Chapter 2

One corner of my mouth twitched in bitter amusement.

My mate, standing right in front of me, defending another woman...

Silas walked over to me, trying to smooth down my ruined hair.

"Sophia, don't be so petty. She was just joking around and went a little too far."

My nails dug into my palms. It hurt, but nothing compared to the pain in my chest.

The year the Silverthorn Pack was disbanded, I was the one who pulled Vivian from the rubble.

Her pack had been absorbed, her parents killed at the territory border.

After I put her through college, I could have walked away.

But I couldn't bring myself to abandon her, so I asked Silas to give her a job at the company.

Back then, Silas complained about her constantly, saying she didn't know how to do anything.

She couldn't work the copier, booked flights at the wrong times, and kept losing track of contracts.

Every time he brought her up, his brows would knot together.

"Sophia, this isn't a shelter. If she keeps causing problems, I'm sending her packing."

I shot him down and told him to be more patient.

"Give her one more chance. She was just a teenager when her pack was wiped out."

But I never could have imagined this.

I'd helped her escape that nightmare with nothing but good intentions, and she'd turned around and stabbed me in the back.

Silas ran his warm palm gently through my hair.

A thick clump of short golden hair came away in his hand, heavy and tangled.

Vivian approached, holding a cup of warm tea.

"Sorry, Sophia. Here, have some tea to calm down."

She swung the cup just a bit too wide, and the tea splashed all over me.

"Oops, butterfingers. Sorry."

She raised an eyebrow and smirked.

I bit down on my lip.

In the puddle on the floor, I caught my own reflection.

Makeup smeared across my face, wet hair plastered to my cheeks.

I looked like a complete clown.

Vivian hid the smile tugging at her lips and put on a look of concern. "Silas, the charity event starts in twenty minutes.

"Sophia can't exactly show up looking like this..."

Silas glanced up at the clock on the wall.

"Sophia, this event is important. Vivian will attend in your place this time."

Silas straightened his cuffs in the mirror. "Be good. Wait for me to get back."

Vivian walked beside him, wearing my champagne-colored gown.

Right before stepping out, she turned back and flashed me a taunting smile.

I called out to Silas, clinging to my last shred of hope.

"Silas, I'm your mate."

He turned back to me, brow furrowed deeply.

"Sophia, don't throw a fit right now. Looking the way you do, you'd only embarrass our Thorncrown Pack."

Without hesitation, he took Vivian's arm and walked away.

The last flicker of hope in my heart went out.

Vivian nestled against Silas and cast me a cautious look.

"Silas, what if Sophia holds a grudge and comes after me?"

Silas patted Vivian's back gently.

"Don't worry. As long as I'm here, nobody touches you."

Their voices faded into the distance, leaving me cold inside.

I'd been planning to introduce Silas to my family's pack connections and help him with the company.

Now, there was no point.

I looked down and twisted the ring on my right ring finger.

A pack member who had served me from the shadows for years stepped silently to my side.

"Tonight, Silas will take Vivian to the charity event.

"Bring her back to me. There's no need to spare the Alpha's face."