Chapter 6

Zachary glanced at me, his tone indifferent as he asked, "What's going on?"

I didn't answer him. I just wanted to get out of this place and go as far away as possible from everyone who was waiting to see me fall.

The snow was deep, rising past my ankles with every step. My legs were numb from kneeling so long. Each movement felt like my bones were about to shatter. Even so, I clenched my jaw and kept walking, one step at a time.

Behind me, Wesley's voice cut through the wind, sharp and cruel. "Ignore her. She's just throwing another tantrum."

Corey let out a cold laugh. "Give it three days. Once no one goes after her, she'll come crawling back."

I froze mid-step. The wind stung my face like tiny blades, and the tears I'd held in for so long finally rolled down my cheeks.

I thought, "Corey, Wesley... Do you even know that I'll be leaving Evergreen Pack in six days? I might never see you again."

I wiped the tears away roughly with my sleeve. I didn't look back and kept walking forward.

Just as I reached the mansion gate, Nora suddenly caught up to me. She was wrapped in a white shawl, her face pale as her tears fell drop by drop.

She reached out to grab me and cried with a trembling voice. "Faye... please don't go... This is your home... If anyone should leave, it should be me... Don't do this..."

I looked at her, my chest so cold that it felt suffocating. I said softly, "Let go."

She shook her head, crying. "No... It's my fault, I'm the one who's in the way... Please..."

I didn't want her touching me, so I gently pushed her fingers away. "Let go."

Suddenly, her body swayed back, and she fell into the snow.

I froze for a second, instinctively reaching out to help her. Yet, before I could touch her, heavy footsteps rushed toward us.

"Nora!"

My brothers and Zachary stormed over, their energy crackling with fury. It was as if they were ready to tear me apart.

Zachary knelt down and pulled Nora into his arms while Corey brushed the snow from her shoulders with tender care.

He said, "You're still recovering! What are you doing outside in this weather?"

Wesley waved a housekeeper over urgently. "Get her some hot milk and make sure to add sugar. Nora likes it sweet."

Snowflakes fell gently onto her soft hair as she looked up, her lashes damp. She hiccupped and said, "I only wanted to stop her from leaving... But please, don't blame her, okay? It wasn't Faye... I slipped on my own..."

There it was again. Nora's performance had only gotten better.

And of course, Corey's glare turned razor-sharp as he snapped, "Faye, do you really hate Nora that much?"

Zachary's expression darkened to something deadly. His icy gaze locked onto mine. He quickly strode toward me and wrapped a hand around my throat.

"Faye, how many times do you have to hurt her?" His voice was rough and low, carrying a bone-deep hatred. "Don't think I'll protect you like before. This time, I won't let it slide."

His grip tightened, and his Alpha's strength crushed down on me, stealing every last breath.

I tried to fight back, but I couldn't move at all. A few broken sounds clawed out of my throat, and my vision slowly faded.

Honestly, I thought it would be just fine if I died right then and there. At least the pain would finally stop.

Strangely, I even felt a flicker of relief.

However, just as my consciousness started to slip away, a low, chilling voice cut through the howling wind.

"Let her go."