Chapter 2 Like I was nothing.

BEATRICE The world feels like it’s closing in.

All the noise around me fades away. It’s like I’m not even in the restaurant anymore.

Enzo’s words loop in my head. I don’t care about you or your daughter.

I can’t breathe. He really meant every word of it.

I know Enzo has never liked me. Maybe he’s even hated me.

We were mates, and that meant he had to leave Thalia, the woman he really wanted. He married me out of duty, not because he chose me.

But I held onto hope. I thought the mate bond meant something because it did to me.

Maybe one day he’ll love me the way I love him. I feel so stupid for thinking that.

I know now that will never happen.

But knowing it doesn’t make his words hurt any less.

At least Bailey didn’t hear them. If she had… Goddess, I don’t even want to think about it.

She still believes her dad loves her.

If she heard him say he doesn’t care about us, it would crush her. It would take away that last bit of hope she’s holding onto.

Celeste suddenly jumps down from her chair and shoves me, then punches my arm.

“You ruined my birthday! I hate you!”

She bursts into tears like a child who didn’t get her candy.

Thalia gently rubs Celeste’s back. "Shh, it’s okay," she whispers.

"Sorry." Then she turns to Enzo and asks, "Did I cause any trouble?"

Thalia sounds so innocent and helpless, like I’m the villain in all this.

"I just…" she sniffles, looking down. "I just needed some company. Raising a child alone hasn’t been easy since my husband died in the Lycan war. We barely got by. I never wanted to be a burden. Alpha Enzo has been so kind to us… but if we’re causing problems, we’ll leave."

She turns to Celeste, taking her hand.

"Come on, sweetie. Let’s go."

I should feel sorry for her. I really should.

But all I can think about is Bailey.

Bailey spent her whole birthday waiting for her dad, and he was here instead.

How is that fair? What did my daughter ever do to deserve this?

Thalia starts to walk away, but Enzo stops her.

"You don’t have to go anywhere," he says without hesitation.

Then, without even looking at me, he adds, "Don’t worry about her. She’s just making a fuss."

His words hurt more than I want to admit.

That’s all we are to him… an inconvenience he can brush aside like we don’t matter.

We were never anything to him.

Just a joke.

“I’ll take you somewhere else,” Enzo says as he walks out.

And just like that, they leave—leaving me standing there, alone.

Enzo doesn’t even look back. He just walks away.

Like I was nothing.

Like Bailey was nothing.

The whispers around me get louder. I don’t catch everything, but I hear enough.

"She’s obsessed."

"It’s pathetic. Alpha Enzo clearly doesn’t want her."

"Who even is she? Just some bitter ex?"

"She’s making a fool of herself. Look, I guess Thalia might be our Luna."

My stomach drops. No one in our pack knows I’m their Luna. Enzo never told anyone outside our family. And he never gives me Luna's responsibilities. I’m never allowed to be involved in Luna's matters.

He never claimed me as his. I’m his wife, but only in name. Hidden away, ignored, and treated like an outsider in my pack.

To everyone, I’m just some desperate woman making a scene over a man who doesn’t want her.

"Let them judge," my wolf, Nyra, growls. "They don’t know anything."

She's right. I blink, snapping back to reality. I’m still standing in the middle of the restaurant.

It’s time to leave.

But I don’t lower my head. The last thing I want is for everyone to think I have something to be ashamed of.

I lift my chin and turn toward the exit. Let them judge me for all I care. I won’t give them the satisfaction of seeing me break.

I step out of the restaurant, only to see Enzo still standing there.

He lights a cigarette, his eyes scanning the dark like he’s waiting for someone.

Is he… waiting for me?

Did he change his mind? 

A flicker of hope sparks in my chest. I hurry over and stop beside him.

He glances at me, but says nothing.

My throat tightens. "Bailey thinks you’re bringing her a gift."

He scoffs. "I never said that. That’s your problem. So, handle it."

He never learns how to speak like a decent man, does he?

My hands curl into fists at my sides.

Anger coils in my chest, hot and sharp. I’m just about to say something when her voice floats over, sweet as honey, soft as silk.

“Sorry, Enzo. Celeste took a while in the restroom. Hope we didn’t keep you waiting.”

I freeze.

Then I watch it happen.

That same face that looked cold and distant a second ago lights up, like flipping a switch.

He lifts Celeste into his arms, twirling her slightly, making her burst into delighted laughter.

He laughs with her, warm and tender.

Like a real father.

Of course. What was I thinking about?

He wasn’t waiting for me.

He never was.

He doesn’t see me. He doesn’t see Bailey.

To him, we’re nothing.