Chapter 3

Before Jett could answer, the steel foundations groaned as a deep rumble shook the floor.

Through the glass outside, an endless line of armored black vehicles occupied the entire block.

Twelve elite Lycan guards in black tactical suits stepped out, forming a wall between the store and the street.

The rear door of the lead vehicle opened.

Corin Riven stepped down.

At six-foot-five, he carried himself with quiet authority in a custom suit.

The Royal Guards immediately lowered their heads as he passed.

No one dared to speak. No one dared to move.

Only Jett stared in frozen disbelief.

"The High Lycan King..."

Someone whispered.

The words spread through the boutique like a wave.

Inside the boutique, Jett’s knees shook.

His pride fought against it, but his body was rigidly paralyzed.

Celeste was frozen beside him, weeping silently from the sheer pressure of Corin's presence.

Corin strode in, ignoring everyone else.

He came straight to me.

The hard, calculated face softened into something entirely gentle.

"Livvy," Corin murmured, drawing me into his arms.

I leaned into him and a small smile spread across my face. "You're early, Con."

He kissed the top of my head before looking at my hand.

"The ring fits perfectly," he whispered.

A white light flared between our clasped hands.

A faint, golden thread wove itself around our wrists, humming with energy before fading beneath our skin.

A Second Chance Mate Bond.

Jett let out a ragged gasp. He looked at the golden thread, then at Corin—the man who held his pack's entire resources in his hands.

"No..." Jett whispered, taking a trembling step back.

"No, this is impossible. You... you're his mate? But you were mine..."

Corin turned his head slightly, his silver eyes flashing with a cold light.

"Do you want me to strip him of everything? Say the word, and the Gareth Pack will cease to exist."

Celeste shrank back. Jett couldn't meet my eyes.

"No," I replied, my voice calm and deliberate.

"Striking them down now is too quick. I want him to watch me take everything he thought he owned, piece by piece. I want him to realize exactly what he threw away."

I didn't let Corin do the heavy lifting. I took the reins of my own vengeance.

For a long moment, Jett said nothing.

Then he slowly straightened.

"Fine."

His voice was hoarse, but steady.

"If that's what you want, then come and take it."

He grabbed Celeste's wrist.

"Let's go."

Without another word, he turned and walked out of the boutique.

The leather seats of the royal vehicle were smooth and comfortable, but the atmosphere inside changed the moment the doors clicked shut.

Corin sat beside me, his hand resting firmly over mine.

To everyone else, Corin looked untouchable.

But as I looked closer, I noticed the sharp contraction of his jaw.

He checked each mirror in silence. Something was wrong.

"Are you alright?" I asked softly, tilting my head.

Corin turned to me, a small, genuine smile softening his features.

"Absolutely, Livvy. Your father will be glad you're finally home."

I laughed, the last remnants of Jett’s insults vanishing from my mind.

I was finally where I belonged.

Suddenly, a chime cut through the silence.

Corin pulled out the phone and read the screen.

In a fraction of a second, the calm, protective man beside me vanished.

He checked the side mirrors once, his jaw tightening until the muscle pulsed.

He didn't offer an explanation. He simply tapped the partition to the driver's cabin.

"Take the northern bypass," Corin ordered, his voice flat and empty of emotion.

"Corin?" I asked, my pulse quickening. "What is it? Is it my father?"

He didn't answer immediately.

He read the message.

His breathing shallow.

For a brief second, a flash of cold uncertainty flickered in his silver eyes.

"We're too late."