Chapter 3

Three days later, I was discharged from the hospital.

I turned back to look at the pack I'd lived with for so many years, and memories came flooding in.

That year, reckless and young, I'd gone exploring in the forest, only to get caught in a landslide. I ended up dangling from a tree at the edge of the cliff, with two massive vultures circling above me, waiting to make me their next meal.

As I fought against the vultures, the branch snapped. Below me was a sheer drop. If I fell, it would've meant certain death.

But just then, at my most desperate moment, Grayson stepped in and saved my life. The memory of him grabbing my hand and soothing me gently as he told me not to be afraid was still sharp in my mind.

That was the moment I'd fallen head over heels for this tall, imposing werewolf, and I launched into an all-out pursuit. But no matter how hard I tried, he wouldn't give me the time of day.

Just when I'd given up hope that we'd ever be together, he accepted me in my third year of chasing him and even proposed a mate-bonding ceremony.

Back then, I was so overjoyed I couldn't sleep all night, convinced he'd finally been won over by my devotion.

We had our mate-bonding ceremony soon after, and married life was blissful. We were even expecting our pup. Just when I thought our happiness would last forever, disaster struck in our second year.

I was away for diplomatic talks with another pack when Rogues ambushed us. Stephen, a Beta sent by Grayson to protect me, broke protocol by secretly bringing his Omega, Bella, along.

The Rogues captured Bella, intent on assaulting and killing her. Stephen fought desperately to save her, taking on the Rogues alone until their claws tore him apart.

When Bella saw Stephen's mangled body, she turned on me, screaming that his death was all my fault.

I ignored her hysterics and focused solely on breaking free from the attack. Just as the Rogues closed in, Vidar showed up with his guards, driving them back and escorting me safely the rest of the way.

But when we got back to the pack, Bella twisted the story, claiming Stephen had died protecting me.

Grayson, consumed by guilt, became completely devoted to her and Lili from that moment on, catering to their every whim.

The moment I showed a hint of disapproval, Grayson would silence me, reminding me that Stephen died because of me.

I tried telling him the truth, but he wouldn't hear it. The idea of Bella lying to him was unthinkable. Eventually, I just stopped trying.

I once overheard Grayson's maid say that he and Bella had been childhood sweethearts. They'd always been close, ever since they were kids.

But Bella was just a lowly Omega, deemed unworthy of a high-and-mighty Alpha like him.

Under her family's relentless pressure, Bella ended up marrying a Beta and had a pup. That same year she got married, Grayson finally gave in to my advances.

Now it was obvious that the truth of what happened back then didn't matter to him. He just wanted an excuse to stay close to Bella.