Chapter 1

My mate keeps me in bed until dawn, then shoves me onto the floor.

"You're boring. You know that?"

I stare up at him, stunned.

Three years ago, Mason spent half his fortune to take me home and make me his mate. Since then, I've spent night after night soothing his restless anger with my body, often until sunrise.

I gave him twins.

He used to pull me against him and bare his teeth at any male who looked my way. Everyone knew better than to touch Mason Blackwood's mate.

Now he looks at me with nothing but contempt.

"You are merely a womb to bear my children. What else do you have to offer besides sex?"

"Vivian actually knows how to make me happy."

My chest aches. I feel cold all over.

"Mason, we have a family. The children need us. You need me—"

His face twists, and he knocks me back as I try to stand.

"Having my pups doesn't mean you own me."

He looks away.

"I won't throw you out. You did give me children. But you're moving into Ronan's guesthouse today."

Ronan. His father's younger half brother.

Even now, Mason thinks he gets to decide where I belong.

Later, in the main hall, Alpha Edmund sits at the head of the room, looking from Mason to me before letting out a heavy sigh.

"Are you certain? Once this bond is broken, you can't simply take it back."

"I'm certain."

Mason's voice softens as he looks at Vivian.

"She's the one I've always loved. Ella was..."

His eyes pass over me as if I'm something he's finished using.

"A bet. That's all."

My heart clenches.

A bet.

My adoptive parents put me up for sale at an underground auction. I still remember the way the men below the stage stared at me.

Mason outbid every one of them, spending half his fortune before carrying me out in front of the stunned crowd.

I thought he wanted me. Later, when he asked me to be his mate, I believed him.

It was a bet.

I bite my lip until I taste blood.

"Then say it," Edmund tells him.

Mason faces me.

"Ella, I reject you as my mate."

I force the words past my lips.

"I accept your rejection."

Pain tears through the mark at my shoulder.

My knees buckle, and I sink onto the carpet, fighting for breath as the bond between us breaks. Mason reaches for Vivian's hand while I press mine over the fading mark.

I don't make a sound.

"Vivian is my chosen mate now," Mason says.

Edmund sighs.

"You'll stay in Ronan's guesthouse. He's away, but the house is available."

I push myself off the carpet and gather my twins into my arms.

They're both in wolf form, their warm little bodies trembling against me.

I turn toward the door.

"Wait."

I stop without looking back.

"No one's been staying out there. It's in bad shape." Mason hesitates. "You could stay here tonight. Leave tomorrow."

Before I can answer, Vivian's eyes fill with tears.

"You can't let her go, can you? You still want her in your bed."

"I should've known. You're just like every other man. All you want is a breeding machine."

She pulls away from him.

"Let go of me. I'm leaving."

Mason grabs her hand, suddenly frantic.

"Vivian, you're the only one I love. How can you doubt that?"

He glances at me.

"She's good in bed, and she can give me pups. Keeping her around doesn't mean anything."

"If she stays, I leave." Vivian wrenches her hand free. "All I've ever asked is for you to love me. Is that too much?"

His face crumples at her tears.

When he turns back to me, whatever hesitation he had is gone.

"Go. But the pups are mine. They stay."

Vivian stops crying.

She walks toward me, looking down at the twins.

"So these are the pups everyone's making such a fuss over."

She reaches into my arms.

Her fingers pinch my son's skin beneath his fur. He lets out a sharp yelp and snaps at her hand, catching her finger with his tiny teeth.

Vivian screams.

A bead of blood wells up on her skin.

Mason hits me before I can move.

The blow sends me crashing into the doorframe. Both pups slip out of my arms and hit the floor, tumbling together with thin, frightened whimpers.

I crawl toward them.

Mason kicks my shoulder, then pins me down.

His eyes are bloodshot.

"You bitch. No wonder your pups are vicious little brats. How dare they bite her?"

He looks down at the twins.

"If you can't raise them properly, Vivian will."

He picks them up one at a time and hands them to her.

She covers her mouth, hiding a smile.

I lie on the floor and watch my babies kick their little legs in the air.

Three days ago, Mason held my hand and promised he'd never let anyone hurt me.

He said forever.

Forever lasted three days.