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Chapter 1
"He's late." I rushed through the front door of the apartment, my heart pounding against my ribs like a frantic drum as I gathered my white wedding dress towards the staircase.
I glanced at my phone screen, clicking on his name, My Love, ready to make a call when I halted suddenly, a gasp escaping my lips as a sharp pain pierced my head.
A rush of dizziness swept over me, and for a moment, the world tilted like I was falling into another place, another time. I felt Astrid, my wolf, push forward, a surge of heat radiating through my veins.
My eyes flickered dark gold, and everything became clearer. I had been here before. I... It was my third rebirth. The memories of my previous life came flooding in, and I glanced at my phone. I snickered when the words my love glared at me in my face.
"Time to change that," I muttered.
My heels clicked against the steps as I climbed, faster and faster, fueled by rage. I knew what was behind that door. The past life crashed into me like a wave, the betrayal, the heartbreak, the humiliation—all of it.
Not this time.
I steadied myself, clenching my fists, and moved towards the slightly ajar bedroom door. My breath came in short, controlled bursts as I pressed my hand against the wood.
I could already hear the sharp sounds of pleasure coming from the other side. My stomach tightened, but I shoved the pain down, deep, where it couldn't reach me. I pushed the door open just enough to see inside and there it was—exactly as I remembered it.
Ivan, my supposed fiancé, his body moving against another's, my cousin, of all people.
"Fuck! Pound me faster, Ivy. Arrgh, fuck me hard and cum in me," my cousin moaned loudly.
The sheets twisted around their limbs, their voices filled with an intimacy that was supposed to be ours. My grip tightened around my phone, and I lifted it, the click of the camera capturing the sordid scene.
One, two, three pictures—just in case.
I glanced back at them. This time, the sheets had been tossed aside, their naked flesh in full display as he thrust in wildly.
The fury surged up from deep within me, no longer just my anger, but Astrid's too. I shoved the door open hard, and it crashed against the wall. Ivan jerked back, his eyes wide with shock.
"Zara—what the hell are you doing here?"
The effrontery!
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" I spat back coldly, my hands trembling with barely contained rage.
He stuttered, his face turning pale, scrambling to cover himself, but I was already moving, closing the distance between us in two quick strides.
I didn't give him a chance to speak. My hand swung up with a crack that echoed in the room as I slapped him across the face.
Shock flared in his eyes as he stumbled back, his hand flying to his cheek. He inhaled deeply. "Zara, please, let me explain—"
"Explain?!" I cut him off, laughing, even though my voice was bitter. "Explain what, Ivan? That you're a lying, cheating bastard? That you've been fucking my cousin behind my back?"
His face paled, but he stepped toward me, hands raised like he was calming a wild animal. "Zara, baby, you're upset. Let's just talk about this, okay?"
"We're not having this conversation," I grit, my fingers balling at my side. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
"Today's our wedding day," Ivan voiced softly.
"Is it or is it that of you and your side chick?" I shook my head, forcing back the tears that blurred my vision briefly. "You think I'm stupid, Ivan? You think I didn't know? That I wouldn't find out?"
"Zar, it isn't what you think. Ivan loves me and..." I glared at Clarissa and she immediately stuttered.
Her face was flushed with embarrassment and something more as she clutched the sheet to her chest.
"Look," she tried to speak again, but I whirled around on her, passing Ivan. "Don't even start, Clarissa," I snapped. "You think I don't know how long this has been going on?"
To my surprise, her facade fell quickly as she rose, the bedsheet draping around her. "Since you do, then you should know that he loves me. You are just the third wheel in our relationship."
I reacted fast, slapping her across the cheek and she fell to the ground, obviously as an added effect to pump Ivan's buttons. Still, I spat, "You're pathetic. Look at you claiming a relationship when you are nothing more than a cheating whore!"
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