<h4>Chapter 12: Chapter 12 A New Life is Coming</h4>


    Cecilia’s pov


    I waited for Cici to finish her little speech about how I was nothingpared to her "noble" werewolf bloodline. My indignation building, but I kept my expression cool and collected. I looked down at her with icy eyes.


    "What exactly makes you so noble?" I asked, my voice deceptively gentle despite the rage simmering beneath. "Is it your pea brain that can’t even handle a simple Excel spreadsheet? Or perhaps how you treasure my mate’s sloppy seconds like they’re precious gems? Or maybe it’s how you’ve jumped on the job I no longer want and act so smug about it?"


    I took pleasure in the sh of shock crossing Cici’s face.


    "And this ’our circle’ nonsense..." I continued, tilting my head slightly. "Who exactly is ’us’? I don’t recall joining your little cesspool of degenerates who spend their days rutting like animals in heat. Keep that filthy den for yourself and Xavier. I want no part of it."


    My tone remained calm, but every word dripped venom. The mating bond between Xavier and me might be strained, but it didn’t give this entitled brat the right to talk down to me.


    Her face twisted with rage.


    I was barely halfway through my speech when she began screaming, her eyes shing yellow. "Shut your mouth! I’ll tear your lips off! I’ll kill you!"


    She lunged from her chair, charging toward me with her hand raised to p me.


    I stood my ground, unmoved. As she approached, I mmed the stack of documents into her face with all my strength. The impact sent her stumbling sideways, blood immediately streaming from her nose.


    "Handoverplete," I announced coolly, feeling a surge of satisfaction. "Good luck running Blood Moon into the ground."


    With that, I turned and walked away.


    "Cecilia! This isn’t over! You’ll pay for this!" Cici’s shrieks echoed through the building as she clutched her bleeding nose, but no one dared approach her.


    As I left the office and walked down the corridor, my colleagues cautiously approached me, their faces filled with concern and sympathy. Even without pack bonds, these humans had formed a connection with me that ran deeper than blood.


    Jasmine, the team lead for Group Three, took it upon herself to go into the office and retrieve my belongings. She carefully cleaned the items Cici had dumped in the trash and ced them in a box.


    "Cecilia, let me help you with this," she offered, her eyes full of genuine concern.


    Looking at her, warmth flooded my chest, and my eyes grew moist. Even though this was undoubtedly the darkest hour of my life—my mate bond fracturing, my position being stolen—I wasn’tpletely alone.


    "Thank you," I said with a genuine smile, reaching out to squeeze her arm gently.


    The project department team escorted me to the elevator, and Jasmine carried my things all the way to the lobby.


    Before leaving, I pulled her aside, away from potential eavesdroppers with enhanced hearing.


    "Tell everyone to keep their heads down and not to antagonize that princess," I advised, my voice low. "The best case scenario is that she gets bored after ying around for a while and leaves on her own. And if projects start going south under her management, report directly to Xavier. Don’t wait until she tries to throw you all under the bus. Those multi-million dor deals are too big for any of you to take the heat for. Xavier will know it’s her fault, and I believe he’ll handle it ordingly."


    I didn’t add that regardless of our personal issues, Xavier was still an Alpha who took his business responsibilities seriously.


    Jasmine nodded. "I’ll let everyone know." Her eyes filled with tears. "We’ll miss you, Cecilia."


    I stepped forward and hugged her, "Stay in touch," I whispered, fighting back my own emotions.


    As I drove away from Blood Moon headquarters, rain began to fall, each drop hitting my windshield like tiny daggers of mncholy. The mate bond might be toast, but it still hurt to leave what had once been my pack in all but name.


    Ten more days until I was officially done with this marriage.


    Almost there.


    Cici’s pov


    The moment that human witch left, I stormed upstairs to report this outrage to Xavier. My nose was throbbing with pain, blood still dripping despite my attempts to clean it up. The humiliation burned worse than the physical hurt.


    My brother Gavin was already in Xavier’s office. His eyes widened when he saw my swollen, bloody nose.


    "What happened to you?" he asked, immediately straightening in his chair.


    I sat between them, letting my tears flow freely. ying victim was second nature when you grew up as the pampered fourth daughter of the Shadow Pack’s Alpha family.


    "I was so nice to her," I sobbed dramatically. "Brought her coffee, offered her my chair—but from the moment she walked in, she started insulting me. Called me shameless and said horrible things about Xavier too... called us ’disgusting animals.’"


    I sniffled, making sure my distress scent filled the room. "I just wanted to ask her some work questions, and I didn’t even fight back. But that wasn’t enough for her—she went ballistic! She threw all the handover documents in my face and tackled me!"


    I embellished the story, knowing neither of them had witnessed what actually happened.


    Xavier listened with a cold expression, saying nothing.


    Gavin was outraged, his Alpha temper ring instantly. "Has this womanpletely lost it? This is outrageous!" His alpha presence filled the room as he turned to Xavier. "What are you going to do about this?"


    "I’ll apologize to Cici on Cecilia’s behalf," Xavier replied evenly. "She hasn’t been herselftely."


    That’s it? Just an apology?


    This wasn’t the response I had expected. I had hoped Xavier would summon Cecilia and demand an exnation, maybe even punish her.


    "I don’t want you apologizing for her!" I snapped, losing my cool momentarily. "I want her on her knees begging for forgiveness! And I want to get her back!"


    Xavier’s eyes instantly frosted over, the temperature in the room dropping as his Alpha aura filled the space. "That won’t happen."


    Gavin got heated, his own Alpha presence rising to challenge Xavier’s on my behalf. "Why not? She jumped my sister for no reason. Doesn’t she need to answer for that? If you’re going to cover for her, the Shadow Pack won’t hesitate to take legal action."


    Xavier’s hands tensed as he thought for a moment, his jaw clenching visibly. "If that’s the path you choose, I can only express my regrets. Not only will our partnership tank, but we’ll end up in court."


    We were floored. Was he really willing to sacrifice a multi-million dor partnership between our packs over this?


    "You... you care about this human woman that much?" Gavin asked, disbelief evident in his voice.


    Xavier leaned back in his chair, his answer unequivocal and making my blood run cold. "She’s my mate. No one touches her."


    My body trembled with hatred from head to toe.


    He had seemed so happy with me. He barely went home anymore, clearly having no feelings left for Cecilia. If he didn’t love her anymore, why would he still care? Was it just the damn mate bond?


    Realizing that Cecilia still held a ce in Xavier’s heart that I couldn’t reach made me want to tear her apart limb by limb. But right now, I feared Xavier’s rejection more. I quickly changed my approach, dropping my previous arrogance.


    "It’s fine, it’s fine," I said, "Miss Moore was probably just upset about me getting close to you. I didn’t really mean she should kneel—I was just talking out of anger. Don’t be mad."


    "But Xavier," I pouted, switching to a pitiful whine as Iid my hand on his arm, "I’ve been through hell. You have to make it up to me."


    Xavier’s expression finally softened, his eyes growing tender. "Of course I will."


    I left with a ton of resentment and a mind plotting revenge. The mate bond might protect Cecilia for now, but mate bonds could be broken. And I would find a way.


    Cecilia


    When I arrived home, I received a call from Yvonne.


    "Honey, tomorrow afternoon, the CEO of Jade Valley has set up a golf game with Sebastian ck," she said eagerly. "I’ve already told him I’m bringing someone along. This is your shot!"


    "You’re amazing, darling! Mwah, mwah, mwah!" I replied, feeling my spirits lift for the first time in days, allowing myself to be silly with my friend.


    "Oh god, that’sying it on thick," sheughed. "So, Wednesday—don’t bail on me!"


    "Wouldn’t dream of it," I promised.


    This good news lifted my spirits so much that I actually ate more than usual at dinner.


    Late that night, I was in the home gym.


    After about twenty minutes, my phone rang. It was Xavier.


    He hadn’te home again tonight.


    His absence had be so normal that I barely noticed anymore. But a call at this hour? What could he possibly want?


    I hesitated before answering, my instincts warning me that nothing good woulde from this call.


    The moment I picked up, I heard rapid breathing—a man and a woman, followed by the woman’s sex-crazed moans.


    "Xavier, I can’t take anymore," Cici panted. "You’re killing me... you’re going to destroy me."


    "Deeper, deeper..." she begged.


    "Ahhh..." Her cry of ecstasy pierced through the phone.


    My already unsettled stomach did aplete flip. I bent over, vomiting forcefully onto the floor.


    My phone slipped from my hand, crashing down with a sharp crack. The screen shatteredpletely.


    I don’t remember how I made it back to my bedroom.


    Lying in bed, I expected to be overwhelmed by grief, unable to sleep through the night. But surprisingly, none of that happened.


    I just... checked out.


    Let them put on their little show.


    Let her think she’s won.


    She took the man.


    Now I’ll take the rest.


    ...


    I woke at dawn, mind clearer than it had been in months.


    Showered, cleaned the gym, ate, bought a new phone.


    By afternoon, I arrived at Riverstone Golf Club.


    The air was sharp, the greens quiet.


    I was ready to meet the Alpha who might turn everything around.