“Nicole!”. Bradley snapped at me, pulling her behind him protectively. My wolf winced in pain at the sight of our mate, protecting someone else. She should probably be used to it by now, after all this isn’t the first time he would be protecting someone else instead of us.

Bradley has gone as far as publicly humiliating, for pushing Qiana down when I never did. She never missed any opportunities to show me just how much my mate cares and adores her and how he would choose her over me anytime. And of course she was always right.

The day I almost lost my life in a car accident, Bradley had come to visit me, leaving Qiana alone. I was overjoyed that day, that was the first time he has ever cared about me but it didn’t last long. Someone from Qiana house had called him almost immediately after he arrived, saying she had injured herself trying to move furniture! I had almost lost my own life but still my mate went running to her.

“You better keep my mother’s issues off your mouth, who gave you the right to speak?”. I yelled at Qiana.

"Was I wrong? If your mother hadn't manipulated Bradley with her supposed illness, would he have ever agreed to marry you? You and your mother are just greedy for the power and fame that comes with being the future alpha’s Luna. If it wasn’t for her, He won’t even stay in the same house as you". She fired back.

I turned to Bradley, searching for denial, but his silence spoke volumes. “You believe that? You think my mother faked her illness?”. I asked in disbelief.

I kept staring at Bradley, hoping he would at least make an attempt to deny it. I was ready to believe him, if he just said no, even if it was just a nod but no, I was wrong. He did believe it, he actually thought my mother was faking it so I could marry him to become his Luna.

Memories flooded back. Six months ago, my mother's gastric cancer diagnosis had left her with precious little time. Her final wish was to see me united with the love of my life, to know I had found happiness.

Desperate to grant her last desire, I begged Bradley to marry me. I fell to my knees, tears streaming down my face, and pleaded with him to make my mother's final days peaceful.

But now, Bradley's expression revealed the truth. He believed my mother wanted to deceive him, manipulated him into a loveless bold.

Maybe that was true after all I was the one chasing after him.

Bradley was the alpha's chosen heir, destined to lead the Xavier Pack. I fell deeply in love with him during our moonlit runs in college, shamelessly chasing him for four hunting seasons. And when I found out we were mates, I tripled my efforts to make him fall for me.

To win his heart, I submitted to his every command, surrendering to his dominance. Bradley craved loyalty and obedience in his mate, and I provided it, suppressing my own wild nature.

But after Qiana entered our pack, I discovered a different side of Bradley. He was gentle with her, playful, and affectionate. Qiana would nuzzle him, tease him, and claim him as her own, doing all the things I longed to do but dared not.

One full moon, I tried to mirror Qiana's carefree spirit, letting my wolfish instincts shine. But Bradley rebuffed me, his cold gaze piercing.

"Nicole, can you stop behaving like this? Why are you trying to be like Qiana? It’s irritating me, you are not her, not even close!." he growled, his rejection biting.

I felt like I was slapped in the face in public. I felt embarrassed and watched him leave. After that, I never acted like a spoiled child to him again. He never even took the initiative to hold my hand. When we were together, I was always one step behind him, the sight of me beside him angered him a lot. The only person who could stand side by side with him was Qiana, and he never refused Qiana's touch, her touch never irritates him. Only mine and my presence did.

Despite being his mate, I had nothing except the title of a girlfriend, I was not even recognized as his future Luna. Even in the eyes of outsiders, he and Qiana were the perfect couple, she was the perfect Luna and I was just an unwanted she-wolf trying to ruin their bond. He brought her in public and introduced her to everyone, while I would stand in the corner like the obedient mate he wants. One few a month of people knows we were mate, everyone thought he was Qiana’s mate.

If it weren't for my mother's limited time and my repeated requests, there would never have been that ridiculous wedding, as a matter of fact, Bradley would get really mad when I bring up the topic of us getting married. How could I have been so foolishly in love and not notice all his wrong doings?

I gazed at Bradley with disappointment. This was the man I had loved for nearly a decade, and now I found myself questioning what I ever saw in him, he wasn’t exactly the brightest bulb in the room. Compared to other guys in the pack, Bradley was just an average looking man.

Qiana was still embroidering when she called out, "Bradley, could you come closer and check if my face is swollen? How could she be so vicious? My face is throbbing."

Bradley's focus shifted to her right away. I put all my force into that slap, leaving distinct finger marks on her face. He gently caressed her face, staring at her like she was the only thing that matters the most to him, I bit my lips hard to stop the tears from falling.

Bradley's demeanor quickly soured. "Nicole, apologize!"

"What if I refuse?".

I lifted my head defiantly, meeting Bradley's gaze filled with determination as I tried to suppress my tears. There was only anger and disgust in my mate's eyes for me. Bradley tried to control his anger, cautioning me.

“Nicole, don't push me to the limit. Apologize now and I will forgive you”. In the past, my wolf and I had always been intimidated by Bradley. His mere frown would make me back down and submit without a word. I would apologize for any time inconvenience his Qiana ever experienced.

But now, I feel indifferent, I wasn’t going to apologize or back down even if he’s spitting out fire, I won’t submit to him… not anymore . Qiana, however, was not satisfied. "Bradley, I don't want an apology. She hit me, and I want to hit her back."

Hearing this, Bradley glanced at me, trying to make me give in. But I still looked rebellious. Seeing I wasn’t about to give in to him anytime soon, Bradley buke at his two bodyguards as came out of nowhere and held me down as they forced me on my knees. I didn't have the strength to struggle, and I didn't even want to struggle, despite my wolf growling in my head, threatening to take control and devour them.

Qiana approached me with a sense of pride, lifted her hand, and struck me multiple times. Bradley just stood there without saying a word watching his mate being hit by his mistress. Blood trickled from the corners of my mouth. Without a word, I lowered myself to the ground, feeling embarrassed and uncomfortable.

Bradley looked down at me and said, "You owe Qiana this. Apologize to her now and I can pretend that nothing happened!" I suddenly laughed, I only slapped her once. She slapped me till I was bleeding and yet I have to apologize?

"You wish!"

Bradley narrowed his eyes and said, "Nicole, if you are obedient, I can give you everything you want, including marriage. Have you really thought it through? Do you really want to go against my orders? You know going against my words will cause you more than just an apology".

He didn't want to give me what I wanted when I wanted it.

Now that I no longer desire it, he is trying to use threats and inducements to make me compromise.

I endured the pain on my face and said coldly, "Bradley, I have already said we are breaking up, and I will not marry you. Don’t think so highly of yourself”.

Perhaps because I loved him too much before, Bradley didn't believe that I would leave him, especially since he had promised me the marriage I had always dreamed of. I have always been dependent on Bradley, I could hardly do anything without taking his permission.

He sneered. "What? Don't you want to fulfill your mother's dying wish?". I sensed a hint of contempt in his words, he said those words as if he’s doing me a big favor by marrying me… like I wasn’t his mate but a complete stranger he decided to help.

Before I could respond, Qiana seemed to have caught on to something. "Bradley, I told you she was lying to you. If her mother was truly dying, how could she have such an attitude? Don't be deceived by her, it’s just another one of her and her mother's scheme to tie you down. Nicole, are you both so greedy to the extent you will fake cancer to get Bradley. "

I couldn't bear it any longer. "Shut up, you have no right to talk about my mother. How dare you accuse me of lying?."

My continued defiance completely enraged Bradley, instead of supporting me. He totally believed whatever nonsense Qiana was spilling.

"I hope you won't regret this." Bradley sneered and called his assistant. To ensure I could hear clearly, he turned on the speaker.

"Caleb, contact Matching Together now and cancel it."

Matching Together was the top wedding company in the country. It was where we were supposed to hold the wedding after the mating ceremony. My mother had picked that place and I had told Bradley about it, first he freaked out on why she had picked such an expensive place for just a wedding.

"And cancel Mrs. Simpson's surgery." Bradley thought he could intimidate me, so he stared at me while speaking, feeling like a god. I simply stared back at him without any reaction. Waiting for him to hear the good news after my mother’s death now, he will finally be free from the bondage I had put him in. Caleb hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Mr. Xavier, Mrs. Simpson passed away three days ago, on the day of your wedding!”