“Another man?” My heart wrenched with Vincent’s comment.

“When did you degrade yourself that much?” I wanted to say this out loud but couldn't.

“Vincent, all the time you are keeping me as a housekeeper and a shield around you.” My voice was sharp, clear and mocking.

Thick tension broke into the room cutting the edge of Vincent's anger to be broken out.

“Bella, don't cross your line.” He gritted his teeth and probed to do something more but stopped.

“Vincent, my youth is destroyed already.” I snickered, “So I don't care about anyone anymore.”

Six years ago, when I fell for Vincent, the tall, dark and handsome Alpha, my life was as lively as Zara.

So many Beta and Delta were attracted to me. If it weren't for the attack and I had to save my brother, the future Alpha of the pack, I never entered this hell.

I recalled that night.

#####

When the rogue killed our parents in front us, I could only hide my face and saved my brother out of the fire and their ferocious gazes. I couldn't even see my parents for the last time.

Living in a cave days after days making him weak who was only seven years old.

“Sister, can we survive this time?” He asked me with his broken body.

“Don't worry, sister is here.” I patted his head and assured him.

The next day, I vied to Vincent’s bed chamber and drugged him without knowing his body wouldn't react to it.

He pressed my neck and pushed me against the world. Showing his fang, he looked like god of hell.

“What do you want, bitch?” His deep whispering voice was terrifying.

“Save me.” Under such heavy pressure, Vincent laughed louder and wanted to kill me.

But somehow he stopped when I cried out again. Telling him the truth, I fell on his foot, “Please help me.”

From that day onwards, our marriage was just bounded by a contract for six years where I would act as his Luna and shield him from another marriage contract and he would help my brother to gain the necessary power.

Before marriage, Vincent never treated me or Blake, my brother badly, so I fell in love with her.

“Vincent, I love you.” I murmured under my breath on our first night.

“Love?” He sneered, “Bella, do you, a banished Omega have the right to love me?”

My illusion shattered that day when he threw the divorce paper on my face, “Sign this when the time comes.”

#####

But silly me still held onto such hope that I could melt the ice but the reality was something else.

“Zara!” Entering Vincent's office, I discovered their intimate and smiled photograph on Vincent's desk. He was looking fresh and soft there.

Zara was Vincent's six years old childhood sweetheart, so until she reached into her marriageable age, Vincent used me as his shield.

I crawled into the floor and cried hard.

“Huh! My life is such a joke.”

But years after years, I accepted the truth already that I could never be with this man.

Now all I wanted was to leave.

“Since Zara is back, I'm no longer needed.” The same words were echoing my head, until Vincent’s voice cut throw my thoughts.

“Bella, what’s wrong with you?” He sounded impatient, “I’m asking something.”

“What?” I looked up, the usual submission in his words disappeared today which made Vincent’s eyes widen for a while before going back to its same place.

“What are you talking about leaving?” He frowned harder.

“Yes, after all Zara is back.” I mumbled the lines but didn't lose the eye contact with him, “I shouldn't be a substitute anymore.”

“Heh! Where will you go?” He mocked, “You are of no use.”

I shook my head after seeing his despire, “Yes you are right. But staying here and surviving as a Luna made me learn many things, so don't worry about me.”

Vincent wanted to last the conversation more but before he could say further, Zara entered flaunting her necklace which was sculpted with pink diamond.

I loved this necklace very much but Vincent never let me touch me.

Now I knew that he saved it for her.

“Thank you so much, baby.” Zara almost jumped onto Vincent's arms and kissed his lips like an innocent child.

“I never knew that you know my taste so well.”

“Anything for you.” he rubbed her head as if she was a sweet child.

“It looks amazing on you.” He whispered with his unusual gentleness, “If you like, get some more of it.”

Zara, who was already looking like a doll, now blushing as she almost hid her face in Vincent’s chest but her expression changed quickly when she was out of his sight.

She smirked at me and mouthed, “Look about whom he cares the most.”

I was out of this childish play already, so I laughed and congratulated her, “You both look good together and Zara, this necklace sooths you.”

When I said those, my tone was genuine and soft, astonishing them.

Vincent removed Zara out of his arms and furrowed his brows, “Bella, don't try to be oversmart.”

I froze on my place, clenching my fists, I kept my calm.

“Oh yeah.” I nodded, wanting to ignore further conversation with them.

But my wish wasn't that valid here. Zara stepped in, weighing my intent. Her eyes flickered with pleasure as if she got a sudden urge to push me further.

“Bella, you are so useless yet act like you are something.”

I looked at Vincent who had no expression on his face as usual and couldn't judge his intentions. But my intention with Zara was clear.

“Yes, you are right.” I didn't argue with this lowly girl anymore. My sudden acknowledgement of her sarcasm took her off guard. I took my opportunity and left there, shifting myself to the garden which I had been loving and nurturing for years.

Only they were mine in this cold and large cage.

The lively fragrance of the flowers made me feel alive again.

How I wished that I could be one of the trees there too, so I didn't have to endure everything.

Leaning against a large tree, I felt the cool around me. My wolf who never looked up and her eyes were always filled with tears after all these years, she looked up suddenly and abruptly too.

“Lana,” I softly called her, “Do you finally know how to handle it?”

I never pushe Lana to accept everything overnight, I gave her time and she made a good use of it everytime, “Yes, I won't cry for him anymore.” Nodding, she wiped her furry face.

The divorce agreement would take over after one month, Vincent and I would no longer be mates.

“Who will take care of you?” I muttered looking at the plants, laughing at my own situation.

When I was still in a daze, Vincent woke me up with his impatient and rough voice, “I will be on a meeting with Sohan, so take care of Zara.”

“Zara?” I stood up from my seat, for the first time I raised my voice against Vincent, “Take care of your mistress?”

A sense of mockery instantly appeared on my face shattering his self superiority against me just because he provided me all these years.

“Bella, I'm not asking you, I'm ordering you.” His last blow cut my pride again. It showed me my real place in this house. All this time I was only ‘Luna’ of this pack not Vincent’s mate.

I swallowed the bitter taste of my pride, nodding with reluctant compliance, the weight of his words pressing heavily on my chest.

Before leaving, Vincent looked at me for the last time, “Don't hurt Zara, she is still young and growing.”

“Remember if something happens to her, you are the one who is going to suffer.”

His cold and deep tone emblazed with the possessiveness he had for Zara.

“Be good and wait for me okay.” He kissed Zara’s lips softly and left.

When I saw this, my heart tightened again, determination gushed over me, supporting the divorce decision I took was right.

With the incident still lingering in the air, leaving Zara with me who made her way to the sofa and started to taunt me.

“You know what Bella , I have never seen such a shameless person like you. I can't help but feel pity for you too.”

She twisted her mouth and filed her nails with filer.

“You are already thirty but haven't gotten a single guy on your bed.” She shrugged her shoulder and laughed as if I missed a good evening snacks.

“Everyone has their own time.” I swiftly wanted to ignore her but how she everytime made a big scene of everything, I eased the conversation but she was not ready for it.

“Own time?” She laughed, “You are already an old wolf, who wants to mate with you now?”

She picked up an apple and took a bite or it before throwing it towards me.

“Not sweet.” She dismissed the apple like she was in her own.

But later when I recalled my position in this house, I looked down and endured the humiliation.

Ignoring her taunting and insult, I settled myself down in a corner of the room.

Looking up from the laptop, I was very surprised before I could proceed everything, Zara already took the glass flower vase from the tea table and started playing with it.

“It's very pretty and Vincent’s favorite.’’ a mischievous smile played on her lips, “What if it got broken?”

“What are you planning to do?” Panic thickened on my face.

This girl was not that innocent as she pretended to be.

“You will see.” She smirked and broke the glass vase near me.

When I was about to collect all the shattered glasses together my hands bled near his left palm whereas she was shouting her lungs heart, lastly, even Doctor was called out.

“Vincent, save me.” Vincent rushed inside the room like a cyclone and held Zara’s hand.

“How can this happen?” Looking at the small cut she got in my hand, Vincent sounded so worried completely ignoring my presence.

“You should be more careful, what if something happened?”

When he was like this Zara, I felt angry and pathetic. He was the reason for my fall but he looked after my brother too. So, I could never hate him. At this moment, I felt that even if no amount of time will make me forget everything.

Vincent took Zara in bridal style and looked at me for the last night,

“I will take care of you later.” Vincent's deep and hoarse voice was disappearing.

Seeing them leaving, I pulled my skirt and discovered the fresh wounds out of this choice which he never noticed.

I looked down, the pain felt numb against the humiliation they gave me. As I wanted to stand up, the wound stringed.

“Ahh!” I shouted and fell back on my butt, scratching more than before.

I hissed in pain and wanted to snap back. Everything was hazy, when I pulled myself together finally and hailed a cab to the hospital.

The doctor pursed his lips and shook his head, “Where's your husband, how could you be so carefree?”

“Sorry.” I clutched the hem of my dress and bit my lips.

“You don't have to say that.” He sighed.

When we were having this conversation, Vincent entered inside growling like a mad wolf.

“Healer!” His voice was chilly when he called out the head healer of the hospital, “Get your ass here and treat her.”

He was holding Zara firmly and delicately as if she would fall if he would let her go.

“Vincent, I'm in pain.” Zara cried out deliberately like a child when her eyes fell on me.

“Look the witch is here too.” She pointed at me, leaning closer to him.

Vincent sneered, “Ignore her.”

“All she can do is act vulnerable.” The disdain in his voice broke my heart again. The more I recalled how I wasted my youth on this guy, the more I was feeling nauseous.

“Tsk tsk!” The doctor clicked his tongue on his cheek and made a face, “Young people are so exaggerated.”

“The wound is not even as severe as yours but look at her crying like a toddler.”

I wanted to say something but felt exhausted. My lips curved into a weak smile as I leaned back and sighed.

‘Vincent, you can't blame me later.’ My mind was fully clouded.

Looking around, all the nurses were simping over them.

“The girl is really lucky, getting such handsome Alpha to fall for her.” The first one started.

“I know right.” The second one sequeled, “He was so worried whether she would get a scar.”

“...”

The laughter and giggles were nothing but stabbing like a dagger in my heart.

“Is it done?” I slowly looked up, “Can I leave?”

“Can you even go alone?” The doctor frowned, “Where's your family? Your husband?”

His eyes were flashing the contrast of the situation between Zara and me.

I pushed through another weak smile and replied humbly, “My husband died a few days ago.”

‘That’s right. Who is alive currently is Vincent, the Alpha of the pack and lover of Zara, not my husband.’ I cleared my head and got up slowly.

“I can handle it alone.” Saying so, I left.

When I was in the corridor, God played another game with unfortunate destiny.

Vincent and Zara were coming from the opposite side, he was still carrying her in his arms.

“So you are here for another drama.” Vincent furrowed his eyebrows as soon as he saw me , “Bella, the old course hasn't settled yet, remember that.”

“No, I am not here for anything.” I didn't have the energy to argue anymore, “Leave the way.”

“Don't blame her.” Zara mumbled, slowly getting down from his arms.

“She didn't mean to hurt me, right Bella?” She mumbled looking at me like a freak as if I would hurt her.

My wolf growled inside once before I calmed it down.

“Make a way.” My tone was cold as ice.

But before I could leave, Vincent grabbed my hand tightly slamming me against the wall, “Who are you showing the attitude?”

He grinded his knees between my thighs, burning my wound.

I clenched my eyes and cried out in pain.

“Ahh! Leave me.” I pushed him with all my strength and groaned.

Vincent was surprised for a moment. His eyes were widened for a fraction of time before going back to normal again, “Oh! You got hurt too.”

My wolf, who had always loved him and accepted him as her mate, expected a bit of comfort from him.

But I wanted to laugh at her badly.

As expected, he squirted his eyes and shrugged his shoulders, “You should have been careful. Thankfully, Zara is fine.”

They left when I was still standing there like a lost child.

All I could hear Zara was still playing the role of pitiful Omega while Vincent comforted her saying, “Don't think too much. She is the pet I kept for all these years. She deserved to be treated like this if she couldn't take care of you well.”

I could not stand there anymore and left from there.

Since then I moved out from the house where Vincent and I lived for years.

When I entered my old and withered apartment, I felt relief. Arranging my luggage, I flopped on the rusty bed.

“Finally it's over.” I checked the calendar. Only three days left from the exact date of being divorce. It was our anniversary date too.

I chuckled mockingly.

“How can a contract marriage have an anniversary!” I leaned against the bedhead.

All these three days, Vincent never looked for me, instead he threw a big welcome party for Zara who acted coquettishly with everyone.

When the group photos were being flooded with their intimate pictures, what attracted me more was that Vincent was kissing Zara’s lips while his hand possessively rested on her waist.

The smirk on her face had silently declared her position as a new Luna of this pack.

I lay down on the bed shedding my tears for the last time for this man, Vincent.

After that, everything would come to an end.

I sighed and leaned on the bed while grunting silently. Looking at the photos near me, I clenched my wedding dress and laughed like a maniac.

“Vincent, you are really good.” My chest was tightened up due to sadness.

For the last time, when I entered inside the villa we shared for years, it was cold and empty. Vincent never came there.

An unknown coldness and darkness engulfed me. My mind was as exhausted as my body from crying.

“We could never have a proper goodbye Vincent.” I chuckled sadly and placed the divorce agreement on the study table where Vincent made a scene for Zara earlier.

Sighing, I took one last glance of the villa, no this was not a villa for me but a cage where I was held captive.

I turned around and dragged my suitcase outside of the villa when I received a message from Brandon Skyler, “Bella, your design will be on exhibition. But you have to come here.”