Chapter 2

Catherine died instantly in the attack. I fought desperately to drag Ethan and his father from the twisted wreckage.

His father fell into a coma, while Ethan's spine was damaged—doctors said he had only a 25% chance of ever being able to shift again.

Victoria disappeared right around that time.

She even broke up with him via text message.

【Ethan, my family has arranged for me to study advanced healing techniques in England. I think we need to reconsider our relationship.】

The pack's board members also seized the opportunity to force him to step down from his Alpha position.

That once high-spirited heir had fallen from grace, and I was the only one willing to stay by his side.

During that period, he became moody and volatile.

Sometimes he'd shatter water glasses in the middle of the night, sometimes he'd roar at the nurses.

I would silently clean up the mess and place a bowl of his once-favorite venison stew by his bedside.

Until one rainy night a year later, he suddenly grabbed my wrist, "Emma, do you like me?"

Before I could answer, he kissed me.

He said, "Mate with me."

I pushed him away. "Don't give up on yourself."

"I'm not giving up." He cupped the back of my neck, nuzzling against my ear. "I need you."

We mated in the hospital room. With Alexander unconscious, Ethan and I exchanged vows before his bedside, taking his silence as blessing.

After our mating, he pulled himself together and began serious rehabilitation.

During the day, I helped him handle the pack's crisis, and at night I'd return to bathe his father and accompany his physical therapy.

Everything fell on my shoulders alone, but I had no complaints—I even found sweetness in it.

Sometimes I'd fall asleep from exhaustion in the bathroom, and whenever I opened my eyes, I'd see his reddened eyes watching me with concern.

"Wait a little longer. Soon we'll have a good life."

I always smiled and said it was fine.

Because I loved him, even bitterness tasted sweet.

But it turned out that when he said "soon," he meant soon he wouldn't need me anymore.

At three in the morning, Ethan came home reeking of alcohol.

"The words at the press conference were all for publicity. Victoria just returned to the country and needs media attention. The press loves digging up these rekindled romance stories."

I looked at the bite mark on his neck and forced a smile.

What kind of publicity stunt would leave teeth marks on someone's neck?

She really put effort into that "publicity."

He walked over and rested his head in the crook of my neck, his expression relaxing.

"Don't overthink it, Emma. Without you these past three years, how could I have achieved what I have now? Everything I have is yours—my body, my heart. I'll never love anyone else. Besides, she abandoned me and ran away back then. How could I possibly fall for that kind of person again?"

Every word declared his love for me, and the affection in his eyes was unmistakable.

I didn't push him away, only asked softly, "Then tonight we..."

"Not tonight, Emma."

Ethan gently interrupted. One second he was stroking my hair, the next he was getting up.

"The whole company is working overtime today. How can I, as the boss, just leave them hanging? Be good, okay? Once I finish this busy period, I'll take you to the Maldives like you've always wanted."

He didn't even spare me another glance before turning and leaving.

I thought I would break down crying or have a screaming fit.

Neither happened.

When your heart breaks completely, there are no tears left.

I sat on the couch, sleepless all night.

It wasn't until dawn when my lawyer called that I finally snapped back to reality.

He said the mate bond severance agreement was ready.

According to werewolf law, since we were the Alpha and Luna of the pack, we needed to submit the agreement to the Alpha Council for approval before the bond could be officially severed.

I read through it over and over, finally signing my name with trembling hands, ending my fourteen years of unrequited love.

As dawn broke, I couldn't bear to stay there anymore. I had just changed clothes and was about to leave when a sharp alarm suddenly sounded.

It was Alexander!

I spun around, my heart nearly stopping.

"Dad!"

Stumbling as I pushed open the door, the line on the monitor had gone flat.

I frantically called for an ambulance while repeatedly trying to reach Ethan.

No answer.

No answer.

No answer.

The ambulance arrived with sirens wailing. The paramedics quickly lifted Alexander onto a stretcher. I gripped his hand until the last second when a nurse pulled me away.

"Ma'am, please stay calm! The patient needs immediate emergency treatment!"

Before the ambulance doors closed, I sent Ethan one final message with shaking hands.

【Dad's in cardiac arrest. Central Hospital. Come quickly.】