Chapter 1
On our marking night, Rohan brought home a little girl and another woman.
"This is my first love, and we have a daughter together. From now on, we’ll all live together peacefully," he declared, his alpha tone leaving no room for argument. The air around him seemed to thicken with his authority, his commanding presence filling the room.
"And isn’t it convenient? Someone can take care of you, considering you can’t shift anymore."
I looked down at my legs, the ones that had been rendered useless after the rogue attack where I’d saved his life. I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. He seemed to have forgotten that it was because of him I’d lost my wolf form entirely.
Later, I left without saying a word, and he apologized, begging me to come back.
"Alpha Rohan, do you even realize what you're saying?"
I stared at him in disbelief, the man I had loved for five years and marked as my mate just today. Beside him stood his first love, Imani, and a young girl. A moment ago, he told me the girl was his daughter with Imani.
The child looked about four years old, which meant that when we first got together, his first love was already pregnant. My hands gripped the arms of my wheelchair tightly, my whole body trembling uncontrollably.
"Are your ears blocked, or do I need to repeat myself?"
Rohan glared at me, his alpha aura pressing down on me like a physical weight. His eyes, usually sharp and commanding, now held a cold indifference.
"I told you, we’re going to live peacefully from now on."
“And you should be grateful. Now someone can look after a cripple like you.”
"Don’t worry, Aurelia, I’ll take good care of you," Imani chimed in, wearing an irritatingly warm smile. Her scent, a mix of lavender and vanilla, wafted toward me, almost mocking in its sweetness.
"By the way, my daughter's name is Layne, and she’ll be helping to look after you too."
This was insane—what did he think this was, some ancient pack tradition where such things were normal? Rage and sadness burned within me. It was still our marking night, and he’d dropped such a “surprise” on me! This was beyond absurd!
"Alpha Rohan, I reject you as my mate," I said, my voice trembling but firm.
Never in a million years did I imagine that on the very night of our marking, I’d be rejecting him. But honestly, who could tolerate something like this? My newly marked mate suddenly introducing me to his daughter and his first love and expecting us all to get along.
"Reject me?"
Rohan chuckled, the sound low and menacing. His alpha tone sharpened, cutting through the air like a blade.
"Aurelia Hamilton, have you forgotten you can’t shift? Where can you go without me?"
"Let me give you a piece of advice: Just stay home, cook, and do laundry. Now there’s even someone to help with chores and to care for you; you should feel glad!"
Glad, my foot!
I nearly cursed at him but held back, my wolf whimpering in the back of my mind, urging me to stay calm.
"Alpha Rohan, I won’t accept this."
"We’re severing the mate bond tomorrow."
I used to be like a loyal Beta by Rohan's side, never daring to speak to him so coldly, let alone reject him. But now, he had completely broken my heart.
"Without me, you’re nothing!"
He leaned down, his towering frame casting a shadow over me. He tapped my face with his hand, the gesture patronizing and cruel.
"Don’t think you can threaten me with rejection."
"If you’re so bold, wheel yourself out of this house right now and never come back."
"Fine."
If it were before, I’d have clung to him, begging him not to make me leave. I loved him so much I couldn’t bear to be away from him. But now, he had shattered any semblance of trust or love between us.
I looked at the marking ceremony decorations plastered all over the house. I had fought tooth and nail for this, otherwise, Rohan wouldn’t have marked me. And now, I deeply regretted it.
I maneuvered my wheelchair straight toward the door.
Behind me, Imani's voice sounded concerned, "Alpha Rohan, considering Aurelia’s condition, are you sure she’ll be okay out there?"
Rohan scoffed, his alpha tone dripping with disdain. "She’ll come back on her own soon enough. She’s just a burden; she can't live without me."