Chapter 1
My ex-husband was Daniel, the Alpha of the Dubois Pack.
Five years after our divorce, he showed up with a diamond ring in his hand and that same smug, self-assured smile on his face.
"Honey, I'm right on time to ask you to take me back. Marry me again, okay? We can restore our mate bond."
It had all started five years earlier, at his half-sister Mia's birthday party.
She had looked at Daniel and announced her birthday wish for everyone to hear.
"I want to know whether you and Amelia are really true mates. So, you two have to get divorced, and you can't see each other for five years."
"If she agrees to marry you again after those five years are over, I'll believe your love is real."
Daniel hadn't hesitated for even a second before agreeing.
He had glanced at me, his face filled with absolute confidence.
"I know what we have is unbreakable. My wife will only ever love me for the rest of her life. There's no way she won't take me back."
I hadn't said a word.
He had no idea that, in that very moment, I had given him his first and last chance to choose me.
I pushed the memory aside and returned to the present.
Daniel was kneeling before me on one knee, holding up the enormous diamond ring so it sparkled in the light.
I didn't even glance at it. Instead, I raised my left hand and showed him my wedding ring.
"You came too late. I'm already married."
Daniel rose to his feet, the smug smile never leaving his face.
"Still mad? You even bought a ring to pretend you're married? Come on, I'm here now. Be good. Stop being angry."
His voice was as gentle and indulgent as ever, completely convinced I was only trying to provoke him.
He stepped forward, intending to pull me into his arms the way he always had.
I quickly took a step back, my expression turning cold.
"Alpha Daniel, keep your distance."
His hand stopped in midair. His warm eyes remained fixed on my face.
"You're really upset this time. Tell me how I can make it up to you. Whatever you want, I'll give it to you."
He was still certain he could smooth everything over with a few sweet words, just as he had countless times before.
As he spoke, he moved another step closer.
For every step he took, I stepped back.
The look in his eyes gradually sharpened, filled with that familiar possessiveness.
"Daniel, five years is a long time. People change."
He nodded as if he agreed.
"That's true."
I kept retreating until my back hit the wall. There was nowhere left to go.
He planted both hands against the wall on either side of my head, trapping me the way he used to.
When we had been dating, he had loved cornering me like this before stealing slow, lingering kisses beneath the moonlight.
"Was our pup a boy or a girl?"
As he spoke, he lifted one hand and gently cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing softly across my skin.
The moment I thought of my baby, a sharp pain clenched my heart until I could barely breathe.
Five years ago, on Mia's birthday, Daniel had known I was pregnant.
Even so, just because of Mia's ridiculous birthday wish, he divorced me and broke our mate bond.
He knew exactly how much damage rejection could do to a werewolf's body. Even then, he had comforted me with that same gentle voice.
"It'll be okay. I hired a witch to help us. Even if we reject the bond, our baby will be safe."
After the divorce, he never contacted me once during those five years.
Yet now he actually believed I had given birth to his pup and faithfully waited for him to return so we could remarry and restore our mate bond.
A mocking smile curled across my lips.
I was about to tell him our baby was gone when Mia suddenly appeared.
The moment she walked over, she slipped her arm through Daniel's and leaned comfortably against his shoulder.
Even when Daniel and I had still been married, they had always acted this way.
I had confronted them about it before. Neither of them cared how I felt as his mate.
With a fake smile plastered across her face, Mia greeted me.
"Amelia, long time no see."
Then she turned to Daniel and pouted.
"Daniel, why is your proposal taking so long? It's my birthday today. I finally got us a reservation at that restaurant everyone's talking about, and we're almost out of time. If you don't hurry, we'll miss it."
Daniel looked at her, and his eyes immediately softened with affection.
"Don't rush me. I'll finish in a minute, then we'll go together."
He casually patted the top of my head and shoved the ring box into my hand as though soothing an obedient pet.
"I'm taking Mia to dinner first. I'll come back for you later."
As soon as he finished speaking, he wrapped an arm around Mia and walked away. From behind, they didn't look like siblings. They looked like a couple deeply in love.
I let out a cold laugh and tossed the ring box straight into the trash.
