Chapter 2

The house is left with only me.

The fire in the fireplace is still burning, crackling softly Liam lit it early this morning.

I reach out to add more wood, but a spark jumps out and burns my hand.

My lips curl down in instinctive grievance.

Only then do I realize no one is here to care about me anymore.

My nails dig into my palm.

I suddenly stand up and run outside.

I stumble all the way, falling again and again, getting back up again and again.

Until finally, I end up standing in front of that door, knocking in a mess.

But the one who opens the door is not Liam.

Aiden freezes when he sees me.

His gaze falls on my injuries, his expression unreadable.

“What are you doing here?”

He is my first mate.

When he was by my side, he always disliked how I ran around, afraid I would get hurt.

He would frown and scold me for being reckless, but still silently follow behind me to clean up my mess.

His words were never gentle when he lectured me.

And yet I remember it too after every cold shoulder, he would quietly come to my bed.

Wipe away the tears I stubbornly refused to show with his fingertips.

Then, in the sound of my pretending-to-sleep breathing, he would leave clumsy, burning kisses.

I lower my eyes and don’t look at him.

Instead, I anxiously search inside.

Aiden, ignored, unconsciously tightens his grip on the doorframe.

He lets out a cold laugh and calls into the house.

“Liam! Did you not even clean up your tail properly and now she’s come chasing you? What are you going to do if Iris finds out?”

The wind of early winter slaps against my skin.

I’m only wearing a thin dress, my face pale as I watch Liam walk out.

His clothes are messy, his hair disheveled.

On the side of his neck is a fresh bite mark.

He glances impatiently at Aiden, then finally looks at me.

A flicker of irritation crosses his eyes.

Coldness spreads through my body.

I take a step back instinctively.

Then suddenly, a cloak is placed over my shoulders.

I look up, only to see Aiden’s tight jawline.

Liam walks up to me, still wearing that familiar gentle expression.

For a moment, I almost think I saw wrong.

“Selene? How did you end up like this?”

I bite my lip.

“Liam, I… I won’t throw tantrums anymore asking for berries from miles away. I won’t complain about the fur being too rough. I won’t bother you when you’re tired anymore…”

“From now on, I only want you. I don’t want anyone else. Don’t leave me alone, okay?”

My words come faster and faster, completely unaware of Aiden’s changing expression beside me.

Liam listens, but his gaze keeps drifting to my bloodied knees.

I unconsciously slip back into the spoiled habits I used to have with him.

I even reach out to grab his hand.

“You promised you would always stay with me! Liam, you can’t break your word! I—”

But I grab nothing but air.

Liam pulls his hand away.

“It’s cold outside. Come in first, alright?”