Chapter 3

After the meeting, Jack was pulled aside by several Elders to continue discussing pack business.

I, on the other hand, returned to his office. Out of habit, I began organizing the files.

As I reached for the documents at the bottom of the pile, a gift box tumbled out. Almost immediately, a heart-shaped pendant fell to the floor and shattered into pieces.

Just then, Jack walked in. His gaze swept across the floor, and he froze.

A beat later, he rushed forward, shoved me aside, and crouched down to gather the broken pendant.

"Ivy!" he snapped in a low voice. "How could you be so careless?"

"Who was it for?" I asked.

Jack's hand froze briefly. He then looked up at me, a flicker of something passing through his eyes. "The pack had it custom-made to reward Grace for her outstanding sales performance."

"Did you hear some rumor and break it out of jealousy?" he demanded, his voice brimming with self-righteousness.

I stared at him, enunciating each word as I asked, "So, Grace already matters that much to you, huh?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

In the next instant, Jack raised his voice. "I'm the Alpha! Are you questioning my decision?"

"I'm not," I replied as I turned toward the door. "After all, you're the Alpha. Whatever you say goes."

"Ivy! Stop right there!" Jack called after me.

But I opened the door and walked out without so much as a backward glance.

…

That night, a sudden storm swept in, and the temperature plummeted. I curled up on the bed as the bone-deep chill gnawed at me once more.

This was a nightmare that would haunt me for the rest of my life.

Three years ago, I was the youngest and most cherished daughter of the Alpha of the northern Silvermoon pack.

To be with Jack, I had defied my father's wishes and even severed the mind-link between us.

After that, I hid my true identity and eloped with Jack to the Nightfall pack.

On our way there, we were ambushed by bounty hunters. Jack was gravely wounded, while my right arm took a silver-laced bullet meant for him. We spent the entire night hiding in an icy river.

Even though we survived, the silver dust combined with the freezing cold had taken a severe toll on my body.

From that day on, I developed an extreme aversion to cold. Whenever it rained, the pain was excruciating.

To treat me, Jack had a thermal spa built behind the mountains.

Right then, the pain intensified. I tried to reach him through mind-link. "Jack… where are you?"

Yet, silence was all I got in return. He had blocked the connection on his side.

Gritting my teeth, I forced myself up and staggered toward the thermal spa behind the mountains.

The rain poured harder.

When I was about 30 feet from the lodge, I stopped dead in my tracks.

Even the heavy rain couldn't mask the musky scent Jack released when he was in a state of intense excitement. I could also smell Grace's floral perfume, and the combination made me gag.

My heart sank at once. This was supposed to be my personal sanctuary.

Back then, Jack swore, "This thermal spa belongs only to you. No one else is allowed in."

And now, he had turned my healing place into a love nest for him and another she-wolf.

As I fought the nausea and the searing pain wracking my body, I gritted my teeth and made my way to the door.

I reached out to push the heavy wooden door. But the moment my hand touched the handle, the door was yanked open from inside.

Jack stood there, bare-chested. When he saw me, his expression darkened with annoyance, as if I had ruined his moment.

My lips trembled as I said, "M-Move… I need to get inside. I need the thermal spa to fight the cold."

Now wrapped in a bathrobe, Jack blocked the doorway and looked down at me. I was soaked to the bone, yet not a trace of pity crossed his features, only cold indifference.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Let me in. The old injury is acting up."

The pain was so intense that I nearly sank to my knees in the muddy ground. I reached out, trying to grab the hem of his robe.

But Jack stepped back, avoiding my hand as if he were dodging something filthy.

"You broke the pendant. Grace is in a terrible mood."

He added coldly, "For the sake of the pack's trade, I promised she could relax in the thermal spa tonight. If you want to go in, you'll apologize to Grace first."

I looked up at him in disbelief. "If you think Grace deserves that necklace, I'll pay for it. But I will never apologize."

In an instant, Jack's expression darkened, and feral rage burned in his eyes.

I met his gaze without flinching. "Jack… I got the injury saving you—"

"Enough!" he cut me off impatiently. "Stop using that old story to guilt-trip me. I didn't hold it against you before, but you did something wrong today, and you need to be punished."

Then, he crouched down. "Since you won't apologize, you'll stay out here in the rain until you sober up. When you finally realize your mistake, you can use the thermal spa."

Just like that, the door slammed shut in my face.

Moments later, Grace's voice drifted from inside. "Alpha Jack, who was that?"

As soon as Jack turned around, his irritation vanished, and his voice softened. "It's no one. Just a foolish Omega who doesn't know her place. She'll be gone in a minute."

Rain streamed down my face. At last, I understood that the mate who had once put me above everything else had died in that icy river during our escape three years ago.

…

I made my way back to the villa in a daze and reopened the mind-link to my father, the one I had sealed away for three years.

"Dad," I whispered.

The next second, a familiar voice echoed in my mind. His tone carried unquestionable authority, along with years of suppressed anger.

"It has been three years, Ivy. You finally decided to contact me. Did that bastard you threw everything away for finally betray you?"

The moment I heard my father's voice, all my defenses collapsed.

"Dad, I lost. I lost everything…" I admitted defeat weakly.

His voice immediately turned sharp as he demanded, "Tell me where you are. I'll tear him apart myself!"

I opened my eyes. There was no love or hatred left in me, only resolve.

"Dad, there's no need to dirty your hands. But I need a potion to dissolve the mate bond. I want to sever the bond with him completely. I… want to go home."