Chapter 3

"Ovulation drugs?" I stared at Sarah. "What are you planning?"

"Think about it," Sarah paced the room. "If I suddenly get pregnant, how happy would Logan be? He'd let his guard down, think our bond is even stronger."

I was starting to see her point.

"And then you 'accidentally' miscarry, he'll feel sorry for you and won't suspect you're trying to escape."

"Exactly!" Sarah clapped her hands excitedly. "And we can say we're too heartbroken and need to get away for a bit, to clear our heads."

"That would definitely make it easier to get away," I nodded. "What about me?"

"You'll just say Ethan finally came to his senses and wants to take you on a honeymoon," Sarah winked. "Alphas are so arrogant anyway; they'd never think we'd dare betray them."

We spent two hours working out the details.

"I'll 'disappear' first," I said, drawing a route on a map. "Car crash, off a cliff, no body found. You leave a week after me, using the miscarriage as an excuse."

"How much cash should we get?"

"At least a hundred thousand US dollars. And fake IDs." I chewed on my pen. "I have a friend, Rose, who does business on the border. She's got connections."

Sarah's eyes lit up. "Rose, the one who owns the antique shop?"

"Yeah. She's helped me out a lot before." I marked a spot on the map. "Here. A small mountain town, three hundred kilometers from pack territory. Far from the city, bad reception, hard to track."

"Sounds nice," Sarah leaned over the map. "It has a lake, a forest, even a little chapel. Like something out of a fairytale."

Seeing the hopeful look on her face, I felt a twinge of unease.

"Sarah, are you sure about this? Once we start, there's no turning back."

"I'm sure." She squeezed my hand. "Ivy, we can open a little shop there, get a few cats, live a quiet life. No Alphas controlling us, no pack rules."

"Okay." I tore up the plan and flushed it down the toilet. "We move in three days."

Sarah walked me downstairs.

The moment the elevator doors opened, I saw Ethan.

He was leaning against the wall, looking like he'd been waiting for a while.

"You... you've been here all this time?" I was a little surprised.

"Yeah." He pushed himself off the wall and stood up straight. "Done talking?"

"All done."

Sarah gave me a knowing wink, then smiled sweetly at Ethan. "Ethan, you have to take good care of Ivy. She's gotten so thin lately."

Ethan's gaze lingered on my face for a moment. "I know."

That answer caught me off guard. Usually, he'd just give a cold nod or ignore her completely.

After we got in the car, Ethan didn't start the engine right away.

"What did you two talk about?"

I looked out the window. "Girl stuff."

"What kind of girl stuff?"

"When did you get so nosy?" I turned to look at him. "Just complaining about our mates, you know? Sarah said Logan's been too busy with work lately, neglecting her."

Ethan frowned. "Logan's neglecting Sarah?"

"Yeah," I said, making it up as I went. "Men are all the same. Once they have you, they stop caring."

Silence in the car for a few seconds.

"I haven't neglected you," Ethan said suddenly.

I almost choked on my own spit.

"What?"

"I said, I haven't neglected you." His voice was low. "I just..."

"Just what?"

He didn't answer, just started the car.

After driving for ten minutes, Ethan spoke again.

"Don't go to Shadow Ridge headquarters so often anymore."

"Why not?"

"It's not good for you." His fingers tapped the steering wheel. "A six-hour round trip is too tiring."

My eyes widened as I stared at him. Was this the same Ethan I knew?

"Are you... worried about me?"

"We're mates," he said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "I should be worried about you."

"Then why don't you mark me?"

That question brought dead silence back to the car.

At a red light, Ethan turned to look at me.

"Ivy..."

"Never mind." I looked away. "Anyway, I probably won't be going to headquarters for the next few decades."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing." I tried to sound casual. "Just feel like I shouldn't bother Sarah so much. She and Logan are so good together, I feel like a third wheel when I visit."

Ethan's gaze became unreadable.

"You're being very... compliant."

"What?"

"You're very compliant today," he said, reaching out. "You didn't argue with me, didn't lose your temper."

I looked at his outstretched hand, wondering what he wanted.

"Give me your hand."

I hesitated for a moment, then placed my hand in his palm.

Ethan's hand was large and warm.

His thumb gently stroked the back of my hand, and a faint Alpha pheromone wafted out. It was... comforting.

My wolf instinctively relaxed.

"Ethan?"

"What is it?"

"You're acting really weird today."

His hand paused for a second, then resumed its gentle stroking.

"How so?"

I couldn't quite put my finger on it. But it just felt... off. The normally cold and distant Alpha was actually waiting for me, worrying about my health, even comforting me.

"Green light," I reminded him.

Only then did Ethan let go of my hand and continue driving.

But my palm still held his warmth.

And that scent of pine and snowy mountains.

"Ivy."

"What?"

"If there's ever anything you want, tell me."

I looked at his profile, a mix of complicated emotions swirling inside me.

"What I want, you can't give me."

"Try me."

I almost blurted out, "I want your mark," but stopped myself just in time.

"Nothing in particular," I said, leaning back in my seat. "Ethan, are you on something today?"

He let out a low chuckle.

It was the first time I'd ever heard him laugh.

But in three days, when I was gone for good, none of this would matter anymore.