Chapter 4

The photo I'd treasured for seven years hit the floor and broke apart. My eyes stung despite myself.

Those seven years felt like one long joke.

I still remembered moving in when the place was completely empty.

Nathaniel had told me this would always be my home and I could decorate it however I liked.

And now he was shielding Yvonne behind him and screaming at me to get out of his house.

I wiped my eyes and looked at him.

"Are you sure you want to throw me out?"

Nathaniel went quiet.

Yvonne grabbed his hand, pleading with him. "Nathaniel, don't do anything rash."

Then she came running over and took hold of my hands.

"Chloe, all of this is because of me.

"I'll do anything you want if it means you and Nathaniel will make up."

"Then get out," I said calmly.

"Never come near him again, and we'll be fine."

Yvonne froze, her eyes instantly filling with tears.

"All right. I'm leaving right now."

She turned as she said it, took a few steps, and swayed.

Nathaniel caught her immediately.

"Chloe Shaw, that's enough! Yvonne has been nothing but good to you. How can you turn on her like this?

"Do you know what time it is? Do you know how cold it is outside?"

I was the ungrateful one?

Wolves had always been faithful.

No she-wolf could stand her mate keeping his childhood friend by his side forever. Yvonne was a friend in name, but she acted like his lover.

"It's 12 minutes past midnight, and it's right around freezing outside."

I took the ring off.

"You didn't seem worried about any of that a minute ago, when you were telling me to get out of your house."

Nathaniel closed his eyes.

"Apologize and you don't have to move out. The ceremony in five days can go ahead too."

I set the ring on the counter. That was my answer.

"I didn't do anything wrong."

Nathaniel stared at me for a few seconds.

"Fine."

He grabbed my clothes and threw them at the door.

They scattered across the dirty floor, picking up grime.

The rest of my belongings followed, tumbling across the floor.

Nathaniel pointed at the coat I had on. He'd given it to me last month for my birthday.

"Take it off."

I looked at him.

He looked at me expectantly. He wanted me to admit I was wrong and apologize.

I didn't want to.

Without a word, I unzipped the coat, took it off, and threw it back at him.

His expression darkened.

I walked to the door and shivered as the cold air hit me.

Before I could react, the door slammed shut behind me.

I was about to leave when I heard Nathaniel and Yvonne through it.

"Nathaniel, Chloe just wants you to make peace with her. What if you really upset her by treating her like this?"

Nathaniel's voice was quiet. "She'll be fine. She's been with me for seven years. She won't be able to stand being apart. One night at most, and she'll be apologizing to me.

"Besides, where else does she have to go?"

I stood outside the door, my hands clasped together.

Seven years. Of course it hurt to let go.

My phone buzzed. It was a message from Delia. She was downstairs.

I put the phone away and headed down.

But I knew I still had better choices ahead of me.

Nathaniel White, consider these seven years a gift from me.

From here on, I belong to myself.