Chapter 4

 Rosemarie's POV 

I didn't bother going back to the pack house to pack my things. There was nothing in that building that belonged to me anymore, and I definitely didn't want to see Helen's smug face or watch my son look at me with that painful dislike. I walked straight out of the administrative building, got into my car, and drove directly to the airport.

I had enough savings of my own, and I wanted to go somewhere far away. A quiet seaside town where I could watch the waves and spend the last weeks of my life in peace, far away from the toxic wolves who had destroyed me.

The airport terminal was crowded with travelers, a sea of people moving with purpose. I slowly made my way toward the ticket counter, but with every step, the pressure in my head grew worse. The strain of surviving the mate rejection, combined with the stress of everything that had happened, finally caught up with me.

A sharp pain stabbed behind my temples.

The sounds of the airport faded into a high-pitched ringing. My vision blurred, turning the bright lights into streaks of white.

I reached out to steady myself against a nearby pillar, but missed completely.

My knees gave out.

The polished floor rushed up to meet me as I fainted for the second time in less than twenty-four hours. When I opened my eyes again, the smell of rubbing alcohol and sterile cotton filled my nose.

I was lying on a narrow bed inside the airport's emergency medical room.

Before I could sit up, the privacy curtain was pulled aside.

A well-dressed man in a perfectly tailored charcoal-gray suit stepped into the room. He carried a leather portfolio under one arm and had the calm confidence of a professional executive.

He looked down at me, his expression polite but unreadable.

"Are you Rosemarie Wilton?"

I blinked and pushed myself up onto my elbows.

"Yes. Who are you? How do you know my name?"

"I am a personal assistant," the man replied, adjusting his glasses. "My employer has been searching for you for a long time, Rosemarie. We monitor local pack records and airport manifests. When your name appeared in the system here, I was instructed to find you immediately."

"Searching for me?" I asked, completely confused. "Why? Who is your employer?"

"He would prefer to tell you himself," the assistant replied, gesturing toward the door. "Our medical staff has already cleared you to leave. There is a car waiting outside. Please follow me."

I was too exhausted to argue. Besides, I had nothing left to lose.

And if this was some scheme from Rex, it didn't make sense. Rex didn't employ assistants who looked like corporate executives. I stood on unsteady legs and followed him outside. A sleek luxury sedan was waiting at the curb.

The assistant opened the rear door, and I slid into the soft leather seat. We drove in silence for nearly thirty minutes, leaving the airport behind and heading into the city's wealthiest district.

Eventually, the car stopped outside a massive five-star hotel. The assistant led me through a private entrance and into a restricted elevator.

He pressed the button for the penthouse. A few moments later, the doors opened. The penthouse was enormous, filled with sunlight from floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the entire city.

A tall man stood by the glass with his hands in his pockets. When he heard us enter, he turned around and my breath caught. I stared at him in disbelief.

"Tyson? Tyson Carrillo?"

Years ago, before I met Rex, our families had tried to arrange a marriage between us. Tyson's family was wealthy, powerful, and respected.

Back then, he had always been quiet, observant, and protective. But I had been young and foolish. The moment I discovered Rex was my fated mate, I rejected the arrangement without hesitation.

I threw a fit and told Tyson I could never be with him because I only wanted Rex. I chased after the mate bond without thinking. I ignored the fact that Rex already had a girlfriend.

And I never noticed the feelings Tyson had quietly carried for me all those years. Tyson walked toward me, his dark eyes softening as he took in my pale face and trembling hands.

"Hello, Rosie. It's been a long time."

Rosie. It's been…ages since someone called me that. 

"Why are you looking for me?" I whispered, lowering my eyes as guilt washed over me. "I treated you badly back then. I refused to listen to anyone."

"I don't care about the past," Tyson said. His deep voice was calm and reassuring. He stepped closer and gently rested a hand on my shoulder.."My people have been tracking your medical records since your visit to the pack clinic. I know about the brain tumor, Rosemarie."

A sob caught in my throat. The weight of everything crashed down on me again.

"It's too late, Tyson. The doctors said it's late-stage. There isn't anyone in the pack who can perform the surgery, and even if there was, the chances are almost zero. I'm going to die."

"You are not going to die." Tyson's voice became firm and certain.  "The doctors in your pack don't know what they're doing. I've already contacted the best neurosurgical team in the country. They're flying in tonight. I have the resources, the specialists, and the technology. We are going to remove that tumor, Rosemarie."

His eyes never left mine. "I won't let you die."

I looked up at him as tears streamed down my face. The difference between Rex and Tyson was overwhelming. One had abandoned me. The other was determined to save me.

"Tyson..." My voice trembled. "I don't understand. After everything I did, why are you helping me? How could I ever repay you?"

Tyson smiled softly. It was a rare smile, but it reached his eyes. He lifted a hand and gently wiped away a tear from my cheek.

"If you really want to repay me," he said quietly, "then focus on getting better." His gaze locked onto mine. "And when you've recovered, when you're healthy and free..." He paused.

"You have the chance to start over. However you want, with whatever you want.”

I looked at him, unable to process everything. 

Then he added, “Rosemarie, you're getting the chance to start all over again. Don't you think you need to smile a bit?”