Chapter 2

Cody’s eyes lingered on my legs, his gaze sharp and assessing, as if he were still trying to reconcile the image of the Gamma warrior I once was with the version of me sitting in this wheelchair. I set my phone down casually, the screen lighting up with a message from Justice. "Just a friend asking about joining the Silver Fang Pack’s ranks," I said, keeping my tone neutral.

Then I glanced at Jayla’s trim waist, the faint swell of her pregnancy impossible to miss. "How far along is the baby?" I asked, though the question tasted like ash on my tongue.

"Two months, still in the early stage," Jayla replied, her voice dripping with smug satisfaction. "Cody and I tried for six months before we conceived."

I forced a bitter laugh, my wolf stirring uneasily in the back of my mind. So they’d been together right after I left for my recovery. Perfect.

Cody quickly jumped in, his voice smooth but laced with defensiveness. "After you left, Jayla was there for me. She’s been a rock." He paused, as if waiting for me to react, but I just stared at him, unblinking. "When we found out you couldn’t carry a child, she offered to have a baby for us. She thought it would win over my parents and give you someone to lean on in the future."

He tenderly caressed Jayla’s belly, his fingers lingering as he turned to me with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "A son without you having to lift a finger—isn’t that something to be grateful for?"

I nodded, my expression blank, but inside, my wolf growled softly, a low rumble of fury. Grateful? For this?

Cody walked over, his presence as imposing as ever, and lifted me from the wheelchair with ease, settling me on the couch. His hands were gentle, almost reverent, as he slid a ring onto my finger. "Alright, I know you’re still envious, but once the baby is born, I’ll give Jayla some money to move on. With a son, my mom won’t think of you as a burden, and I can finally make you my Luna."

In the past, when Cody spoke like this, I would have believed he was thinking of our future. After my injury, becoming his Luna seemed like an impossible dream. But now, the ring felt like a shackle, its weight pressing into my skin, leaving a sharp, stinging ache.

Seeing my silence, Cody assumed he’d settled me down. "I won’t trouble you anymore," he said, his voice dismissive. "I need to take Jayla to her prenatal checkup—our son deserves top-notch care. Once I’m back, we can discuss the marking ceremony."

He quickly wrapped an arm around Jayla’s shoulders, his hand possessive as he led her out the door. Watching their matching forms fade into the distance, I slowly stood up, my legs trembling but steady. Cody, there’s no future for us. What marking ceremony are you even talking about?

I started packing my belongings, my movements deliberate and unhurried. My phone buzzed the next moment, and I glanced at the screen. A message from Jayla: "Couldn’t believe how loaded you are for someone who’s supposed to be weak, thanks for footing the bill for tonight’s candlelit dinner for Cody and me!"

Simultaneously, a bank notification popped up—over twenty thousand withdrawn from my savings. My heart raced as I hurriedly checked the statement. During my recovery, I’d discovered Cody had been spending my earnings on all sorts of things. Dinners, boutiques, jewelry stores, even a lavish weekend at a luxury resort—nothing was overlooked.

In our five years together, the most he’d ever given me was a promise. A promise to make me his Luna, to stand by me. But now, I saw it for what it was—empty words. I remembered insisting on staying with the Blue Moon Pack, doing whatever I could to prove my worth, even after my injury. Whenever I needed help, he’d always acted as if it were a burden, suggesting I hire someone else to assist me.

When I first confronted him about the withdrawals, he’d brazenly claimed it was for the pack’s future. "It’s for us," he’d said, his tone final. "You can’t fight anymore, and I can’t lead this pack forever. If I don’t find ways to secure our future now, what will we do later?"

I had no response then, but now, the truth was clear. What pack? What future? I was just his means to spoil Jayla.

Without hesitation, I froze the account. The moment I did, Cody’s call came through, his voice sharp and demanding. "Amelia, what’s going on? Why can’t I access the funds?"

I took a deep breath, my wolf’s presence steadying me. "Cody," I said, my voice calm but firm, "we’re done."