Chapter 1

My husband, Rex, was frigid—and pathologically obsessed with cleanliness.

Not only did I have to apply for the once-a-month intimacy he permitted, but before he would even touch me, I had to disinfect myself—inside and out—three times.

The wolf within me, Amelia, had long since reached her limit. Yet every time, I would smile and soothe her:

“Just a little longer… wait until he truly trusts you.”

But on the day of my thirtieth birthday, everything shattered.

In the passenger seat of his car, I found an entire box of used condoms—and a bottle of cloyingly sweet, girlish perfume.

When I confronted him, he simply turned the steering wheel with practiced ease, his expression unchanged.

“I lent the car to Harman the day before yesterday.”

I said nothing.

Instead, I contacted his Beta assistant, Danny. That was when I learned the truth—

the old Alpha had been keeping a young she-wolf as his mistress.

And that girl had been placed in the company… as Rex’s personal secretary.

On the phone, Harman lowered his voice.

“Calantha… I’ve seen Rex kiss her feet. That girl… she’s not just the old Alpha’s mistress…”

There was a pause on the other end.

Then he continued:

“I owe you for saving my sister’s life. I couldn’t bear to see you deceived. I heard… she might be pregnant.”

Later, I found out more.

Poppy came from the most chaotic district on the outskirts of the GloomFall Pack—an Omega of mixed blood, from the very bottom of the hierarchy.

She had climbed into the old Alpha’s bed, thinking it would be her way to rise into the ranks of pure-blooded wolves.

But to him, she was nothing more than a fleeting amusement—money, gifts, indulgence… but never a Pack name, never real power.

It didn’t take long for her to realize she could get no more from the old man.

So she set her sights on Rex—

the Alpha heir with severe germaphobia and a seemingly perfect marriage.

After hanging up, I called my lawyer and told him to prepare the divorce papers.

Rex… our Mate Bond ends here.

Early the next morning, I went straight to the company.

The moment Danny saw me, his face turned deathly pale.

I glanced toward Rex’s office. Papers were scattered across the floor.

And the man who would burn his clothes if someone so much as brushed against him—

was now pinning a woman to the ground, kissing her like he couldn’t get enough.

Poppy.

The same young she-wolf who had spread her legs in his father’s bed.

Our eyes met.

There was no fear in hers.

I greeted Danny briefly, then pushed the door open without hesitation.

Bang.

The door slammed hard against the stopper.

They sprang apart in shock.

I thought Rex, caught red-handed, would at least panic.

Or explain.

Or show even a trace of shame.

But he didn’t.

He simply frowned, looking at me with mild confusion.

“Didn’t I say you need to change into sterile clothing before entering my office?”

Until this moment, I had always believed maintaining absolute cleanliness for him was the most important thing.

Now, it seemed utterly ridiculous.

Because another woman’s sweat was still mingling with his—

and he didn’t mind at all.

Poppy’s clothes were wrinkled, her cheeks flushed.

“Luna Calantha, please don’t misunderstand,” she said softly. “I just slipped while delivering documents. Rex was only helping me up.”

She was speaking to me—

but her eyes were fixed on him.

This girl, twelve years younger than me—

young, bright… and utterly ignorant of her place.

I ignored her.

Instead, I threw the divorce papers straight at Rex’s face.

The printed sheets—touched by who knows how many hands—made his expression darken instantly, anger flickering beneath the surface.

He glanced at the papers on the ground and let out a weary sigh.

“Calantha, I already told you. Those things belonged to Harman. Can you be rational for once?”

Harman was his cousin—one of the few people he was close to.

But when Rex lied, he forgot something.

His cousin liked men.

And his boyfriend was obsessed with physical intimacy.

More importantly—

Rex’s obsession with cleanliness would never allow him to lend out his car.

He thought it was filthy.

“Sign it. Divorce. This is the best outcome for both of us.”

I didn’t take a single step back.

He frowned, his voice turning cold.

“What’s the point? You’re not young anymore—what are you even fighting for?”

When I didn’t yield in the slightest, he continued:

“Since forming a Mate Bond with you, I haven’t looked at another woman. This was the only time.”

“Just do what a Luna should do. Turn a blind eye. Isn’t that easier?”