Chapter 2

The servants immediately lower their heads and hurry out.

Before leaving, the old housekeeper gives me one last worried look, then quietly closes the door behind him.

The huge living room falls silent.

Only Alexander and I remain.

He walks down the stairs one step at a time.

“Freya Hale.”

His voice is rough.

“Weren’t you supposed to be claimed by Ethan Cross today?”

I answer calmly.

“He changed his mind.”

Alexander stops.

For a few seconds, he says nothing.

Then he lets out a cold laugh.

“So you came to me?”

He walks closer and looks down at my rain-soaked dress.

His eyes are freezing.

“Eight years ago, you cut me out of your life for him.”

“And now that he’s rejected you, you finally remember there’s still one stupid wolf waiting right where you left him?”

Pain twists through my chest.

“That’s not what I’m doing.”

“Then what are you doing?”

Alexander suddenly grabs my wrist and pins me against the wall.

His Alpha aura crashes over me.

“Trying to make him jealous?”

“Or are you planning to use Silvermoon Pack to force him to come crawling back?”

I don’t struggle.

I only look up at him.

“Neither.”

“Alexander, I want you to claim me.”

“I want to be your mate.”

His pupils narrow sharply.

But the next second, he lets go of me and steps back.

“Get out.”

I freeze.

Alexander turns away from me.

His voice trembles slightly.

“Leave before I lock you inside this house and make sure you can never walk away from me again.”

I stare at his rigid back.

“Fine.”

“If you don’t want me, I’ll find someone else.”

The words barely leave my mouth before a deep wolf growl tears through the room behind me.

Alexander whips around.

In the next second, I’m pressed against the wall again.

His eyes are red at the edges.

“Freya.”

“Don’t you dare.”

My own eyes burn as I look at him.

“You don’t want me, but I’m not allowed to choose someone else?”

His hand tightens around my waist.

“Who said I don’t want you?”

The second the words leave his mouth, his expression stiffens.

I can’t help smiling.

“Alexander.”

“You’re still exactly the same.”

“Too stubborn to admit what you want.”

His face darkens.

“Don’t smile at me.”

“Why?”

“For the past eight years, the only time I ever saw you smile like that was when you were trying to please Ethan.”

His jaw clenches.

“It disgusts me.”

My hand moves before I can stop it.

I slap him across the face.

The sound cracks through the silent room.

Outside the door, I hear someone suck in a sharp breath.

Alexander’s head turns slightly from the impact.

For a long moment, he doesn’t move.

My eyes sting.

“I never tried to please him.”

Alexander slowly turns back toward me.

“Eight years ago, cutting you off wasn’t my choice.”

“What happened during those eight years is something I can’t explain to you yet.”

His expression hardens again.

I keep going.

“But I know I threw the ring you gave me into the lake.”

His eyes change.

“And I know you searched that lake for three nights.”

Alexander stares at me.

No one ever told me that.

He made everyone who saw it keep quiet.

I take a small breath.

“I also know that after I left, you developed severe insomnia.”

His face goes completely still.

“You could barely sleep unless you had something that still carried my scent.”

For the first time since I walked into this house, Alexander looks shaken.

I stare straight into his eyes.

“You don’t have to believe me.”

“But don’t call me dirty.”