MONETTE

The sharp scent of cigarette smoke lingered in the air, curling through the dimly lit bedroom. Edward stood near the window, wearing nothing but his ripped jeans, his bare back illuminated by the faint glow of the city lights.

I lay on the bed, my tiny nightgown barely covering me, the haze of alcohol dulling my senses—but not enough to silence the question that had been haunting at me.

Summoning courage, I finally asked, "When are you going to sever your mating bond with Olivia? I mean, I already rejected my fated mate for you—for this relationship to even have a chance."

Edward flicked his cigarette into the bin before turning to face me. His calloused hands cupped my face, his lips pressing a brief kiss against mine. When he pulled back, our gazes locked.

"She's my mate," he said. "And she will be—at least until the LaFleur Grand Ball."

Another kiss. A distraction.

"Our Alpha wants stability. No conflicts, no loose ends. If I can make it seem like my mating bond with Olivia is intact, there's a strong chance I'll secure a deal with the LaFleur Clan." His words slipped smoothly from his lips as he slowly eased me back onto the bed.

"Okay…" I murmured, even though I didn't agree with his decision. "I love you, Edward. I can't wait for the day we don't have to hide anymore. I deserve more than to be just your mistress."

"I love you too, Monette. Please, just be patient a little longer," he whispered before trailing kisses down my neck.

The hunger between us was insatiable, desperate, and reckless. We surrendered to it, losing ourselves in each other through the night.

Morning arrived, and I woke up at six. Edward still lay naked and asleep beside me. My fingers traced the sharp lines of his face. Then, I leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips.

Goddamn, he looked so beautiful.

At that moment, it hit me all over again.

This man wasn't mine.

A sharp pang twisted in my chest as my thoughts darkened. Olivia had the right to touch him too. To hold him. To claim him in ways I never truly could.

That's when jealousy burned through me.

"Edward… you feel so good next to me. I don't want to wait anymore. I don't want to share." My voice was a sultry whisper.

Slowly, I slipped out of bed, my movements silent as I reached for his phone on the bedside table. He had entered his passcode last night, and I had memorized it effortlessly.

I unlocked the screen and scrolled through his contacts, searching for a specific number. When I finally found it, a slow smirk curved my lips.

I began typing.

[Room 354. Vendora Hotel. Be here at 7 AM, babe. I have a surprise to show you.]

With a single tap, the message was sent. And just as quickly, I erased it.

Next, I picked up the room's phone and dialed the front desk. "We're expecting a guest in Room 354. Please let her in when she arrives."

I hung up.

The plan was set.

Ensuring the door was unlocked, I let my silk nightgown slip from my shoulders, pooling at my feet. Then, I climbed back into bed, pressing myself against Edward's warm body beneath the sheets.

And I waited.

OLIVIA

The whole night, I tossed and turned, wondering where Edward was. I had fallen asleep waiting for him to arrive, yet he hadn't.

But then, as the morning light slipped through the curtains, my phone buzzed with a message.

Edward: [Room 354. Vendora Hotel. Be here at 7 AM, babe. I have a surprise to show you.]

The words jolted me fully awake.

Just like that, all my doubts about his loyalty melted away.

A surprise. Maybe that's why he hadn't come home last night—he had been busy preparing something special for me.

Heart fluttering with renewed excitement, I quickly typed a reply.

[Really? Okay, babe. I'll see you.]

Slipping out of bed, I rushed to the closet, searching for the perfect dress. But as I sifted through the hangers, my fingers froze.

The diamond ring was gone.

I let out a loud scream, jumping around in excitement. "Is this it? Is today the day he finally proposes? Is he really going to do it now?!" My heart raced at the thought.

Determined to make this moment perfect, I took my time in the bath, letting the warm water soothe my nerves. I applied elegant makeup, slipped into a delicate white dress, and styled my brunette hair neatly. A final touch—his favorite perfume—before stepping out of the house, beaming. I even greeted strangers along the way.

Hailing a cab, I arrived at the hotel in just fifteen minutes. I took a deep breath before stepping inside. The receptionist greeted me warmly and, without hesitation, granted me access to Room 354.

Standing before the door, I rehearsed my words one last time. "There's no one else I'd rather marry but you. Making our mating bond official and sacred has always been my dream. So yes, Edward, I would marry you." My voice wavered, and heat crept up my cheeks.

I could already imagine his reaction!

But the moment I twisted the doorknob and pushed the door open, my world came crashing down.

Edward was there, as expected, but there were no flowers or petals scattered on the floor. He wasn't wearing a suit either or holding out a ring while kneeling in front of me. In fact, he was naked and still asleep.

Beside him, just as bare, was Monette.

She didn't even flinch seeing me. Instead, she met my gaze with a slow smirk and whispered, "Did you like your mate's surprise, hmm?"

OLIVIA

Tears spilled down my face, uncontrollable and relentless, yet I couldn't move my eyes away from the sight before me.

In a single moment, four years of my life—years I had willingly given to Edward—were reduced to nothing. The love I had poured into him so freely was replaced in an instant by anger and disgust.

How dare he betray me like this?

Was this why, after all this time, he had never once considered marrying me?

Fuck. I really thought he was going to propose.

"Do you like what you see, Olivia? You look completely mesmerized," Monette purred, dragging a perfectly manicured hand down Edward's bare chest.

Her voice, her smirk, everything about her grated on my nerves. My pain and fury blended into something reckless. Without hesitation, I slipped off the left side of the six-inch stiletto I was wearing and hurled it straight at Monette's head.

"Ouch! What the fuck?!" Monette yelped, reacting just in time.

The commotion stirred Edward awake. His eyes fluttered open, still clouded with sleep, so I seized the opportunity. Slipping off my remaining stiletto, I took aim—this time at him.

"Bullseye," I murmured as it struck its target.

Now, both of them were clutching their reddened foreheads, glaring at me in shock.

Then, reality hit Edward. His gaze darted between me and Monette before he hastily pulled the sheets over her and scrambled to put his clothes back on. Guilt flickered in his eyes as he approached me.

"Olivia… it's not what you think. I'm sorry, please—just let me explain," he pleaded, reaching for my hand.

I stepped back, disgust curling in my chest. "Don't touch me with your sinful hands, Edward." My voice trembled with fury.

I met his gaze.

"Is this what best friends do on vacation? Is this what you meant when you said you were doing it for the Waverley Clan? Is this the thing you wanted me to understand?" The words tumbled out continuously.

I was shattered.

"I'm sorry…" Edward muttered.

I wiped the tears from my face. "I started doubting your faithfulness the moment Monette entered the picture. But I chose to trust you because I believed you loved me. I even thought today was the day you'd finally propose." I let out a hollow laugh. "Is this the surprise you were talking about, Edward? Is this why you asked me to come here?"

His brows knitted together. "What are you talking about? What surprise—"

I cut him off, my patience snapping. "The business card from a wedding gown boutique," I said, watching him closely.

Edward inhaled sharply, but no words came. That silence told me everything.

Monette scoffed. "My god, Olivia, you really are a delusional freak. Edward's been looking at wedding gowns for me—not for you."

I turned to her just as she lifted her hand, flaunting her fingers.

And there it was.

My heart crumpled in on itself as my gaze landed on the rare diamond ring—the same one I had found in our closet. The ring I had foolishly believed was meant for me.

"See this?" Monette flaunted the ring, a smug smile curling on her lips. "Edward gave it to me as a promise that he'd marry me once he severed his mating bond with you."

A sharp pain lodged in my throat as I turned to Edward. "Is that true?"

Monette let out a scoff. "Edward, come on. Tell her the truth about us. Tell her you don't love her anymore. That you won't marry her because you could never take a low-ranking she-wolf as your wife."

Silence.

Edward dropped his gaze to the floor, shame written all over his face. When he finally spoke, his voice was weak.

"I lied. Monette's not here for a vacation. She's here to stay." He swallowed hard, refusing to meet my eyes. "She's not my childhood best friend. We've been dating for over a year now. Her family already had plans for us, for the clans, and over time, I started to love her too…" He exhaled, his expression pained. "...while my feelings for you slowly faded. I'm really sorry."

A cold emptiness spread through me. I shook my head.

"But I love you," I said, my voice breaking. "I gave you my all, Edward."

"Exactly. That's all you could ever give me—love," Edward said, his tone sharp. "But love alone isn't enough, Olivia. You can't offer anything to help the Waverley Clan grow. Fuck, I don't even know where Fleur Clan is or who your family are. It's harsh, but I need more than just affection. I need someone who can love me and be beneficial to me at the same time. Monette can give me that."

His words cut through my very soul, but he wasn't done yet.

"We can… we can sever our mating bond after the LaFleur Clan Grand Ball," he added, as if he were doing me a favor.

Something inside me snapped.

I took a deep breath, steadied myself, then slapped him. His head whipped to the side, but it wasn't enough. I gritted my teeth and struck him again, this time hard enough to split his lip.

"Ending it at the grand ball for what?" I spat, my voice ice-cold. "To make a spectacle out of it? To prove to everyone that you're in a 'great' relationship? To earn the Alpha's trust? To secure a deal with LaFleur?" I let out a bitter laugh. "No fucking way." My eyes burned with hatred. "If I'm not beneficial to you, then let it stay that way forever."

His jaw clenched, his hands curling into fists. "You can't do that, Olivia. I need to be at the grand ball with a mate—"

I grabbed his collar, yanking him close. His breath hitched as my grip tightened, cutting off some of his air.

"Fuck you and your selfish ways, Edward," I hissed. "We're going to the pack elders and ending this worthless bond right now."