Chapter 3 But just as her palm was about to connect with Mona's face , a large hand shot out and seized her wrist . Maximus's deep rebuke exploded in her ear , laced with alpha authority : " Calista , do you really need to make things worse ? " Calista lifted her head and met Maximus's gaze . His cold stare pierced her skin like needles . This face had once captivated her and her wolf to the point of madness , but now , all she felt was revulsion . " How can someone be this heartless ? Being ignored , betrayed , treated like trash - I could endure all of that , " she screamed internally . " But being used as a baby - making machine ? That's where I draw the line ! " The thought alone made her sick to her stomach . Just as she was about to speak , Maximus suddenly shook off her hand with force and said coldly , " I'm not in the mood today . We'll talk next month . " With that , he helped Mona toward the exit . Mona glanced back , her face wearing an unmistakable look of smug satisfaction . In the past , when Maximus sided with his mother , Calista would fall apart . But now , she felt nothing . No tears . No hurt . Just empty silence . As Maximus neared the exit of the hall , Calista suddenly called out : " Maximus . " She always meant what she said - just as she'd once defied her own family's fierce opposition to become his mate , now that she'd decided to dissolve the bond , nothing could stop her . Eight years of loving Maximus had left her utterly exhausted . He'd never cherished her , never tried to protect their mate bond . The only reason he stayed with her was because she could bear his heir . She should have realized . Should have woken up years ago . Maximus stopped in the doorway . Calista thought he was actually listening to her . She took a deep breath and finally released the words she'd been holding inside for years . " I've had enough . Let's end this . " Those words lifted a burden she'd carried for far too long . But then Maximus suddenly raised his phone to his ear . All she heard was his rushed response : " Got it . I'm on my way . " He didn't even look back as he left the pack house with Mona . As his figure disappeared , Calista finally let out a hollow laugh - her words , that moment she'd gathered all her courage , meant absolutely nothing to him . After seeing them out , Dolly returned to find Calista still standing frozen in the middle of the hall . " Luna ? " she called out cautiously , taking a hesitant step forward . 11:23 Rejected by the Alpha , I Became the Pack's Queen 6.5 % Chapter 3 Calista suddenly snapped back to reality and walked numbly toward the sofa , sinking into it . " Dolly , " she said flatly , " make me some dinner . " For years , she'd relied on herself for everything , surviving on the scraps of Maximus's occasional attention . His rare visits had been enough to sustain her foolish hope , but now she understood the truth . A bitter smile tugged at her lips - she used to be the cherished youngest daughter of the Vance family , so pampered and protected that she'd never had to lift a finger for anything . But after marrying Maximus , everything changed . After dinner , Calista went straight to the study and drafted a divorce agreement . The Vance family was wealthy , and as a pediatrician , she was perfectly capable of supporting Maisie on her own . But five years of silent endurance had earned her nothing but a cold , indifferent partner . So she made her demands clear : Maximus would give her half of the pack's shared assets , plus seventy thousand dollars a month in child support . Calista paused when she reached the section about Maisie . She didn't know who her daughter would choose to live with - she realized she had to ask Maisie first . Grabbing the unfinished divorce agreement , she immediately left Silver Manor . After Maisie was born , Maximus had purchased Moon Mark Manor for their daughter . Before returning to work at the hospital , Calista had been Maisie's full - time caregiver for four years , But as her workload grew heavier , the time she could spend with her daughter steadily decreased . For the past six months , she'd been receiving specialized training at a large regional hospital in a neighboring city . The only reason she'd seen Maximus recently was because her foolish heart hoped another child might anchor her drifting mate . She was always busy , yet she'd traded shifts with colleagues , working three overnight shifts in a row just to see Maximus . It never entered her mind that she couldn't have another baby by herself . If she was too busy , Maximus could have come to her . But he always chose the other woman instead . Just after nine in the evening , Calista took a taxi to Moon Mark Manor . As she stepped out of the car , her phone showed a new update notification from one of her regularly viewed accounts- " Vespera Daily . " Calista clicked on it reflexively . The post contained only one photo : Maximus crouching in front of Vespera Thorne , with a caption that read : [ Had some wine , caught a chill . Called and you came . Having you here means everything . ] Her chest tightened - if they loved each other that much , then fine , she'd step aside . As long as she got custody of her daughter and her fair share of the assets , nothing else mattered . She slipped her phone into her pocket and walked into the hall . Moon Mark Manor's housekeeper , Sheila , looked up in surprise as Calista entered . " Luna , " she said after a slight hesitation , " Miss Maisie's in her 11:24 Rejected by the Alpha , I Became the Pack's Queen 7.5 % Chapter 3 playroom upstairs with those Barbies she loves so much . " ལ་ བ ་ Before Sheila could finish , Maisie's excited voice rang out from upstairs . " Mommy ? " Calista's heart clenched - it had been weeks since she'd held her daughter . She rushed upstairs and swept Maisie into her arms , covering her face with kisses . When Calista finally pulled back to speak , she saw Maisie angrily rubbing at her face . ( 0 ) ( 0 ) 11:24