Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Five years of Ashes

EVELARA

My husband Callum and his first love Lauren were making love in the car when they were attacked by thugs, but my husband was supposed to be at "an important meeting" in the suburbs.

Now, I have been assigned as their therapist, which is absolutely ridiculous. It feels like I'm supposed to hand them the lubricant while my husband cheats.

"Luna." Callum's beta, Kael, suddenly appeared. Even from a distance, I could feel his rapid and nervous breathing.

Kael Dravenhart, Callum's second-in-command, the man I once saw as a brother, turned out to be a snake as well. He knew everything, yet always lied to me with that trustworthy smile. Thinking about how long I'd been made a fool of felt like being pierced again by a sword.

"Beta Kael," my nails dug deep into my skin, the pain unbearable. "Thank you, Beta Kael. Knowing that you treat 'family' as a joke is a brand-new form of insult to me."

"No, I don't." His gaze stayed on me for a moment, then he stepped a little closer and gave a slight bow. "Luna, the Alpha needs treatment, and. well, Lauren does too."

I ignored him. I was a therapist now, and I couldn't let my patients wait. I took a deep breath and pushed open the door to the ward. The scene before me stabbed into me again, filling my stomach with acid.

Callum's left shoulder was wrapped in bandages, but he still carefully let Lauren sit on his lap. The way he looked at her was full of fascination and guilt-an expression I had never received. I accidentally bumped into the table in front of me.

"Eve?" Callum's tone grew stern, his expression darkening with irritation. "What are you doing here? Who allowed you to come in?"

There was no guilt in those golden eyes-only annoyance, as if I were the villain in this budding romance.

Agonizing pain coiled around me like a whirlpool, nearly suffocating me as my vision blurred, but I forced myself not to break. The moment he betrayed me, he chose to ignore my suffering.

I should have been used to it-our marriage was nothing but a transaction. Five years ago, I was an orphan omega wolf who had just been accepted into the pack's medical academy, breaking down because I couldn't afford the tuition. Outside the academy, I met Alpha Callum's father, the former Alpha of the pack. He approached me immediately and proposed a deal. If I married Alpha Callum and bore an heir, I could finish my studies.

An omega cornered to the edge doesn't hesitate for long-it was my only choice. Even though Alpha Callum had been in a coma after a thug attack, he miraculously woke up on the night of our ceremony.

I was shocked and went to ask Callum father why, but he said he simply believed Callum needed a Luna, and he didn't see any reason I would refuse.

Of course, the simpler the better. I tried so hard to enter Alpha Callum's heart, but clearly, I was the perfect example of failure. An omega will never become an alpha's beloved, no matter how much she debases herself.

For five years, though far too weak for a wolf, I still relied on my intelligence to become an important therapist in the pack hospital. I hoped Callum would notice me. But that was only my illusion-ever since he first woke up, he never forgot his first love, his mate Lauren.

The decision I had long made in my heart now felt ready to speak aloud. But for now, I needed to focus on my patients.

I walked over, intending to check Lauren's injuries, but Callum immediately stood up and blocked me. "Get out. I want another therapist."

"Why?" I asked coldly. "Are you questioning my ability, Alpha Callem? You're the one who told everyone in the pack that an omega can become a renowned doctor-are you trying to overturn your own principles now?"

"Enough!" Callem insisted. "I don't need to explain myself to anyone in my pack, including you. In any case, Lauren needs the best treatment, and I will not let you touch her!"

I gave a small laugh. I knew exactly what he feared. When I met Lauren's eyes, she panicked immediately. "Oh-Evelara, don't misunderstand, he's just helping me." Lauren hurriedly tried to get off his lap, only hurting herself more. "Ah!"

Callum's hand moved like the wind, grabbing her waist and pulling her close. "Hey, careful! You'll hurt yourself!" His voice was so gentle-I had barely ever heard it, because in the past five years, he never spoke to me like that.

His arms wrapped possessively around her waist.

"No, Callum, I don't want her to misunderstand." she whimpered in his arms; her voice was soft and almost innocent. If I weren't witnessing all of this with my own eyes, maybe even I would have been moved.

Callum snapped his head up, fury blazing in his golden eyes. "Look what you've done! Are you satisfied now? Because of you, she's in pain."

My whole body stiffened. His cruel words gnawed at my heart. I stared at him in disbelief, then masked it with coldness.

"Really?" I raised a brow. "Alpha Callum? I did nothing. Obviously, I'm here to reduce her pain. But since you don't need me, I'll request a replacement therapist-" I said, turning to leave.

"No, Evelara, you-" Lauren whimpered again. "Callum, don't spoil me like this, you'll hurt Eve's feelings."

Her tone dripped with innocence. I stepped right in front of her. "Lauren, I'm truly glad that after making love with my husband, you still care about his wife's feelings. Of course, if you hadn't slept with her husband, you wouldn't need to comfort her at all. But since it already happened, you tried anyway-not that it helps, it's actually nauseating. If I don't want to breathe in the awful stench of sluts here, I have to hold myself back."

They were both stunned. But I had to leave now, or I really would vomit.

"Enough! Eve! You don't know what Lauren has been through!" Callum's voice dropped dangerously low, sharp and hoarse, fiercely defending his mistress.

"Yes, I don't need to know." Every word dripped with venomous sarcasm. "Why would I need to understand what my husband's mistress has been through?"

"You-" He glared at me, but I didn't care anymore. I already understood-there was no hope left for us. Sadly, I realized this far too late.

Instead, my gaze fell on my watch. Then I looked at them and said, "I'll arrange a new therapist for you." I cut him off as I spoke.

Callum's gaze shifted, becoming sharper. Then he narrowed his eyes at me. "Don't make trouble, Eve. Go home. I'll tell you my new decision."

"Perfect, I have something to tell you too." I sneered. I wasn't surprised to see the triumphant smile on Lauren's face.

He paused, shock appearing on his face-because this was the first time in five years that I had acted this way.

"You-what are you planning?" he frowned, completely confused.

A single ticking sound marked that it was now seven p.m. I let a small smile curl on my lips. "My shift is over. A new therapist will take over for you now, Alpha Brooksbane and Miss Crowhurst."

"Wait, the driver will take you back," Callum suddenly said. "You're an omega wolf. Do you want to get yourself killed by thugs walking out like that?" he added.

Thinking about the scent of sex in their car made my stomach feel like it had been punched again. "No need. Getting killed by thugs would be better than suffocating to death."

I shut the door immediately.

Kael was still standing outside the room. When I turned around, he quietly lowered his head.

After the door closed, Lauren's muffled voice came through. "This. this is all my fault, I didn't know she would be here. I- I shouldn't have."

"Hey, don't worry about it." Callum's tone was sweet like honey. "She's not worth your tears, Ren. She'll calm down in a few hours."

My lips twitched bitterly. Indeed, before, as long as he touched me, I would soften. But now, those memories only made me sick to my stomach.

When I walked out of the hospital, I took out my phone and dialed a number. After a few rings, the call was answered.

"Hey," an excited female voice said, "you finally remembered me!"

"Are you free right now?" I asked directly.

"Eve?" her excitement faded. "Is everything okay?" she hesitated.

"I have something important to discuss with everyone," I said, calm but heavy.

She paused, then replied, "Yes, I just got home."

"Alright, I'm on my way." I said, and hung up.

A sharp chill flashed in my eyes. This time, things would not repeat the way they had in the past. The moment I learned the truth, I had already made up my mind.

This time, there would be no compromise-this time, it would be the end of everything.