CHAPTER 3

SCARLETT

Silence rang through the hall for a fleeting second before James rushed closer, his face filled with concern.

Fake concern.

God! How was I so blind?

“Baby, I can explain. I'm sorry. I was depressed and I did stupid things, I…”

“She heard our conversation. Look at her. She is trembling. Tears are leaking from her cheeks.”

Anger burned alongside the hurt.

“I…”

My gaze met James's. Ignoring my wolf's sneer, I decided to be the fool one last time—to let the stupid part of me hope.

“Was this ever real?” My voice was barely above a whisper.

He didn't answer.

“Answer me, James. Was it ever real, even for a moment?” I gripped my jeans, my eyes red with hurt and tears that begged to be let loose.

It felt stupid. A little part of me was clinging to a dead end. Three years—three freaking years of living together, of laughter, three years of love. Everything... everything was a lie?

“You speak like you deserve him.”

“You shut up!” I screamed at her, then shifted my gaze back to James.

“Talk to me. Open your mouth and talk. You were happy enough spewing nonsense earlier.” I shoved him back. “Demoralizing our relationship!” I poked his chest. “After everything, after…”

“Everything?” He pushed me back. “You speak like you sacrificed a lot. I did. I wasted three years of my life with you, Scarlett—the one everyone rejected, the big disgrace!” he yelled. “Do you know how much it hurt me, the words people said?” The words he once said didn't matter. “I was seen as weak. Me? James! Still, I stayed. You didn't deserve me, but I... I was there for you. I gave you a shoulder to cry on when your family threw you out.”

“They didn't throw me out; I left,” I sneered. “I left to start a life with you, to leave my past behind…”

“Lies!” he cut me off. “You left because you knew you were a disgrace, an embarrassment. The daughter of a powerful Lycan was wolfless!” He scoffed. “You should be on your knees begging me for taking you in. You should be grateful. Without me, you would have been sulking aside, because you and I know you are pathetic.”

My heart crumbled to freaking pieces. Tears threatened to spill down my cheeks.

“Let's face it, Scarlett. You are nothing without me. I am doing you a favor."

“Fuck..you.”

I turned to leave, but his voice halted me.

“You are not seriously thinking of leaving?”

“She won't. She practically has nowhere to go. Her father literally paid someone to be with her; she has no choice.” She tsked as they both laughed at me.

“Do you want to go back and tell him what?” he drawled. “That you failed again? That you think I, the one with the wolf, isn't worth you?” He laughed while I stood frozen to the floor. “What will you tell him? Let's face it, you belong to me. You might not be worth me, but a deal is a deal, sweetheart. I will be merciful to you, stand by you like I have always done, and be the charming man you need—only if you fall to your knees and beg me. Come on, sweetheart.” He inched closer, his mocking words stabbing daggers into my heart. “You know you want it. You know I am your only hope.”

I stared at him, my gut knitting in disgust.

The slut clung to him, running her hands over his chest. “Come on, beg. Or he might change his mind.”

“You know once you walk out of that door, you will be the lonely, wolfless disgrace. Your father already paid heftily for this arrangement to work.”

My throat rumbled as a laughter bubbled through my lips. They froze in shock.

"It seems you are more afraid than I am. Without me, you have no title.” I tsked. “You lose the opportunity to be close to the Alpha. And what's James without that?” My jaw locked. “Absolutely nothing.”

“Watch your tongue.”

“No need to get angry.” The slut turned to me. "You and I know you are just being stubborn, trying to seem like you have self-respect. But you and I know you are dying inside. You want to be the one wrapped around him, the one he loves."

"And you can be. Just fall to your knees, Scarlett. You always say you will do anything to save this relationship."

“I did, and I was wrong.”

I walked over to the little portrait of us that sat on the hallway wall. My hand clutched the frame one last time before I smashed it to the ground. They both shrank back in fear.

I turned, dragging my broken soul, when his voice stopped me again.

“You are not seriously thinking of leaving?”

“Watch me.”

I stormed out, ignoring his words, ignoring the way the shattered pieces of my heart poked me, the way my body was screaming in pain, and the way my eyes burned with unshed tears.

I couldn't break down.

Not here

My steps hastened.

Breathe.

Breathe.

Breathe.

I was practically running, my wolf begging me to let her take over—to turn back and rip them apart.

I couldn't. It hurt too much.

The sky darkened, the wind blew harder, whipping against my skin as tears blurred my vision. A loud crack of thunder echoed through the sky, and rain began dropping, but my steps didn't stop. I was running away from the hurt and the voices that tormented my soul.

It hurt. It…

My leg slipped, and I fell backward, hitting hard against the ground.

That broke me. The pain blotted out everything else and I screamed loudly, my cries muffled by the pouring rain.

I clutched my shirt, my knees pulled to my chest, and I cried hard, like a child. It hurt. Their words, the look of disgust in his eyes…

The same man I had planned my life with. For three years, everything was a lie. He hated me. I was nothing more than a disgrace to him.

They were right; a part of me knew it.

 I hated myself.

I buried my face between my legs, and just then, the rain ceased.

Wait, it didn't.

I lifted my head to see an imposing figure towering over me with an umbrella. He was clad in a black suit that hung perfectly to his body, and his golden eyes pierced into my soul.

Golden eyes? It was the stranger.

He leaned in. Without uttering a word, he stretched his hand out to me.

I stared at him.

“Crying won't do anything,” he spoke.

I didn't talk.

“There are two things you can do. Stay here and prove them right, or hold my hand and let me help you destroy them.” His voice switched from caring to dangerously frightening in a matter of seconds.

I stilled.

“Whoever hurt you will pay every single day of their lives until you decide to deliver them to death.” His gaze darkened. “So, what will it be?”

I stared at his hand as their words echoed in my mind. He was right; I was pathetic, crying for a man who didn't give a shit about me. My fists unclenched, anger burning through my veins.

I extended my hand, then stopped. My gaze held his.

"And what do you want in return?"

I might be heartbroken, but I wasn't a fool. No one extends this kind of help without having their own interests at heart.

His lips twisted into a sly grin. "In return..." A brief pause. "You will be mine."