The moment the door slammed shut behind him, Roman went ballistic.

He grabbed the glass vase of flowers sitting next to the door and threw it against the shelf, shattering the mirror into pieces.

The beta rushed in after him, eyes wide. "Alpha," he called, but it was of no use.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fucking hell!" Roman growled, veins popping out of his neck as he thrashed his entire table. Slamming his fists repeatedly against the wooden table, damaging it so hard that the splinters dug into his skin as he pounded hard on it.

"Fuckkkk!" He growled, throwing yet another vase at the shelf.

He was beyond ballistic. His knuckles were bleeding, eyes red, sweating like he'd been cooked. He was enraged.

What kind of sick joke was this? Adina? Of all people. Adina.

Of all people to be the king's mate. It's Adina.

Roman snarled again, grabbing a bottle and threw it at the wall. He tore off his jacket and threw it to the ground, chest rising and falling heavily. His fingers curled like claws at his sides, and veins bulged against the flushed skin of his neck. He looked unhinged. A picture-perfect man undone.

The beta flinched where he stood. Over the years as Roman's beta, he has seen the man angry, but nothing compares to now. It was seeing Roman practically lose his mind.

Perhaps what hurt the most was how much he had looked forward to this. Oh, how he had planned. He was desperate for a personal alliance with the king. He was going to take this opportunity and present himself and his pack. He was going to make the king his own.

But now? Now all of his plans had just been ruined... all because of that one bitch called Adina.

"I should've killed her. Should've wrangled that neck of hers and thrown her out to the rogues. I should have dug her organs out and fed them to the vultures!" He snarled.

The beta's eyes widened, and he took a step forward. "Roman, you have to calm down. His majesty might—"

"His majesty nothing! That man is wrapped around her finger. Do you understand how bad this is, Calder?" Roman gritted out.

"She came back," he snarled, pacing in tight circles like a beast trapped in his own mind. "Of all the cursed times—she came back now?!" He ran his hand through his hair, dragging it hard. "She was supposed to disappear," he spat. "Rot somewhere far away like a fucking slave should. She wasn't supposed to come back! Not now—not when I need this alliance."

Calder took a hesitant step forward. "You need to calm down. This is just a minor setback."

Roman stared at him like he'd grown five extra heads, then suddenly he burst out laughing, laughing so hard it began to scare even Calder.

"Minor? Did you just call this minor?" He asked, his voice low like a threat.

The beta blinked. "Roman, We can still—"

"Did you see the way he stared at me? Like I was filth underneath his foot. Like I was some pest." He scoffed, shaking his head. "I, Roman, a pest. Does that look like a man who hasn't heard things from his mate?" He asked.

Calder swallowed. "I'm just saying. We are jumping to conclusions. Perhaps, Adina hasn't told him of what—"

"Save it!" Roman ordered with a growl. "I must speak to Adina. I must—" he didn't get to finish his words as the door slammed open and shut.

Catherine stormed in, anger rolling off her in waves. Her eyes landed on Roman, and she set out instantly.

"That bitch is back here. Adina is here, and what? You're just going to stay locked up in this darn office of yours while she gallivants away and calls herself queen? Is that it?" She screamed into his face.

"What? What? What do you want me to do?" He growled into her face.

Catherine didn't flinch. It wasn't the first time. "What do I want you to do?" She asked, scoffing. "How about you throw her the fuck out? After all she's done. That is the least she deserves.

Calder stared at her like she'd lost her mind.

Getting no response from Roman, she shook her head. "I was with her just now, and let me tell you, her pride is next to none now. She walks like she owns the pack, and you'll allow this to happen?"

"Have you forgotten what she did to me? To you! To us. She took our pup from us. If it weren't for her, you'd have a pup. An heir like you always wanted. She took your dreams from you, and now what? She's back, and you'd let her stay like you don't banish her? Is that it? I was with her in there, and she was gloating. She doesn't regret what she did to us. To you. Are you really going to let her get away with this?" She continued, not stopping to breathe.

Roman paced the room restlessly, her words hovering around his head. He was losing his mind.

"Catherine!" He called, but she didn't stop.

"You should at least tell the king who she is. That you've had her. That she's nothing but trouble. Tell the king what to expect from her! That she's a witch! A demon who sucks the blood of pups. That's what she is. That she's a murderer. That she killed your pup. Tell the king!"

"Catherine!" He called again.

"If you can't do that, then you're weak. A coward is what you are."

Roman froze, his eyes snapping to her. Instantly she knew she'd misspoken. Her eyes widened; she'd always been so cautious... but now...

He raised his hand and slapped her so hard she crashed to the ground, the sound echoing in the room.

"Have you lost your mind?" He snarled, and she whimpered in fear, cowering back.

"You stand there and say these things like you've ever been useful to me." She whimpered, scooting back. But he came forward, his face twisted in rage.

"How dare you call me a coward! You fucking sick bitch!" He snarled, grabbing her by the hair so hard, some hair strands came loose. He yanked her face up, forcing her to face him.

"At least Adina had fight in her. At least she wasn't dead weight. But you?" He spat into her face. "You're a barren leech. An empty fucking vessel that drains my money and gives me nothing in return."

Catherine sobbed, trembling in his grip. But Roman wasn't done.

"Before you open your mouth, make sure you're capable of keeping a pup in that useless womb of yours. Until then, you shut the fuck up and keep the empty vessel that you are." He spat out venomously.

Shoving her aside like she was nothing, Catherine scampered back, forcing her tears to be still. This wasn't unusual between them. Roman treated her like garbage after the loss of the child and after her womb was declared damaged, but at least... she had her title. Luna. At least she got that one thing from Adina.