TEARING HIS LOVE IN PIECES

Sara had bought me the earliest flight to Canada. And it was in 3 days, just before noon.

I dropped the phone to my stomach and sighed, relieved. But how would I cope for these three days?

Santiago didn't return home that night. Because I refused to cook for Naomi, he blocked my number.

I didn't as much as raise an eyebrow. I took a few things in my purse and boarded a cab.

I was immediately struck by the scent of the cab driver. It wasn't a bodily odor; it was a scent only werewolves could pick out.

"Where to, ma'am?"

Our eyes met and I shuddered. I was having an instinct attack. The text, the text. The invisible person who'd texted me.

I watched the man for a few seconds and decided to take the risk. I told him the address to my mom's.

He nodded and got going. "Tough times?" he asked over his shoulder.

I was some sort of a celebrity, being the Alpha's "fiancée," so I wasn't too surprised to hear him try get my attention.

"Why'd you say so?" I asked, immediately taking control.

He shrugged with his eyes. "You're bleeding."

"Huh?" My hands flew to my face.

"Not your face."

I stopped and instantly felt the dampness between my legs.

I glanced at the driver again. His nose twitched. How the hell did he...

"I'm a rogue wolf, ma'am," he said, but I wouldn't hurt you.

That didn't stop the fear that clutched at my throat.

"Just be careful. I think you lost a pregnancy or something," he said. "You need to go see a doctor, at least."

"A trusted one," I whispered, realizing how much of a target I'd become. Rejecting the Alpha came with its consequences.

If this cab was a bad guy, I wasn't sure I'd escape this.

"He's got many allies," he continued, seemingly speaking from a place of mystical knowledge. "They'd lash out at anyone who tries to bring him down. Sure it's something you want to face?"

The question hung in the air unanswered as he came to a stop in front of my home.

I alighted with weak legs, paid him and watched him quietly leave. I didn't get to see his face clearly. But he was young.

And too knowledged to be a cab driver.

Swallowing hard, I turned around to see my mom at the door, her phone in her hand.

She flew to her feet, anger deepening the wrinkles on her face. "You went ahead to say that taboo to your Alpha mate?" she asked, referring to the rejection.

"Mom, there's no going back, I've had—"

The words hadn't left my mouth when she struck me across the face. I felt blood rush under the skin of my face.

I was used to this, even as a grownup, my mother maltreated me, and for a long time, I'd been conditioned to remain quiet.

She grabbed a wooden stick and began beating me with it, hard and furious. One strike after another, while people passed.

"The Alpha told me everything," she was wailing. "Finding an Alpha willing to call you his own is a blessing you've earned over several lifetimes and you still can't make the most of it? Jealous, living wildly, you're such a senseless fool!"

She hunched over me.

"Let me tell you, bitch, no matter what it takes, begging, getting pregnant, you've got to find a way to marry Santiago, or don't bother coming back here!" she screamed.

Suddenly, a gust of cold wind blew and the skies split open. Only the rain made my mom stop. She ran into the house and threw my belongings out. Into the rain.

She yelled, "Get out right now! Even if you die, you better die at his house!"

One of my childhood trophies hit my forehead and blood mixed with rainwater trickled down my cheek.

I bent down, scampering through the scattered items, trying to salvage memories from the past.

A Range Rover slowly pulled up beside me. Santiago got out of the car, holding an umbrella with one hand. He forcibly pulled me into the car with the other hand.

"Lyraea, have you learned your lesson?" he asked. "No one's ever going to accept a trash bag like you. Yeah, that's what you've reduced yourself to. Come home, apologize to me, Naomi and my family whom you've embarrassed. Maybe you'll get a chance in my life again."

He threw his coat over me and the distinct scent of Naomi's perfume hit me.

I turned my head to look at the rain-blurred scenery outside the window, feeling utterly numb inside.

There were times when I tried to tell Santiago how I felt inside. But he ended up using my insecurities against me. And with this coat over me, I knew it was only going to get worse.

Just three days, I thought. Just three.

He picked his ringing phone. "Santiago, why aren't you here yet? Everyone's waiting for you," the voice said.

"They're all teasing me, they wanna know why the wife of the CEO is here and her husband is nowhere to be found. I'm running out of ways to respond …"

I swallowed and closed my eyes. Opening them, I saw Santiago shoot me an awkward glance. He hesitated, wanting to leave me behind but realizing it wouldn't look right.

He dragged his voice, "Lyraea, why don't you come along to the company retreat? I'm sure there could be somewhere you'd fit in. Possibly with the servants."

Omni growled and my jaws fell open. The disrespect was becoming more and more ruthless.

‘There's a pen in your purse, there's his bare neck!’

I heard this so clear and loud that I jolted.

Then the voice of the cab driver resurfaced in my head:

"They'd lash out at anyone who tries to bring him down... something you want to face?"

I wiped my bloody forehead, "Okay.”