Chapter 3

I froze in place, staring at the two people I had once trusted and depended on most.

Suddenly, they felt completely unfamiliar.

I didn't argue. I just turned and walked away. Every step felt like walking on knives, each one cutting deeper into my heart.

After leaving home, I went to the city hall to submit my application to leave the pack. As I held the paperwork in my hands, a storm of emotions twisted inside me.

Just then, a message from Sabrina appeared. She said she wanted to apologize for breaking the ceramic cup and asked to meet me.

I hesitated for a moment, but decided to go. I needed to see what she was really up to.

When I returned home, only Sabrina was there.

Her smile was bright, almost blinding.

"Nicole, you really have no shame. You were abandoned at the marking ceremony, and you still act like you have any right to be here? Do you really think you're the only one they care about?"

She leaned close to my ear, her voice soft but venomous like a snake. "Fine, I'll show you who they really care about!"

I furrowed my brow and tried to step back, but she struck a match and threw it at the curtains.

Flames erupted instantly, and the entire room became a wall of fire.

"You're insane!" I yelled, scrambling to escape.

However, she kicked me to the ground.

The next second, Joshua and Charlie burst into the room. Both of them rushed straight for Sabrina.

I collapsed on the floor, my arm hitting the edge of the table as the flames licked my skin.

"Ah!" I screamed, pain tearing through me as my arm was instantly seared by the flames.

I called for help, but their focus was entirely on Sabrina, as if I didn't exist.

The next moment, everything went black.

When I came to, I was in a hospital. Joshua had brought me.

A doctor approached, and Joshua stopped him. "Focus on Sabrina first. She's an Omega with no wolf. Her body is weaker."

Charlie was furious. He stormed forward and swung his hand, slapping me hard across the face.

"Nicole! You actually set a fire? How could you even do something like this? You've disappointed me completely! We took you in out of pity, not to raise an arsonist. Maybe we were too kind to you!"

"I didn't hurt her! She started the fire! She's lying about me!" I shouted hoarsely, my voice breaking.

Tears of despair slid down my cheeks.

Joshua frowned. "These burns are nothing to you. Your healing ability can fix them in an instant. But for Sabrina, it would have been deadly! Are you saying Sabrina risked her life just to frame you?

"Nicole, I've been far too good to you. Look at how selfish and dishonest you've become!"

I slumped against the wall, feeling utterly defeated. The searing pain in my burned arms was nothing compared to the ache in my heart.

Yes, I had the power to heal myself...

However, I had taken a bond severing potion.

My healing ability was gone.

Joshua didn't love me anymore. He hadn't even noticed that my wounds hadn't healed for this long.

I forced a bitter smile and wiped my tears away.

Quietly, I found a doctor and had my injuries treated.

Joshua and Charlie didn't appear until Sabrina's surgery was over.

The moment they walked in, Joshua's voice was sharp and commanding. "Nicole, go apologize to Sabrina. We'll consider this matter over then."

I spoke calmly. "I won't apologize. I did nothing wrong."

Joshua's anger flared instantly. "You're still being stubborn! If you hadn't started the fire, she wouldn't have been hurt. Apologize, or I will sever our mate bond myself!"

I closed my eyes and answered silently in my heart.

'Joshua, you don't need to. I already did.'

His eyes blazed at my silence. He slammed the door on his way out, leaving a cutting remark behind.

"You're so spoiled and stubborn because you know I love you! The marking ceremony is indefinitely postponed!"

Charlie stood quietly beside him, but his eyes were heavy with disappointment and reproach.

I sat alone in the hospital room until the next day before leaving on my own.

As I passed by Sabrina's hospital room, I peeked through the crack in the door and saw Joshua and Charlie inside. They hovered around her, attentive and caring, as if she were the most important person in their world.

I smiled faintly at the scene, then turned to leave. I didn't want to bother with them anymore.

I arrived at the airport, where my mentor and colleagues were already waiting.

They saw the burns on my arms and gasped, concern etched on their faces.

"Oh my goodness! What happened? Are you okay?"

"It's fine. I can still attend the training," I said with a small smile.

I didn't say more. I simply followed them onto the plane, quietly taking my seat.

Then, a sharp pang hit my chest.

Instantly, I knew it was the sign that the mate bond had been fully severed.

I gritted my teeth against the pain and pressed my forehead to the window, staring out at the world below.

In my heart, I whispered, 'Joshua, Charlie, we will never meet again.'