Chapter 2

I came home and set the mate bond dissolution papers on the table, then sat and waited for Damien.

It was well past midnight when the door finally opened. Damien rushed toward me.

"You—"

Before I could speak, he seized me by the collar and slammed me backward into the edge of the table. Pain shot through my spine, and I gasped.

His eyes were bloodshot, veins bulging at his temples, staring at me like he wanted to tear me apart. "The antidote. Where is it?"

I could barely breathe. "What... antidote? I don't know what you're talking about."

He hurled me onto the couch. "Don't play dumb! Vivian was poisoned with wolfsbane. She's in the hospital. The doctor says only a specific antidote can cure it. She told me everything — you did this to her."

My vision darkened at the edges as I fought for air, my mind reeling.

"She's pregnant! She could lose the pup if she doesn't get the antidote soon. Do you have any idea how devastating this is for a mother? How could you be so cruel?"

I had no idea what he was talking about. All I knew was that he was hurting me over some other woman.

Damien was torn with turmoil, but at the sight of my tear-blurred eyes, his tone softened He dropped to his knees before me. "Elena, please. I know how you feel right now. I'll explain everything later. Just tell me where you hid the antidote. If we wait any longer, Vivian could die."

Watching him kneel there, desperate — my heart clenched.

Seven years ago, he'd knelt just like that. For me.

I'd been captured by rogue wolves. Damien had charged into the pack to save me, but he was outnumbered and beaten to the ground. They dragged me further and further away, my screams growing fainter.

Then — Damien knelt before them and begged.

"Please. Let her go. I'll do anything."

The mighty Alpha, kneeling before rogues. The humiliation should have been unbearable. But Damien hadn't cared. He only cared about saving my life.

Now I was seeing that same desperate look on his face. But it wasn't for me. It was for another woman.

I thought they were just a fling, but now it seemed Damien had truly fallen for her.

The realization cut through me like a blade. When I could finally breathe again, my voice came out raw. "It wasn't me."

He didn't believe me. He grabbed my shoulders and shook me. "This isn't the time for games! She told me everything — you had someone poison her water!"

Falsely accused with no way to defend myself, all I could do was cry and deny.

His gaze turned glacial. He scanned the room, then stormed into the kitchen.

Before I understood what was happening, he came back holding a bag of berries.

Horror flooded through me. "What are you doing? You know I'm allergic to those!"

Pain and reluctance flickered in his eyes, but his hands were anything but gentle.

"I'm sorry, Elena. I don't want to hurt you. I have no choice. Just give me the antidote and I'll pretend none of this happened."

I didn't poison anyone. How would I know where the antidote was?

I tried to run, but he caught me and pressed the berries to my lips.

"Last chance. Where's the antidote?"

I clenched my jaw and shook my head.

Disappointment filled his eyes. "I didn't want it to come to this. You forced my hand."

He pinched my nose shut. Gasping for air, my mouth opened involuntarily, and he shoved the berries in.

Blisters erupted across my skin. The suffocation washed over me as well.

"I just want you to feel what Vivian felt. Give me the antidote and I'll give you the allergy medicine."

Berry juice mixed with tears on my face. My vision blurred. Damien's face dissolved into nothing, and then — darkness.