Chapter 3

I was about to fight back, to tell him the truth.

But a familiar voice cut through the tension.

"Kyle, stop."

Selena strode toward us in an expensive suit and high heels, a perfect smile on her face. But her eyes were cold as a snake's.

"Darling, let's not make a scene," she cooed, touching Kyle’s arm. "We still have to greet Alpha Ethan. We can't let this kind of gossip get back to him."

Kyle let go of me and took a step back.

"Selena, stay out of this."

"Of course I can't," she said, turning to me, her eyes glinting with contempt. "Your reputation is at stake, after all."

The two wolves were still staring me down.

Selena gave them a nod. "Take her to the lounge."

I was half-dragged, half-pushed into the airport’s VIP lounge.

Plush leather sofas, a crystal chandelier, and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto the busy tarmac.

It was so quiet I could hear the hum of the air conditioner.

Selena sat down gracefully and pulled a checkbook from her purse.

She tore out a check and wrote on it.

"Five hundred thousand dollars," she said, sliding the check across the table. "Get rid of the pup and disappear."

Five hundred thousand? A single one of my moon-silk bedsheets was worth more than that.

I didn't even glance at the check.

"A pure-blood Beta's line cannot be tainted," Selena said, her voice dripping with condescension. "Kyle is about to join the Blood Moon Pack. There can be no blemishes on his future."

"The blood of a pure-blood Beta?" I couldn't help but laugh. "Selena, are you confused? This isn't Kyle's pup."

Selena took a sip of champagne and laughed.

"Amelia, stop pretending. I know you're just saying that to protect it. I told you a long time ago, don't go after what isn't yours. A wolf of Kyle's status is not for a human like you."

Before she could finish, I cut her off again.

"Selena," I said. "Didn't you bother to find out whose woman I am now before you came here?"

She covered her mouth and giggled.

"Whose woman could you possibly be?"

"Amelia, drop the act. Girls like you who crawl up from the bottom are the most conniving."

"I told you. Kyle and I grew up together. We have noble blood. We are fated to be together."

"Besides, even when he was obsessed with you, he never planned on making you his mate—"

"What makes you think you have a chance now?"

I met her gaze, my expression flat.

"You're wrong."

"I never wanted to be Kyle's mate."

Not six months ago.

And definitely not now.

"And don't forget, I was the one who cut him off."

I smiled and crooked a finger. "And you? Still happy to pick up my leftovers?"

"You bitch!" Selena shot to her feet. "What do you think you are? A coffee-shop waitress, daring to compare yourself to me?"

"I never wanted to compare myself to you," I said, shaking my head. "There is no comparison."

A wolf who couldn't even protect his own mate, who only knew how to betray and run away, was worse than an Omega.

He should have understood from the beginning. He didn't dump me. I threw him away.

I stood up, unwilling to look at their pathetic faces any longer.

"We're done here. You're not worthy of my time."

But Kyle's men blocked my way.

The air grew heavy. I frowned.

"What is the meaning of this?"

Selena sneered.

"Amelia, do you really think you can walk out of here without getting rid of that bastard?"

I tried to run, but the VIP lounge door was locked.

"Don't waste your energy, Amelia," Kyle said, walking in and looking down on me. "I heard Alpha Ethan's jet was delayed," Kyle said, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "That gives us just enough time to deal with you before we greet him. Cooperate, and you won't have to suffer too much."

Ethan…

He’d been delayed by pack business this morning and was leaving after me.

I never thought he wouldn’t be here.

As a human, even as his fated mate, I couldn't send him a mind-link whenever I wanted.

I never imagined that one detail would doom me.

"Kyle, you're going to regret this," I snarled, trying to make him back down.

"The only thing I regret is not dealing with this problem sooner."

His men grabbed my arms, forcing me toward the door.

"Let go of me!" I struggled.

"Quiet," one of the wolves threatened. "Don't make us get rough."

I was pushed out of the lounge and through a back exit of the airport.

A black car with tinted windows was waiting outside.

"Get in," Kyle ordered.

"I'm not getting in."

"You don't have a choice."

His two men shoved me into the back seat.

As the door slammed shut, I heard Kyle's cold voice echo in my ear:

"And stop making up lies about some new mate. I don't believe a word of it."