Chapter 2

2.

Since that day, Alaric had me locked in my quarters. He refused to see me.

I desperately wanted to tell him that I was the one who had saved him.

I wanted him to know Seraphina was a liar.

But I never got the chance.

Bored and lonely, I spent my time handling pack business from my room, just as I always had.

But things were different now. The servants were experts at sensing which way the wind blew.

They saw I had lost my Alpha’s favor, so they stopped respecting my orders.

They were all busy sucking up to Seraphina now.

When Alaric loved me, I could have asked for the moon and they would have tried to catch it. Now, I was nothing.

I sighed and picked up a pair of knee pads I was embroidering.

Alaric had injured his leg during a hunt recently. Elara told me that sewing certain healing herbs into the lining would help him recover faster.

Loud noises came from outside. A moment later, Alaric stormed in with a dark expression.

I was startled, and the needle pierced my finger. A bright drop of blood blossomed on my skin.

In the past, Alaric would have panicked if I had even lost a strand of hair.

But now, he looked at my bleeding finger with total indifference.

Memories of the past few days flooded my mind. I felt a wave of bitterness and looked at him pitifully.

“Alaric, that woman is a fraud. She…”

I expected to fix everything once I told him the truth.

But I didn't get a hug or a comforting word. Instead, I got a hard slap across my face.

“Shut up!”

I held my burning cheek and stared at him in disbelief. Tears began to flow uncontrollably.

Alaric was still shaking with rage. “You knew she was my savior, yet you dared to hurt her. Even now, you show no remorse and try to frame her!”

“When did you become so selfish and jealous?”

I could hardly believe what I was hearing.

Alaric was the one who had begged me to be his mate. Back then, when I got jealous of other pack girls, he would laugh and say he loved it because it meant I cared.

He had promised me that I was the only woman for him. He had even sent away any potential rivals.

The change in him was devastating. I wiped my tears, but they wouldn't stop.

Perhaps my expression was too heartbreaking, because a flash of hesitation crossed his eyes. But he quickly turned cold again.

“Evie, listen to me. Go to Seraphina and apologize.”

Anger flared in my chest at those words.

Why should I apologize to that thief?

She was the one who stole my life.

“I won't!”

Alaric’s eyes turned icy. He signaled to two female guards to step forward.

They muttered a quick apology before grabbing my arms and holding me tight.

“Evie, Seraphina suffered for years while you lived in luxury. I have to make it up to her.”

“The life you’ve enjoyed belongs to her. It’s only right that I take it back.”

“From now on, you will not refuse any request she makes!”

Alaric snatched the Luna’s signet ring from my finger. He left without looking back.

My tears hit the floor like rain. Alaric didn't turn around once.

Alaric, you are breaking my heart into pieces.

When you finally learn the truth, will you even be able to live with yourself?