“Aurora, can you please hurry? It’s dinner time, and I’m sure Cassie is starving. I need you to whip up something for us right now!” my mother-in-law insisted, tapping my shoulder with impatience.

“Don’t touch me! You’ve made it clear that Cassie is the perfect choice for a daughter-in-law. If that’s the case, let her handle dinner,” I shot back.

With that, I plopped down on the couch and switched on the TV, ignoring the glares directed at me while I focused on the show playing in front of me.

Inside, I felt a sting of hurt, but I was determined to maintain a strong front. I wouldn’t let them see how much their words affected me. If they wanted to play games, I could play them even better.

After more than two hours, dinner was finally ready.

As I made my way to the dining table, I heard the clatter of utensils, but Kathryn quickly pulled Cassie aside to take my place at the table.

I felt my anger boil over as I clenched my fist and bit my lip, the primal instinct of my wolf clawing to break free.

The urge to tear Cassie apart was overwhelming; she was pushing me to my limits.

I half-expected Thane to intervene, but who was I kidding? He acted as if nothing had happened, casually serving food to Cassie, something he had never done for me.

“Mom, what’s going on? Why is Cassie sitting in my place at the table?” I demanded, my voice laced with fury as she rolled her eyes.

“You should be working, but instead, you’re acting like a child. There’s leftover food in the kitchen; help yourself. And by the way, the kitchen is a mess—clean it up when you’re done.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “You never fail to surprise me. So, after all these years of cooking for this family, the one time I’m too exhausted, you leave me scraps? Alpha Aurora of the Crescent Moon Pack reduced to eating leftovers! This is the ultimate insult! Enjoy your meal; I’ll be dining with my friends.” I slammed my fist on the table and stormed out, seething.

But honestly, food was the last thing on my mind; my anger consumed me. I was focused on finding a way to teach these ungrateful people a lesson.

The memories of all I had endured for love ignited a fire within me.

My father had been right all along—Thane was the worst mistake of my life, just as he had warned me when I first introduced him as my mate.

I hopped into my car and dialed the account manager, instructing them to freeze all accounts and transfer the funds to me.

Thankfully, I was the primary signatory on all of them, making the process a breeze.

Feeling pleased with my manager's swift action, I headed to a trendy new restaurant in town.

I indulged in a feast of delicious food and fine wine while attempting to reach my father.

However, the beta informed me that he was away and suggested I call back tomorrow.

I returned home late, hoping Thane would at least check in on me.

But as I glanced at my phone, I found no calls, no texts—absolutely nothing. It was clear I meant nothing to him.

Not even my mother-in-law or sister-in-law bothered to see how I was doing?

What if something had gone wrong? They would likely just carry on as if I had never been a part of their lives.

I wiped away the tears streaming down my face and slipped my phone into my bag. I can't tell how much longer I can endure their indifference before I completely fall apart.

Entering the house, I made my way to the bedroom.

Using my wolf senses, I detected a foreign scent mingling with my own, heightening my instincts and preparing me to confront the woman who dared to intrude.

As a Lycan she-wolf, jealousy ran deep, and my Alpha status only intensified my territorial nature. Just as I was about to flip on the lights, I heard a woman moan, followed by the unmistakable sound of kissing.

So Thane had the audacity to betray me while we were still mated?

Fury surged within me as I switched on the light, revealing Cassie and my mate, both completely naked, their faces frozen in shock as they scrambled to cover themselves.

At that moment, I transformed into my wolf.

I charged at Cassie without a moment's hesitation, leaping onto her and tearing into her arm as she cried out in agony.

There was no opportunity for her to fight back. As an Alpha, I knew exactly how to handle someone like her.

With my fangs and claws, I inflicted wounds across her body, ensuring they were deep and would take a significant time to heal.

Thane attempted to pull me away, drawing the attention of his family, but none of them dared to approach me in my furious state.

As a Lycan Alpha, I possessed immense strength and struggled to rein in my anger until my wolf was fully satisfied.

The taste of her blood lingered on my tongue, causing me to grimace as I finally stepped back, her bloodied form giving me a twisted sense of satisfaction.

If it weren't for her Werewolf genes, it would take a human weeks to recover from such injuries, but for a wolf, she'd be back on her feet in just two days, experiencing only mild discomfort.

This day would serve as a stark reminder for her to steer clear of me and to keep her distance from my man, a man I was uncertain still belonged to me.

As I leaped off Cassie, I shifted back to my human form.

She bolted toward Thane’s family, who stood at the far end of the room, ready to comfort her. They all left, casting me fierce glares while Cassie's loud sobs echoed in the space.

I truly had no intention of killing her.

If I had wanted to, I could have done it without consequence, being the Alpha of her pack with the authority to deal with anyone who crossed me. But honestly, she wasn't worth the trouble.

The real threat was my so-called mate and his wicked family.

“Aurora, how could you! How could you commit such a monstrous act against Cassie? We’re supposed to be heading to the festival tomorrow—what were you thinking?” he shouted, and I shoved him back, matching his intensity as tears streamed down my face. I had vowed not to cry, but Thane's betrayal cut deep.

“Yes, I wasn’t thinking, Thane! And yes, I did something terrible because I’m a wolf, and she deserves even worse! She should be grateful I didn’t end her life, because I don’t believe killing is the ultimate revenge!”

“I’m taking Cassie to the hospital, and you better pray to the moon goddess that those scars vanish by dawn, or you won’t like what I’ll do to you!” he yelled, his eyes glowing with fury as I stood there, speechless.

“This is outrageous! You have no remorse? You cheated on me, your mate, while we were still married, in our own home and bed, and you think you can blame me? You’re despicable, Thane!” I shouted, continuing to hit his chest, tears flowing freely.

“I don’t regret what I did, Aurora. In fact, being with Cassie was the best experience I’ve had since we got married. Accept it—being with you is boring and I needed something more! You know what? I don’t have the energy for this right now. I’ll be back.”

He shouted and rushed out of the bedroom, leaving me clutching my chest in bed, collapsing to the floor in utter disbelief.

I never imagined Thane could be so heartless.

A few minutes later, I heard the entire family leave and in a fit of anger, I marched to the front doors and locked them tight.

It might actually be refreshing to sleep outside for the first time in ages.

***

I woke up the next morning with a pounding headache. I had tossed and turned all night, listening to sad songs and was jolted awake by relentless banging on the door.

All I wanted was to brew a hot cup of coffee, but the incessant knocking only intensified my headache, making me clutch my head in frustration.

I trudged to the door and swung it open, only to be met by Thane and his family storming into my home, their faces twisted in anger.

Just as I was about to retreat to the kitchen, Thane's voice halted me.

“You intentionally locked us out in the cold last night, knowing we were at the hospital! What kind of person are you, Aurora?”

With a smirk, I replied, “What’s the big deal about spending a night in the cold? You’re all omegas; suffering is practically your birthright, isn’t it?”

I simply smiled, choosing not to retaliate as I watched them all move inside.

A few minutes later, they returned to the living room, fully dressed and dragging their luggage behind them.

Thane placed them right in front of me as my mother-in-law instructed, “Aurora, take care of our bags. You’re taking the train, so it’ll be easier for you to manage. This way, we won’t have to stress about baggage limits at the airport.”

I counted the ten boxes and grinned. “Of course, I’ll bring the suitcases to you.”

As soon as they departed, I sprang into action.

First, I contacted the disposal team and handed over the luggage.

They exchanged curious glances, clearly surprised by the pristine condition of the bags.

I reassured them that they could dispose of the contents and take anything they desired from the suitcases. Grateful, they thanked me profusely as I settled the service fee and they took their leave.

Next, I canceled Thane and his family's hotel reservation.

With that out of the way, I relaxed with a cup of coffee and booked an emergency flight to Alberta. I had the funds, and for the first time, it felt liberating to spend on myself without considering Thane and his family.

Not long after I checked into a luxurious five-star hotel in Alberta, Thane called. I smiled, sipping my wine as I answered the phone.

“Aurora, where are you? We can't locate our hotel reservation! You were supposed to arrive by now! What about our luggage? Please send the booking details immediately!”

In a world filled with rudeness, this takes the cake. I simply bit my lip and smiled.

“Oh, I completely forgot to mention that I canceled it and got rid of your bags,” I said, a smirk playing on my lips as I envisioned the shock on his face. Little did he know, I had even more surprises in store for him.

“What do you mean? Why would you cancel the reservation? Where are we supposed to stay tonight? Are you out of your mind?”