Chapter 6

Kaitlin's POV

I sneered. "Why should I?"

"As the tribe's Luna and Rosalyn's sister, your clarification carries weight," Phillip said, his face expressionless. "If your parents or others speak, people will think we're lying to protect her."

I asked again, "No, why should I?"

Why was it always Rosalyn my parents chose, even though I was their biological daughter?

Why, as his lawful Luna, did his heart belong only to Rosalyn?

Why, when I was the one who lost everything, was Rosalyn always the victim I had to protect, sacrificing my reputation again and again?

Phillip's face darkened completely. "Fine, I know you won't help for nothing."

He yanked open his shirt buttons. "If you clear her name this time, I'll fulfill my duties as your husband."

I froze. "What duties?"

"Fuck you, obviously." His cold words sounded like a business deal. "Don't think I didn't notice. You got close to that gray-furred wolf today to provoke me, to make me sleep with you."

I understood. He thought I was still desperately in love with him, that my words at the diner were just to goad him.

"So, if you clear her name, I'll fulfill my marital duties regularly. That should satisfy you, right?"

The last bit of color drained from my face. I looked up at him. "Phillip, what do you think I am?"

To negotiate intimacy like a transaction... How low did he think I was?

Phillip seemed surprised by my reaction. He rubbed his brow, then grabbed the back of my neck and kissed me forcefully, stealing the breath from my lips.

I bit down hard. Blood flooded my mouth.

He pulled back, incredulous. "You... bit me?"

Blood stained my lips. I held back tears, staring at him defiantly.

Phillip froze, stunned.

Before he could react, his Beta approached the car, voice low. "Alpha, Rosalyn's awake... crying, asking for you."

Phillip snapped back to reality, his tone hard. "Kaitlin, this afternoon, I've arranged a public tribal broadcast at the elder council. You must attend and clear her name. If you don't show, I'll never touch you again in this life."

He turned, got out, and slammed the car door shut.

Tears I could no longer hold spilled down my face. "This lifetime? Phillip, we don't have a lifetime anymore."

I pulled out my phone and sent a message to my attorney. "Please go to the council immediately and announce the dissolution of my mate bond with Phillip."

I closed the phone and told the driver to head to the tribe's outskirts.

...

An hour later, I boarded the private jet my foster mother sent. My phone lit up with missed calls from Phillip and a flood of messages.

"The broadcast starts in half an hour. Where are you?"

"Kaitlin, I'll say it again-if you don't show today, don't expect me to ever touch you again!"

"Where the hell are you?"

I stayed calm, extended my claws, and crushed the phone in my fist.

As the jet began to move, I closed my eyes. "Goodbye, Phillip. From now on, our paths would never cross again."