Chapter 2

It was a pathetic excuse.

"Charalambos, you know damn well it was Francesca who caused me to lose our pup. I can never be with pup again because of her. Do you expect me to forgive her and share my mate with her? There's no way.

"If you won't accept the rejection, then I'll go to the Alpha King myself and have him sever our mate bond."

I yanked my hand away and refused to look at him.

"That's not happening!"

Charalambos raised his voice.

"The pup is gone. What's done is done! Francesca already paid the price. Stop clinging to the past."

I couldn't believe he was defending her.

Francesca leaned into him dramatically, resting her entire body against his as if she were weak. She then looked at me with wide, pitiful eyes.

"Francine, don't be mad. I know I messed up back then. Can't you just forgive me?

"If it'll make you feel better, I'll-"

Francesca hesitated. Her eyes darted around. She then grabbed the knife from the table and pointed it toward her stomach.

"I'll end it. I'll die to make it right!"

But Charalambos moved fast. He snatched the knife from her and yelled, "Stop it! This is madness!"

He then turned to me. There wasn't even a trace of guilt in his eyes, only frustration and irritation.

"Francine, Francesca is your sister. Can't you be the bigger person?

"You can't be with pup, and she's doing it for you. You share blood. It's the same!

"As the future Alpha of the Nightshade Pack, I need an heir. This pup that Francesca worked so hard to have is for you. You should be grateful."

I chuckled coldly. My heart felt numb.

To him, my pup dying was just a tragedy to move past.

He could always have another.

But to me? That was my only pup.

When he died, he took a part of me with him.

I could never raise another woman's pup as my own.

I opened my mouth to say something, but Francesca suddenly cried out.

"Ahh! My stomach hurts!"

Without hesitation, Charalambos shoved me aside and rushed to her, lifting her into his arms and running for the hospital.

He pushed me so hard I hit the ground.

I sat there, stunned, staring at their backs as they disappeared. All I could do was laugh bitterly.

Suddenly, I remembered the day I had lost our pup.

Francesca and I had both fallen.

Charalambos didn't even look at me. He scooped Francesca up and rushed her to the hospital.

I was the one who bled out waiting for help.

...

At night, I returned home. I headed to the bedroom to change clothes.

But just as I got near the door, I heard a woman's seductive voice.

"You're so bad."

The door was slightly ajar.

I pushed it open, and the sight before me made my stomach turn.