The environment felt colder the moment Elena handed the divorce papers to Drake.
His eyes dropped to the documents, then slowly lifted to Elena. Something sharp twisted inside him for the first time that night. But the feeling vanished before he could make sense out of it.
Drake had been certain the ending would be on his terms.
Not her.
The words she spoke moments ago echoed in his head. “End the mate bond.”
It felt like something invisible had been torn loose, leaving behind a hollow space he did not understand.
Elena lifted her wine glass.
Her eyes stayed on his, daring him to look away, as she lifted the drink to her lips. She drank it and allowed the bitterness to drown the tears she would not shed. Her hand shook, but she forced it to stay focused.
“Happy twenty-sixth birthday, Drake Hamilton,” she said calmly.
Elena placed the glass onto a nearby tray with a soft sound.
Then she spoke again.
“I have reported the drugging incident to the police,” Elena said, her voice steady. “They will not take long to uncover who planned this.”
A ripple of whispers moved through the hall.
“As for what you did tonight,” she continued, still looking at him, “I expect a public apology.”
Curiosity and tension mixed in the air as whispers spread quickly among them.
“After that,” Elena added, “we will retrieve our divorce certificate. As from that moment, all ties between us will be severed.”
The murmurs spread, growing louder by the second.
Drake frowned.
Elena inhaled slowly.
“I once hoped we could return to what we were,” she said. “But I would never degrade myself by drugging someone just to keep them.”
Her voice sharpened.
“If you had even a small amount of trust in me, you would have searched for the truth instead of accusing me.”
Her gaze did not waver.
“I stayed because I feared that if you remembered everything too soon, you would hate me for leaving you when you needed me most.”
She paused.
“But now, I am done with you.”
The words settled heavily in the air.
“I gave everything I had,” Elena said quietly. “I waited. I endured. But I will not keep fixing something that has already collapsed.”
She straightened.
“This time, Drake, I am the one letting you go.”
She pushed the divorce papers into his hands.
Her eyes shone with tears that she refused to let fall.
Without waiting for his response, Elena turned and walked away.
Marcus followed her with a troubled expression.
The hall fell into stunned silence.
An elder stepped forward and picked up the papers. He adjusted his glasses and read aloud.
“Elena Monroe declares she will leave Drake Hamilton with nothing. She will even cover all medical costs from the two years she spent in a coma.”
Laughter broke out.
“Is this real?” a young she-wolf scoffed. “Or is this another trick?”
“She always leaves just to come back begging,” someone laughed. “Give her three days.”
“Drake,” another voice urged, “end this fast before she changes her mind.”
Drake tightened his grip on the documents.
He should have felt victorious.
She was leaving without asking for anything.
Yet his body felt strangely empty.
Before he could make sense of it, a familiar scent cut through the night air.
Outside, a sleek white car pulled to a stop.
The door opened.
Cassandra stepped out.
Dark glasses hid her eyes, but her beauty still turned heads. Unmated wolves shifted restlessly, drawn to her presence.
“Elena,” Cassandra said calmly.
She removed her glasses and looked at Elena gently.
“I never believed you could drug Drake,” she said. “I hope you contacted the pack police.”
Elena let out a short laugh.
“I already did,” she replied. “The report is filed.”
“I wish you and Drake well,” Elena added.
Cassandra hesitated. Her fingers tightened around the gift bag.
“Has he recovered his memory?” she asked carefully.
Elena shook her head.
“No. But I gave him what he wanted. I can finally move on.”
Sudden voices interrupted.
“Cassie.”
Drake pushed through the crowd and wrapped an arm around Cassandra. His eyes followed Elena.
Since the incident, Cassandra had kept her distance. He could not afford to lose her.
“What are you wearing?” he snapped, scanning her outfit. “It is too revealing. Come inside.”
Cassandra pulled away and handed him the gift.
“I have a flight tonight,” she said calmly. “There is an important event tomorrow.”
She smiled politely.
“Happy birthday, Drake.”
Drake grabbed her hand, panic flickering across his face.
“Stay tonight,” he urged. “I will take you to the airport myself.”
Cassandra looked at him steadily.
“I know what you planned,” she said. “But I cannot accept your proposal.”
Her voice was firm.
“When your memories return, you will resent me.”
She paused.
“If you still choose me after that, then I will stay.”
Drake swallowed.
“Did Elena say anything to you?” he asked.
Without waiting for an answer, he turned and strode toward the entrance.
Elena stood outside, waiting for her cab.
Drake reached her.
His hand shoved her shoulder.
Then came the slap.
Elena crashed to the ground. Her head struck a stone with a sickening sound. Blood spilled from her forehead.
Gasps filled the air.
“Elena.”
Marcus rushed forward.
Cassandra dropped beside her, shaking.
“Drake, what have you done?”
Marcus growled.
“You have lost your mind.”
He lifted Elena with ease.
Her eyes were vacant. Blood blurred her vision.
Drake stared down at her, fury burning.
“Why are you still breathing?” he snarled. “If you died, I would not have to see your annoying face again.”
His lips curved cruelly.
“Dragging an omega like you out of Atwater Village was my worst mistake. Your father was a rapist. You are just as dirty as he was.”
The crowd growled, but no one stepped forward.
No one dared challenge the future Beta.
Elena lay motionless in Marcus’s arms.
Her blood soaked into the ground.
Her mate’s words cut deeper than the wound on her skin.
And something inside her broke completely.