Chapter 2

That night, Dane received a mind link.

He probably thought Yareli and I were already asleep because he got up quietly and went to the bathroom to respond.

I carefully slipped out of bed and tiptoed to the bathroom door, eavesdropping on his side of the conversation.

Inside, Dane spoke softly, "Natasha, are you not feeling well again?"

"Is the pup giving you trouble?"

"Feeling nauseous? Didn’t you just have a check-up today? I thought everything was okay."

"Alright, don’t worry. I’m coming over now."

Hearing this, I hurried back to bed and pretended to sleep.

After changing quietly, Dane slipped out of the house.

Once he left, I opened my eyes, unable to stop the tears from streaming down my face.

I’ve known Dane for many years.

We were college classmates, along with Natasha.

Back then, Dane and Natasha were the talk of the campus, a couple everyone admired. Dane, the future Alpha of the Larson Pack, and Natasha, the daughter of a prominent Beta from a neighboring pack, seemed destined for each other.

I secretly had a crush on Dane but never dared to act on it.

The year we graduated, Dane and Natasha suddenly broke up.

Natasha was the one who left Dane!

Because Dane had been exiled from the Larson Pack, stripped of his title and inheritance.

Natasha coldly told Dane in public, "You can’t give me the life I want. We’re not right for each other, so stop bothering me."

That day, it was pouring rain.

Dane, looking lost and broken, wandered the streets, with me trailing him, worried he might do something rash.

When he reached the riverbank, I couldn’t hold back anymore and ran up to him.

His eyes were red, his face wet from tears or rain, staring at me blankly with a smile that was more painful than crying. His voice was hoarse as he said, "Chana, are you here to laugh at me too?"

"Go ahead, laugh all you want!"

"I’ve got nothing left anyway. Life is meaningless now."

"My parents don’t want me, Natasha abandoned me, everyone mocks me. Now I see I was just extra baggage in this world... it’s not worth it."

Before he could finish, I slapped him across the face.

He was stunned, holding his cheek, staring at me in disbelief.

I looked at him angrily and said, "What nonsense about it not being worth it? You’re still young, don’t say such defeatist things!"

"If even you look down on yourself, who do you expect will see your worth?"

"Dane, listen to me. I’ve liked you since the beginning!"

"If no one wants you, I do!"

Dane shook his head, looking dejected, "Stop trying to make me feel better!"

"I have nothing to offer now, what is there for you to like?"

I grabbed Dane by the collar, stared him straight in the eye, and said seriously, "I like you, not for any added value but for who you are!"

"Liking someone doesn’t need a reason. If you don’t believe me, we can go complete the mate bond right now!"

Dane was shocked, staring at me incredulously.

My face flushed as I glared at him and said, "What? Are you scared?"

"Like you said, you’ve got nothing to lose now. You’re not afraid of dying, so why fear marking me as your mate?"

Dane seemed spurred on by my words and defiantly said, "Who’s scared?"

"I’m just worried you’ll regret it later..."

I interrupted him again, firmly stating, "Whoever regrets it is an idiot. Let’s complete the bond now."

And so, we rushed to the pack’s sacred grounds in the rain.

Under the curious gaze of the pack elders, looking like drenched rats, we stood before the Moon Goddess’s altar and completed the mate bond.

Soon after we bonded, we had our daughter.

Dane worked long hours as a pack enforcer while I stayed home with Yareli and did some freelance work to support us. Our life was simple and happy.

I thought this happiness would last forever, but things started to change a bit half a year ago when Natasha came back into our lives.

During that time, Dane became even busier, often coming home late at night.

Whenever I mind-linked him, he frequently didn’t respond.

Meanwhile, Natasha’s social media began to feature sweet posts, accompanied by cryptic photos.

At first, I brushed it off.

It wasn’t until today that I finally understood what was happening.

That’s when Dane and Natasha must have reconnected.

Reflecting on the past, I picked up my phone and scrolled through Natasha’s social media.

In her previous posts, I found some clues.

Just moments ago, she posted another photo.

"Forever and always, never to part!"

In the photo, Natasha lovingly touched her rounded belly, her face beaming with joy.

And her other hand was holding a man’s hand.

In the past, I wouldn’t have focused on whose hand it was.

But now, I zoomed in on the photo and noticed a small cut on the man’s index fingernail.

I was certain it was Dane’s hand.

A couple of days ago, while trimming his nails, I accidentally nicked his finger, leaving that very mark.