Derek had been so determined to prove himself worthy of a Head Healer mate. Every few months, there was a new business venture. A new “sure thing” that would make him rich.
First, it was importing rare herbs for healing potions. Three months and thousands of dollars later, we discovered the supplier
was selling fakes.
Then came the wolfsbane–infused energy drinks. The pack training equipment store. The specialty pharmacy for werewolves.
Each failure ate away at our savings. But Derek kept trying, desperate to show he was more than just an omega wolf who’d gotten
1/3
Break up the relationship
lucky with a powerful mate.
Oliver was just a baby then. I remember standing in the grocery store, counting coins to buy formula while other pack mothers filled their carts with premium brands.
Our little wolf was born weak, needing special care and expensive medications. But after another of Derek’s failed ventures, we could barely afford the basics.
The other pack children were cruel in that thoughtless way kids can be. I still remember finding Oliver crying in his room after his first day of pack school.
“Why can’t I have nice things like everyone else, Mommy?” His little voice had been so broken. “Tommy said my clothes smell
like the thrift store.”
That night, I signed up for extra healing shifts. Started taking emergency calls in the middle of the night. Anything to earn more
money.
Derek’s pride wouldn’t let him stop trying to build his business empire. But someone had to make sure our son had food on his plate and clothes that didn’t make him a target for bullies.
Month after month, I worked myself to exhaustion. Healing other pack members‘ children while barely seeing my own.
But slowly, things got better. My reputation as a healer grew. The emergency calls paid well. Eventually, I was made Head Healer, and the money finally started flowing.
I remember the first time I could buy Oliver new clothes. Brand name shoes. The toys he’d been dreaming of.
His eyes lit up like the full moon when he saw them. “Are these really for me, Mommy?”
I’d missed his first steps because I was working. Missed his first shift into wolf form because I was healing another pack
member’s crisis.
But I told myself it was worth it. Every missed moment meant a better life for
my son.
When I finally saved enough to give him his own card with $30,000 on it, he threw his arms around me.
“Thank you, Mom! You’re the best!”
I worked myself to the bone for moments like that. For his smile. His happiness.
And now he was using that same money to buy expensive gifts for the woman he wished was his mother.
My phone buzzed with another message from Isabel:
“Girl, there’s more. They were talking about going on a shopping spree next week too. Using your black card again…”
I closed the message. My hands were steady now, but my heart felt like ice.
All those years of sacrifice. All those missed moments with my son. Working myself to exhaustion so Derek could chase his
2/3
dreams while Oliver had everything he needed.
And this was how they repaid me.
I pulled up my contacts and found the number I needed: Nathan Wolf, the pack’s top lawyer. Known for handling even the most complicated mate separations with discretion.
“Nathan? This is Olivia Winters. I need your help drawing up some papers.”
His voice was professional, careful. “What kind of papers are we talking about, Mrs. Winters?”
“A mate separation agreement. As soon as possible.”
There was a pause on the other end. Breaking a mate bond was serious business. Not something done lightly.
“All right, I’ll have a draft ready in a minute,” he said at last.” But are you sure?”
“More sure than I’ve been about anything in years.”
Just then, Derek’s voice echoed in my mind through our mate link: “Olivia, we need to talk. Something big is happening.”
I looked down at my phone, at the boutique video still frozen on the screen. At my son using my money to buy gifts for his “real
mom.”
A cold smile crossed my face as I typed a response: “Perfect timing. I have something big to tell you too.”
The mate bond hummed between us, but for the first time, I felt nothing but ice in my veins.
My phone buzzed again – Nathan sending over the preliminary paperwork. The words “Mate Separation Agreement” glowed on
my screen.
Such simple words for such a complicated betrayal.
I opened the document and began to read. Soon, they’d all learn exactly how much their perfect little family had cost me.
And this time, I wouldn’t be paying the price alone.
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