STIGMA

Cecilia's pov

My werewolf mate had cheated on me.

I stood outside the Alpha conference room and through the half-open doorway, I witnessed him entangled with another female werewolf. His fingers threaded through her blonde hair and his lips pressed against her neck, just as he had once done to me. Even though as a human I couldn't feel the pain of a torn mate bond, the sight still made me choke with nausea.

Eight years of my life melted into pieces in this moment. My legs frozen, my heels nailed to the marble floor. An inner voice laughed at my naivety-a human trying to hold onto a werewolf's heart forever. My throat tightened and my stomach turned, and I forced myself not to break down on the spot.

After what felt like an eternity, I finally raised my hand and knocked.

"Come in," a deep, husky voice called from inside.

My fingers tightened around the files I was holding, my knuckles turning white as I struggled to maintain my composure. The other pack members might sense my distress if I lose control. As a human married to the Alpha of Blood Moon Pack, I had learned to mask my emotions well.

As I pushed the door open, I forced my lips into a practiced smile. I walked directly to Xavier's side, careful not to inhale too deeply. I didn't want to smell her on him – that other female whose scent had been lingering around our home for weeks.

"Busy?" I asked, my tone deliberately light. "I have some documents that need your signature."

My question was purely rhetorical. I had already placed the files in front of him, helpfully turned to the pages requiring his signature. My perfect act, still performing even as my heart turned to stone.

Xavier had just returned from Switzerland this morning. He'd gone straight to the office to catch up on work, and his desk was already covered with paperwork. Fatigue marked his handsome face, though I knew the real reason for his exhaustion had nothing to do with business meetings. Without even glancing at what I'd brought, he signed every document.

"Thanks for handling this," he said, still not looking up.

I gathered the signed papers, tucking them carefully against my chest. "Will you be home for dinner tonight?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.

"I've got plans. Don't wait up for me," he replied dismissively, attention already shifted back to his computer.

"Alright, I'll see you later then," I said, turning to leave.

The moment my back was to him, my smile twisted into something cold and bitter. The facade of the devoted Luna crumbled with each step I took toward the door.

As I passed the attached rest area of his office, I heard a soft thump from inside, like someone small trying to move quietly. My eyes darted to the side, taking in the scene: scattered snack packages on the coffee table, a half-empty bubble tea, and a pale pink high heel toppled on its side on the floor.

At that instant, my heart turned to ash.

The walk back to my own office depleted whatever energy I had left. I collapsed into my chair, exhaling a long, defeated breath. From among the stack of papers, I pulled out one specific document.

Divorce papers.

I flipped to the final page, tracing Xavier's signature with a mixture of vindication and sorrow. Memories flooded my mind... how he'd once vowed that I was his one true mate, how fiercely he had pursued me in high school, insisting that even though I was a human, the Moon Goddess had destined us for each other. I remembered how Dora, his mother and the Elder Luna, had sneered at me, warning me not to get too comfortable. "Wolves may claim to mate for life," she'd said, "but an Alpha male will never be satisfied with just one woman, especially a human one."

I had defended him then. "Xavier is different," I'd insisted. "Our bond is different."