Chapter 3 – I don’t want you anywhere close to Nick
Alpha Nick explained to Charlotte that he had found a replacement bride on the day she was kidnapped in order to save the pack from shame. However, little did she expect her replacement bride to be none other than Sheila, her former best friend turned enemy.
Charlotte and Sheila were once very close until Sheila began to outshine her. Sheila seemed to excel at everything she did, as if she had a lucky charm.
Charlotte, on the other hand, was the exact opposite. Back in New York where they went to school, Charlotte was only good at one thing – attracting all sorts of men.
She didn’t have the strength or decency to refuse their advances. Sheila had caught her in the act many times. When Sheila came top of her class, it was the last straw for Charlotte, and she couldn’t take it anymore.
She tried every means to eliminate Sheila, but all her attempts failed. Now, after six months of being away, she was back to meet the same woman she had failed to kill, who was now her mate’s contract Luna.
“You told me she had left. What is she still doing here?” Charlotte was annoyed by Sheila’s presence, pretending not to know her, because she was afraid that her secret would be revealed.
Sheila, on the contrary, had no intention of revealing the truth. Even if she did, no one would believe her. Rising to her feet with a teary gaze, she lost the zeal to speak, accepting her loss.
Picking up the pen, she crossed out the alimony portion before appending her signature to the divorce paper.
“I would like us to settle everything before tomorrow,” she placed her demand with renewed vigor.
Her appearance wasn’t attractive, but her sudden boldness and refusal to allow her tears to fall caused something strange to hit Alpha Nick for the first time.
It was as if he didn’t know the woman he married, as she had changed into someb*dy else.
“I said three weeks. It would take that long to change the names of the cars and houses, as well as the accounts into your name.”
After saying that, he just realized that he didn’t even know her maiden name but could not be bothered. Sheila didn’t look like one who would want to return his surname anyways.
Sheila smiled dryly and looked him in the eyes. The usual affection and tenderness it used to carry was gone. “I don’t want any of those. Let’s get this done with.”
Alpha Nick’s gaze was a blend of complicated emotions. It was as if the woman he left in his house last night was different from the one he came to meet this morning.
“How will you survive? If not for the money, then why did you sign the contract?” He did not want other packs to accuse him of treating his Luna badly after divorce.
Sheila’s harsh gaze settled on Charlotte, but the latter quickly grabbed Alpha Nick’s arm like a spoiled brat.
“Nick, just complete the process. If she wants to be proud to live like a pauper after divorce, why should that concern you?”
Charlotte never wanted Sheila to have half of Alpha Nick’s wealth, so this was even better for her.
Alpha Nick did not like Sheila’s tricks, feeling like she was trying to manipulate his emotions to make him feel guilty for wasting six months of her life.
“Since you want nothing, you can go beg on the street when you return to whichever pack you came from. But I’m still kind enough to give you three days to think about it.”
As expected, every glance he spared her lacked warmth, unlike Charlotte who had all his softness, care, compassion, and love.
Sheila was already exhausted. Her eyes were equally heavy due to lack of sleep, and all her emotions were forcefully buried inside.
“I already decided. I want nothing. Let’s get it over with.”
Going back to her father’s pack, she didn’t want any ties with Alpha Nick, as everything about him was now an eyesore to her.
Alpha Nick’s brows raised mockingly to hear such words coming from the mouth of the woman who was begging him last night to not divorce.
“I will be back,” Alpha Nick said and hastened up the stairs. Charlotte instantly dropped her mask of niceness and spoke in a harsh tone to Sheila but kept her voice low.
“Aren’t you pathetic? So after all your achievements, you couldn’t keep your claws from my mate. You are so pitiful. Even as an orphan, you refused his generosity for what? So he would take you to be a good Luna? Bullshit.”
Charlotte had already seen the guilt in Alpha Nick’s eyes, fearing that it might be a link to draw him back to Sheila.
Not wanting Sheila to receive a dime and also not wanting Alpha Nick to feel guilty about it, she had no idea on how to sever the ties.
“Why did you come back, Charlotte? Weren’t you in love with Beta Tom? Where is he? I guess you killed him with your poisonous deceit, just as you want to do to Alpha Nick.”
Sheila hoped that Charlotte would go back to Thomas, but things were different than she perceived.
“It’s not your business, but since I’m back, I don’t want you anywhere close to Nick. Do you understand that?”
Sheila smiled bitterly, pushing strands of hair behind her ears. Upon closer look, even without makeup, Charlotte could not refuse that Sheila was a stunning woman, but as to why Alpha Nick was never tempted, it was all thanks to his respect for the mate bond.
Back then in New York, every guy wanted Sheila when she came top of her class. Unfortunately, most of them were humans and she never found her mate among them. Also, she never felt any form of attraction for any of them the way she did for Alpha Nick.
“You already won. So why are you afraid? Don’t worry. I forgive you for all your failed attempts on my life but if you dare try it again, I will fight you boot to boot.”
Sheila’s gaze pierced through Charlotte’s eyes; she quickly looked away, afraid that Sheila would see through her. After all, the woman was very smart.
“You must never tell him about Tom, do you understand?” Charlotte’s voice trembled and she fidgeted slightly at the mention of Tom. Sheila’s eyes squinted, suspecting that something has gone wrong.
Nevertheless, she knew one thing about being promiscuous. The price was a bitter pill, including death. She hissed,
“You know what? You are the pathetic one. You, Nick, and Thomas, I hope you all rot in hell.” Since she signed the divorce papers, she no longer cared.
Charlotte felt in her heart that she still hadn’t won for as long as Sheila refused to accept the alimony but wanted it reduced.
How could she take half of everything Alpha Nick worked for? Half of Alpha Nick’s pack worth billions for that matter. If Sheila took half of it, then Charlotte would have to share the remaining half with Alpha Nick which, though a lot, was still not enough for the greedy woman.
“You are just jealous that my mate loves and waited for me. You are nothing.” For all she knew, Sheila was just an orphan with great talents.
Sheila laughed. Not even Charlotte knew about her family back in college, as she never used her real name, Sheridan Warner, the only daughter of the Alpha King with seven ruthless brothers.
“I feel pity for you, Charlotte. Very soon, the mask will peel from your face, Alpha Nick will see you for who you truly are.”
As they heard footsteps approaching, Charlotte slapped herself hard on the face, sat on the floor, and began screaming. When the understanding of what she was doing dawned on Sheila, she paled instantly.
