Chapter 5

"Since both our partners want each other, why don't we get married instead?"

Katie shot him a look. "Are you insane? I'm still married, if you had forgotten."

Lucian shrugged, his shoulders barely moving. "You can always get divorced."

"It had already crossed my mind to divorce that scum," she replied curtly. "But I have no intention of jumping into another marriage so quickly. Even if we are mates."

"Don’t you want your revenge?"

"Well I do, but what’s in it for you?"

He snorted. "My wedding with Dakota was arranged exactly six months ago. I'm thirty years old now, and the elders and family had been on my neck for a while about just getting a chosen mate. And they felt Dakota was the perfect choice."

Katie's tone was thick with sarcasm. "Guess they chose a serpent."

Lucian stifled a smile, his eyes clouding over. "Dakota saved me when I was a child, and for years I had been looking for her. And when I saw her again, it just felt right. I even wished we were actual mates. So I swore to give her all the love after losing her."

Katie looked at him keenly. "What happened then?"

He sighed. "Things were unstable within the pack, and I had important business dealings that couldn't make me remain in the city. That's why I had been traveling about for the last months. I didn't want to marry her and make her feel alone."

How considerate of him, Katie thought. Her own husband, in the other hand, didn’t give a damn about how alone she felt most times.

Lucian continued, "So now things are okay, but I got news of all the sneaky stuff she’s been doing. I gave Dakota everything she wanted, even invested heavily in her makeup brand from start to finish. She didn't even tell me when it was to be launched. I found it online."

Katie nodded. "Yeah right she didn’t. Did you confront her?"

"Yes, but she just brushed it off, saying she didn't wanna bother me since I was so busy all the time." He hesitated, pain in his voice. "I wouldn't want to get into all the details, but she betrayed me, and I detest betrayal."

Their eyes met as Katie probed. "Why didn't you make a move already?"

"I'm a very cautious man, you know. But the moment I saw you, I knew you were the answer."

A chill went down Katie's spine as she stroked her arms. "I'm about to come out of a six-year relationship..."

Lucian's voice was gentle. "No pressure. You should sleep on it. But do it fast."

The car pulled up to her house, and Lucian turned to her, his stormy grey eyes piercing.

Katie thanked him quickly and got down. She didn't want to get drowned in those eyes.

Not yet.

As she entered her house, she was met with a scene that set her blood on fire.

Dakota and Liam were on the couch, almost half naked, making love.

On seeing her, they sprang apart, trying to explain. But Katie wasn't interested in hearing it. She already knew about their affair but it hurt worse seeing it physically.

Katie held her hand up, her eyes clear with the anger. "I am not blind you know,"

Liam took one step closer to her, trying to defend himself. "It's really not what you think."

Really? He had no other pathetic cliche line to use?

Katie’s voice rose as she gave a sour laugh. "What do you take me for? A fool? Wow."

"It was just a momentary mess up. Don’t take it personally, cousin." Dakota chipped in.

She ignored the witch completely and turned to Liam instead. "I, Luna Katie Storm of the Haven Pack, reject you, William Storm of the Haven Pack, as my mate. I hereby cut all ties with you and the pack."

Liam couldn’t believe his eyes.

"You're rejecting me? How dare you!" he shouted, but Katie kept calm.

The pain of cutting ties with her pack and mate overwhelmed her soon enough. She had to hold her chest from the sharp pain.

As she reached the door, she called back over her shoulder, "You two deserve each other!"

Liam's angry growl followed her, "Katie! Where are you going!"

But she didn't reply. Instead, she walked out the door and slammed it shut behind her.

Lucian was holding up her purse when she brushed into him as she stepped out into the chilly evening air.

"You left this in my car, and I wanted to return it," he said, looking directly into her eyes.

Katie gulped hard and snatched the purse. "Can you take me out of here quickly?"

They got into the car, and she turned to Lucian. "You know what? I'll marry you."

He blinked. "Whoa, you slept on it so fast?"

Katie sighed, her eyes fixed on the trees outside the window. "Can we please drive away right now?"

Lucian ordered the driver to step on it.

She was going to send for her belongings later. But for now, she was so done with Liam.

As the car sped away, Katie pulled out her phone and dialed her trusted lawyer’s number. "Hello, I want a divorce,"