Chapter 3
Charles's hand hovered over my leg, the ointment still on his fingertips.
Then Simon stormed back in, face pale. "Word just came through the pack link. Renee's too weak for the boat ride. The doctor says she might not survive the crossing."
I sneered inside. The boat ride? Last time, it was my nightmare.
I could still feel it. The door splintering open. A group of rogues flooding in, reeking of cheap whiskey, stale sweat, and desperation. Their eyes weren't human. Under the flickering light, their wolves stared right through me. Feral. Hungry. Wrong.
That night carved itself into my bones. Humiliation. Despair. The kind of shame that made my wolf want to crawl out of my own skin.
And while I was fighting for my life, Charles and Renee had their perfect mating ceremony. The whole boat got drunk on champagne and howled their approval.
Agony swallowed me whole, but I still clawed my way toward my phone. With the last scrap of strength I had, I called Simon. My fingers wouldn't stop trembling.
The phone rang and rang for an eternity. When he finally picked up, I could barely breathe. My voice came out thin and fading. "Simon, please. Help me. There are ro—"
His voice came back cold with irritation. "What do you want now? Can't you behave for one night? It's Charlie and Renee's ceremony. Stop making everything about you.
"Quit trying to ruin things for them. Sit tight and behave. Someone will pick you up when you get to Bayview."
Tears mixed with the blood and dirt ran into my ear. I sounded completely shattered. "No, Simon, there really are—"
"Enough." Simon's voice went sharp, cold as silver, cutting right through me. "I'm telling you for the last time. Face reality. Look at Renee. She's so much more mature than you."
He hung up. No mercy. No hesitation. And that was the blow that finally crushed what was left of me.
Right before I fainted, I finally understood why Simon never wanted me to fight back.
Renee was always playing the fragile little omega who needed his protection, and he bought it completely. Somehow, he had chosen her over me.
Now Simon stood in front of me, brow furrowed with real worry.
He looked at me and offered, "The sea routes are dangerous for Renee. She's so weak. Maybe we should bring her back here. Safer and better medical care. I'll see if I can figure out a safer way to get her back..."
Both of them looked at me. Waiting. Expecting.
A sharp cramp twisted low in my belly. My wolf jolted awake with a whimper, and I went rigid.
I glanced down. A small dark red stain was blooming through my pale dress. Cold sweat broke out across my back in an instant.
But before I could speak, the doctor's phone rang, slicing through the silence. He answered, and his face went tight. "Renee's sick? It's urgent?"
"Renee!" Simon's voice cracked, raw and feral as he spun and bolted for the door.
Charles shot up immediately, his eyes snapping to the door, then back to me, wild and panicked, caught between chase and duty.
No one noticed my pale face. No one saw my wolf curl up inside me, already grieving.
My body started to give out from the pain. Then the silent doctor stepped forward, quietly blocking Charles and Simon from seeing me.
My vision blurred. The last thing I saw was Charles turning, his jacket hem swinging. By then, Simon had already vanished through the doorway.
The pain slowly faded to a dull numbness. When I finally opened my eyes again, the harsh white hospital ceiling stared back at me.
The doctor's eyes held a quiet sympathy. "Mrs. Goodman, I'm sorry. We couldn't save the pup."