Chapter 1

Rushing to grab the blanket, Elicia hastily wrapped it around her naked body. Her heart pounded as if a predator were hot on her heels. Trembling hands betrayed her fear, and she felt her world teetering on the edge as she watched the man beside her hurl his lamp in a rage.

"H-Hendrix! Please! Let me explain!" she pleaded, exposed in his furious gaze. "I-It's not what you think—"

"How dare you attempt to justify your actions after taking advantage of me while I was drunk, you deceitful woman!"

Elicia flinched as her body tensed in response, realizing she couldn't explain what happened to both of them. All she could remember was drinking some juice that the waiter had given her when they were at her stepsister's birthday party, and feeling like her world was spinning.

Then, she decided to retire in one of the guest rooms because Scarlett, her stepsister, had already occupied her previous bedroom.

Her memories were blurred, and she could not grasp how Hendrix was also in this guest room.

"Did you think sleeping with me would make me accept you as my mate, Elicia? You're delusional! I shouldn't have agreed to marry you in the first place!" Hendrix yelled.

"H-Hendrix..."

Tears streamed down her cheeks as his words cut deep. She had always been aware that Hendrix had expressed his reluctance to marry her, even upon discovering the Moon Goddess had fated them to be together, as he remained devoted to his first love, Florence.

Watching his furious expression never dissipate, Hendrix clenched his hands. Even his eyes were glowing in anger. "From this day on, you are not considered as my wife and my mate, Elicia Blanche-Lavigne!"

Her eyes widened in horror at his declaration. At the same time, she could feel her heart being torn apart by the rejection.

When he left, he also took half of her soul as she watched her world abruptly crumble down.

'No... How come it led to this?'

She cried to her heart's content, not expecting things would go south because she just happened to sleep with her husband and also her mate.

Hendrix Lavigne... Yes, he was her destined mate, who happened to be her husband and didn't even harbor love for her. He refused even the slightest physical contact with her. All their relation is in a contract marriage aiming at fortifying the bonds between her pack, Crystal Hunt pack, and his pack, Green Diamond pack.

Giving him space for a couple of days, Elicia decided to speak with Hendrix again.

She turned to the gate, mustering up some courage that she hoped at least Hendrix would listen to her explanation. She didn't want him to see her being painted as a bad person who took advantage of someone.

'I'm coming for you, Hendrix... I hope you will listen to me.'

"Ms. Elicia?"

She flinched and spun around just to see Meridith, the head maid of the mansion. "Meridith..." Eyeing her, she had these fine wrinkles spread on her forehead. She was already in her 50s and had been Hendrix's nanny since he was little.

Meridith, looking surprised at her presence, approached her. "W-Where have you been, young mistress?" she asked, worried.

The motherly look in her expression tightened her chest. Even though Hendrix didn't treat her well, Meridith was by her side while the other maids working in the mansion saw her as an eyesore for their boss.

"Is Hendrix there, Meridith? I need to speak with him immediately..." She was aware that she had witnessed her abrupt departure from the mansion earlier. She had tried to intervene, but she believed it was best to leave, not wanting to escalate Hendrix's anger towards her.

"Yes... He is. But—"

"Please let me in," she chimed in, holding her hand. "Please. I need to explain to Hendrix. He has to listen to me. Everything that happened... I didn't seduce him... I didn't take advantage of him..."

Her shattered heart had fragmented into tiny particles, akin to dust that could be effortlessly scattered by the wind.

Her wolf wanted her to do something with their mate. She hadn't said anything that she accepted his rejection so this was not over yet. She wanted to mend things with him.

Meridith looked tormented at her situation. "Alright. But you might not like what you see inside..."

She didn't comprehend her last sentence. All she felt at that moment was Meridith was the only person who could help her talk to Hendrix again.

As her foot stepped on the gateway of the mansion, she felt nostalgic gazing over the balcony where she used to stay there when she got married to him. She would be there, secretly admiring Hendrix while he was working on his laptop, talking to his clients left and right.

He was the most handsome creature she had ever seen. She would never trade him for anyone else and continue to appreciate him... even if he rejected her.

She loved him. Even though he didn't love her, she still loved him.

She sought the marbled front porch, hearing her heart speeding up. She hadn't seen Hendrix for a few days. She wondered if he was still the same, looking like a goddamnly handsome deity.

"Did you like the cold sandwich I made, Rix?"

She came to a halt when she heard a sultry feminine voice coming from the balcony.

'That's... No way...'

Her chest was suppressed upon seeing the back of the beautiful long-haired woman with a voluptuous body hugging the man she had been wanting to see.

"Florence..." she muttered, feeling betrayed upon seeing her with Hendrix.

"Yes, love. I love it."

She felt chills down her spine, seeing Hendrix acting so lovey-dovey on her. His hand caressing her face was enough that she would never experience that kind of affection.

She bit her lower lip, wanting to back down, but her wolf pushed her not to. In her meek tone, she heaved out a sigh and took a stride in their direction. "Hendrix..." she called, her voice almost croaked when his head abruptly turned in her direction.

His eyebrows met in one place as he huffed bitterly. "What in the hell are you doing here, Elicia?" He stood up and placed his hand over Florence's shoulders. "Did you just allow her to come here, Meridith?"

Her eyes stayed there before looking into his olive eyes that were glowing in rage. "I..." She cleared her throat. "Hendrix, please. Allow me to explain."

"Elicia, did you honestly believe that your actions are forgivable?" Florence's delicate voice carried as she gently caressed Hendrix's arm. "Did you resort to desperation because you feared Hendrix would choose me over you?" Her innocent gaze locked onto hers. "You already won. You already have him... while I had to suffer from afar."

She secretly gnashed her teeth when she was teary-eyed and clung to Hendrix's waist.

"Hendrix is my mate, Florence... I am not that desperate! And I am not talking to you!" Her wolf was whispering some dark words to her, wanting Florence to stay away from him.

"H-Hendrix!" Florence gasped.

"I'm here, love." She held her breath as Hendrix spoke, his touch tender as he comforted her. "I've finalized our divorce papers. She's no longer my wife, and now, we can be together," his voice softened, a stark contrast to his usual demeanor towards her.

That hit her. His words were her wake-up call.

It was also enough for her to accept everything. It was really over to explain things clearly to him. She was only the hindrance to their love life...

Defeated with a broken heart, she thought that nothing would be worse than accepting the fate that she would never be forgiven by Hendrix.

"How dare you humiliate our pack!"

She cradled her cheek, the pain from her father's strike throbbing through her. This was what she was greeted as soon as she returned to her father's pack after accepting that Hendrix and her's mate bond couldn't be mended anymore.

"F-Father..." She sobbed, feeling more ashamed that Rosette, her father's new wife, and Scarlett had been witnessing this. "I-I tried to mend—"

Her words were cut off when she received another strike from Oscar.

"Ungrateful! You've brought shame upon our family, Elicia! Did you honestly believe that Alpha Kaiden would forgive you for destroying the alliance between our packs? No chance!"

"I told you, Oscar. That daughter of yours will bring downfall to our family," Rosette scoffed, glaring at her.

"She never brings fortune ever since we arrived here." Scarlett was smiling from ear to ear seeing Elicia's suffering.

"F-Father, please..." She knelt in front of him and held to his leg, ignoring Rosette and Scarlett.

All she wanted right now was his father's forgiveness for everything that happened.

"Get out!" She stifled a gasp as Father's kick sent her sprawling to the ground. "I never want to lay eyes on you again! You are hereby banished from the Blanche Family!" His words pierced through her, sealing her fate with the weight of his disownment.