Chapter 99. To Change You

Chapter 99. To Change You
The full moon loomed high above the darkened forest, silver light spilling through the towering pine trees. The chilly wind carried whispers—rumors and rage, heartbreak, and betrayal—all echoing in Taggart’s mind as he stood at the edge of his lavish mansion. After all the tough decisions he had taken, he felt remorseful. Nothing came to his peaceful mind as he regretted the things that had happened recently.

He could still smell his Pearl, his mate. His obsession with her would never come down. It trailed him everywhere.

Taggart clenched his fists, claws threatening to burst through his skin. He had wanted to believe in her, in the bond that tethered them so painfully close. But the image of Pearl—her smile and how she brushed Damian’s arm—had scorched itself into his memory. Damian, his cousin, has taken everything Taggart’s overjoyed. Like a shadow, he stalked his life, too close to dismiss.

“I gave her everything,” he growled to the empty night. “And she gave herself to him.”

He raised his eyes and challenged the moon, as if speaking to her. “Is this how you want, Moon Goddess?” He spat as he mocked it. It only gave him a more shallow sense that crept inside.

He didn’t ask. He didn’t confront. That wasn’t the way of an alpha, especially a future one. Instead, Taggart had taken swift action. Clean, brutal, final.

Pearl was no longer an employee of his company. That morning, she received the termination letter without protest—no begging, no denial, no rage.

Just... silence. And that was the worst part.

\---

Pearl sat alone in the apartment she once thought she'd only use temporarily. Her box lay half-opened on the couch, her fingers brushing over the embossed logo on the now-useless ID badge: Excellor Enterprise. She took her belongings from the company before leaving. Although she wanted to enjoy the dinner she had made from the last salary she had, she couldn’t.

She had felt the shift in him days before. The coldness he showed her was different from the way he had treated her before. When Taggart saw her with Damian, she couldn’t fight. Taggart wouldn’t listen to anything she said. After all, it was her decision from the beginning to reject him.

Now that Taggart thought she had chosen Damian, it became easier for her to move on. Moreover, Damian had said nothing to clear her name. Of course, he hadn’t. Why would he do that?

Pearl closed her eyes, pain tightening her chest. She hadn’t betrayed Taggart. The truth was more straightforward—and crueler. She had rejected him. Not out of hate, not even fear. But because she didn’t want to be claimed as his Luna. She wanted love—an actual choice. Not one bound by pack law or burning instincts.

She would’ve told him that—if he had ever asked. But Taggart was the next ruler. He was going to be an Alpha, and being with him was something hard for her everyday life as a human.

Instead, he had chosen to believe the lie. And now, she had nothing. No job. No money. No boyfriend.

But her dignity remained. She had signed the dismissal papers without hesitation. Taggart did not even see her after he decided to let her go. Pearl also has no intention of meeting him. She was not aware that her attitude had made his jaw tighten. For a moment, his eyes had flickered with something close to regret. Too late, Pearl decided not to come back.

\---

Back at the estate, Taggart stormed into his office, the anger boiling beneath his skin. The worst thing was logging someone who cheated on you. He paced, growling under his breath, until Everest entered without knocking. Taggart barely glanced at him. “I’m not in the mood.”

“You made a mistake, Sir,” Everest said.

Taggart stopped pacing, turning slowly. “What?”

Everest met his Alpha’s eyes without flinching. “You just fired your mate because you assumed she was with him. No proof. No confrontation. Just pure pride.”

Taggart’s voice was a low snarl. “I saw her. With him, kissing.”

“And?” Everest stepped forward. “You saw that she was probably talking to Damian. That doesn’t mean she slept with him. It doesn’t mean she betrayed you.”

“Do you understand this, Ev? She rejected me,” Taggart snapped. “That bond was hers to accept. She turned her back on it, on me.”

Everest slightly chuckled, and his voice softened. “Because she wanted to know you loved her for more than the mate mark. She wanted to feel like a chosen one, not claimed.”

Taggart looked away, his jaw tightening. “I told her that I love her. Wasn’t it enough? But she humiliated me.”

“No,” Everest said firmly. “You humiliated yourself. You let jealousy make your decisions and exiled the one person who might have honed you into an Alpha.”

“Now that you changed your mind about her.” Taggart snapped back. Silence hung thick between them. The only sounds were the soft hum of their breath and an old clock clicking in the corner.

Everest turned to leave, pausing at the door. “You think strength is about control, Sir. I bet you’re wrong, but you didn’t try to fix it. Do it before it’s too late.”

When the door clicked shut behind him, Taggart sank into his chair. His head fell into his hands, and for the first time in weeks, he allowed himself to ask what had haunted the edges of his mind.

What if I was wrong? His mind questioned.

\---

In the shadows of the hotel room, Damian stared at the view outside. The argument and accusation of Taggart kept on his mind. Nevertheless, it was not only that. When he came out of Pearl’s room in the hospital, he eavesdropped on something.

He had kept the truth from Taggart—for selfish reasons, yes—but also because he wanted Taggart to leave his throne. Damian would never let Taggart have his chance to lead their pack. As a pure werewolf, he should be the one to be recognized, not a hybrid like Taggart Kellent.

When Damian found out that Pearl had a big secret from her, he would never let her go. For now, though, he remained silent to take his chance.

\---

Back in her room, Pearl stood at the window, watching the moon. The bond was still tugging at her, and she felt a silent ache in her chest.

"You think you hurt me, Taggart?" she whispered to the night. "But all you did was show me who you are."

“Are you okay?” Pearl startled, then turned to see Ethan come to her. She smiled faintly at him, having a sad look in her eyes.

“I don’t know how to tell this.”

“What happened?” Ethan got more curious and worried. He came closer to take her to the bed and sit with her.