Chapter 3

Blair's POV

For a moment, my ears rang, and my mind went completely blank. I slowly turned to face Mom and Dad and asked again, "Why?"

My hoarse voice startled them both, and they sighed.

Jesse strode forward and said impatiently, "Blair, your pup died a long time ago. Praying for him would be a complete waste of time. But Emily's different! For the past three years, she cared for Mom and Dad day and night.

"She's been so consumed by guilt that she hasn't had a single good night's sleep. Is it really so wrong for us to pray for her and soothe her wolf?"

He paused, his voice growing even more disdainful. "Emily's spent three years atoning for what she did to you. It's bad enough that you refuse to forgive her, but now you even want to smash the moonstone we use to pray for her? You're so cold-hearted and selfish."

As I listened to his self-righteous accusations, the color slowly drained from my face. I'd never imagined that the little brother I'd protected since childhood would one day turn against me and take an outsider's side.

My throat tightened, and I struggled to force the words out. "But none of this would have happened if it weren't for her! My pup would still be alive!"

Just then, Emily hurried over. Her eyes were red, and she wore a wounded expression. "Blair, what happened back then really was an accident. I never meant to hurt you..."

The sight of her playing innocent made me sick to my stomach.

I turned to Joey and advanced toward him, one step at a time. "Was what happened back then really just an accident?"

Joey's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at me. That was all the confirmation I needed. He'd never told my family the truth. To protect Emily, he'd lied to everyone and kept them completely in the dark.

I let out a bitter laugh and was about to expose everything when Joey suddenly grabbed my wrist and dragged me to a secluded clearing.

I struggled against his grip before raising my hand and slapping him hard across the face. The force of the blow snapped his head to the side, leaving a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth.

But he seemed oblivious to the pain. All he cared about was asking me frantically, "Blair, do you know what really happened?"

Before I could answer, he seized my shoulders, gripping them so tightly that I thought my bones might break. "You can't tell anyone! You absolutely can't! If your family finds out, they'll report Emily to the Council of Elders and have her expelled from the pack! You can't be that cruel!"

I gritted my teeth, my voice trembling. "I'm cruel?"

I shoved his hands away and demanded hysterically, "What about her? Wasn't she cruel when she deliberately killed our pup and nearly killed me too? Why should she get away with all of that without facing any punishment?"

Joey stared at me with a frown, as if I'd lost my mind. "But Emily's already suffered enough! She's been living in fear and guilt, barely sleeping at night. Isn't that punishment enough for you? What more do you want from her? Do you want her dead?"

I stood there, stunned by what he'd just said. Apparently, he thought Emily losing sleep over her own guilt was enough to make up for poisoning me and killing our pup.

The sheer absurdity of it left me speechless. I didn't even hate him anymore. I was simply disgusted. Any love I still had for him was gone.

Joey must have sensed something was wrong because his tone softened. "Blair, can't we just put tonight behind us? Pretend none of this ever happened, and we can go back to being happy together. Just like we used to be."

I shook my head, too exhausted to argue with him anymore. "Joey, let's ask the Council of Elders to dissolve our mate bond."

He panicked and grabbed my wrist. "No! I won't let you! You're my fated mate, Blair! We belong together!"

I looked at him without a trace of emotion. "You won't agree? What about Emily, then? Are you planning to keep her a secret for the rest of your life?"

Joey went rigid. He finally realized I knew more than just the truth about the poisoning. I'd found out about his affair with Emily, too.

"Blair, please, let me explain." His voice shook with regret. "What happened between Emily and me was a mistake. You're the only one I've ever loved..."

I cut him off. "I just want to know what you're going to do about Emily."

Joey struggled to answer, his breathing growing ragged. After a long silence, he closed his eyes, looking utterly miserable. "I'll end things with her. Completely. I'll make sure you never have to see her again. I'll do anything you want, Blair. Just please don't leave me."