Chapter 3

After Kingsley and Heather disappeared inside the hotel, I slumped over the steering wheel, sobbing until I couldn't breathe.

Memories came crashing back like relentless waves.

When I'd been poisoned with wolfsbane, he hadn't hesitated to cut his own wrist and let me drink his Alpha blood to purge the toxin. He'd promised to protect me forever.

When I'd been attacked by Rogues and fighting for my life, he threw himself in front of me, shielding me with his body.

But now, all those beautiful memories shattered against the brutal truth of his infidelity.

My hands trembled as I pulled out my phone. My finger hovered over Kingsley's number for a long moment before I finally pressed call.

He answered quickly, his voice warm and tender. "Eliza, why are you calling me out of the blue? Did you miss me?"

I gripped the phone so hard that my knuckles turned white, but I forced my voice to sound casual. "I… I just wanted to ask if you really love me."

"Of course I do, Eliza. I love you with everything I am."

His voice remained gentle, but just then I clearly heard Heather's voice in the background, muttering a curse under her breath.

"So annoying. Why does she have to call right now…"

He immediately covered the phone and snapped at Heather to shut up.

I pretended I hadn't heard anything as I added, "And that vow you made before, that you'd never betray me—does that still stand?"

Silence stretched for several seconds on the other end, and my heart climbed into my throat.

Finally, Kingsley responded, "Eliza, I only love you. I'll only ever love you for the rest of my life. If I ever betray you, then punish me by making me lose you forever."

I was about to say more when he hurriedly added, "Eliza, I have to board my flight now. As soon as I return, I'll come straight home to you, okay? I bought presents for you and our pup."

"Okay…" I responded numbly.

Before I could finish speaking, he had already hung up.

I sat there clutching my phone as tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.

The person who once had eyes only for me was now weaving lies to my face while getting tangled up with my own sister.

At that moment, whatever hope I still had finally collapsed. My heart felt like countless blades had sliced it, the pain so sharp I couldn't breathe. I stood up mechanically and dragged myself home.

The moment I got inside the house, I called my best friend, Maya Bennett.

My voice was hoarse and raw as I spoke.

"Maya, I need a favor. Get me a new identity. I'm leaving the pack."

She paused, then finally caught on that something was wrong. "Eliza, are you… Are you okay? What happened?"

I took a deep breath, forcing my voice to sound calm.

"I'm fine. I… I just want to start over somewhere new. Please help me."

Maya was silent for a moment before sighing. "Alright. I'll help you. Wait for my call."

She worked for the pack council. With her help, obtaining a new identity would be easy.

After hanging up, I started packing. I opened my closet to find it full of clothes Kingsley had given me.

Each piece carried memories of once-sweet moments. But now those memories were like sharp knives stabbing into my heart.

I tore the clothes down one by one and threw them into my suitcase, as if I could throw away those painful memories along with them.

When I reached my desk, I found a photo of the three of us—me in the middle, with Heather and Kingsley on either side. We looked so happy in that picture, but now everything had changed. The sister I'd relied on and the werewolf I loved most had both betrayed me.

I picked up the photo and stared at it for a long time before throwing it in the trash without hesitation.

At dawn, Kingsley sent me a message.

"Eliza, I'm almost home. Wait for me, babe."

Just then, I came across a post on his friend's social media from their gathering. Though Heather's face wasn't visible, I recognized the moonstone bracelet I'd given her on her wrist, glinting coldly under the lights.

I touched my belly and spoke to my pup growing inside me.

"You'll live with Mommy from now on, okay?"

Then, I turned and walked into the kitchen. I grabbed a bottle of alcohol and poured it over every corner of the house.

A single match was all it took. The fire roared to life, hungrily consuming everything we had once called home.

As the flames clawed at the sky, I made a silent vow—the werewolf I used to be died in that fire that night.