Chapter 2

The arrogance and smugness vanished from Alice’s face the moment Henry turned back around.

He glanced at me behind them, then gently pushed Alice’s hand away. With a sigh, he said, “Alright, since you're feeling better now, let’s go home.”

Alice happily skipped toward the car. Meanwhile, Henry walked over to me, carefully lifting my wrist with concern.

“I’m sorry, love. I made you suffer.”

He pulled a small jar of salve from his pocket and pressed it into my hand.

“I bought this from the witch. It’s expensive, but it should help lighten the scars.”

I lowered my gaze, ignored his lingering eyes, and silently walked toward the car.

Without thinking, I reached for the passenger-side door, only to find Alice already there.

She raised an eyebrow at me, clearly annoyed.

“Nicole, you and Henry ended your mate bond. Why do you still think you can ride in our car?”

I clenched the jar of salve in my hand as Henry frowned and snapped, “Alice, no matter our current status, Nicole will always be family to me. Show her some respect.”

Alice pouted. “But I didn’t say anything wrong, Henry. You did break your mate bond with her. If other wolves saw her riding in your car, what would they think?

“You’re single now, Nicole. Maybe have a little more self-respect? Or are you planning to cling to Henry by sitting in the front seat like you still belong there?”

I instinctively looked at Henry.

However, he only gave me an awkward look. He opened his mouth, hesitating to say. “Nicole… maybe you could…”

He didn’t need to be loud for me to know exactly what he meant. My grip tightened around the salve so hard it nearly cracked the container.

This morning, when Alice had her outburst, she pointed a silver dagger at her own throat.

With tears streaming down her face, she screamed in front of Henry, “My mom, my dad, and my brother, they’re all gone! No one loves me! What’s the point of living? If you don’t break your mate bond with Nicole today, I’ll end it all!”

Henry, who had only been trying to comfort her, panicked.

He grabbed my arm in desperation so hard that he nearly left bruises on my wrist and pleaded with me, his voice full of panic.

“We have to break the bond today. Nicole can’t take it. She might really hurt herself.”

That was when it hit me.

Even if Henry and I bonded a hundred times, I would never matter as much to him as Alice.

Without another word, I stuffed the crumpled salve jar back into his car.

“No thanks. I’ll walk home.”

As I turned away, I caught Alice’s satisfied expression from the corner of my eye as she relaxed back into the front seat.

Henry chased after me, guilt painted across his face as he gently grabbed my hand.

“Love, Alice is just emotionally unstable right now. Don’t let it get to you.

“Just be patient, okay? Once she’s calmed down, we’ll renew our mate bond. I swear, this time, we won’t break it again.”

I said nothing and simply stared at him.

Then I watched as he got back in the car, hurried by Alice’s urging, and drove away.

He’d said those exact words to me eight times.

Each time, he lied.

The first time we broke the bond was because Henry picked some flowers Alice liked and gave them to me instead.

The second, he forgot the day he and Alice met.

The third time, Alice had a dream where Henry ignored her and only cared about me. She cried and said it made her feel so alone.

This time? It was because Henry had gotten me an anniversary gift, and Alice didn’t get anything.

Each reason was more absurd than the last. Yet, no matter how ridiculous, Henry caved, choosing Alice’s feelings over mine.

Over the past three years, I’ve protested, fought back, and even tried to please Alice, all because I loved Henry that much.

No matter what I did, though, the result was always the same.

Once the drama passed, Henry would go right back to spoiling Alice, as if nothing had happened.

This was now the eighth time, and I was tired.

Finally, I decided I was done.

After they drove off, I sent a message to my old mentor.

I told her I regretted not joining her herbal research project three years ago.

Back then, I had chosen to bond with Henry instead. However, if I could go back, I would’ve picked my passion—my love for medicinal herbs—without hesitation.

When I returned to Henry’s house, I got a reply.

She was thrilled, asking when I could start.

From behind the door, I could hear Alice and Henry laughing together.

“Henry! You’re really making me homemade pastries? You’re going to spoil me rotten! Hmph, you didn’t do this for Nicole, too, did you?”

“Yeah, Nicole liked them too.”

I watched through the open door as the two of them prepared the dough, smiling and laughing like they were in their own little world.

I quietly texted back, [One day from now, if that’s okay. I’d like to start as soon as possible, Professor Nana.]