Chapter 3

Maria~

I stared, unwilling to believe what I was seeing. Even though it was right there. Even though I'd been a witness to it for minutes already.

I didn’t move. I couldn’t even try, my limbs were frozen.

No.

No!

My sister. My own sister!

And Jason? My husband-to-be was... buried in her like he belonged there.

They didn’t see me. Or hear me. They were busy lost in each other like nothing else mattered.

Like I didn't.

Because if I did to them, they wouldn't– I couldn’t breathe.

I wanted to scream.

Instead, I watched them like a moron—no longer aroused but disgusted—my stomach twisting, my ears ringing, my heart bleeding—till I couldn't bear to watch anymore.

I stumbled back. I was gonna be sick. How hadn't I seen this coming?

The moans kept coming. Her voice—Chloe’s voice—cried out his name and I felt myself flip. I wanted to flip something! Someone, anything!

My knees went soft, and my elbow knocked into the hallway table behind me—keys, a photo frame, something clattered to the floor with a sharp crash.

They stopped.

I didn’t wait to see their reaction.

I bolted—back into what used to be my room, slamming the door shut behind me.

My chest heaved, my vision was hot and useless because I couldn't see shit. I couldn’t even think.

How long?

How long had they been doing this?

Did they laugh behind my back? Did they talk about me in bed, while I planned a life with him?

My wolf stirred, teeth bared. Not furious for me—furious with me. ‘I told you’, she snarled, low and cold. ‘I never liked him. Never trusted him. But you wouldn’t listen.’

“I know,” I moaned, hurt—lifting my hands to my face in premium shame. Hot tears pinched the back of my eyes with blinding force. “Goddess, I know.”

I'd fucked up. Big time. Gotten carried away with what a fairytale story it could've been, I couldn't see what was right in front of me. This was all my fault!

I should've listened to my wolf. Why hadn't I listened?

A knock came, then the door burst open anyway.

“Maria—”

“Get out.” My voice cracked. It wasn't even loud enough, or forceful enough. It was broken—like my heart now was.

“Please, let me explain—” Jason stepped forward, pulling on his shirt as if that changed anything. My sister hovered behind him, red-faced and trembling. Not crying. Trembling. With shame? Or regret that they'd been caught?

“Explain what?” I snapped, looking between them. “That you were just warming up for my wedding night?”

Jason winced. Chloe flinched.

“I— It was a mistake,” she stammered.

“No,” I said. Fuck that! “A mistake is kissing someone when you're drunk and stopping immediately after. This?” I gestured vaguely, disgusted. “This was not a mistake. This was a choice. One you made multiple times, I’m sure.”

“You were never around anymore,” Jason tried.

I laughed. I laughed hard. The hell? “So what? You just fucked my sister to pass the time? I wasn’t around tonight because of a party she threw! And yet–”

He stepped forward. “Maria—”

“You know what? No.” I stepped back. “You two want each other so badly? Great. Go ahead. Get married. Plan a honeymoon for all I care!”

I turned away from them and attacked the closet door—yanking it open. My hands shook and my vision was blurry with wasteful tears, but I grabbed whatever I could reach—a hoodie, some shirts, underwear, my favorite jeans. I stuffed them into a duffel bag.

I had no plan but fuck if I cared at this point.

“Maria, where are you going?” Chloe’s voice was small.

“Like you care,” I bit out.

This apartment was ours. The last thing our parents left us. Our home. And now she’d even managed to taint that.

I zipped the bag with so much force, the zipper screamed. Threw on some sneakers without socks—heels were no longer necessary—shoved past them both, and headed to the living room where I snatched up my phone.

“Don’t bother looking for me,” I spat. Got outside and slammed the door behind me.

Then burst into tears.

Pained tears. Angry tears.

This, what they did—what they've been doing —was the ultimate betrayal! I didn't know if I could ever forgive them for it.

The night air was a slap in the face I needed. It’d gotten considerably cold—but I barely noticed. Anger was hot under my skin.

Moments later—after I'd cried my fill—I stood at the curb, bag hanging from my shoulder, trying to blink away the moisture from my eyes so I could see clearly.

They hadn't followed. I knew I said not to, but they didn't even–

They'd probably gone back to it like nothing happened!

Man, fuck this! Fuck them!

And Goddess, help me...

I had nowhere to go. No one to call.

All my friends were still partying, probably still drunk. And I wasn’t in the mood to talk. What would I even say? It was such a shame.

Except… maybe I shouldn't be the one ashamed.

Screw it.

I flagged down a cab—somehow, the same one from before. “Back to the club,” I muttered, climbing in. “The one on Claremont.”

The driver nodded, pulled off, and I stared out the window.

Everything felt blurred. Like the world had been upturned and I was trying to find gravity again.

What now?

On second thought, I’d figure it out tomorrow. Tonight… I just wanted to forget.

The cab stopped in front of the venue. It was quieter, now—most of the crowd had thinned out, thank fuck.

I paid the fare, grabbed my bag, and stepped out—

Just as he did too.

The man from the bar.

Older. Striking. Eyes like frostbite. He paused as soon as he saw me—saw my face, my bag, probably my lost composure, too—his eyes narrowed.

Embarrassment flooded me.

I knew what a mess I must look like—which sucked, because I prided myself on not looking like my problems!

But right now, I did. Terribly so.

So much for not seeing him again... but my wolf was weirdly elated. Creature didn't know what embarrassment meant. She was practically wagging her tail.

I hid my face and tried to walk past him. Emphasis on tried.

But instead of letting me go past, like any normal stranger would, he caught my arm—firm, not rough—and turned me toward him.

His eyes locked onto mine. The eye contact was deep—and weirdly knowing. I felt naked. I wanted to cry all over again.

“Come with me,” he said—already leading me away to Goddess knows where.

And like an idiot, I followed. No questions asked.

He could be a serial killer for all I knew, but honestly? He felt safer to be with than my own family right now.