Mated to a Cruel Alpha

After Alpha Ethan cheated on me, I was so furious I filed for divorce immediately.

Ethan chased after me for half a year, swearing he'd never see Ivy again.

Only then did I finally agree to remarry him.

On our one-year remarriage anniversary, I brought a gift to the bar he frequented, wanting to surprise him.

Instead, I accidentally caught him kissing Ivy.

His friend asked him:

"If you love Ivy, why did you remarry Ava?"

Ethan answered with a laugh:

"I promised Ivy I'd find her a prank target. Ava, being wolfless, is the perfect choice, isn't she?"

I endured the immense physical and emotional pain without rushing out to make a scene.

Instead, I planned to fake my death.

Ethan Miller, this time I'm truly done with you.

"Ms. Summers, your death staging package is now active. Everything will proceed according to plan in seven days."

Hearing the voice of the death staging agency employee on the phone, I let out a long breath.

In seven days, I would disappear completely from Ethan Miller's world.

After hanging up, I circled the date seven days from now on the calendar in red.

The vivid red seemed to mock my foolishness over the past year and a half.

Ethan Miller came back carrying an insulated bag while I was still staring at the calendar in a daze.

He set down the bag and, as always, wrapped me in his arms, asking gently:

"What are you doing? You seem so lost in thought."

Feeling the warm chest behind me, bitterness welled up in my heart.

Five years of marriage and one year of remarriage, and I never knew Ethan Miller was such a good actor.

So good that I thought he'd truly let go of Ivy and had a change of heart.

So good that I believed he truly couldn't live without me, which was why he pursued me relentlessly for half a year after our divorce, insisting on remarrying.

I shook my head. "Nothing. Just thinking about some things."

His gaze fell on the circled date on the calendar:

"Is seven days from now some important day?"

"Yes." I suppressed the bitterness in my heart and said meaningfully, "That day I'll give you a surprise."

Ethan stroked my hair affectionately. "Then I'll look forward to it."

"But forget about seven days from now for now, honey. Do you remember what day today is? Today's our one-year remarriage anniversary. I personally mixed you an anniversary special drink. Come taste it."

Looking at the strangely colored drink he brought out, my heart couldn't help but tremble.

I remembered at the bar party today, someone had asked Ivy with a laugh what prank she planned to pull on me today.

She mixed various spirits, hot sauce, bitters, and some silver together, saying with a smile:

"I'm in a good mood today, so I'll let Ava off easy. I'll just livestream her drinking this 'Hell's Special' and call it even."

I never expected Ethan would actually bring this thing back and lie to me, calling it an anniversary drink.

He clearly knew I didn't have my own wolf and my body was weak.

Silver, which had no effect on powerful werewolves, could kill me.

A sharp pain pierced through my heart. After a long moment, I managed to say in a trembling voice:

"I don't feel well today. I don't want to drink alcohol."

Hearing this, the smile on Ethan's face faded considerably:

"Why are you unwell again?"

"Avy, this is my heartfelt gift after all. Just take one sip, then I'll make you some calming tea, okay?"

He brought the glass to my lips.

I looked into his eyes, trying to find a trace of guilt about deceiving me.

But there was none.

His eyes were sincere, as if he truly just didn't want me to reject his gesture.

Suppressing the sharp pain in my heart, I nodded slightly.

"Okay, I'll drink it."

The harsh liquid slid down my throat, bringing a burning and nauseating sensation.

I knew the camera hidden somewhere had already recorded my ugly expression drinking this thing.

On the other end of the livestream, Ivy must be laughing triumphantly right now.

Ethan set down the glass with satisfaction and went to brew tea.

Watching his figure enter the kitchen, a chill rose in my heart.

Ethan used to be nervous for so long even when I got cut by a knife.

Yet to amuse Ivy, he didn't hesitate to make me drink this dangerous liquor.

He truly had no love left for me at all.

I didn't get to drink the tea Ethan brewed before I was sent to the hospital due to silver poisoning.

In my hazy consciousness, I heard someone gently coaxing me:

"Avy, don't be afraid. The pain will stop soon."

I couldn't tell if I was dreaming. Only after waking up did I see Ethan sleeping with his head on the hospital bed.

His face was full of exhaustion. He must have been taking care of me for a long time.

His phone beside his hand kept vibrating.

I picked it up and opened it to see Ethan's friends posting in a group chat:

"Ava's expression drinking that 'Hell's Special' today was priceless. I saved the GIF!"

"Yeah, but why was Ethan in such a hurry to send Ava to the hospital? Don't tell me he felt bad for her?"

Ethan replied below:

"Stop joking. It wouldn't look good if Ivy saw."

"I'm just playing the part. If I don't comfort her properly this time, how can I keep tricking her into cooperating next time?"

So it was all an act again.

I gave a bitter smile and put the phone back in its place.

Ethan soon woke up. Seeing I was fine, he breathed a sigh of relief:

"I'm sorry, Avy. It's my fault. I shouldn't have made you drink that alcohol."

I didn't speak, just looked at him quietly.

He seemed uncomfortable under my gaze and soon stood up with his coat:

"There's something at the company. I need to go handle it. I'll come see you later."

The moment the door closed, I shut my eyes, and tears finally slid down uncontrollably.

Ethan Miller, six more days.

I didn't wait for Ethan Miller to come see me again. I checked myself out of the hospital first.

I found a witch on the black market and stated my purpose directly: "I want to break the Mate Bond, but I can't let him find out. Do you have a way?"

After I paid enough money, she brought me a small vial of potion: "Make him drink this and the Mate Bond will be broken, but you'll be very weak for a long time. Even the healing ability you werewolves pride yourselves on will be temporarily lost."

"How long?"

"Depends on your constitution. Maybe a few weeks, maybe a few months." She looked at me. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure." I took the bottle and left.

By the time I got home, Ethan Miller was already sitting on the sofa waiting for me.

"Avy, why didn't you wait for me to pick you up? You checked yourself out?"

"Are you still upset about that drink? Forgive me, okay? To make it up to you, I'll take you to a charity gala and buy you a gift. How about that?"

My hand gripped the small bottle tightly in my pocket.

I already had a plan.

But Ethan took me out without giving me a choice.

When we arrived, I immediately spotted Ivy in the crowd. She wore a striking red dress, and the diamond bracelet on her wrist sparkled brilliantly.

Seeing my gaze land on Ivy, Ethan hastily explained:

"Ava, I didn't know Ivy would be here. I haven't contacted her in a long time."

"If you're unhappy, I'll have someone escort her out right now."

I pulled at the corner of my mouth, too lazy to expose his lies. "No need."

It was just a show for me anyway.

The auction segment of the gala soon began. I remained listless throughout.

But Ethan Miller acted like he truly wanted to compensate me. Whenever I glanced at an item, he would immediately raise his paddle.

In no time, he'd won quite a bit.

People around cast envious looks, but an uneasy feeling rose in my heart.

The feeling quickly came true.

After the finale piecea contemporary paintingwas brought out, Ivy was the first to raise her paddle.

"Two hundred thousand."

I thought Ethan Miller wouldn't be willing to bid against Ivy, but to my surprise, he raised his paddle without hesitation: "Three hundred thousand."

Meeting my astonished gaze, he showed an affectionate smile:

"You weren't very interested in what we got before. You looked at this painting a couple extra times, so you should like it, right?"

I was about to shake my head when he'd already looked away and started competing with Ivy.

After an intense bidding war, Ethan Miller actually made a gesture to the auctioneer, indicating he was willing to offer an even higher unlimited price.

Instantly, the entire venue erupted.

The way people looked at me was no longer just envious.

I felt like I was sitting on pins and needles. Turning my head, I met Ivy's half-smiling gaze, and my heart sank.

Ethan Miller ultimately won the painting.

But when the gala ended and the staff came to request payment, he was nowhere to be found.

Looking at the five hundred thousand dollar figure, my face went pale.

I called him, but only heard the automated message that his phone was off.

The staff member's expression gradually changed, and the surrounding gazes shifted from envy to mockery.

"Alpha Ethan's Luna can't afford to pay?"

"And I thought Alpha Ethan doted on his Luna so much. Turns out it was all fake."

"Maybe this lady wanted to show off herself and dragged Alpha Ethan here, then it backfired."

The humiliating words struck me like heavy blows, making me stagger backward.

The staff member's face had completely lost its pleasantness, looking at me with a cold smile:

"Luna Ava, you need to process the payment now. Otherwise, you'll incur substantial penalty fees and it may affect your credit."

I opened my mouth, but in the end could only say hoarsely:

"Fine, I'll pay the penalty."

I hadn't brought money, so I could only remove my necklace and bracelet, leaving my handbag as collateral before leaving in embarrassment.

This incident quickly fermented online. The comments were full of mockery and abuse.

Looking at those vicious words, my nails dug into my palms, but I couldn't even cry.

So this was Ethan Miller's true purpose for bringing me here.

He wanted me to become everyone's laughingstock.

When I returned home, it was already late at night.

Unexpectedly, Ethan had already come back. He was sitting on the living room sofa, holding a glass of water, seemingly waiting for me.

"Avy, you're back." He set down the glass and stood up. "About tonight, I'm very sorry. I got an urgent call and had to leave. Are you... okay?"

I looked at the glass of water in front of him, then at his seemingly concerned eyes.

"I'm fine." I said quietly. "Just a bit tired. I want some water too."

"I'll get you some." He immediately turned toward the kitchen.

Those brief few seconds.

I quickly dropped the witch's potion into his glass of water.

Colorless and tasteless.

He returned with a fresh glass of water and handed it to me.

I took it and sipped slowly, my peripheral vision fixed intently on him.

He picked up his own glass without any awareness and drank several gulps.

The taut string in my heart loosened slightly, then immediately, a strong feeling of weakness suddenly struck.

The witch's side effects had begun.

"What's wrong? You look terrible." He asked.

"Just too tired." I set down the glass, no longer looking at him. "I'll go rest first."

I turned and walked toward the bedroom, shutting his gaze out behind the door, looking at the countdown on the calendar.

Five more days.

I didn't want to go out and show my vulnerability, facing everyone's mocking gazes.

But soon it was the annual gala for the Miller Pack Charity Foundation. As Luna, I had to attend.

The gala was held at a top hotel in New York.

Ethan and I had just arrived when I saw Ivy arm-in-arm with Grandma Fiona, chatting intimately about something, making the usually stern Grandma Fiona laugh heartily.

That intimate manneranyone would think they were family.

I looked at them, then turned to look at Ethan Miller. I found his eyes full of tenderness, clearly moved by this warm scene.

Noticing my gaze, Ethan Miller explained uncomfortably:

"Ivy is an important guest Grandma invited. I couldn't very well stop her."

"If you don't want to see her, I'll introduce you to a few friends later, then we can go wait in the lounge."

I didn't speak, but Ivy walked over on her own initiative.

"What a coincidence! We chose similar styles. But..." She deliberately looked me up and down, covering her mouth with a light laugh. "Red seems to suit me better, don't you think?"

I was about to walk away when Ivy stepped forward, and the half-glass of champagne in her hand "accidentally" spilled onto the front of my gown.

"Oops!" Ivy exclaimed, though there wasn't a trace of apology in her eyes. "I'm so sorry, Luna Ava. My hand slipped. Are you okay?"

The surroundings instantly fell silent. Everyone was watching us.

I looked at the messy wine stain on my chest, then at the poorly concealed provocative smile on her face.

The anger, humiliation, and pain accumulated over many days burst through the dam of reason in this moment.

Before anyone could react, I raised my hand and slapped her hard across the face.

The crisp sound of the slap echoed through the ballroom.

Ivy covered her face, staring in disbelief with wide eyes. Then her eyes instantly reddened.

She hid behind Ethan, grabbing his arm, choking out: "Ethan, I just accidentally... she, she hit me..."

"Ava!" Ethan grabbed my wrist, so hard it hurt. "What are you doing? Apologize to Ivy now!"

"I should apologize?" Looking at his face full of pity for Ivy, my heart turned completely cold. "She provoked me first. She spilled wine on me!"

"That's still no reason for you to hit someone in public!" Ethan lowered his voice, his tone severe. "Look at where we are! Do you want everyone to laugh at you?"

Our argument had already drawn the attention of everyone present.

Grandma Fiona, accompanied by Beta Stevens, approached with an iron-dark expression.

She first glanced at the pitiful-looking Ivy, then fixed her icy, piercing gaze on me.

"Ava Summers, as Luna, at the Pack's most important charity gala, you publicly assault someone. Where does that leave the Miller Pack's dignity?"

"Grandma, it was Ivy who first..." I tried to explain.

"I don't care who started it!" Grandma Fiona cut me off sharply, her gaze sweeping over me and Ivy before settling on me with disgust. "What I care about is the result! The result is that in front of New York's social elite and all our important partners, the Miller Pack's Luna became a madwoman who lost control and lashed out due to jealousy! You've brought shame to the entire Pack!"

She stopped looking at me and turned to Beta Stevens: "I don't want to see her in the car on the way back. Take her to the estate and lock her in the wine cellar to reflect properly."

Ethan's lips moved, but he ultimately gently pushed me toward Beta Stevens, his voice so low it was almost inaudible: "Ava, stop making a scene... Go back with Stevens and cool down. I'll come get you tomorrow."

I looked into his eyes as the last faint hope was extinguished.

I was soon taken back to the estate by Beta Stevens and locked in the underground wine cellar.

Darkness instantly swallowed everything.

I was only wearing that thin gown that had been splashed with wine.

The cold burrowed into my bones.

Because of the witch's potion side effects, I couldn't even manage simple warming.

When the cellar door opened again, Ethan's figure appeared in the doorway.

I tried to stand but found my legs numb and unresponsive, my vision going black.

Ethan rushed in to support me. When his hand touched my skin, he paused: "God, you're so cold..."

He half-carried, half-supported me out of the wine cellar.

After leaving that frigid hell, the warm air actually made me cough violently. My lungs and airways felt like they'd been scraped with sandpaper.

That afternoon, I developed a high fever.

During moments of consciousness, I looked at the darkening sky outside the window and calculated the time.

Two more days.

The final two days.

When I woke again, I found myself back in the familiar bedroom.

Ethan Miller was keeping watch beside me.

Seeing me awake, he touched my face and asked: "The doctor said your body is even weaker now, even less than the weakest Omega. You..."

He didn't finish because his phone rang.

It was Ivy calling.

He gave me an apologetic glance, stood up, and went out to take the call.

The door wasn't fully closed. Through the gap, I heard his voice.

"Ethan, I have another new idea. That abandoned obsidian mine area at the northern state border. How about you trick Ava into going there and abandon her in the next couple days?"

"Just thinking about her unable to find you in that kind of place, not daring to wander around, trapped and helplessit seems so interesting."

Ethan Miller clearly hesitated:

"Ava just came out of the wine cellar. She's still sick. The doctor said she's very weak. Going to that kind of place... shouldn't we wait a bit?"

Ivy immediately became unhappy:

"Are you feeling bad for Ava now? I knew it. All that talk about me being your true love was a lie."

Hearing Ivy say this, Ethan Miller immediately gave in:

"How could it be a lie? I'll agree to it."

Listening to Ethan Miller's voice, my heart felt desolate.

When Ethan Miller used to love me, he'd feel bad even if I accidentally bumped into a table corner.

But now, under Ivy's arrangement, he'd made me so sick in the wine cellar, yet was about to send me to an even more dangerous place.

If that's the case, Ethan Miller, let this time become your unforgettable memory.

I synchronized the information with the death staging agency. They quickly responded.

After reading the reply, I deleted all records related to the death staging agency from my phone.

After resting for a day, Ethan Miller came to me:

"Avy, I see you've been unhappy lately and your illness is recovering slowly. How about I take you out to get some fresh air? I know a stargazing spot near an abandoned mine pit. It's especially peaceful, and the air is good."

I nodded indifferently.

Ethan had originally thought I'd be unwilling and had prepared words to coax me. He hadn't expected me to cooperate so readily.

He froze, an inexplicable unease growing in his heart, but he quickly suppressed it, smiling as he stroked my head:

"You'll like it there."

Feeling the familiar warmth on my head, I felt no joy whatsoever.

After lunch, Ethan Miller took me out.

The car headed north all the way. At red lights, Ethan Miller looked over at me several times, seeming to want to say something but stopping.

I asked him: "What's wrong?"

His gaze stopped on my still somewhat pale face. When he spoke again, he said:

"Nothing, just remembered you said you prepared a surprise for me. The date seems to be tomorrow."

Hearing this, I managed a smile:

"You still remember. Don't worry, it'll definitely be a surprise you'll like."

I was clearly smiling, but I felt my eyes growing hot and quickly turned my head.

Unease surged in Ethan Miller's heart again.

The car soon reached the abandoned obsidian mine area at the state border. Looking at the desolate landscape outside the window with its danger warning signs, my heart still stirred.

I knew about this mine area. There had been accidents here before, and the security wasn't good now either.

Ivy really knew how to pick places.

What about Ethan Miller? Did he know how dangerous it was here?

Just as I turned to look at Ethan Miller, a jarring creaking sound of metal being blown by wind came from the distance.

Hearing the sound, Ethan Miller only frowned and said:

"Avy, I think I forgot the hand warmer and blanket in the car. You look at the scenery here. I'll go back to get them. I'll be right back."

With that, he actually turned and walked back the way we came.

I watched his retreating figure as the last trace of affection for Ethan in my heart completely dissipated.

I really did stand there waiting for a while, then walked toward an abandoned vertical shaft deep in the mine area.

By the time I reached the shaft, the sun had already set.

There seemed to be suspicious figures and sounds in the distance. The wind blowing through the mine tunnels made a whimpering sound. I still hadn't seen Ethan Miller return with the items.

When the agreed time came, without thinking, I leaped toward the bottomless dark shaft.

...

When Ethan Miller drove back, the unease in his heart grew stronger.

What was that sound just now? Leaving Ava alone in that placecould she be in danger?

He tried to sense Ava's condition through the Mate Bond but found he couldn't sense Ava's presence at all.

When he reached the apartment he'd agreed on with Ivy, he pushed open the door to find several friends already there.

But he had no mood to chat with his friends. He came up and grabbed Ivy's hand:

"That mine area you pickedthere's no danger there, right?"

Ivy pulled her hand back in dissatisfaction: "What danger could there be? It's just some ruins. If you're worried, go back and keep Ava company."

Ethan Miller immediately hugged Ivy to placate her.

After he'd calmed her down, he started talking with his friends again.

This was clearly something he always did, but today, Ethan Miller felt restless, as if something was about to happen.

Time moved forward minute by minute. Ethan's phone received several calls, but Ivy hung them all up for him.

"It must be Ava trying to call you for help. Don't bother with her."

Ethan didn't bother, but his heart was already full of unease.

After another urgent phone call rang, Ethan answered before Ivy could.

But the voice on the other end wasn't Ava. It was an unfamiliar male voice:

"Is this Alpha Ethan? We found your wife's belongings at the obsidian mine area and... traces of a fall into a shaft. Please come to the scene as soon as possible."