Chapter 3

At seven in the evening, Daniel finally showed up after being missing for six hours.

His face was pale, and his eyes were filled with guilt.

"Emily, I'm sorry," his voice was hoarse. "Sophia... she’s my fated mate. I couldn't just watch her die. It’s my responsibility."

Swallowing the bitterness in my throat, I couldn't help but ask, "Fated mate? If you found your fated mate, why did you still want to go through with our ceremony?"

"And she chose today of all days to slit her wrists? Demanding you go to her? What is she trying to pull?"

"Daniel, I am not an idiot."

After a long silence, he took my cold hand, his voice cracking.

"Emily, in these seven years, I’ve never begged you for anything. Just this once, I beg you, don't let this get out. Don't let it ruin Sophia's reputation, okay? She’s my fated mate, and she’s just a fragile Omega. I don't think she can handle the pack's judgment."

Looking at the desperation in his eyes, my heart felt squeezed so tight I could barely breathe.

He shouldn't be begging for her. He should be apologizing to me.

A person's first instinct never lies. He hadn't thought about how humiliated I was at the ceremony hall.

He hadn't worried about why I ended up in the clinic.

The moment he opened his mouth, it was all about Sophia.

My tears fell like broken strings, soaking into the white bedsheets.

It took everything I had to squeeze out one word. "Okay."

He visibly relaxed and added, "Sophia is mentally unstable because of the ceremony. Let’s postpone our ceremony for now."

"I’ll spend some time helping her through her therapy. Once she’s doing better... maybe in three months, we’ll have our ceremony. What do you think?"

Daniel's voice was cautious, testing the waters.

I had waited seven years. Another three months shouldn't have mattered.

But as I looked at his concern for another woman, I realized I couldn't wait even another three seconds.

The little life in my womb seemed to feel my grief, shifting slightly.

I gently touched my abdomen. A six-week-old life was growing inside me. It was ours, yet it felt like he had nothing to do with it anymore.

I slowly pulled my hand away, my voice as dead as still water. "Daniel."

"I don't have the best memory, but I still remember when you were seventeen. You gave me your token at the pack bonfire, and you were so nervous you couldn't even walk straight."

"I remember the first time you held my hand. Your palm was so sweaty, but you didn't let go for blocks."

"I remember the day you became Alpha. You held me and promised to protect me forever, saying you'd make me the happiest mate in the world."

"Through all these years, you remembered that I hate onions, and you knew every little habit of mine... I genuinely believed you cherished me above all else."

I looked up at him, my tears spilling over. "But today, I can't feel your love anymore..."

As seven years of memories rushed through us, Daniel's eyes reddened. His throat bobbed, and a single tear escaped.

"But Emily, Sophia is my fated mate. She needs me right now."

That single phrase, *fated mate*, completely crushed my last shred of hope.

I looked at him and suddenly smiled through my tears. "Then go to her."

He froze, clearly not expecting me to let go so easily.

But in the end, he said nothing. He turned and left the room.

***