Chapter 5

The wolf inside me had used up too much strength saving me, and it sank back into sleep.

My body was drained from everything it had just been through. My legs gave out, and I could only lean against the wall, gasping for breath, trying to steady myself.

Just then, James came back, empty-handed, face dark.

He didn't even notice me, pale and gasping against the wall. He just tore into me.

"Why do you always have to go after Emily? That diffuser was a gift from her, a blessing for us to be together forever, and you destroyed her blessing!"

"You're the one who brought her back! Is it like Emily said? She awakened her Wolf, the pack loves her, you feel outdone, so you're jealous? How did you become like this?"

Hearing him think that of me, I shook all over with rage.

I wanted to scream at him, but I had no strength. Tears filled my eyes, and all that came out was a low, choked sob.

"You say I've changed? Did I really change, or did you?"

"That diffuser had soulweed in it. It triggers my illness. Did you forget?"

I demanded it hysterically, but my voice was impossibly weak.

He used to worry about my episodes more than anyone.

When I had one, he'd sit by my bed red-eyed, never leaving my side. Watching me suffer, he'd have given anything to take the pain for me.

Later, because he couldn't stand to see me in pain, James even ordered that soulweed was banned throughout the entire Blackwood Pack.

But now, he'd forgotten something that important.

I saw James freeze when he heard me, guilt flashing across his face.

Then he came over, pulled me into his arms, and in a hoarse voice, apologized for the first time in his life.

"Olivia, I'm sorry."

His brows were knitted tight, his face full of self-blame.

I said nothing. I just pushed him away and went back to my room.

He didn't follow. He didn't even ask how I was feeling.

After that, he didn't come home for days.

I knew what he was doing. He wanted to ride out our fight with silence.

That's how it always was with us. No explanations, no apologies. A few days of cold treatment, and we'd act like we'd made up.

But deep down, I knew we never really did.

It didn't matter anymore, though. I was leaving.

I packed up all my things, and then I started looking around the house.

James had bought it for me.

The first day we came here, James said this house was going to be our future home.

But now I was leaving him, and this house needed to go back to him too.

I called a notary and had the house transferred back to James.

That day, James happened to come home and walked in on me talking to the notary.

The second he saw him, his face went cold.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?"

The notary was spooked by his sharp glare and stammered, "Alpha, Miss Garcia asked me to come. She wants me to transfer this house to your name."

"Transfer the house to me?" He turned to me, confused.

"Why?"

I spoke calmly. "I was just about to tell you."

Seeing how calm I was, James seemed uneasy. His hands shook slightly. "Why transfer it to me? This was a gift from me to you."

Then his brows drew tight. "You're not still angry about what happened the other day, are you?"

I didn't answer.

James stepped forward and took my hand.

"It was my fault before, but I didn't mean to forget soulweed triggers your illness. Do you really have to make a scene over this?"

"I won't agree to you transferring this house to me. I gave it to you. It's yours forever! If you don't like it here, I'll take you somewhere else."

No matter what I said, James wouldn't agree.

I rubbed my forehead. If he thought I was making a scene, fine. Then I'd be the good, obedient girl.

I turned to him. "Emily loves that estate on the far east side of the pack, doesn't she? Let's move her in with us. It'll be easier for you to take care of her until her Wolf stabilizes."

James looked stunned. "That's the only reason?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Didn't you say she saved my life? Then I should treat her well."

There was no point explaining anything to him anymore. I'd be gone soon.

James pulled me into his arms, his voice full of relief. "My Olivia's grown up. Good. We'll move Emily in with us. But this house will always be yours. And so will I."

"Once we move, let's bond. No more waiting for your wolf to awaken, okay?"

I smiled and said nothing. But my mind drifted back to when I first brought Emily back to the pack.

Back then, I'd wanted to keep Emily at our place for a few days to care for her.

But James had refused outright. He said no one could intrude on our world for two.

And now? Now he agreed without hesitation to have Emily live with us.

I pushed him away and told him to go tell Emily.

The moment James left, I went and sold the house. I put the money from the sale next to his pillow.

Since I was leaving, there should be nothing left between us.

And with that, everything between James and me was divided up.

Now, I had nothing to do with him anymore.

Tomorrow, I'd leave this place. And leave him.