I forced my eyes open, barely making out the descending numbers on the elevator panel. When it finally reached the first floor, it stayed there for what felt like an eternity.

       A young she-wolf, who had been watching from a distance earlier, rushed over and helped me up. Her eyes darkened with fury when she saw the blood pooling beneath me.

       “What’s wrong with him? Did your mate seriously just leave you like this?”

       I managed a bitter smile. “You’ve got it wrong. He’s not my mate.”

       But she didn’t believe me. She assumed we had fought and broken our bond.

       With her support, I attempted to make my way back to my room, but before I could take more than a few steps, the world spun, and everything went black.

       When I came to, all I saw was white. The sharp scent of disinfectant made it clear—I was in a pack healer’s clinic.

       “You’re awake,” the pack healer said, stepping closer.

       After checking my vitals and confirming I was stable, she frowned. “What’s wrong with your emergency contact? I called him so many times, and every single time, he hung up on me.”

       She sighed, shaking her head. “You’re lucky the girl who brought you here covered your medical fees.”

       I reached for my phone, scrolling through my call history.

       There was no doubt—Alpha Justin was truly furious this time. But I had no intention of explaining myself or trying to make amends.

       In fact, I was relieved he hadn’t answered. If he had, he would have realized I had just lost his pup.

       I remained in the clinic for a few days before finally returning to the packhouse to collect my belongings.

       But when I arrived, I was informed that Alpha Justin had already checked me out. The staff member who handed me my luggage looked apologetic, but I caught the amusement flickering in their eyes.

       As I turned to leave, whispers floated through the air, their words cutting like knives.

       “She’s definitely fallen out of favor.”

       “Of course. Alpha Justin is already bonded. There’s no place for her anymore—not as his brother’s widow.”

       “I really thought she’d win his heart after all these years. Turns out she lost to his true mate instead.”

       In the packhouse lobby, a large screen displayed a news report—the announcement of Alpha Justin and Luna Joey’s bonding ceremony, set for the next day.

       I pretended not to hear anything. Without hesitation, I hailed a cab and headed to the pack airport.

       As the vehicle moved, the passing scenery blurred into a haze. I closed my eyes, exhausted.

       But the ride stretched longer than it should have.

       When I opened my eyes again, an uneasy feeling settled in my gut. Something was wrong.

       Glancing at the rearview mirror, I caught the driver’s gaze—cold, calculating, like a predator sizing up its prey.

       I forced myself to stay calm and reached for my phone, attempting to discreetly call for help.

       But he noticed. Smirking, he slammed the brakes.

       “It’s too late now,” he sneered.

       He stepped out, yanked the door open, and pressed a damp cloth over my nose and mouth. The sickly-sweet scent of chemicals filled my lungs.

       Panic surged, but my strength was fading. My vision blurred.

       He snatched my phone and chuckled darkly. “Trying to call for help? Let’s make a bet. If he picks up, I’ll let you go. If he doesn’t… well.”

       Using my fingerprint, he unlocked my phone and dialed the number at the top of my contact list.

       I wasn’t surprised when Alpha Justin didn’t answer. The call went to voicemail.

       The man tried again—this time, it was immediately declined.

       On the third attempt, Alpha Justin finally picked up.

       I struggled to speak, but my voice was barely a whisper.

       On the other end, his voice was sharp with irritation. “Sara, you should know your place! My brother is dead, and to me, you’re nothing but a stranger. Stop trying to drag me back into your life!”

       His furious words rang through the phone, mingling with the man’s mocking laughter. Each syllable cut deep, like a dagger to the heart.

       The car pulled up to an abandoned factory. The man dragged me out and threw me onto the cold, hard ground.

       A pair of high heels came into view.

       Before I could make out her face, she kicked me—once, then again. My already weakened body reeled from the impact.

       “Sara, you’re absolutely shameless!” she hissed.

       Joey. I knew that voice instantly. The last time I saw Alpha Justin and Joey together, she had looked at me with pure hostility.

       Now, she stood over me, her phone clutched in her hand, her expression livid.

       “Did you leak this photo?” she demanded. “If I hadn’t caught it in time, and if Alpha Justin hadn’t handled the situation properly, you would’ve ruined everything!”

       I glanced at the screen—and suddenly, everything made sense.

       No wonder Alpha Justin had said those things to me.