Chapter 2

Elise Castaneda POV:

I dragged myself off the bedroom floor, one hand clamped over my cramping stomach, and stumbled into the bathroom. The moment I locked the frosted-glass door, I saw the bright red streaks on my inner thighs.

My pups. I had to protect them—and hide the proof before Jaxon noticed. I wiped the cold sweat off my fingers, folded the Healer's parchment into a tiny square, and tucked it deep into the hidden lining of my dress.

Then I braced one hand against the marble sink and splashed freezing water onto my face, over and over, until the tears were gone.

Heavy knuckles pounded against the door.

"Elise, what are you doing in there?" Jaxon's voice cut through the glass. "Why do I smell fresh blood?"

Of course he smelled it. An Alpha could pick up a single drop of blood from across a room.

"My cycle started early," I called out, grabbing a towel. I made my voice weak and natural. "Bad cramps."

Silence. Three seconds. Then the metal lock clicked open.

He forced the door open with raw Alpha strength and strode inside, his gaze sweeping over my pale face and the running water.

"Just a cycle? Your aura is as faint as a dying Omega's."

He grabbed my wrist and pressed two warm fingers against my pulse. I clamped down on my inner energy, hiding the twin heartbeats, letting him feel only cold skin and exhaustion.

"Let go of me, Jaxon." I yanked my hand back and retreated half a step against the tiles. "I already signed your scroll. My body is none of your business anymore."

His gray-blue eyes darkened. He closed the distance in one stride, trapping me between the cold wall and his chest.

"As long as you're still in my territory, you're my responsibility," he ground out, his hot breath against my neck.

I turned my head away and laughed—bitter and short.

"Responsibility? Your responsibility is waiting at Brittany's wheelchair, not in my bathroom."

A muscle ticked in his jaw. His lips twisted into a cold sneer.

"You signed that scroll without blinking and can't wait to push me away. It's because of that man, isn't it?"

I whipped my head back.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Stop acting." He gripped my chin, forcing me to look at him. "I've known since the day we mated that you've been hiding some bastard in your heart for ten years."

My pupils shrank.

Ten years ago, in the scorching summer of the junior training camp, during my first Shift, a cold, fierce teenage boy had shifted into a giant Dire Wolf for the first time, shielded me when I collapsed from heat exhaustion, and took a rogue's claws below his left collarbone. I had loved him for ten years—and he thought that boy was someone else?

"Speak!"

My silence looked like a confession. His Alpha aura exploded across the small bathroom, jealousy burning in his eyes. My chest felt crushed—yet a bitter mockery rose inside me. The high and mighty Alpha was jealous of himself.

"Yes, so what if I am?" I met his glare head-on, holding on to the last bit of my pride. "I've loved him for ten whole years. Satisfied?"

His breathing turned harsh and ragged.

"Who is he?" He leaned down until his nose almost touched mine. "Which bastard dared to touch what's mine?"

"He's not a bastard—he's a hundred times better than you!" I spat out, describing the very man standing in front of me. "He was proud, fierce, and saved my life when I was in despair."

Jaxon's fist slammed into the wall beside my ear. The boom made my eardrums ring. Spiderweb cracks spread across the tiles.

"Shut up!"

A flicker of raw pain flashed across his eyes before it was swallowed by rage.

"So stop using your fake responsibility to cage me, Jaxon," I whispered, exhausted to the bone. "Let me go."

His chest heaved. He glared at me like a cornered beast—then spun around and stormed out, slamming the door hard enough to shake the walls.

I slid down the cracked tiles to the floor, wrapped both arms around my stomach, and let out a long breath. His anger meant he wouldn't come looking for me tonight. My babies were safe for now.

I stood up slowly, changed into clean pajamas, and stuffed the bloodstained clothes into a sealed disposal bag to burn tomorrow morning. Just as I reached for the light switch, my phone buzzed on the counter. Toby Miller, Jaxon's Beta assistant.