a

on me. Divorce proceedings. What a joke. The lawyers are already handling the paperwork, tal

I'm

en she left. How she told me it was over and did

the weight of everything pressing down on me. I stare at the

really

ght. That we'd figure it out. That our bond would be enough. That I'd say t

it's

process any of it. I thought I was smarter than

, I was

g. The miscarriage? Yeah, that fucked everything up. But this started long before that. This started whe

I've l

Nina, the way she looked when she walked out. The sound of her voice

ant. Contracts, mergers, all the shit I used to care about. But now? It

ant. Instead, it's a notification from some trashy gossip site. Another fucking

here

tailored suits, all of them grinning like they own the world. Her brothers, I realize. But

. Confident. Like the woman I barely knew was there, hidden under all that pain. Bu

king stand this. She's mine. She's supposed to be with me,

mily. I didn't know. How could I have missed it?

ntry's territory, and their influence stretches beyond the werewolf world. Victor Valens-he

he ch

re. I need to understand what the fuck is going on with her now. I'm not just

everything you can dig up on the Valens family. Especially Nina. I want

ng. I never should've let her leave. I thought I could handle this.

s Pack is hosting a high-profile charity event tonight, and N

every single person is dripping in wealth and influence. I'm in a su

anticipation. The room's full of people, all of them talking, la

en I s

ngs to her body, showing off curves I used to know so well. Her hair's up, sleek and elegant, and there's this g

nds a wave of jealousy crashing through me. I clench my fists, trying to stay calm, bu

ng that people are watching. She's the o

ine, and for a second, something flickers there. But then it's g

say, my vo

how any sign of warmth. "Jax

hem to, but I can't help it. Seeing her like this, acting like

ut," she says, her tone ice-

stepping closer. "You can'

r arms. "I already did. You're the

trol the anger bubbling up ins

. "That bond doesn't mean

at," I growl, taking anothe

Or disgust. "I was never yours. You had thre

in

till your life," she cuts me off, her voice low but sh

e out what the hell I can say to make this right

up, putting a hand on her arm. Dominic. The heir. The one

voice calm but full of threat.

ristling at the challenge

nic says, his eyes cold. "You've l

er eyes tells me everything I need to know.

had more time. I thought I could fix this, but now? Now, it

eight of it all crashing down on me. She'

ay, my chest tight with frustration, ang

ost

aying that moment. The look in her eyes when she said she was done. The way she stood ther

frustration boiling over. How the fuck did I l

o hold her, to keep her tied to me. But I was wrong. I underestimate

I don't get out of the car. I just sit there, starin

known better than to think she'd stay with someone like me when she coul

matter. She's my mate

digging into my palms. I can