Chapter 2

I tried to get closer to my body, but every time I tried to move away, some mysterious force yanked me back toward Simon.

Watching him and Gracie return together to our bridal home, I felt my chest ache terribly. Suddenly, a thunderstorm crashed outside. She flinched, startled. "That was loud."

She shrank into Simon's arms, only to pull back the next second, trying to act brave.

"Sorry… You know I've been scared of storms since I was a child. Now that you have a mate, you can't protect me as you used to… If Juliette knew, she'd start another fight with you."

His brows furrowed. "We grew up together, like siblings. I'll still look after you as I did back then. Don't worry about her. Go ahead and sleep. I'll stand by the door. If you're scared, I can read you a story."

He stood at the door, like a knight guarding the woman he cared about.

Naturally, Gracie wasn't having it. "You might be the strong Alpha, but I can't watch you standing there all night. Come, lie down with me instead. I want to hold your hand while I sleep, Simon."

He shook his head. "Only mates can lie in the same bed. We can't."

With that, he grabbed a storybook and returned to his post. "Now, go to sleep. What story would you like to hear tonight?"

Listening to Simon's story, I recalled the first time I saw him five years ago.

He was the youngest Alpha in the pack, handsome and powerful. As such, plenty of she-wolves revolved around him. He said he didn't have a destined mate yet and was waiting for the one who could give him butterflies at first sight.

I became that very person.

I was an Omega with a weak wolf. Without a mate bond or the instinct to recognize a destined mate, I couldn't even imagine what that butterfly moment felt like.

Thus, he spent a year pursuing me. He confessed to me with fireworks and took me to every business event across packs, proudly telling everyone that I was his chosen Luna.

I believed he loved me, so I said yes. We agreed that on our third anniversary, we would have the marking ceremony.

However, ever since Gracie ended her mate bond and returned to the pack, cracks slowly began to appear in our relationship.

Simon said her parents had died, that she had nowhere to stay, and that she could temporarily stay in the guest room of our bridal home.

Over time, though, she moved from the guest room into the main bedroom next door. That was when I realized that she wasn't content enough as a guest. She wanted to become the lady of the house.

I had tried countless times to get Gracie to move out, but every time, something would happen to stall the process. One day, she tumbled down the stairs, clutched her stomach, and screamed in agony.

When I rushed over, she pointed at me and accused, "You pushed me, Juliette… My pup…"

It was like being struck by lightning. I hadn't touched her at all.

Simon burst in, scooped her up, and ran toward the hospital. Before leaving, he glared at me and hissed, "Just you wait, Juliette."

Later, I found out that Gracie had lost her pup. I cried, trying to explain to Simon. "I didn't push her! She fell on her own! I didn't even know she was carrying!"

"She fell on her own?" Simon shoved me away with brutal force, barking, "No mother would joke with the pup in her womb! What are you even jealous of? That was her pup with her ex. I had nothing to do with it!"

Gracie lay weak in the hospital bed, pleading for me. "Simon, it's fine… She didn't mean it… Don't put it on her…"

He finally let go of me, pointing to the door. "I don't want to see you. Get out!"

I listened to him and left.

I had thought that things had died down when one day, she suddenly drowned in the pool. I stood at the edge, watching her sink and rise again. I ran to grab her, but she yanked my hand and dragged me toward the water.

At that moment, Simon returned. From his angle, it looked like I was pressing her under.

He stormed over, shoved me aside, then bound me and threw me into the bathtub. It was meant to be both a punishment and a chance for me to repent—but what had I actually done wrong?