Chapter 2

I located a cheap inn near the medical center and slept there overnight.

I didn’t forget to pick up my puppy, Leo, from the neighboring house where I’d left him in the care of a pack member.

I did it just so I could concentrate on handling the disease outbreak in the border, and now that it was over, Leo was wrapped in my arms as I slept.

As soon as it was daybreak the next morning, I returned to the packhouse to get all my belongings.

But when my legs hit the porch and I opened the door, I realized the house wasn’t unoccupied like I expected.

Instead, I was hit by a strong scent of citrus air freshener the moment I stepped inside.

I froze for a second.

It was an air freshener I’d always avoided using because the scent was too strong and always made me nauseous.

With a hand over my nose, I forced myself to keep walking and that was when I saw her.

In the second living room was Elowen sitting down comfortably on my swing cushion.

She wore my favorite jacket and was reading my fashion magazine with no care in the world.

As if on cue, she looked up and her eyes widened when she saw me.

Before she could say anything, Theodore walked in with a plate of chips and juice on a tray.

He stopped when he saw me. For a second, neither of us spoke. Then he sighed.

“Now that you are here, I think we should speak.” He said, placing the tray in front of Elowen.

My stomach coiled in distaste.

“About what? The fact you brought her to our home?” I raised a sharp brow in his way.

“Her rent is due, and she was in need of shelter, Layla.” Theodore sighed again.

“Do I look like I care about that?” This time, I couldn’t help but sneer. More than anything, I couldn’t bear the sight of Elowen wearing and holding my stuff, in a house I paid off more than half of its loan, no less.

“I want her out.” I said immediately, wheeling my suitcase outside the door.

Theodore’s expression hardened, “Are you forgetting this is also my packhouse? I am the Alpha in case you forgot.”

I turned around and laughed coldly.

“You might own the packhouse, but I renovated the entire thing,” Without allowing him a word, I went to the kitchen shelf, pulled out the folder I’d kept there, and dumped the contents onto the table before them.

Receipts of new floors, AC, custom cabinets, appliances, fridge, washer, and many more scattered in front of them.

“I paid for all of this, Theodore.” I looked directly at him.

He glanced down at the papers, and his entire demeanor changed.

It ought to.

I had managed every renovation that took place in this building.

I spent most days treating and healing patients, and my nights dealing with contractors.

Not to talk of how I spent a lot of the money I earned changing the AC to make the house more comfortable, while he couldn’t care less about it.

Not yet done, I added smugly, pointing towards the receipts, “The total comes to five hundred thousand dollars.”

Horrified, his eyes snapped towards me. But I looked away and pulled out my phone.

Once I had texted the moving personnel a confirmation, I raised my gaze.

“I already hired bloodhounds. They’ll be here to move everything by dawn.” I firmly told him.

In that moment, flustered Elowen slowly rose from the cushion.

She took a few hesitant steps towards me, saying, “Layla, please. I don’t want you to misunderstand—”

She reached to touch me and I instinctively stepped back. Causing her hand to miss me.

What I didn’t expect however was her staggering back, kicking the flower vase I’d received for my birthday to the floor.

It shattered and Elowen wrapped her arms around herself, her eyes filling with tears.

“I’m sorry,” She began to cry. “My intention wasn’t to make you angry. I just thought I should…”

Before she could even finish, Theodore had stepped foward.

“Why would you push her?” He challenged fiercely.

Elowen shook her head quickly. “It’s fine, Alpha. Please don’t argue with her because of me.”

I laughed bitterly at that. Then took out my tablet from the cabinet. Since it’s been connected with the CCTV in the living room, in which Elowen obviously had no idea of, so I simply turned on the screen.

I played the part where she’d intentionally stumbled by herself and broke the vase.

With her pretense out for both of them to see, their faces went pale white like they’d just been poured a bottle of acid.

But of course, Theodore rushed to defend her. “I told you she’s not well. She must have been confused.” He went on and on, including how somehow it was my fault and I was being too harsh.

I couldn’t help but let out a sharp laugh at the absurdity of it all. Without wasting more time, I placed the tablet back where it belonged.

“Now I shall leave with my dog.” I told them.

I heard the shuffling of Theodore’s footsteps as he rushed after me. “Where to?” He asked.

“It’s not your business.” I glanced back at him with a cold, steady look before snatching the door open.

“Fuck, Layla. You’re actually going through with this? Despite telling you I was only helping her?” He yelled behind me helplessly. “You canceled our wedding, moving out and now you’re stripping the pack house bare?”

When I still didn’t hesitate, he rushed forward and slipped in front of me.

“You’re not the same Layla I knew.” He spoke in a wounded whisper.

I almost cackled.

“I am. You just never triggered me enough.” I let him know.

Elowen began to whimper from where she was.

“I am the one causing issues between you two. I think I should leave, Alpha Theodore.” She said, voice shaking.

That was all it took for Theodore’s anger to flare.

“You’re not,” He replied sternly. “She has to tender an apology to you.” He looked pointedly at me.

Hold on. What makes him think I would agree to such?

I shook my head. “You can’t be talking about me.” I told him, purposely placing emphasis on the words.

Theodore clenched his jaw.

“What do you mean? You frightened her, Layla. You are treating her unfairly.”

My eyes flicked from the Elowen in question, to him. “Then let her charge me to court.” I said with finality, my eyes dark and merciless.

Then rubbing Leo’s head in the dog’s carrier I’d placed him, I said, “Come on, baby.” Without sparing either of them another look, I left the packhouse.

I got into my carriage and I set out back to the Inn with Leo.

That evening, Serena, Theodore’s mother texted.

“The security guard told me what happened. What Theo and his secretary did crossed a line.”

“Can we please meet for a meal tomorrow? We need to talk.”

I replied that I would meet her. Then I set my phone aside and fell asleep with Leo tucked under the sheet beside me.

The next morning, someone activated a mind-link to me. It was Theodore.

I answered, and his furious voice immediately exploded in my mind.

“How is this right? The bloodhounds are here! They’re dismantling the central air system. You can’t do this, Layla.”

Despite that he couldn’t see me, I shrugged.

“I told you. I’m taking back everything.” I replied him. Then patting my face dry with the towel, I added, “Now you have three days to reimburse me.”

I could imagine his face going beet red as he responded, “What? The wedding ceremony is no longer happening. Do you know how much you made me lose because of that?”

I merely rolled my eyes. “But the three thousand dollars wasn’t your money, Theodore.” I mind-linked him back.

“I was the one who paid the event planners in check. Have you forgotten?” I continued.

That very instant, the breath was snatched from his lungs. Silence settled over him.

“Reminder, you’re not losing anything that belonged to you,” I told him triumphantly. “Now be gone. Don’t ever contact me.” I cut off the mind-link at once.