Chapter 2
Back at the apartment Alpha Samuel and I shared, I took in our small, damp living space with fresh eyes. For the first time, it hit me—how much I had transformed. The girl who once thrived in the cozy embrace of her parents’ pack was now enduring hardships for one man.
I’d left everything behind to follow him to the New York City Pack, crossing thousands of miles. Here, I was alone—no allies, no family. Samuel was all I had. But he…
Brushing away a tear, I retreated to the bedroom to pack. My elbow bumped Samuel’s mouse, waking his computer. The screen lit up, exposing his WhatsApp chat with Reina.
My heart froze as I scrolled through the messages, each line cutting deeper.
“Hey, Alpha Sam, wanna grab a drink tonight?”
“Luna Elodie’s upset again? Women get moody. Just calm her down.”
“My stockings ripped; grab me a pair downstairs? Don’t get the wrong idea—just buddies, right?”
“That coffee you had was amazing. Save me some. Left tea on your desk.”
Standing there, the chat laid bare, my blood boiled. I gripped the table, nails digging in, tears splattering the surface.
Memories flooded back—Samuel’s heartfelt mate proposal. Kneeling with a bouquet of red roses, he vowed, “I, Samuel Bennett, Alpha of the New York City Pack, take you, Elodie Ortiz, as my mate. From this day, I’ll love only Elodie Ortiz.”
“I’ll never let Elodie suffer or shed a tear.”
“I swear, my heart won’t waver.”
He’d broken every word.
I bit my lip hard, tasting blood. A loud crash snapped me back—the marking photo on the wall had fallen. I picked it up, fingers tracing the image. When we first mated, money was tight; we marked each other without ceremony. Later, Samuel spent a month’s salary on these photos.
In the picture, he held me, eyes brimming with love, lips pressed to my brow. The irony stung.
With numb hands, I grabbed scissors and shredded the photo, tossing it into the trash.
The door opened. Samuel entered, lips pressed tight.
“Reina’s missing.”
“Okay,” I replied flatly.
He frowned. “Why are you acting like this?”
“How should I act?” I shot back, lashes fluttering.
He closed his eyes, exhaling deeply. When they reopened, disappointment filled them. “Elodie, you’re a stranger now.”
“The old you was kind, forgiving, always helping others. Now, you’ve become so…”
“You said it yourself,” I cut in, grip tightening. “That was the old me.”
“I’ve changed. Deal with it.”
Silence hung heavy.
I tossed the marking certificate at him, locking eyes. “Let’s reject the mate bond. Now.”
Samuel panicked. “How many times? I won’t reject it.”
“How can you throw away thirteen years?”
My hand struck his cheek, eyes blazing. “You gave up first.”
His hearing aid clattered to the floor.
Samuel froze, cupping his face. After a beat, he retrieved the aid, fitting it back.
Despite my resistance, he pulled me into a tight embrace. “I’m stuck, Elodie. Please understand.”
Pain stabbed my heart, sharp and unrelenting. I wanted to push him away, but my arms felt leaden.
“Reina’s young, fragile. In situations like this… she assumes the worst.”
“I’ll stay with her until she’s better, then we’ll figure it out.”
“After that, can you keep your distance?”
The words struck like lightning, leaving me speechless.
A phone rang, slicing through the tension. Samuel, confused, answered.
His eyes widened. “What did you say?”