Chapter 5
Ivy’s triumph almost spilled from her eyes.
She bent down, voice dropping to a hiss near my ear: “Luna, why bother? Save yourself some dignity. Do you really want to crawl out like a dog? After that, in the noble wolves’ circle, how will you ever lift your head again?”
I didn’t even blink. This level of threat meant nothing to me anymore.
Across from us Zoe’s brow furrowed, his face full of impatience.
“Nina, stop embarrassing yourself. Everyone here is an important partner of mine. You’re making me lose face!”
Anger flushed his cheeks; his teeth clenched.
“Get out now! I’ll forget this ever happened and leave you a card. Otherwise—don’t ever expect another cent from me.”
The last warmth in my chest flickered out.
Five years ago, I’d agreed to this mate bond because I’d seen his drive, his ambition. I’d believed he was different from the rich-born Alphas who only partied and played. Now he let himself be manipulated by a shallow assistant, and humiliated me in public.
Seeing me unmoved, Ivy spoke up sharply:
“If I win, I don’t want money, and I don’t want to make her crawl. I want—his freedom.”
She leaned close to Zoe, her gaze holding only him.
“Zoe, I’m willing to fight for your freedom. Do you want it—do you want to break your shackles?”
He didn’t hesitate long. At the slow nod of his head, I finally understood my five-year mistake.
I had thought he merely didn’t love me. That at least he still had the Pack in his heart, still bore an Alpha’s duty; whether he loved me or not was unimportant. But now I saw his stupidity clear: with the border under attack, he cared only for his private affair.
“Enough,” my voice cut through the room.
“You don’t need to beat me. If you want freedom, I give you freedom. Zoe—from this moment on, I am no longer your mate. The bond is broken.”
A force slammed into my chest. The blood mark seared and tore, pain ripping along my bones. In my ears I heard the sound of the mate bond tearing apart, Eva’s low growl rising inside me like a wounded wolf’s night-cry.
For a heartbeat the hall froze. Then voices burst out.
“Ivy’s amazing!”
“Finally got rid of her. What a relief.”
Ivy stood radiant in victory, eyes shining with greed.
“Zoe should’ve been free long ago.”
Other voices followed, cruder:
“She’s pretty. Now the bond’s broken, maybe we can have some fun too.”
Ivy’s eyes flicked, the corner of her mouth curling.
“Nina, I’ll raise the stakes. If you lose, not only do you divorce Zoe…”
She paused, then said, voice oozing malice:
“…you spend a free night with Iris.”
Iris’s gaze turned lewd as he looked me up and down.
“Luna—no, Nina—do you still dare to bet?”
The jeering rose like a pack’s howl.
“I’ll bet too! If Nina loses, let her spend a night with me as well—how about it?”
