Chapter 2

Frowning at the noise that woke me, I walked to the second-floor landing to look down.

There he was, the most revered Alpha in this commercial empire, kneeling beside Celeste, carefully warming the ointment in his hands before gently applying it to her ankle.

The jarring sight was like a thousand tiny needles piercing my heart.

There was no visible wound, yet the pain was agonizing.

"Amara, you're awake?" Celeste looked up, her expression uneasy.

"It's all my fault. I insisted on pestering Madron to teach me how to drive this morning. I never expected that sports car to be so powerful; I fell right over."

"Thankfully, Madron caught me just in time, or it would have been much worse than just a sprained ankle."

Her gentle voice drifted into my ears.

My body lurched forward for a moment, my fingers gripping the railing so tightly my knuckles turned white.

That sports car.

A limited-edition supercar Madron had custom-ordered from Italy, one he never allowed anyone else to touch.

Not even I had ever touched it.

"Amara, I have a meeting at the office. I need you to look after her," Madron said as he put away the medical supplies, his eyes on me.

A sharp pain pierced my heart, and rage surged through me as I looked at the two of them standing together.

"Who the hell is she?" I descended the stairs to stand before them. "And you expect me to take care of her?"

The living room fell instantly silent, and the servants around us tactfully excused themselves.

"Amara!" Madron's stern tone carried a subtle warning.

"What are you throwing a fit about now?" he asked, looking at me with utter exasperation.

From the side, Celeste spoke up at just the right moment.

"I'm sorry, Amara. It's my fault for causing you trouble." Her eyes instantly welled with tears, a heart-wrenching sight.

But not for me.

"Good, as long as you understand. Now, get the hell out of—"

"Amara!"

My anger was crushed by an even stronger wave of fury.

I instantly fell silent, turning to look at the man, his features clouded with a dark gloom. A sense of daze washed over me.

This was the first time since we were mated that he had humiliated me in front of an outsider.

"As an Alpha's mate, the lady of this corporation, you should have more dignity than this!"

With that, he helped Celeste to her feet, and they both disappeared from my sight.

Just as she was about to step out the door, the woman nestled in his arms turned back, her red lips parting slightly.

"You lost."

The world around me fell quiet again. I sat on the sofa, a laugh bubbling up out of sheer rage.

Two years ago, it was Madron himself who came to my family home to propose our mating, promising he would always cherish me.

That was also the first time I saw such a self-controlled man’s eyes redden. "Amara, your belief in me is all I need."

Because of those deep eyes, I entered into a binding relationship that I utterly despised.

But I never imagined that in just two short years, cracks would already begin to appear.

On my way to work at the Shadowfang Group, I contacted the pack elder.

"Prepare the ritual to sever the mate bond between Madron and me."

The line went silent for a moment. "Miss Amara, do the family elders know about this?"

"Keep this a secret for me. Don't forget who you owe your allegiance to." I dug my nails into my palm, drawing blood.

"Understood. I will contact you in three days."

After hanging up, the car pulled to a stop in front of the corporate building.

When we were first bonded, I did it all to be closer to Madron.

I resigned from my family's company and followed him here without a second thought.

I stepped out of the car and gazed up at this towering corporate empire, but it felt like a cage.

To think it all began with such a fiery passion, only for my departure to come on an ordinary morning.

Anything that belongs to me, Amara, is tainted the moment someone else touches it.

And I don’t want tainted things.

So, Madron, you still don't understand me at all.

On the top floor of the headquarters, I had just stepped out of the elevator when a voice called my name. "Amara."

I turned around. It was Lucas, Madron's friend.

"Here to see Madron?" he asked, his gaze scorching. "Why did you choose him in the first place?"

I was taken aback; I had always sensed that Lucas's feelings for me were anything but ordinary.

"I know there's a new woman on the scene," he said. "A queen like you shouldn't have to stoop to fighting over a man, should she?"

He leaned in, his soft chuckle a whisper against my ear. "So... consider me for the next one."

I tilted my head slightly, my warm breath fanning across his cheek. The man stiffened.

"So eager to be my backup plan?"

"Heh. You have countless admirers. I'd be happy just to get in line."

I laughed, amused by Lucas's humor.

But a sudden force yanked me into an embrace.

"Lucas!" Madron scowled, his expression full of displeasure.

He dragged me into his office, slamming the door shut. Then he bent down, his mouth crashing onto mine, grinding relentlessly.

"Amara, stay away from him."