Chapter 3

"Or were you not aware that Naomi is to be my son Harrison's mate?"

Charles went rigid, the color draining from his face.

Her words stopped his bodyguards in their tracks, neither daring to take another step.

Quinn stammered, "Mrs. Williams, you misunderstand. We didn't come here to cause trouble…"

"We just wanted to convince my sister to stop her scheming."

Catherine glanced at her, raising a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "Scheming?"

Charles gritted his teeth. "Mrs. Williams, Naomi has no idea how serious Harrison's condition is."

"If she told you she could cure him just to force a union with your family, I advise you to reconsider."

The neighbors began whispering among themselves, some casting suspicious glances my way.

But Catherine just laughed. "Mr. Sterling, are you questioning my judgment?"

"Or perhaps you believe you know what my son needs better than I do?"

Charles opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Quinn, not one to give up, added more fuel to the fire. "Mrs. Williams, you don't know my sister. She's been a compulsive liar since we were children…"

"Enough." Catherine's voice was soft but carried an undeniable authority.

"I don't care what history you share, but I will not have you cause a scene on my doorstep."

She turned to me, her voice instantly warming. "Naomi, let's go. Harrison is waiting for you."

I nodded and followed Catherine inside.

Behind me, I heard Charles's suppressed roar of fury, but I didn't look back.

Two hours later, just as I had settled into the guest room Catherine had prepared, the doorbell rang.

Catherine went to answer it, and soon the familiar cadence of an argument drifted from the living room.

I stepped out to see my father, stepmother, Charles, and Quinn standing there.

"Mrs. Williams, I am so sorry to bother you," my father said with a strained smile. "But Naomi has always been willful. I'm sure this is just one of her games."

My stepmother chimed in, "Yes, she doesn't know the first thing about caring for someone. What if something happens… We're only here for Mr. Harrison's sake, to take her home."

Quinn added her two cents, "Mrs. Williams, my sister is only doing this to get back at me. She's jealous I married Charles. You can't let her fool you."

Catherine listened quietly, the polite smile on her face slowly dissolving.

"I believe you all misunderstand," she said. "It was I who pleaded with Naomi to become my son’s mate."

Everyone froze.

Catherine continued, "For ten years, I searched for a cure for Harrison's condition, all to no avail. Then I heard of Miss Naomi's grandmother and her healing gift."

"I visited her personally to beg for her help with my son."

"As for this jealousy and revenge you speak of…" Catherine let out a cold laugh. "Do you truly believe I would need to involve the Williams family to enact revenge on the likes of you?"

My father and stepmother's faces turned ashen. They had never expected this.

Quinn was too furious to speak.

Charles took a deep breath. "Mrs. Williams, even so, there's no guarantee Naomi can heal Harrison."

"What if she can't? What if she makes things worse?"

Catherine glanced at him. "That is not your concern, Mr. Sterling. You should be more worried about your own condition."

Her words struck him like a physical blow.

His face paled, his fists clenching at his sides.

Catherine turned to me. "Naomi, go rest. I'll see our guests out."

After they left, I was about to head back to my room when Charles blocked my path.

"Naomi," he said in a low voice. "We need to talk."

I looked at him. "About what?"

"You're calling off this mating," he said, his tone an order. "Don't think I don't know what you're doing."

"You're just throwing a tantrum because I didn't choose you, trying to provoke me by finding a richer Alpha."

I almost laughed. "You're delusional."

A manic glint flashed in his eyes. "Naomi, I'm telling you, I'll be healed in a few days."

"And then, you can watch how happy Quinn and I will be."

He leaned in closer, his voice dark. "The healer Quinn found has already started my treatment. I can feel my wolf stirring within me."

"Soon, you'll regret this."

Looking at his smug face, I could only sneer.

Charles had no idea that in three days, his wolf would be gone for good.