George's Point of View

It was already 1 AM, and I was still on the balcony of our mansion, waiting for my wife—my fated mate, Scarlet Moore—to come home. The crescent moon was my only companion over the quiet of the night.

I had no idea where she was.

It had been nearly twenty-four hours since her last message. Her phone was unreachable, and I was certain she had blocked me from her mind-link as well.

I had no choice but to wait.

Another hour crawled by before I finally saw her car pulling into the driveway.

2 AM. I exhaled deeply. At least she was safe.

I hurried downstairs to meet Scarlet, my heart heavy yet relieved. Somehow, I still managed a smile when our eyes met. I leaned in to kiss her, but she only brushed past me without a glance.

"George, why are you still awake? I told you not to wait for me," She said, her voice tinged with annoyance.

"You know I can't sleep without you next to me," I admitted softly, but she only rolled her eyes.

"You've been coming home this late—or not at all—for the past few months," I continued, my voice faltering. "Is it still because you're busy at the law firm?"

Scarlet was a pack lawyer.

She sighed deeply. "Yes. What else could it be?"

I nodded weakly, knowing she had lied again.

I had seen her leave the law firm at six and meet Beta Kirk Sage at the restaurant nearby. They stayed there for at least an hour before driving off together.

My wolf urged me to follow them, so I did, and I watched as Scarlet parked her car in front of Kirk's apartment.

That wasn't the first time.

It had happened a few times before. And every single time, one thing stood out to me; how happy Scarlet looked when she was with Kirk.

I am the future Alpha of the Amberdale Pack. The perfect wolf, the standard for a man, many said.

Yet, in the four years of our marriage, I've never once felt Scarlet's genuine love for me.

Our bond had always been one-sided, with me being the only one putting in the effort to keep us together.

For years, I had hoped that having a pup with her might bring us closer, might finally bridge the gap between us. But every time we were intimate, Scarlet would make sure to remind me to use protection.

"I don't want to have a pup with you, George—I mean, not yet. Having a fully committed and life-long obligation with you sounds terrifying to me!"

That was her usual line.

It stung every time, but I respected her desire. It was her body, her choice.

I shook off those thoughts as I watched Scarlet head upstairs.

"Have you eaten already?" I asked.

"Yeah," She replied curtly, not even glancing back.

"Yeah. With Beta Kirk, right? At the restaurant near the law firm. I saw you," I blurted out, my voice sharper than I intended.

Scarlet froze mid-step, finally turning to look at me.

"And?" She said, her tone almost bored. "What's the matter?"

I clenched my fists, struggling to keep my composure. "I've noticed you spending a lot of time with him, and it doesn't sit right with me. I'm sorry, but I can't ignore it anymore."

She smirked, and slowly walked toward me. When she was close enough, she reached out and traced her finger along my jawline.

"George," she began, her voice filled with mockery, "from the very start, you already knew how much I liked Beta Kirk. You also knew I only agreed to marry you, because my parents forced me to. Have you forgotten that no one outside our families even knows about our bond? Not even Kirk."

Then, as if to punctuate her cruelty, she leaned in and pressed a sarcastic kiss to my cheek. I stiffened, wiping it away as soon as she pulled back.

"I know, but that doesn't change the fact that you're still my mate," I said, my voice heavy with emotion. "Please, just give me the slightest respect."

Scarlet only laughed, a cold, dismissive sound, and turned to walk away.

"Why can't I be enough for you, Scarlet?" I called after her, my frustration barely contained. "I've given you everything—even more than I thought I could. Why can't you at least try to open your heart to me? Can't you love me? What does Kirk have that I don't? Where am I lacking?" My voice stayed low, not wanting to yell at her.

She stopped briefly, her eyes merciless. "You're not lacking at anything, George. It's just… my heart yearns for Kirk."

I stood there, stunned, unable to move for a moment.

"Got it…" I murmured.

In that instant, everything became clear. Holding onto Scarlet was no longer worth it.

I had tried. For years, I poured everything I had into our marriage, hoping she would see my love and respond in kind. But it was never enough, and it never would be.

Releasing her, ending our bond, was the only path left, and I want to do it on my own.

I wanted the process of severing the mating bond to be a secret from Scarlet. I wanted her to wake up one day and realize I was already gone—that she wasn't my mate anymore. I wanted to vanish from her life silently and permanently.

So, the next night, while Scarlet was deep in sleep because of the sleeping powder I stirred into her milk, I carefully picked up a small knife and made a shallow cut on her wrist. I needed exactly five drops of her blood to perform the ritual to sever our bond.

With her blood collected and everything else prepared, I made my way to the sacred temple, the one place where ties like ours could be undone.

There, under the gaze of the Moon Goddess, I offered our blood and spoke my confession. I explained why I wanted to sever the mating bond and why I chose to do it without Scarlet knowing. The Moon Goddess listened and, as was customary, granted a thirty-day grace period before the bond would be fully dissolved.

This window of time was given to every couple—a final chance to save their connection.

Deep down, I was clinging to a fragile hope that Scarlet might do something to change my mind. Especially now, as we were celebrating our fifth wedding anniversary.

It was ironic. Just yesterday, I had gone to the sacred temple to sever our bond, and today, I was carrying a strawberry cake and a bouquet of flowers to celebrate with her.

Even in the final days of our bond, I was still trying.

But Scarlet—as always, showed me exactly why my decision was right.

While on my way home, I overheard her say, "Your lips taste so sweet," after she ended the passionate kiss with Beta Kirk.

George's Point of View

At first, I considered confronting them, but quickly realized they weren't worth my time. So, I walked away, leaving the cake and flowers behind on an empty gazebo.

Later that day, I learned that Kirk had also ended his mating bond with his fated mate, Jane.

That she-wolf, known for her obsessive and psychotic tendencies, refused to let him go easily. To escape her grip, Kirk hired a lawyer to finalize the separation.

That lawyer was none other than my wife, Scarlet—of course.

A bitter smile curled my lips. In just a month, they would finally have the freedom to turn their infidelity into something real.

Night fell, and Scarlet still hadn't come home. This time, I didn't bother waiting for her on the balcony. Instead, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. My thoughts swirled, wondering where she was—or if she was with him again.

Then, unexpectedly, I felt the warmth of her breath on my ears and the gentle yet firm embrace of her arms around my waist.

"I'm sorry for forgetting our fifth anniversary, George…" Scarlet whispered, her voice sending a shiver down my spine. "Let me make it up to you," She added softly.

She leaned in, her lips brushing against mine. I knew exactly where this was headed, but unlike before, I found myself pulling away.

Gently, I placed my hands on her shoulders and pushed her back. "I'm not in the mood. I'm sorry," I murmured as I stood up, avoiding her gaze.

Scarlet paused, her expression clouding with shame as she settled on the edge of the bed. For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed her inspecting the wound on her wrist.

"You know," she began, "this looks like the kind of scar someone gets after giving blood... like when a mating bond is severed." Her voice was quiet but laced with curiosity.

My heart stopped.

Scarlet had always been good at catching the smallest details others would miss. That made her one of the pack's greatest lawyers. It wouldn't take much for her to piece it all together—that the wound was exactly what she suspected it to be.

Scarlet couldn't know that our mating bond and marriage would soon be severed. Not now. Not yet.

Forcing myself to stay calm, I glanced at the wound on her wrist, kissed it, and let out a soft chuckle.

"It's probably just an insect bite," I said lightly.

"Insect bites don't look like this—"

Before she could finish, I cut her off by wrapping my arms around her. "I think I've changed my mind," I whispered as I pecked her lips.

Scarlet had always been gentle and kind to me when she was in the mood for romance. And tonight, she was, so, it wasn't difficult for me to shift her attention.

"I need you." She whispered.

"You got me." I responded, our hearts now beating as one.

…

Time ticked. I gave her what she wanted.

I made sure to keep her in my warm embrace. Feeling her gentle breath, I leaned in to kiss her forehead.

"I love you," I murmured.

Scarlet only gave me a faint smile. Without a word, she slipped out of my embrace and headed to the bathroom.

I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling as tears slid down the sides of my face.

I loved her. I always would.

The next morning, I woke early, determined to do something for her. I prepared pumpkin soup and garlic bread, even brewed her favorite coffee—everything just the way she liked it.

But when Scarlet finally emerged from the bedroom, she didn't even glance at the dining table.

"It's still early," I said, trying to sound casual. "You can eat breakfast before leaving."

"I need to be at the law firm early. Kirk's already there, and I don't want to keep him waiting," Scarlet said as she adjusted her suit in front of the mirror. "We're filing a restraining order against Jane to stop her from harassing him."

She didn't even look at me as she spoke, her focus entirely on her reflection. And without so much as a goodbye, she walked out the door.

A bitter smile tugged at my lips as I sat at the dining table, taking a bite of the garlic bread I'd made for her.

Kirk had always been her top priority.

After finishing my lonely breakfast, I made up my mind. It was time to leave this mansion. I'm packing up to move into my empty apartment, hoping to find the peace of moving on and forgetting.

As I packed, I decided to clean up as well. That's when I found it—Scarlet's wedding ring, one my wolf and I put so much effort to obtain. It was under our bed, covered in a fine layer of dust. She hadn't been wearing it.

There, my wolf snapped.

Pain surged through me, and as I shifted, I let him take control.

He destroyed every reminder of our life with Scarlet. He tore the wedding photos into pieces, crushed the ring to ashes, and even shredded the gown Scarlet wore on our mating ceremony.

By the time I shifted back to human form, the bedroom had already descended into chaos.

Hours later, Scarlet returned home. She stepped into the room and took in the mess with a surprising calmness.

"What happened here?" She asked, her tone detached.

She didn't seem to notice—or care—that everything broken was tied to our marriage. Nor did she acknowledge that my belongings were packed.

I sighed. "Nothing. Just throwing away stuff we don't need anymore."

Scarlet nodded, wordlessly.

As I bent down to pick up a box, my eyes caught sight of Scarlet's phone on the bedside table. A message notification lit up the screen. It was from one of her friends, and the message read: [We'll have a gathering this Saturday. Bring your boyfriend with you! We're dying to meet him.]

My stomach churned.

Who would Scarlet bring? Me or Beta Kirk?

George's Point of View

I set the box aside, picked up Scarlet's phone, and handed it to her. "I accidentally read the message your friend sent you," I admitted.

Scarlet snatched the phone from my hand, her movements sharp. Her eyes darted across the screen, and as she read the message, her face paled.

"Are you planning to finally introduce me to your friends?" I asked casually.

The room fell silent.

Scarlet's lips parted as if to speak, but no words came out. Her hesitation said everything I needed to know. She wasn't planning to introduce me—she was planning to bring Kirk.

My chest tightened. I clenched my jaw and turned away from her. "Tell them I can't make it. I have a lot of work to catch up on this Saturday."

The tension in the air eased as relief washed over Scarlet's face.

"Ah, damn," she said with an awkward laugh. "I was just about to invite you. But it's fine. You can meet them some other time."

Saturday came.

Scarlet had already left for the gathering, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

The truth? I didn't have much to do today, but an uneasy feeling gnawed at me, urging me to go to the venue. I needed to know if my instincts were right—if she really brought Kirk and introduced him as her boyfriend.

When I arrived, I blended into the crowd to avoid drawing attention. I hadn't seen Scarlet yet, but I could hear her friends talking nearby.

"I can't believe Beta Kirk is Scarlet's boyfriend! He literally just severed his mating bond with Jane, didn't he?"

"Right? But who are we to judge? Beta Kirk is such a great catch."

Their words hit me like a punch.

So, it was true. She brought Kirk and proudly introduced him to her friends—something she could never bring herself to do with me.

I had already decided to leave the venue when something stopped me in my tracks. My gaze shifted to the dance floor, and there she was, dancing intimately with Beta Kirk. Their bodies pressed together, swaying in sync as if no one else existed.

Then, unexpectedly, Scarlet's eyes met mine. For a moment, I thought she would pull away. But instead, she pulled Kirk even closer. And without hesitation, she leaned in and kissed him, her lips tenderly lingering on his.

It wasn't just a kiss. It was deliberate, as if she were flaunting their connection in front of me.

Confusion and pain surged through me. Why was she doing this? Why would she want me to see?

Not wanting to witness the scene longer, I turned away, only to collide with someone. I stumbled back slightly, looking up to see one of Scarlet's friends staring at me, her eyes wide with recognition.

"Young Master George?" She said, her voice was curious and surprised. "What are you doing here? Are you with someone?"

At this point, the commotion had already captured the attention of the other guests. Even Scarlet and Kirk turned their gaze toward us, her arm wrapped tightly around his, as if she were staking her claim.

If I were a different man, perhaps I'd storm over to Kirk, knock him to the ground, and declare in front of everyone that I am Scarlet's husband—her mate—and that she's having an affair with him. I could expose her for what she's done, ruin her reputation as a respected pack lawyer, and destroy her life in an instant.

But I didn't want that.

I don't want my anger to be someone else's pain.

"Scarlet invited me," I said casually.

I caught her reaction immediately—a sharp gasp, her eyes widening in panic. The fear in her expression was like a silent plea, begging me not to say anything more.

"She's my friend," I continued smoothly. "And since I was nearby, I decided to drop by."

"Gosh, Scarlet! Why didn't you tell us you're friends with him?" One of her friends exclaimed. "Young Master George, you should join us! Come on, let's eat!"

Her invitation left me with little choice but to agree, so I nodded and followed them.

As I turned my back to Scarlet, her voice, irritated, cut through my mind-link. "What are you planning to do, George? You told me you weren't coming!"

"You invited me. Now I'm here. What's the matter? Does Beta Kirk not know you extended the invitation to me too?" I shot back.

The night wore on, and I had downed at least five glasses of liquor. Sitting alone at one of the tables, I didn't expect anyone to approach me—least of all Beta Kirk.

But he walked over, a bowl of steaming seafood broth in hand. He placed it on the table in front of me with an easy smile. "It's good for curing hangovers," He said, his tone friendly.

"Thank you," I replied. Without hesitation, I picked up the spoon and began eating the broth, the warmth settling uneasily in my stomach.

"For how long have you been friends with Scarlet?" Kirk asked casually.

I paused, considering my response. "Just recently. How about you?" Of course that was a lie.

A faint smile curved his lips. "We've known each other since we were kids. We've been good friends ever since." He leaned back slightly, his gaze softening. "George, I hope you know how kind and genuine Scarlet's heart is. She's the type of person who would sacrifice her own happiness for the sake of others."

His words made my brows furrow. "What do you mean by that?"

"You'll understand when the time is right," Kirk murmured.

Kind?

Genuine?

Since when did Scarlet embody those traits?

I didn't press further, sensing I wouldn't get a clear answer.

To my surprise, Kirk and I continued to converse. Our conversation flowed easily, and for the first time, I saw a different side of him—a side that was thoughtful.

Kirk was a good wolf.

When my mating bond with Scarlet finally ended, and she chose to be with Kirk, I could only hope she loved him right. Because from what I could see, Kirk would undoubtedly do that for her.

"Do you love Scarlet?" I asked suddenly.

Kirk didn't hesitate. He nodded confidently. "I mean, who wouldn't fall for a she-wolf like her? She's beautiful, kind… She's just so easy to love."

His words hit me harder than I expected, and I instinctively reached for my glass, downing another shot of liquor.

Before long, I decided it was time to leave.

I got into my car and sped off, pushing the vehicle to its limits. But no matter how far I went, I couldn't outrun the thoughts in my mind. Kirk's earnest confession replayed over and over, mingling with the images of Scarlet in his arms—their kisses, their embraces.

The distractions consumed me, pulling my focus away from the road. I didn't realize how far I'd drifted until the headlights illuminated a huge oak tree.

I hit the brakes, but the car skidded on the pavement, refusing to stop in time.

The next moment was a blur.

And then—impact.