Chapter 3

I scoffed.

It suddenly hit me that exactly a year ago today was our one-year engagement anniversary.

I had canceled a massive crystal negotiation just to cook a feast for him.

I waited in the candlelit dining room for three hours.

Instead of him, I got a call from Chloe.

She said the thunder was scaring her wolf, and Declan was busy comforting her so he couldn't answer his phone.

I drove to her place in the pouring rain.

When I opened the door, he was holding a shivering Chloe tightly in his arms.

I was completely soaked, my lips purple from the cold.

I asked him why he couldn't even send a text.

He gave me this exact same entitled look.

"Stop being unreasonable, Sloane. A little rain won't hurt you, but Chloe could die. Can't you be a little more forgiving as my Luna?"

In my last life, I hid in the shower and cried all night over that.

Now? I just thought his hypocrisy was sickening.

I looked at him blankly and easily twisted my wrist out of his weak grip.

"Just because I can take it doesn't mean I deserve to suffer."

I pointed at the closed bedroom door.

"Declan, my name is on the deed to this manor too. You moved Chloe in without asking me, and now you won't even let me in my own room?"

Seeing me step toward the door, Declan panicked and blocked my way.

"Sloane, stop throwing a fit! You know I love you, why do you have to be so jealous and push me right now?"

"Chloe and I just had surgery, and we both got caught in the rain today. You don't even care about us, and now you want to steal Chloe's bed!"

I actually laughed out loud.

"If you two are so sick, why didn't you stay in your own territory? Why didn't you take Chloe to her house? Why bring her to my manor?"

"Declan, you brought her here right to my face!"

I shoved him aside to open the door.

Furious, Declan tried to shove my shoulder hard, trying to use his Alpha strength to submit me.

"Sloane, enough!"

My eyes went cold. I didn't let him push me around like in my past life.

Using my reflexes, I easily sidestepped him.

Without his marrow, his balance was completely off.

He missed, stumbled forward, and crashed hard into the oak hallway cabinet.

"Ugh..." he groaned, grabbing his back.

I looked down at him hissing in pain, my eyes full of mockery.

This was the Alpha strength he was so proud of? Pathetic.

"Cough, cough... Declan..."

A weak, delicate cough came from inside the room, followed by a forced crying voice.

"Don't fight with Sloane over me... I'll leave... I shouldn't have taken her bed..."

That triggered all of Declan's hero complex.

Ignoring his own pain, he scrambled up, threw open the door, and rushed inside.

"Chloe, don't move! You just had a transplant, you can't get up!"

His voice was instantly so gentle, full of guilt.

Disgusting. I walked right past them into the walk-in closet, grabbed my suitcase, and started packing.

Seeing me pack, Declan froze.

"What are you doing?" he demanded coldly.

I rolled my eyes. "You wouldn't let me in! Now I'm leaving so you have all the space you want!"

"Sloane! Can you stop being so sarcastic? You think packing some clothes will make me beg you to stay?"

Chloe tried to get out of bed, but Declan held her down.

"Ignore her, let her throw her fit!" he spat. "We'll see how long she lasts! When she cools off, she'll come crawling back to apologize. She can't live without me!"

I zipped my bag up, completely ignoring his face, and walked out feeling incredibly light.

The storm was still raging outside, but I just wanted to escape this suffocating house.

On my way out, I saw Declan blowing on a spoonful of hot herbal remedy, feeding it to Chloe.

How sweet.