Chapter 2

When Nate came back, his fingers were laced tightly with Jules’s. Her lips were swollen, her cheeks flushed, and on his throat was a fresh, glaring red mark.

Everyone around immediately understood what had just happened. They looked at me like they were waiting for a show, expecting me to explode like I always did. In the past, I would’ve caused a scene, screamed, and cried, just to drag Nate’s attention back to me.

Nate noticed my gaze fall on Jules. With that, he pulled her behind him, already preparing to sneer at me.

However, I didn’t react the way he thought I would. Instead, I stared at Jules’s wedding gown. For a moment, I lost myself completely.

I had designed the gown she was wearing myself and had come today to pick it up. Yet now, it was on Jules’s body. The long skirt I had crafted was hacked short, exposing her delicate white ankles.

Behind them, the Beta werewolf clerk followed in a panic. She quickly bowed her head to me and apologized.

“I’m so sorry, Miss Howard. I did remind this young lady that the gown was custom-made for you. But Mr. Green insisted I give it to her…”

Jules shrank further behind Nate, her voice trembling as if she might cry. “Nate, maybe I should give the gown back to my sister. I do love it so much, but it’s hers, after all. She’s supposed to wear it to your bonding ceremony with her.”

Nate didn’t even hesitate to say, “You like it? Then keep it. It’s just a gown. She can buy another one. Anyway, she won’t look half as good in it as you do. We’ll wear it for our photoshoot later.”

The Beta clerk looked even more troubled and tried to explain. “Sir, this isn’t from our store. Miss Howard designed and made it herself. All we did was adjust the sizing here. We don’t have the right to sell it to you–”

“Enough!” Nate cut her off harshly, his eyes blazing as they locked onto me. “Are you teaming up with the clerk to bully Jules now? That gown is supposed to be worn for me. What’s wrong with her wearing it instead? Besides, the ceremony is just for show. It doesn’t matter if you wear it or not!”

I forced the rage back down, my words coming out sharp and deliberate. “This isn’t for you. This is the gown I’ll be wearing for my own bonding ceremony.”

Nate suddenly laughed. “Come on, Lexi. Isn’t your bonding ceremony also mine? I’ve agreed to marry you. Don’t overdo the act.”

He lowered his voice then, his gaze grazing over me without shame.

He mocked, “Honestly, you don’t even need a gown. You could show up in a skimpy slip dress, and I wouldn’t complain.”

Jules covered her mouth and giggled. “That won’t work. Lexi’s figure isn’t as good as mine. If she wears something like that, it’ll just expose too much.”

Nate pinched her cheek playfully, grinning. “It doesn’t matter. She’s too flat anyway. There’s nothing worth seeing. You, on the other hand… If you wore one, every man here would be staring. But you’re not allowed. I’d get jealous.”

Jules revealed a sweet smile at him, and when she looked back at me, her eyes glinted with open provocation.

The werewolves around us burst into raucous laughter, their crude voices echoing as they stared at me without restraint. The mockery and scorn were the same as all those countless times before. Humiliating me was his entertainment. Reducing me to nothing made him feel powerful.

This time, though, I felt nothing but emptiness. Instead, I turned away.

I didn’t want that ruined gown anymore, nor would I ever want Nate again!