第2章

The next morning, I woke up shivering, and the whole room seemed to spin around me.

When I took my temperature, it was 102 degrees.

I held on to the wall as I stumbled out of my room. Theodore was on the balcony with Willow, filming a video.

"Theodore, let's try that viral couple's lift! Hold me under my thighs and pick me up."

Theodore agreed right away. He even helped Willow adjust the camera to get the perfect angle.

Two weeks ago, I'd asked Theodore to make the same video with me.

He'd refused outright. He said I was too heavy and he couldn't possibly lift me.

But now, Willow, who was heavier than me, was sitting comfortably in his arms as if she weighed nothing.

"Theodore, I have a fever. Can you take me to the hospital?"

A flash of irritation crossed Theodore's eyes at being interrupted, but when he turned and saw my pale face, his annoyance faded.

"Why are you so pale? How high is your fever?"

"102."

Theodore moved with a little more urgency.

"That high? I'll take you right now."

Willow grabbed his arm.

"What kind of werewolf gets sick from a dip in cold water? She's obviously faking."

It was true. Most werewolves weren't as fragile as I was.

But I wasn't like most werewolves. My parents had neglected me when I was seriously ill as a child, and my body had never fully recovered. Even my wolf awakened six months later than the other wolves my age. For those six months, the entire pack had mocked me and called me worthless.

"Besides, we're leaving soon. If you take Eleanor to the hospital, we'll miss our flight."

I looked at Theodore.

"What flight?"

His expression turned awkward.

"Willow wants to take a short trip. Your parents and I all agreed to go with her."

They had planned a family trip without me. Worse, none of them had even bothered to tell me.

"What about me?"

"You've been busy with work, so we didn't ask you.

"It's only two days and one night. We'll be back before you know it."

I pressed my lips together and stared at Theodore, my eyes beginning to sting.

"If you insist on going, then we're done. I won't be your mate."

Theodore didn't look worried at all. Instead, a faint smile appeared on his face.

"Eleanor, stop throwing a tantrum.

"I thought you were more mature than that. You're not one of those wolves who threatens to leave her mate whenever she doesn't get her way. When did you pick up that bad habit?

"You love me too much to walk away. Besides, everyone in the pack already knows you're my mate. Who else would have you?

"We've had this trip planned for a long time. We can't ruin everyone else's plans just for you.

"I'll call you a cab. Just go to the hospital."

The certainty in Theodore's smile cut straight through me.

Theodore knew I loved him. He was so sure I would never leave that he thought he could hurt me again and again without losing me.

In the end, I went to the hospital alone. Checked in alone. Sat through the entire IV alone.

While I waited for the IV bag to empty, I opened Willow's social media page without thinking.

She had posted two new updates.

The first was the video from that morning. Theodore lifted her easily while they smiled at each other in the sunlight.

The second was a series of photos from their trip. Willow stood beside Theodore and my parents in every one of them.

The caption read: "Family trip!"

Someone commented, wishing her and her mate a lifetime of happiness.

Willow didn't correct them. She only replied with a blushing emoji.

By the time my IV was finished and I left the hospital, it was already dark.

The road near my house was under construction, so the cab couldn't take me all the way home. I had no choice but to feel my way through the dark on foot.

I used my phone's flashlight to guide me, but before long I accidentally walked into someone.

"Watch where you're going!"

"I'm sorry. I can't see at night. It wasn't on purpose."

"Can't see?"

I felt something move back and forth in front of my face, stirring the air against my skin.

"Huh. You really can't see. Lucky me."

Before I could understand what he meant, my phone was snatched out of my hand. At the same time, a sweaty hand grabbed my wrist and slid up my arm.

I didn't even have time to grab it back. I yanked my arm free and ran in the direction I thought would take me home.

I tripped and fell over and over again. Every part of me hurt. Still, I didn't dare slow down.

I didn't stop until I reached home. The moment I locked the door behind me, my legs gave out. I sank to the floor and burst into tears. I was so terrified I could barely keep myself from shifting into my wolf form.

All the fear, pain, and exhaustion I'd been holding back finally came pouring out. But through it all, one thought became clearer than ever.

I had to leave. I was going somewhere with light.