Chapter 3

"You're dead, Grace!"

Darian shoved me to the ground in a rage.

The back of my head slammed against the stairs. Pain exploded behind my eyes.

Through the haze, I heard him screaming at me.

"You've gone too far, Grace!"

"You're not worth Lilith's little finger. She's a thousand times kinder than you!"

"Being in the same house as someone like you makes the air smell rotten. You make me sick!"

I swallowed the pain and cut him off.

"I'll move out. Relax."

That shut him up. He stood there for a long moment before letting out a cold scoff.

"You'd better keep your word."

He glared at me, then scooped Lilith into his arms and left without looking back.

I touched the back of my head. My fingers came away sticky with blood.

I thought of how, after he first learned we were fated mates, he used to say my scent was intoxicating. The mate bond did that.

Later, he said he wanted to smell it all the time, and asked me to move in.

I said yes.

The man who once held me and whispered sweet things now spat venom at me for another woman.

I was bleeding on the floor, and he walked away carrying Lilith without a backward glance.

It didn't matter anymore.

Once Darian's parents returned to Stone Creek Pack, I could have both families witness the dissolution of the marking ceremony.

I dragged myself up and called an ambulance.

At the hospital, the doctor said I had a mild concussion and a hairline fracture in my forearm from bracing my fall.

I sighed. In the past, injuries like this would have healed on their own in no time.

But now — maybe because my soul hadn't fully settled back into this body — my wolf energy was unstable, flickering on and off like a faulty light.

No telling how long it would take to recover.

With nowhere to go and not wanting to worry my parents, I stayed at the hospital alone.

Stepping out of the exam room, a wave of dizziness nearly knocked me off my feet.

A pair of strong arms caught me.

"Careful."

A low, magnetic voice. I looked up.

Alex.

"Thank you, Alex."

I gently stepped out of his hold.

He hesitated, then awkwardly pulled his hands back.

A flash of disappointment crossed his eyes.

I couldn't meet his gaze. I walked away quickly.

He had saved me once before in my past life. In this one, I would never let him die in that plane crash.

But his feelings — I didn't know how to answer them. Not yet.

I spent three days in the hospital.

After discharge, I went back for my things and moved into a new place that afternoon.

Surprisingly, the apartment I'd found in a rush was affordable, well-located, and actually quite nice.

I was enjoying a rare moment of peace when, on the fourth day after leaving Darian, he called.

He sounded drunk.

"Where are you?"

"CONNAUGHT, west wing. Get over here."

I was in the middle of a game — a crucial round interrupted. I was annoyed.

"What do you want?"

Silence on the other end. The background noise faded.

I frowned and was about to hang up when Darian spoke.

"Grace, where did you go?"

I started a new round, eyes on the screen. "You said living under the same roof as me made the air unbearable. So I moved out."

"Don't worry. I won't be coming back."

His breathing grew heavier. Then a cold laugh.

"Since when are you so obedient, Grace?"

"Weren't you the one who used to cling to me like your life depended on it?"

"Since you're being so compliant — how about you leave the city? Get out of my life. Stop coming between me and Lilith. Can you manage that?"

I was locked into the game, eyes glued to the screen.

It took a moment for his words to register.

His mocking voice cut through.

"What, nothing to say?"

"You think I don't know your little tricks by now?"

"You think I can't tell you're still not over me?"

"Kneel and apologize to Lilith, and I'll let you crawl back."

"Fine," I said calmly. "I'll leave, Darian."

I hung up before he could respond.