Chapter 3

I bolted out of the house and slumped onto a street bench, tears rolling down my cheeks.

It didn’t take long for pressed footsteps and a familiar scent to follow.

It was Ulric.

His large, warm hand caressed my cheek to brush away my tears.

“Don’t be sad, Isobel.”

In the past, whenever Maeve set me up and my parents blindly tore into me, I would run away and sob all alone.

Back then, Ulric would always be the first to come to me.

He would dry my tears and hold me close in his arms.

Ulric once promised me solemnly.

“Don’t be scared. I will forever be by your side. My undivided attention goes to you.”

Yet, look where we were now.

My gaze locked onto Ulric.

I couldn’t wrap my head around why even he had changed.

“How could you do this to me?”

I demanded an answer, my voice choked with sobs.

“Why must you share the love that was meant for me with another?”

Ulric was taken aback.

He crouched to my eye level, his voice softening as he calmed me.

“Don’t read too much into it. You’re the one I love the most. I’m only looking out for Maeve a little more because she’s your sister.”

As composure overtook me, I chuckled sarcastically.

“Is that really all there to it?”

Guilt-ridden, Ulric shied away from my gaze.

“Maeve has feelings for me. With a heart as whole as hers, I couldn’t bear to let her down or hurt her.

“She claimed the ceremony was merely her way of putting an end to her love for me, so I went along with it.”

His tone reflected certainty.

“Don’t you worry. You are the only mate for me.”

The whole thing was just absurd to me.

“You’re so concerned about hurting her. What about my pain?”

Ulric fell silent.

I rolled up my sleeve.

The deep wounds on my arm, burned down to the bone by silver, lay fully exposed to his eyes.

Ulric gasped sharply, his eyes etched with shock and heartache.

“Who did this to you? Tell me. I’ll avenge you!”

I met his eyes without so much as a blink.

“I was knocked out after drinking a glass of milk brought by my mother yesterday. Meave locked me in the basement, secured with a silver lock.

“I sustained these injuries just trying to break free.”

The expression on Ulric’s face froze.

His face betrayed a mixture of resignation and rising anger.

“Isobel, I know you’re upset about what happened yesterday.

“But that doesn’t give you any reason to paint Maeve in a bad way! She had a rough pup-hood on the street. She’s vulnerable. She would never do such a thing!”

I smirked in rage.

Before I could say anything, his phone rang.

Once the call connected, Ivy’s shrill, panicked voice came through.

“Ulric, come quickly! Maeve is going to jump into the river and kill herself.

“She’s in tears, blaming herself for coming between you and Isobel. She wants to pay with her life to make up for it!”

Color drained from Ulric’s face.

Jolting to his feet, Ulric threw an anxious look my way.

“Isobel, I—”

“Just go.”

I cut him off indifferently.

He paused for one second, caught off guard by my prompt consent.

Ulric tried to justify himself to cover his guilt.

“We’re talking about a life here. I can’t just look away.”

“Do you honestly think she’ll die?”

I pressed him.

“You know how well she used to set me up. Do you think a selfish wolf like her would actually put her life at risk?”

Ulric frowned, his voice expressing his disapproval.

“She’s your sister. Besides, I find her to be sweet and innocent after getting to know her. She’s not as mean as you put her to be.

“I believe you might have gotten the wrong idea about her.”

On the other end of the line, Ivy hysterically urged Ulric.

“What’s the big hold-up? Maeve’s about to jump!

“Forget about that heartless she-wolf! She can go rot for all I care!”

Ulric closed his eyes in agony.

Steeling his heart, he took a step back.

“I need to get going. Once I’m back, we can have a proper talk about this.”

“Save it.”

I kept a straight face, my tone grave.

“There is no us anymore. I won’t mate with you.”

Ulric’s eyes went red.

“Don’t say things you don’t mean because you’re mad. I promise I’ll be back soon enough!”

I offered no response.

Turning on his heel, Ulric dashed in the direction of the river without looking back.

I stared at his receding back before closing my eyes. A tear slipped down.

This would be the last tear I would shed for him.

Lifting my arm, I wiped away the tear stain.

By the time I opened my eyes again, nothing but an unyielding coldness remained.