Chapter 3

Layla's POV

When my father learned what had happened to me, he sent me a healing potion that even an Alpha King couldn't get his hands on.

I downed it in one gulp. The wounds on my body knitted back together in seconds.

But the wounds on my heart wouldn't heal so easily.

Especially not when the training camp's forum suddenly flooded with videos of my humiliation.

The comments stabbed at my eyes, one after another.

[LMAO, that's an Omega frenzy? This is the top student in the whole camp?]

[Knox the Alpha is such a legend—went all out just to please his goddess Mia]

[Layla always acted so high and mighty. I thought she was something special. Look at her now]

[Been waiting for someone to take her down a peg. So annoying, always clinging to Knox]

[Like a piece of gum stuck to his shoe. Knox is way too patient with her]

I scrolled through them all. Even found Knox's post.

[Today's dose of fun for you. @Mia Happy now?]

With a photo of me—dirty, broken, chained to that stone.

Mia replied: [You guys are so bad～I was just kidding around～]

Followed by three shy emojis.

The comments underneath were all praise for their "epic love story."

[OMG Knox is so whipped for Mia]

[Mia really is the goddess—even the top Alpha falls for her]

[They're literally made for each other]

I stared at the screen and let out a bitter laugh.

When we were kids, Knox didn't even have a wolf. He got picked on constantly.

I searched through every werewolf healing text I could find, and used my own blood as the base to brew a wolf-spirit growth potion. That's how he got his wolf.

I was an Omega—weak to begin with. I'd drained so much of my blood for him that I almost died.

He'd knelt in front of me, sobbing, swearing he'd protect me for the rest of his life.

And now—for a girl he'd only just met—he'd hurt my body, trampled my dignity, and turned me into their plaything.

Knox. The person I thought would make me happy forever. Now he was the one who'd hurt me the most.

I wiped my tears and started packing my things.

That's when the door swung open.

Knox. He was the only one with a key to my place.

When he saw me packing, he rushed over and grabbed my wrist. "Where are you going?"

I pulled my hand back, cold, and didn't answer.

His brow furrowed hard. "You're still mad? It was one joke. Since when did you get so petty?"

He tossed a bouquet in front of me. "I even bought your favorite flowers to apologize. And this is how you treat me?"

"Do you know how many Alphas would actually apologize to an Omega?"

I glanced down at the flowers. Lilies.

Mia's favorite. My wolf hated the scent.

"You don't need to apologize," I said, my voice flat.

I didn't want it anymore. I didn't care anymore.

But he took it as acceptance and flopped down in my chair, his hand knocking over a glass vial on the way.

I watched it shatter and clenched my fists.

How many times had I told him to be careful? Those vials held potions I'd spent months making. Months of blood, sweat, and sleepless nights.

He never listened.

Every time he came to my room, he broke something I'd poured my heart into.

I stepped forward—ready to say something—then stopped myself.

It didn't matter anymore.

I was leaving him soon. Once I was back in Healer's Hollow, I'd never see him again.

"Here," Knox said suddenly, shoving a vial toward me. "Take this. It'll heal your injuries."

I blinked, surprised. "No thanks."

"Actually," he said, "I want to trade it for something."

"What?"

"This." He reached out and pointed at my neck—at the necklace hanging there.

It was the only thing my mother had left me—and I'd worn it my whole life to keep my wolf stable.

That necklace was the only reason my frenzy hadn't spiraled completely out of control.

I clutched it protectively. "No."

He stepped closer, frowning. "Mia just wants to see it. I'll give it back tonight."

"I said—no. I'm not willing." I bit out each word.

Knox's face twisted with irritation. "Layla, you weren't like this before. When did you get so petty?"

"It's mine—"

"Enough. You've shown it to me before, haven't you?" He cut me off before I could finish.

One hand clamped down on my shoulder. The other grabbed the necklace and yanked.

It snapped.

The force was so brutal that the chain sliced across my neck.

Blood dripped onto the cream-colored carpet. Knox didn't even glance at it. He turned and walked out without looking back.

The moment the necklace left me, my wolf went haywire, thrashing inside me like a caged beast.

I felt like every bone in my body was being crushed. Like my skin was being flayed open.

One second I was burning alive. The next I was frozen solid.

"Aaahhh!"

I screamed until my throat was raw. In that desperate moment, I reached for the life-saving potion my father had given me—his last gift before I left, meant only for the worst-case scenario. I downed it in one gulp, and the world went dark.

I don't know when I woke up. The potion had only given me a brief window of stability. If I wanted to survive, I had to make it back to my Pack. Right now.

I forced myself to stand, every muscle screaming. Knox's cold, retreating figure burned behind my eyes.

My eyes went cold.

I pulled out my phone and sent him one last message: "Knox. We're done. Forever."

Then I turned and walked toward Healer's Hollow, without looking back.

I wouldn't fight with him anymore. I wouldn't see him anymore.

I was done.