Chapter 5

• Camellia's POV
• I stumbled out of the hotel in a daze. My head was spinning as I tried to make sense of everything.
• Pulling out my phone, I drafted a text to Lionel.
• "Hey, it's Camellia. Let's just pretend last night never happened? I was totally wasted."
• But when I hit send, the message bounced back with that awful red exclamation mark. Blocked.
• Great. I shoved my phone in my pocket, weirdly relieved.
• At least he wanted to forget this too.
• In the hotel lobby restroom, I splashed cold water on my face until my eyeliner stopped running.
• The sun was rising when I finally made it back to the packhouse, my sneakers crunching on the gravel driveway.
• The text notification made my stomach drop. Some random number sent a link. I shouldn't have clicked it, but my stupid thumb did anyway.
• There they were - Hazel and Esmond tangled in bedsheets, his bare chest covered in scratch marks.
• My phone case cracked under my grip.
• Compared to last night's pain, this hurt wasn't enough to break me.
• The mate bond between us felt like frayed rope about to snap.
• I took the back path to our cabin, avoiding the packhouse breakfast crowd.
• I carefully made my way back to the room I shared with Esmond.
• As soon as I pushed open the door, I saw him sitting on the couch.
• Esmond whirled around. His bloodshot eyes were locking onto me.
• "Where the hell were you last night? I tried mind-linking you and got static! You weren't in the pack!"
• Esmond stood up and walked quickly toward me, reaching for my hand, but I dodged.
• I smelled verbena on him.
• "Since when do you care where I am during full moon?" The scent of verbena clinging to his shirt making me nauseous.
• Esmond stepped closer, trying to take my hand again, but I dodged once more.
• "Don't touch me!" I said.
• He froze mid-reach. "Cam, come on. It was just pack business, you know how it is-"
• I didn't say anything. I just stared at him coldly.
• My hand tightened around my phone, which felt like it was burning from the photo.
• Esmond's eyes flickered. His hand clenched at his side.
• "You found it out, don't you?"
• His voice was calm, without any hint of panic, as if he had expected this day to come.
• I glared at his unflinching pupils. Lyra grew furious inside me. My canines pierced my gums and extended.
• My leather handbag burst under my wolfish claws, the metal clasp snapping and scratching his pale neck.
• "F*CKING MUTT!" he snarled, fur rippling up his arms.
• His alpha aura slammed into me - pine needles and copper.
• He stepped closer.
• "Don't touch me with a mouth that reeks of another b*tch's scent," I said through gritted teeth, eyeing the half-healed bite mark on his collarbone. "You could've asked for a rejection..."
• The Alpha's oppressive aura surged. His fingers turned into steel-like claws, gripping the back of my neck. "It was one stupid mistake during her heat cycle. My wolf went feral, okay? It was just a mistaken mark..."
• "Oh really?" I ripped my collar open. "Guess I'll go let the grey wolf from Red Rock Pack 'accidentally' mark me too then?"
• The room temperature dropped. Esmond's golden eyes glowed. "Try it. I'll rip out his throat and yours."
• The ice in his voice finally broke me. My heart turned to ice under his cold, emotionless gaze.
• So he knew betrayal was unforgivable, yet he still did it.
• "Remember what I said when you proposed?" My voice shook. "One betrayal and I'm gone."
• "Like hell!" He grabbed my wrist.
• I wiped away a tear from the corner of my eye, my tone mocking and tinged with hatred. "I won't share a mate with any werewolf. And whether I leave is not up to you."
• "Cam, just give me another chance. She's just my secretary. I'll fire her today and transfer her pack, whatever you want," Esmond said.
• "Too late. Do you really think that can make up for your cheating? Cheating is unforgivable, among werewolves and humans alike," I replied.
• Esmond's face darkened even more. "We're mates. That bond doesn't break unless I say so."
• "No matter what you say, I've already made up my mind. I'll go tell Alpha Drogo and Luna Chelsea and ask for a mutual rejection," I said.
• Esmond tried to step closer. "Cam, don't do this. You need me, and I need you too."
• Lyra growled inside me. She hated Esmond.
• "Stay away from me!" I said.