CHAPTER TWO

I’d grown accustomed to experiencing the worst. But this… this was worse than I expected.

“Dad, can I speak to you in my room?” I said, turning to stare at him.

He nodded. “Sure, sure. Please, Mr. Damon—have a seat. We’ll be back before you know it.”

Glaring at Damon, I brushed past him and walked straight toward my room. Once inside, I turned and stared at the door, waiting for my father to come in as well.

The moment he stepped through, I shut the door behind him.

“Dad, what is this…?”

“What is what?” he replied, his cracked voice carrying an edge. “I just got you a big shot, Elodie. Look—Mr. Damon out there is the best choice I’ve ever made for you. You have no choice but to marry him.”

“Dad, for once will you ever think of me rather than your own selfish motives?” I stepped forward, my voice trembling with frustration. “Why can’t I be the one to choose the man I love? Why can’t you just let me be—”

“Let you choose the one you love? Like the way you chose Tyler?” His eyes hardened. “Where is he now? Isn’t he dead?”

“Dad…” My eyes turned glassy.

He walked over and placed his hands on my shoulders.

“Look,” he said. “When your mother died, she asked one thing—that I protect you, that I make sure you had a great future. And when she died… you know how much I borrowed to pay for her treatments, Elodie. I had to borrow a huge sum of money, and now Mr. Damon is willing to pay for everything—only if you marry him.”

He straightened, his voice firm. “I’ve found a way to do both things that have been weighing on me: pay my debts and fulfill your mother’s only wish. And I’m not going to let anything stand in the way. Not even you.”

I stared at him, tears rolling down my cheeks. But he didn’t care. He couldn’t see that I was dying inside because of his decisions.

“Now,” he continued, “you’ll go back out there and act nice, Elodie. Make sure Mr. Damon likes you even more. I know he was a friend to Tyler before he died, but isn’t that a good thing? He understands Tyler—meaning he’ll understand you better. You just need to spend some time with him. Maybe then you’ll see he’s the right man for you.”

I stared at him, wondering if this was truly the man I once called my father. Despite knowing Damon was responsible for Tyler’s death, he still wanted me to marry him.

Well, he was wrong if he thought I’d spend my life with a monster like Damon. I’d rather hang myself—or flee this place. And I meant it.

He studied me for a moment, then, seeing I wasn’t responding, walked past me and left the room.

I turned and walked towards the mirror, kneeling before it and staring at my reflection. My mouth quivered as I struggled to hold back the sobs threatening to burst out.

I pulled the top of my gown aside and saw the mark on my collarbone—the one Tyler had given me. It was fading away, almost gone now… because he was gone.

Every passing minute, every moment I remembered that he was dead, my heart shattered a little more.

And yet, now I was being pursued by the very man who called himself his best friend.

The door creaked open.

I didn’t need to look to know who it was. The itch in my nose gave him away—the scent I had come to hate because of him filled my room.

I heard his footsteps, slow and steady, as he walked in. Turning, I stared up at him, his smug expression in place, his hands shoved deep in his pockets as he towered over me.

I stood, wiped my eyes, and faced him.

“What are you doing in my room?” I asked, my voice shaking.

“I know this must be very difficult for you,” he said calmly. “Especially since you lost Tyler.”

“Do not mention his name,” I warned, holding back the tears.

“You know he was my best friend.”

“And yet you killed him. Why?” A tear escaped my eyes as I swallowed hard.

“Everyone believes I killed him,” he said. “And I won’t try to change their thoughts or impressions of me. So if you think I am responsible for Tyler’s death… then yes, I am responsible.”

My breath caught, but he continued before I could speak.

“But that’s not why I’m here.” His gaze flickered, glassy for a moment before he regained composure. “Tonight, I’ll be introducing my mate to the whole pack at the mating ceremony.”

“You forget—I’m not your mate,” I said coldly. “You’re just buying me from my father. There’s no bond, no feeling. We have no connection.”

“Yet I take what I want,” he replied, his voice like ice.

“Like you took Tyler’s life?” I shot back.

He stared at me in silence for a moment, then leaned in and whispered against my ear.

“The ceremony starts at nine tonight. I’ll be here to pick you up by eight. Don’t be late. Dress well, look good, and smell nice.”

After speaking, he pulled away and walked toward the door.

“If you’re responsible for Tyler’s death,” I called after him, “why did you make it mandatory for the pack to hold a memorial for him every month? And why weren’t you there today?”

He paused. “I arranged the memorial because Tyler was—and still is—the bravest man I’ve ever known. And as for why I wasn’t there—I don’t mourn the dead. The dead are gone, and life moves on. I’ve moved on… and I suggest you do the same.”

Without another glance, he left the room.

I sank to the ground, breaking completely. I couldn’t hold it in any longer. Tears fell freely as I clutched myself. I always knew change was inevitable, but I never expected my life to change like this.

---

7 p.m.

I waited until my father was gone and the house was silent—so quiet I could hear the buzzing of insects outside. My father had gone to some sort of arrangement, invited personally by Damon, and he’d said he couldn’t be late.

This was my chance. I couldn’t spend my life with a man I despised with every atom of my being. I would escape this nightmare.

Since Damon had left, I’d been in my room, packing my bags. Instead of wearing a gown for the ceremony, I wore jeans, a shirt, and tight, flexible sneakers.

It was time to escape—and nothing would stop me. Or so I thought.

Slipping my backpack over my shoulders, I stepped into the parlor. That same scent—the one that made my nose itch—lingered in the air. The perfume must have been expensive, for it to still be strong after hours of Damon being here I thought.

As I reached for the door, I heard the faint creak of a chair.

I froze. The room was dark, and I couldn't see anything, the only things I could see where shadows from house objects that posed to scare me.

“Is anyone there?” I called softly but no one answered.

I sighed, telling myself I was imagining things, and turned toward the door again. But before I could take a step, a deep, familiar voice rolled through the darkness, sending chills up my spine.

“So this was your plan,” the voice said. “I thought as much—you’re trying to run away.”

My heart dropped. I didn’t need to see his face to know who it was.

I was trapped.

There would be no running away from this wretched life of mine.

Eyes were on me. Watching like hawks.

I was being stalked.