There was a deafening silence for over a minute. Only our bated breath was heard, repulsing each other.

There was surprise in his face it was the first time I was speaking to him in this maner. I'd always been the loyal lickspittle, ready to forgive and forget every nonsense he threw at me.

He thought I needed to keep him as my Mate, so it was a taboo to react. So he was more surprised than angry.

His pink lips parted and he cocked his head to one side. Then closed his mouth, his eyebrows crinkled in perplexity.

The oven beeped, breaking the unbearable silence. I took the cake out and sat at the table, miserable and angry. This cake was meant to celebrate my 25th birthday. I'd just began kneading the final dough when I got an anonymous text on my phone: "An unpleasant surprise awaits you in the lower floor." Then I'd gone and beheld my Mate under the sexual touches of Naomi.

"Is today … your birthday?"

I ignored him.

In a flurry of guilty activities, he rushed to get candles, muttering apologies and promises.

I stopped him. "This isn't necessary, Santiago. Accept the rejection and let me get out of here."

My voice was hard and my expression resolute.

He stared at me. "You're just angry," he started.

In a burst of rage I pushed at his chest. As expected, he didn't move an inch. "I refuse to made a fool of. You can't just toss me around like some yo-yo. Accept the fucking rejection, Alpha Santiago. I do not want to be your Mate no more!"

His eyes burned into mine. Then he scoffed. "Lyraea, the moment I accept your rejection, you're gone for."

He paused, letting it sink in.

"From thenceforth, your life will become continuously miserable, tough, bloodily unsafe. You'll be battered down so much you'll walk on your knees, and your foes will think you aren't low enough."

I suppressed a shudder, my jaws grinding against each other. A lump formed in my throat.

The irony of this decision was that he was mostly right. I had nothing else left if I left his mansion. Who do I go to? A crackhead mom who just wants money for drugs, status and makeup? Do I go back to the company I'd resigned from because Santiago had said so? My savings were zero and my future was dimmer than milkless coffee.

After considering all of this, I said, "Alpha Santiago, please accept my rejection."

A bitter smile flashed on his face. He turned to the cake, lifted it and then let it drop on the floor. At the same time he was reaching for his ringing phone.

He raised it at me. "Oops."

He slammed the door after him and ran downstairs.

My nostrils flared and I bit down on my lower lip.

After cleaning up the mess, I checked my phone.

Naomi just posted. "What could cure a clumsy beauty than a swifter Alpha? My stubbed toe got the suck it deserved!" It was followed by a picture of her toe in a man's mouth. She scarcely covered his face with an emoji.

In the comments, Santiago, who had ignored me even when I was in a car accident, wrote: "Whenever you need me, I'll be there for you."

Then a call came in from him. I answered. "Come clean Naomi's room," he said. "I'm taking her to the hospital. Tidy up the entire rooms, and there's a couple of laundry she's got. Deal with it. You're an Omega and shall remain so. Naomi is a fucking Gamma!"

The line went dead. I didn't go downstairs till they'd driven off. Pushed by curiosity, I went down and looked around the room.

Naomi's bathroom was soaked with water and in the trash bin, there were three used condoms. A wave of disgust hit me.

No wonder Santiago had been working overtime so much lately. It appeared he'd spend some time with Naomi downstairs every day before returning home upstairs.

I glanced around the bedroom. It was filled with luxury brand items and expensive skincare products.

I still remembered how, just a few days ago, I had asked Santiago for a lipstick as a birthday present.

He had looked at me with utter disdain while said, "Twenty-five years old and you still have the nerve to celebrate? Are you trying to act young? Just stay home and do your chores. No amount of expensive makeup will make you twenty again."

I took pictures of everything in the room, making a voiceover explaining the scenario. Then I returned upstairs to pack my things.

In the seven years we had been together, Santiago had given me a few gifts. French kitchenware, a vacuum cleaner and a knife set, just making sure I stayed close to the floor.

As I threw my dresses into a bag, Omni began to bleed again. The thoughts that I had endured these seven years, just hoping that my Mate would get to love me, were too much to bear. Breaking the mate bond was as painful as losing a limb. The sadness was overwhelming.

When I was done, I called my best friend, Sara, who was in Canada. After three missed calls, she finally picked up.

I held back my tears and said, "Sara, I've broken my bond with him. I shouldn't have given up my career and my life for Santiago. I regret it. I want to come find you."

"You walked right into it," she said, calmly, and ended the call.

I crashed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. Sara had always tried to make me leave Santiago. She was locked up by him on one occasion.

I was lying on my back, gazing at the bland ceiling when a new message popped up on my phone.

When I checked it, I was surprised.

Sara had bought me the earliest flight to Canada. And it was in 3 days, just before noon.

I dropped the phone to my stomach and sighed, relieved. But how would I cope for these three days?

Santiago didn't return home that night. Because I refused to cook for Naomi, he blocked my number.

I didn't as much as raise an eyebrow. I took a few things in my purse and boarded a cab.

I was immediately struck by the scent of the cab driver. It wasn't a bodily odor; it was a scent only werewolves could pick out.

"Where to, ma'am?"

Our eyes met and I shuddered. I was having an instinct attack. The text, the text. The invisible person who'd texted me.

I watched the man for a few seconds and decided to take the risk. I told him the address to my mom's.

He nodded and got going. "Tough times?" he asked over his shoulder.

I was some sort of a celebrity, being the Alpha's "fiancée," so I wasn't too surprised to hear him try get my attention.

"Why'd you say so?" I asked, immediately taking control.

He shrugged with his eyes. "You're bleeding."

"Huh?" My hands flew to my face.

"Not your face."

I stopped and instantly felt the dampness between my legs.

I glanced at the driver again. His nose twitched. How the hell did he...

"I'm a rogue wolf, ma'am," he said, but I wouldn't hurt you.

That didn't stop the fear that clutched at my throat.

"Just be careful. I think you lost a pregnancy or something," he said. "You need to go see a doctor, at least."

"A trusted one," I whispered, realizing how much of a target I'd become. Rejecting the Alpha came with its consequences.

If this cab was a bad guy, I wasn't sure I'd escape this.

"He's got many allies," he continued, seemingly speaking from a place of mystical knowledge. "They'd lash out at anyone who tries to bring him down. Sure it's something you want to face?"

The question hung in the air unanswered as he came to a stop in front of my home.

I alighted with weak legs, paid him and watched him quietly leave. I didn't get to see his face clearly. But he was young.

And too knowledged to be a cab driver.

Swallowing hard, I turned around to see my mom at the door, her phone in her hand.

She flew to her feet, anger deepening the wrinkles on her face. "You went ahead to say that taboo to your Alpha mate?" she asked, referring to the rejection.

"Mom, there's no going back, I've had—"

The words hadn't left my mouth when she struck me across the face. I felt blood rush under the skin of my face.

I was used to this, even as a grownup, my mother maltreated me, and for a long time, I'd been conditioned to remain quiet.

She grabbed a wooden stick and began beating me with it, hard and furious. One strike after another, while people passed.

"The Alpha told me everything," she was wailing. "Finding an Alpha willing to call you his own is a blessing you've earned over several lifetimes and you still can't make the most of it? Jealous, living wildly, you're such a senseless fool!"

She hunched over me.

"Let me tell you, bitch, no matter what it takes, begging, getting pregnant, you've got to find a way to marry Santiago, or don't bother coming back here!" she screamed.

Suddenly, a gust of cold wind blew and the skies split open. Only the rain made my mom stop. She ran into the house and threw my belongings out. Into the rain.

She yelled, "Get out right now! Even if you die, you better die at his house!"

One of my childhood trophies hit my forehead and blood mixed with rainwater trickled down my cheek.

I bent down, scampering through the scattered items, trying to salvage memories from the past.

A Range Rover slowly pulled up beside me. Santiago got out of the car, holding an umbrella with one hand. He forcibly pulled me into the car with the other hand.

"Lyraea, have you learned your lesson?" he asked. "No one's ever going to accept a trash bag like you. Yeah, that's what you've reduced yourself to. Come home, apologize to me, Naomi and my family whom you've embarrassed. Maybe you'll get a chance in my life again."

He threw his coat over me and the distinct scent of Naomi's perfume hit me.

I turned my head to look at the rain-blurred scenery outside the window, feeling utterly numb inside.

There were times when I tried to tell Santiago how I felt inside. But he ended up using my insecurities against me. And with this coat over me, I knew it was only going to get worse.

Just three days, I thought. Just three.

He picked his ringing phone. "Santiago, why aren't you here yet? Everyone's waiting for you," the voice said.

"They're all teasing me, they wanna know why the wife of the CEO is here and her husband is nowhere to be found. I'm running out of ways to respond …"

I swallowed and closed my eyes. Opening them, I saw Santiago shoot me an awkward glance. He hesitated, wanting to leave me behind but realizing it wouldn't look right.

He dragged his voice, "Lyraea, why don't you come along to the company retreat? I'm sure there could be somewhere you'd fit in. Possibly with the servants."

Omni growled and my jaws fell open. The disrespect was becoming more and more ruthless.

‘There's a pen in your purse, there's his bare neck!’

I heard this so clear and loud that I jolted.

Then the voice of the cab driver resurfaced in my head:

"They'd lash out at anyone who tries to bring him down... something you want to face?"

I wiped my bloody forehead, "Okay.”

I was still dripping with rain when we arrived. It was a very lit building, dancing with neon lights and signs. The air inside was warm.

Then I noticed Santiago was walking ahead of me, clearly distancing himself from me.

Naomi's face turned spiteful when our eyes met. She grabbed the edge of the table, while throwing angry glances at the Alpha.

The latter crawled at her, whispering, "ignore her, Naomi. She's done nothing her whole life but fuck herself up. Here's just another chance at it."

Naomi found this amusing and decided to let me be.

"Is she just gonna hear everything we discuss here?" a punky man asked about me.

Santiago waved him off with an apologetic smile. "She's slow, wouldn't let it bother me."

"She'd better keep her distance." He raised his fingers to squeeze his nose.

I sat on a sofa a few metres away from the grand table and tried to focus on myself and what I felt. I could still hear the driver's words. Was I really pregnant? Santiago and I had unpredicted sex sometimes, when he was either very drunk or Naomi was out of town.

So...

I sighed and leaned back on the sofa. My mom wanted me to get pregnant for him, to keep him. But I was glad I'd lost the baby.

The Alpha would go crazy over me if he found I had a child for him. But I didn't want that anymore.

Just then, Sara called.

She told me she'd contacted a few companies and I could interview with them anytime. Before I could hang up, a hand suddenly grabbed my shoulder.

I turned to see Santiago, looking puzzled. "Who are you talking to? What interview? Where do you plan to go?"

I lied easily, "A cleaning job."

Santiago's frown slowly relaxed, then he cracked up and said loudly to his people, "Look what I'm cursed to have as my Luna."

He grabbed my head which I quickly brushed out of his grip. He took hold of my hair this time and pulled tight, not breaking contact with his audience.

"She's been called to an interview for a toilet cleaning job. Just hear that!"

Naomi rushed to the bathroom to throw up. A man lowered his head on the table. The others had unhidden disgust on their faces.

Santiago rushed to meet Naomi. The next moment he poked out his head.

"Get the hell out of here!" he barked. "And wash that coat you've soiled with your stench."

I tossed Santiago's coat onto the sofa and made to leave.

"Let me see her off," I heard Naomi say.

"What?" Santiago was taken aback, but he gave in. And he came with us, just in case I got possessed and decided to attack her, he said.

Outside, with my two foes breathing hot around me, I was trembling. So when Naomi placed a foot between my legs, I immediately lost balance.

In that split second, Santiago actually made a reflex move to hold me, but Naomi shouted. And that was sufficient decoy.

I crashed into the rose thorn bush, the thorns instantly curling themselves into my skin. I cried out, unable to pull out without having my skin ripping off in a thousand places.

I waited, holding myself in a very awkward position. Knowing I wouldn't be rescued, I forced myself out, while whimpering in fear and pain.

"Oww," Naomi said and stepped closer to Santiago. "There's so many of them."

Santiago felt a bit guilty. "Shit," he spat. "That doesn't look good. You need to see a doctor or you're bleeding to death."

I bent down when I felt a little tickle between my thighs. Blood.

Damn, I gasped. I instantly knew it wasn't from the thorns. They mustn't see this!

I redirected their attention by trying to pull out a thorn from my chin.

"I'll take care of myself," I mumbled, turning away.

Santiago sighed in relief. "That saves us a lot. Still got some cash on you, I believe?"

"Toilet Cleaners never run out of it," Naomi chipped in.

Santiago's laugh was dry and forced. Looking at him, I didn't just feel anger. I felt pity. Pity that an Alpha, who'd been well known in his prime for outstanding prowesses, had been reduced to a woman's purse.

But I pitied him more for what I planned to do to him.

At the hospital, the gynecologist carefully removed the thorns buried in my skin. And an hour later, after some tests were run, he confirmed I'd been pregnant. But I lost it.

To food poisoning, he'd said. Told me to be careful and only eat meals prepared by me. I couldn't help but think about the cakes Santiago brought me.

"Handmade by a special friend," he'd say.

I didn't need to be told who this "friend" was.

The next morning, Santiago called me with a strange number.

"What the hell's wrong with your phone?"

"You blocked me," I snapped, suddenly more angry at him. How dare him!

After a moment, he began to throw halfhearted apology around. "I promise it won't happen next time," he concluded.

I glanced at the time. "There won't be a next time," I said, but it was into a dead phone.

Two hours left before noon!

I wore gloves and from behind, pressed a blob of gum onto Santiago's laptop webcam.

Satisfied, I flicked it open. It wasn't locked.

"You're a fool if you trusted me not to pry," I grunted.

Quickly, I transferred all the pictures I'd taken of Naomi's room, the used condoms, to the laptop. I also added "hot" shots taken from a very close angle. Taken by someone very close to the Alpha.

Very close, really.

Someone whose identity I'd keep anonymous until the end of the saga....

I logged into Santiago's Instagram with two million followers and clicked Post.

I placed the laptop between two solid boxes and jumped on it, splitting it.

I ran.

At the airport, I heard my name.

"Lyraea, wait!"