Chapter 6

"He did WHAT to my daughter?"

My mother's voice could have shattered every crystal glass in our dining room when I told her about the bond-breaking the next morning over coffee. Her wolf was close to the surface, her eyes flickering between human brown and wolf gold.

"Seven years of a sacred mate bond, and he throws it all away for some little gold-digging Crimson Fang whore?"

"Mom, please keep your voice down. Sophie might hear you from upstairs. Her wolf is already confused by the weakening bond between Dominic and me."

"That precious little pup deserves so much better than a father who abandons his family for his midlife crisis!"

I'd never seen my dignified mother this furious—her hands shook as she paced our kitchen, her usually perfect composure completely demolished. Her wolf was dominant, protective, ready to tear Dominic apart.

"I'm going to march into that office of his right now and challenge him in front of the entire pack."

"Mom, that's really not necessary—"

"Like hell it isn't necessary! He violated a sacred mate bond!"

Two hours later, the entire Crawford Industries staff—both human and wolf—watched through glass office walls as my sixty-year-old mother confronted my soon-to-be ex-mate like an avenging Luna.

"Do you remember your mating vows, Dominic Crawford? The promises you made under the full moon before the Goddess herself?"

He couldn't meet her eyes, fidgeting with papers on his desk. His wolf was submissive before her dominant presence. "This situation is complicated—"

"It's not complicated at all! You promised to love and cherish my daughter through good times and bad! You swore before the pack that your wolves were eternally bonded!"

"I did love her once—"

"Love isn't past tense in a true mate bond!" Her voice cracked with emotion, her wolf's grief evident. "Do you remember how Vivian spent three months organizing your business plan? How she used her pack connections to secure meetings with Alpha investors?"

His jaw tightened defensively. "I'm grateful for everything she did back then."

"Grateful?" My mother's laugh was bitter and broken. "She believed in you when nobody else would, when every other pack called you a failure with weak Alpha potential!"

"I can't change how I feel about Scarlett. My wolf has chosen her."

"Your wolf chose Vivian seven years ago! You can't just un-choose a mate bond because you found someone with a prettier face and stronger bloodline!"

That's when my dignified, proud mother—a Beta wolf from one of the oldest bloodlines—did something I never thought I'd witness in a thousand years.

She dropped to her knees in front of his mahogany desk, baring her throat in complete submission.

"Please," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Think of Sophie. Think of your pup. Her wolf needs both parents."

"Mrs. Thornton, please get up—" Panic filled his voice as employees gathered to witness a high-ranking Beta submitting to someone with lower pack standing.

"I'm begging you not to destroy everything."

He came around the desk, trying to help her stand, mortification clear in his expression. "Please don't do this here."

"Then don't destroy my daughter's entire life. Don't break a sacred mate bond."

But even as he helped her to her feet, I could see the cold resolution in his face through the office windows. His wolf had already made its choice.

His mind was already made up, and nothing would change it.

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