Chapter 2

When I finally found my voice, it was brittle—a shattered thing.

"So you’ve already decided to sever our bond?"

Luke’s patience snapped.

"Emma, it’s just to heal her wolf! Fiona’s practically family—why can’t you care for her for once? You’ll still be my true mate, not her."

I opened my mouth, but Jim cut me off.

"mom, Fiona’s kind. We all love her. Why can’t you just try? She’s suffering in the infirmary!"

The words died in my throat.

Six years of love. Six years of sacrifice.

And in the end? I was discardable.

Not just to my parents. Not just to Kane, but to my own mate and my own pup.

I met Luke’s gaze, my voice dead calm.

"Alright. I’ll sever it."

His breath hitched. "You—you mean it?"

Then—he scrambled for the papers.

"Here. Sign it. No take-backs."

I could feel my wolf’s heart bleed. Tears blurred the page as I signed.

Six years erased in a stroke.

I turned to leave—

Luke grabbed my wrist.

"Emma… you did the right thing."

"Once Fiona’s better, I’ll reclaim you. I promise."

Jim hugged me, beaming.

"mom! I’m so proud of you! You’re finally being selfless!"

Their happy faces and joyful laughter tore the last flickering flame of hope within me to shreds.

I had once feared this world enough to stay—for them—trapped in this infirmary prison. But now? Now I prayed for death to claim me swiftly.

I wanted nothing. No one.

I quietly stood up and shuffled toward the kitchen for water, my throat parched, when a black void swallowed my vision.

The floor rushed up to meet me.

"Emma?!"

Luke's voice echoed.

When I forced my eyes open, their twin gazes of disgust pinned me to the ground.

"See, Dad?" Jim spat. "mom's at it again—another pathetic act. She faked collapsing to guilt-trip us."

Luke sneered.

"We had a deal, Emma. The bond stays severed until Fiona recovers. Did you really think this cheap theatrics would change anything? That I'd stay if you played sick? You always resort to these tricks."

Clawing at a chair, I dragged myself up.

The mirror showed a lie—herbs masked my decay, but my wolf's dying whimper echoed in my bones.

Three days. That's all my organs had left.

"If you're done wasting our time," Jim snapped, "we're visiting Fiona."

"I'll join you." My voice was ice. "There are documents for her to sign."

Luke didn't even flinch. My parents must have broken the news already.

Fiona lounged in her infirmary bed, peeling grapes like a queen holding court.

"Emma! How... thoughtful since you came to visit me."

Her sugary tone couldn't hide the triumph flashing in her eyes—the look of a thief admiring her stolen crown.

"Oh Emma!"

Mom gushed, clapping like a trained seal. "Aren't you lucky? Fiona's taking all those tedious companies off your hands! Now you can... oh, I don't know, pick up "

I slowly placed the insurance documents on the bedside table.

”Here is my insurance money as well. I think it’s better to transfer it to Fiona.”

However, there was no response—just a long, heavy silence.