had was this house one his mother left to him, I should have agreed when he asked for my name to be a part of the deed.

I didn’t realize how long I have been standing there until I knew I had to leave, the guards escorted me outside, I felt a sharp pain radiating through my chest as I made my way further out of the house and I slipped into the nearest cab.

“Where ma’am.”

“Airport.” I breathed out, I could barely keep my gaze away from the house until we slipped through a corner and I could no longer see it.

“Stop thinking about him Amelia , he is not even worried about you.” I mumbled against my breath.

It took me about twenty minutes to get to the airport, my eyes darted to the words written on every screen.

“New York.” I breathed out.

“We have one flight about to leave, there is one seat remaining, if you would like we can add you to that flight, Once you make payment.” The woman smiled at me, I wiped my tears and I nodded softly.

He is not coming again, he is probably telling Hannah how much he loves her and how excited he is, they are together.

I was torn between angry and sad, mixed feelings radiated through my body and I sit my eyes for a moment.

The next time I had any sense of my environment, I was on the plane, seated between two couples, they looked at me as if they wanted me to move, I didn’t.

For the rest of the plan ride, I tried not to think about Asher, I thought many time of sending him a quick message, I would type half way and end up not doing it, I thought about calling my brother and telling him I’m finally coming home.

As much as he will hates Asher, he will be even more happy I am home.

As I stared at my phone, I knew couldn’t make that call, I can’t tell him on call.

——

“This is where you are headed.” The cab driver asked, my eyes darted to the piece of paper.

“Yes.”

“Ma’am don’t play me with me, are you sure, this is not just anywhere, you look like you have been through hell, are you okay?” He asked and I rolled my eyes at him.

“Just take me there, I will pay.” I breathed out, he stared between me and the card again, why did he look surprised, what has Ryan done again.

Fuck.

I didn’t question it. The drive was painfully slow and I didn’t miss how the driver stared at me from time to time, through the little mirror, I didn’t miss how his eyes twitched each time I caught him staring, I didn’t miss how confused his face was.

“I can only go up to here, it’s the road up the hill, the first right.”

Confusion slammed into my chest, I stared at him with uncertainty, he can’t be serious.

“Wait what, you can’t leave me here, it’s a long walk and I have bags, I said I am willing to pay, I will give twice as much, just take me to the house.”

“I have helped as much as I can, not anymore, no one will be willing to head up there and you know that as much as I do.”

I didn’t.

I know my family background, Ryan always said he will never take our father’s path and he will bring change, I had imagined the family name was refined.

He promised.

Fuck

“Please.”

“Don’t make me kick you out.” The driver spoke and memories filled my mind, I felt tears threatening to spill out of my eyes, a sharp pain radiated through my chest when I huffed a curse out, I headed out of the car, and I got my things.

“You know as much as I do, if I could take you all the way there, I would, you can leave your bags here, I can assure you no one will take them, once you get to the house, send someone to get them, you seem like a good lady, be careful. You have no idea what’s goes in in that glass house?” He warned, my eyes darted to the glass house

It looked better than the last time I saw it, I bit my lip anxiously as I made my way toward the hill, halfway through it, I left my bags, anything in there can be replaced.

It took me about thirty minutes before I got to the front gate, between anger, tiredness and regret for not calling Ryan, I knew that I was exhausted.

The house was packed, I didn’t miss how it was filled with so many people but today didn’t feel like other days, there were strangers I had never seen, my eyes darted toward the first guard and in instantly recognized me

His eyes filled with fear, he was scared.

But why?

“What’s going on Gabriel?” I asked.

“Miss Amelia, what are you doing here? You can’t be here.”

“Where is Ryan, what’s going on?” I asked.

His eyes flickered with fear as I made my way toward the house, the further I got in, I could hear voices and Gabriel was yelling for the guards in front to stop me from going any further, when I froz

“Ryan no.”

Amelia

One of my fears was to become like my parents, the other was to leave the world without fixing things between Ryan and I. Little did I know, coming here will uncover a new fear.

A memory that imbedded through my mind, one that caused me to fall to the ground, one that caused Gabriel to pull me out of the place and into my bedroom.

I never imagined me dying or Ryan leaving me, I always assumed we will have forever, forever to finish our fights, forever to have a good life.

My eyes darted to Gabriel who refuse to leave, each time I closed my eyes, I would see him, I would hear his voice, just when I thought Ryan was close, the memory will slam into my mind.

Tears spilled out of my eyes.

“How?” I breathed out, I choked back on a sob as I stared at Gabriel, “I spoke to him last night, he was fine, we had a video call, he kept telling me to come home, to let out of the anger, to forgive him, I didn’t, we were getting better, we were starting to work on issues and.” I mumbled a curse under my breath.

I was going to give him a chance. I thought about it.

Gabriel’s eyes turned to mine.

“Say something Gabriel, my brother is in the living room, barely covered in any clothing, naked, covered in blood, and his paws are out, how did he die?” I whispered. “How did someone hurt a good powerful Alpha like him.”

My feet stomped the ground, I shook my head trying to stop the thoughts, this was by far the worst day of my life, I can’t sit here waiting, I can tell Gabriel is not going to let me know anything.

“Miss Amelia , please wait, you can’t go downstairs.”

“My brother is down there and I am done crying, he was fine last night, someone hurt him and you are telling me not to go down there, not to do anything.” I asked, my chest heaved with anger, I was this close to losing my temper. “I’m going to find out what happened.”

“He was killed.” Gabriel blurted out and my eyes darted to his.

I froze.

A bitter chucked escaped my lips and I knew it can’t be true.

“No. Only bad people get killed and not Ryan and, only people like my father get hurt, not him.” I made my way toward the door.

“You have been gone five years. You kept yourself away from our business, from the clan, until two months ago and you just wanted help, you have no idea what Alpha Ryan has done, what we all had to to do to survive, we know that because we were here.” He spoke and I froze.

I felt my pulse racing, a throbbing sound filled my ears.

I left for a man that cheated and divorced me.

That’s the one reminder I needed to know I have been living a lie, my life has been horrible. It is horrible. I should have stayed with my brother

“Ryan would tell me if something was wrong.”

“You know he wouldn’t, he would do anything to make sure you are safe, he would never drag you into this, what you saw is not even a flicker of the ugliness happening, you are not going downstairs and that’s an order, not until the new Alpha comes over to take care of it, I care for Alpha Ryan and, I watched him grow up, I watched you become this beautiful strong woman who will do anything to get what she wants, I watched both of you fight and break, I can’t protect him anymore but I can protect you Amelia , sit your ass down.” Gabriel spoke. “I know it’s hard.”

His words rolled off his tongue perfectly, I always respected Gabriel.

I don’t know how much I can handle anymore, deep down I know if I saw Ryan-one more time in that state, I would lose my sanity, a wave of nervousness washed over me as I settled on the bed.

“The new alpha. You are already replacing Ryan, his body is not even cold yet.”

“He wrote a will, we are only following it.”

A will.

Why will a twenty-eight year old write a will, did he know he was going to die. What else were they hiding from me, how long has this been going on? I wish he told me he was in trouble, I will come running.

“What happens when he gets here, do we find out who hurt Ryan.” I asked.

I was about to speak when I felt a sharp pain in my heart, there is only one person Ryan will trust with his clan, with his sister, with his life, and dear God I hoped it was not him

I haven’t seen him in five years. I had hoped he had nothing to do with it.

“Tell me how it happened, I can take it.” I breathed out. “Please.” I added.

How do you speak to some one and they die a few hours later. I should have come running home to him when he asked two months ago but I was selfish, I needed help and the moment I got it, I placed my attention back on the lying bastard Asher.

“Not my place to tell Amelia .” He asked, his eyes darting to mine before he stared at at my finger, there was a look of surprise on his face, I know he thought about the ring, why I wasn’t wearing any, he didn’t dare ask.

Gabriel took for a few seconds when he got a call. The new Alpha is here, the moment he made his way toward the door, I followed from behind.

My eyes caught a man standing by the end of the hallway, he had his back turned, I froze when I heard a voice and a familiar curse

Merde.

There is only one person that says that.

Please

I felt my head getting lighter, thoughts poured in faster than I assumed when he turned his head and his eyes met mine, my pulse raced and for a second, I felt my heart stopped.

Every emotion came rushing back to me, it slammed into my chest with force, pain gripped my body tightly, every memory shattered into my mind, Asher leaving me, Hannah betraying me, my brother is dead.

The air thickened, I felt more tears streamed down my cheek, I let out a heavy breath trying to calm my nerves down when my hands slipped off the wall supporting me, a loud voice filled my ears before darkness consumed me.