Chapter 2

WREN ASHWOOD

"Make it stop," I whispered.

The only answer I got was the rumbling of thunder as lightning flashed in the sky.

My wolf whimpered and for the first time in ten years, I didn't want to hear her.

Because every time she reminded me that Soren was our mate, another piece of my heart broke.

He isn't our mate anymore.

I snapped at her

The mate bond is still there.

She whispered.

For now.

I answered.

It was like the heavens could feel my sorrow because I felt something wet drop on my nose.

More blobs of water dropped on me as it began to rain.

With shaky legs, I pulled myself to my feet, hands smoothing my wet hair.

The rain continued pouring as I stumbled towards the sidewalk, bile rising in my stomach as I imagined Becky and Soren together.

I stumbled again, losing my balance but before my knees could hit the wet pavement, a hand caught my arm.

I flinched violently. "Don't touch me!"

The person immediately let go, raising his hands up.

My gaze landed on him, his narrowed eyes and the dark hair plastered against his forehead.

For several seconds, neither of us spoke. "Killian." I croaked out.

He looked at me, an unknown emotion flashing in his eyes. "What's wrong? Wren."

"Nothing." I swallowed, sniffing in my tears, at this moment, I thanked God for the pouring rain.

The last thing I wanted was for Killian Valmont to see me weak.

"Are you sure?" He sniffed, eyes turning a brief orange, a sign of his wolf surfacing.

"Your wolf seems to be in grief."

My eyes widened as I glared at him. "Has anyone told you that it's rude to spy on someone's wolf?"

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have." He apologised immediately.

My mouth opened and I closed speechlessly, then I shook my head. "It's fine." I wiped my wet cheeks.

He didn't say anything else, instead, he took off his jacket and held it out toward me. "You will catch a cold if you stay exposed to the rain any longer."

I stared at it, then at him. "I am a werewolf." But I still took it from him. "And I don't need your pity."

"I know." He nodded. "Congratulations on your mate-bonding ceremony."

"Thank you." I whispered, too lazy to tell him that it might not hold tomorrow.

With his jacket still wrapped around my shoulders, I walked away.

...

By the time I returned to the apartment, the rain had stopped.

I had spent my entire walk back home, thinking.

And one thing had become painfully clear to me— I couldn't stay here any longer.

I opened the front door quietly, my entire body going rigid as a sweet scent of jasmine blasted into my nose.

"Soren?"

A woman's laughter drifted from inside of the apartment.

I followed the sound to the sitting room and my whole body froze when I saw who it was.

Becky.

She lay on the sofa in one of Soren's shirts, her legs curled beneath her while she scrolled through something on her phone.

Her eyes widened when she looked up and saw me.

"Oh."

That single word of hers carried absolutely no shame.

Then Soren walked out of the kitchen, he stopped when he saw me. "Wren. You're back," he said.

I almost laughed at his words "Aren't I allowed to come back? This is clearly my apartment."

Soren frowned at my words. "I didn't mean that..." Then his gaze swept over Becky who was slouched lazily on the couch, still in his clothes. "Becky's clothes got drenched by the rain, so..."

I raised my hands. "You don't have to explain everything to me, Becky is your best friend and she is allowed to use your stuff."

Including your dick.

My fingers curled around the wet jacket still hanging over my arm.

"Who owns that?" He asked, gesturing towards the black leather jacket.

From its large size, he knew it could only belong to a man.

"A friend's." I answered.

Soren didn't say anything else, instead he looked at Becky. "Becky's place is undergoing renovation, she will have to stay here for a week or more depending on how long it takes."

I paused. "Okay, can I go to my room now? I am tired." I turned before either of them could say anything else.

Behind me, I heard Becky whisper. "Does Wren not like me?"

Soren chuckled softly. "You don't have to worry about her. She won't say shit because of me." He assured her.

Even as my heart tugged in pain, there was still a smile on my lips

...

The instant I walked to my bedroom, I slammed the door shut.

My body trembled as memories of the conversation between Soren and his friends washed over my head.

I stood in the middle of the room, my gaze sweeping over the space.

This room had been mine for years.

There were pictures of me and Soren everywhere. The largest of them was taken at the full moon fair we had gone to.

My hands were around his neck, a wide smile on my lips as I planted a kiss on his cheek.

I picked up the phone, my finger tracing the contour of his face.

My heart clenched tightly, another soft whimper escaping from my lips.

"Don't be stupid Wren, he doesn't deserve your tears."

I placed the photo face-down and walked toward my closet.

If Soren thought I was going to stay here and cry while he prepared to become Alpha through me...

Then he was mistaken.

I pulled out a suitcase and began to pack

I didn't know exactly where I would go yet but I had money.

And I had lots of options that didn't involve Ashwood pack... and Soren.

...

Later that evening, I came downstairs to get water.

Soren and Becky were arguing quietly.

Becky had changed out of Soren's shirt, she was wearing a black Camisole and black tights that exposed her curvy body.

"I don't want to keep sneaking around forever." Becky leaned forward, a scowl on her lips.

"I promise, it will soon end." Soren said to her.

I leaned on the stairs, watching the charade.

"When? I've been waiting for years, I knew you before her."

My heart clenched at her words.

I watched as Soren walked towards her and pulled her into his arms, planting a kiss on her hair. "I know babe, I promise. Once I get the alpha title. We will get rid of that bitch." He promised.

A small smile tugged on Becky's lips as she twisted around in his arms. "Okay." Then her face landed on a large framed photo on the wall, close to the wall clock.

Her expression twisted instantly. "I don't like that thing."

Soren followed her gaze and it landed on a photo. It was a replica of the one in my room.

"Wren put it there." He said.

"I don't care, I don't want to see pictures of you being intimate with another woman when I'm here." She pouted, then added menacingly. "Trash it."

Soren looked at the photograph, then at Becky.

I stared at him, an ugly smile on my lips as I waited for his next action.

Some tiny, pathetic part of me waited for him to say no.

Instead, he grabbed the photo, a small smile on his lips as he threw it out of the window.

"Anything you want, My Queen."