Chapter 4

Ignoring Eric’s livid face, I turned and walked away.

But I had barely taken a few steps before Eric grabbed me by the arm, dragging me back. He glared down at me, demanding coldly, “Selena, I’m handing you money, and you won’t even take it? What is that supposed to mean?”

“Since you and Lily are already mated, we shouldn’t have anything to do with one another,” I replied calmly. “It saves everyone from any misunderstandings.”

As I spoke, the image of my fiercely possessive mate crossed my mind.

Eric, however, glanced back at Lily, a look of smug realization washing over his face.

“Three days from now, there will be a banquet hosted in honor of Jason,” Eric announced pompously. “I intend to bring you along so you can see how the upper echelon lives.

“When the time comes, you’ll stay by Lily’s side to assist her. Learn how to serve people at high-profile events. It will come in handy for you in the pack later on.”

Before he could even finish his sentence, I knitted my brows and cut him off with a flat refusal. “I really don’t need to. Thanks.”

Hearing my second rejection, Eric’s irritation boiled over into pure rage.

“You’ve certainly grown quite the attitude, Selena. It seems leaving the pack for a few years has made you completely forget your place.

“Since you don’t want to go, then forget it! I’ll take Lily instead!”

Hearing that Eric was going to take her to the banquet, Lily’s eyes lit up. She smugly caressed her protruding stomach and said, “I will definitely be on my best behavior, Eric. I won’t do anything to embarrass you. When we meet the Alpha, I can even help smooth things over for you.”

Unwilling to entangle myself with them for a second longer, I turned on my heel and strode away with large strides.

I quickly left the harbor lobby. Stepping outside and inhaling the fresh, crisp air, I finally felt the suffocating tightness in my chest ease significantly.

On that rainy night in my past life, Eric had chosen to save me.

But Lily couldn’t wait long enough for him to return. She drowned in the vast ocean, and her body was never recovered.

After that, Eric acted as though he didn’t care and went through with our mate bond, yet he constantly paraded women who looked just like Lily right in front of my face, subjecting me to endless psychological torment.

I spiraled into a severe depression and ultimately died from it.

Fortunately, this time around, I was the one who pushed him away.

I had fought for my life in the freezing water for three whole hours before a passing Jason rescued me from the brink of death.

A year later, we held our mating ceremony, and a year after that, I gave birth to our little pup.

If I hadn’t accompanied Jason to this Alpha Summit, I would have never set foot here again.

And I certainly would have never run into Eric.