Chapter 3

I looked up at him.

A smile hung on his lips.

"I know the pack rules—banished wolves can't return. But if you kneel and beg, I might consider letting you stay as a servant. You could wait on Tina—pour her tea, clean her rooms. It'd still beat living out there as a rogue."

Laughter erupted all around.

Tina was practically shaking with glee, her hand tightening on Jaxon's arm.

"Alpha, you're terrible. She was your mate once, you know."

Jaxon let out a faint, cold chuckle.

"She is not worthy."

He looked me dead in the eyes, enunciating every word.

"Alice, you shouldn't have come here knowing I'd be around. You attacked the heir, you messed around with another wolf—and now that you can't make it on your own, you come crawling back to me."

"You really think I'd go soft on you again?"

I felt nothing. Not a ripple. My voice was perfectly calm.

"Jaxon, I'm not here for you. I'm here to take my mate home."

"And for the record—choosing you was the worst mistake of my life. But thank the Moon Goddess, because she finally cured my blindness."

He froze for a second. Something dark churned behind his eyes before he laughed out loud.

"A mate? Have you lost your mind? A rogue like you—where would you find a mate?"

I didn't bother explaining. I turned to leave, planning to wait for Elias to finish.

"Stop."

Jaxon's voice came from behind me, sharp with command.

I didn't stop.

The next second, a hand clamped down on my wrist and yanked me back.

Jaxon's grip was crushing—it felt like my bones were about to shatter. His face twisted with disbelief that I'd dared to ignore him.

"Alice, I'm talking to you. You've really forgotten your place."

I looked at him coldly.

"Let go."

He leaned closer, a faint hatred burning in his eyes.

"And if I don't?"

His fingers tightened. Cold sweat broke across my forehead, but I refused to make a sound.

Tina sauntered over with a smile.

"Alpha, don't bully her. She looks pathetic enough already."

She reached up and touched the wolf crest brooch pinned to her chest, deliberately flashing it in front of me.

"Alice, this brooch is quite nice, isn't it? Thanks for giving it to me back then."

She pulled her hand back with a grin.

"What, you want it back? Too bad—the Alpha gave it to me. A rogue like you doesn't deserve something this fine."

Jaxon's voice came from above.

"Alice, you know what I hate most about you? This. Pretending to be strong when you're nothing. You think that makes you brave? Impressive?"

He gripped my chin, forcing my head up to meet his gaze.

"I loved you with everything I had, and you betrayed me. Don't try to tell me that male wolf never touched you."

"Tina's different. Her father is the Alpha of the South Ridge Pack. A she-wolf like her deserves to be my mate. She deserves to carry my pups."