"If you want to die, that's simple enough. Just don't dirty Eliza's hands."At that moment, Ethan burst in with a group of people."Eliza, don't be afraid. I'm here to save you."He gently fastened my shirt buttons and draped his suit jacket over my shoulders.His gaze shifted to Derek, his eyes flashing with icy fury."Brother, if you had accepted her choice with dignity, I might have respected you. But you tried to force Eliza through despicable means. I've stood by and watched you hurt her for seven years. I won't allow it anymore."Derek's lips curled into a self-mocking smile. He tried to explain himself to me but collapsed weakly to the floor."Eliza, don't go with him! I forbid you to go with him! He's my brother... my own brother..."I no longer loved Derek, but I couldn't watch him die in front of me either.My mate sensed my thoughts and had his people take Derek to the hospital.As soon as Derek was admitted to the hospital, my mate's allies moved to arrest the guards that D
"Derek, what do you really want?" I demanded, backing away from him.He had lost all reason, his eyes wild with desperation.I tried to send my location to Ethan, my mate, but Derek saw me and snatched the phone from my hands."Eliza, you can only be mine!" he growled, his voice vibrating with possessiveness."Since you don't care about James, we'll have another child. And if that doesn't keep you with me, we'll have another. I don't believe you're so cold-hearted that no child could ever win your love!"Derek's eyes were deep and distant, yet sharp with intensity.His wolf was too close to the surface, challenging my own. The air between us crackled with tension."Eliza, you once loved me so much. Why are you being so heartless now?"I struggled to maintain distance between us, my back pressing against the wall."Derek, you're always so self-centered. Someone like you doesn't deserve my love!" I spat back, my voice steel-hard despite my racing heart. "You threw me in prison while I wa
Ethan was dressed very formally today, in a sleek suit and tie.The same style of clothing that made Derek look sharp and imposing with his executive presence somehow appeared softer on Ethan.The rigid edges and intensity melted away, leaving only a gentle, approachable warmth that instinctively drew people in.We had eaten at this restaurant many times before.But this time felt different somehow.He passed me a plate with perfectly cut steak."Eliza, try this. I made the steak myself today."I was surprised—him cooking himself?"It's rich but not greasy. You've managed the cooking time well. Very delicious."He folded his hands on the table, watching anxiously as I finished eating.Only then did I notice how empty the restaurant was today.After thinking for a moment, I began to understand what he was planning.Just then, a server wheeled a cart over to our table.It was a small two-tiered Black Forest cake. It looked like an ordinary cake but stood out because it was filled with a
A few days later, Derek brought our son James to the shop.James looked around curiously, his chubby face with baby fat that made me want to pinch his cheeks.Derek patted him lightly on his bottom."This is your mother. Say 'Mommy!'"The blood connection between us made me instinctively reach out to touch him.As soon as my hand touched James's head, he burst into tears."What are you crying for? She's your mother. I told you so many times before we came. Why can't you learn to say 'Mommy'?" Derek's voice grew louder, making James cry even harder.It was clear that Derek was trying to use our child to win me back, but unfortunately, James wasn't attached to me. He was even a little afraid of me.Thinking about it, perhaps this was for the best.Although James was born from me, he didn't feel close to me, and I wouldn't force closeness with him either.Like two parallel lines, we would never intersect, creating no cause and effect between us.The kitchen door swung open, and Ethan emer
That night, after the public humiliation at the Alpha Council, I had gone to the cliff, fully aware that cameras were recording. I stood at the edge, let the wind whip my hair dramatically, and then took that final step—into the safety net Ethan had rigged below the camera's view.He had been waiting for me at the bottom of the cliff, his face a mixture of relief and nervous anticipation."Are you alright?" he asked, helping me out of the net, his hands lingering on my waist longer than necessary."Never better," I replied, the weight of my life with Derek already falling away.As his hand touched mine to lead me to the waiting car, something unexpected happened. A jolt, a flash of warmth, a feeling I'd almost forgotten—the bond of mates forming."How..." he whispered, clearly feeling it too, his eyes wide with disbelief.I stared at him in shock. "I thought Derek was my mate.""Second chance mates," he breathed, his voice filled with wonder. "When a mate bond is broken or rejected com
"I need this fixed," Derek said without preamble, placing the velvet pouch containing the shards on her table. " I'll pay ten million dollars to have it repaired.""Money means nothing for this kind of magic, Beta Reed. Some things, once broken, cannot be mended."Derek collapsed to the floor, his expression tortured."Eliza, how could you be so cruel? That crystal ball was the only record of our mating ceremony. How could you bear to destroy it?"In truth, before Derek misunderstood me, we had shared a beautiful time together in love.But it was too brief.He had destroyed all the photos from our dates and gifts we had exchanged during that fleeting period of happiness.Derek went to the walk-in closet.All my jewelry sat untouched in their boxes.I had only taken my clothes, leaving behind just one coat hanging in the wardrobe.It was the coat Derek had bought me during our first date at the mall.He hugged the coat, greedily inhaling the jasmine scent that once clung to it.But I ha