Chapter 3

Lily POV

I knew that my Evans Pack was currently in a precarious position.

If I lost Moonclaw Pack's protection, those loan shark rogues would be the first to rush in and kill us all.

But Eleanor didn't only have Alex as a son.

As long as I married into Moonclaw Pack, no matter who the partner was, Evans Pack could get a chance to breathe.

Moreover, Alex's brother Sebastian was the previous Alpha.

However, during a hunt, he was ambushed and poisoned with something even witches were helpless against. His wolf was sealed, and he became extremely weak.

On the other end of the phone, Eleanor's voice carried surprise and hesitation. "Lily, you... have you thought this through? I know what Alex has done recently has hurt you, but the poison in Sebastian... if he Marks you, you might be affected by the poison too."

I closed my eyes, my voice calm. "Lady Eleanor, you know me. I've never been a magnanimous person. Since Alex likes that woman so much, I might as well fulfill their wishes."

I thought for a moment and added, "Besides, you should know my bloodline is pure enough. Maybe the final result will be that Sebastian's poison gets cured."

I couldn't guarantee this plan would be completely successful.

But what if? My mother once said she had Lycan blood, though I didn't know if it was true or not.

My father used to be a powerful Alpha.

My wolf was strong enough too.

Marking a sufficiently powerful mate could always bring benefits.

I believed Eleanor wanted Sebastian to recover more than anyone, not just because Sebastian was her son.

But also because Alex wasn't a responsible, qualified Alpha—he only knew how to sleep with women.

Eleanor on the other end hesitated before finally agreeing. "Since you've made up your mind, I won't try to persuade you otherwise."

After hanging up, I stared at the white hospital ceiling, feeling hollow inside.

Just then, Evan came in with two nurses to change my dressing.

No matter how strong a werewolf's healing ability was, having a piece of skin removed still required time to recover.

If treatment was neglected and infection occurred, healing would be even slower.

The two nurses chatted while working.

"Hey, that Omega in the next room is so lucky. It's just a tiny wound from the skin graft, but Alpha Alex had all the doctors from the medical center go see her."

"Yeah, making such a big fuss. Said he was worried about her wound getting infected."

I sat on the bed, listening to those casual remarks, and actually laughed.

So Alex knew wound infections were dangerous.

He just didn't care about me.

I couldn't help but think of a year ago, when Alex and I were still deeply in love. I got a minor injury during a hunt.

At that time, Alex did the same thing.

He brought in all the doctors from the medical center, looking tense, as if I had suffered some life-threatening injury.

I found it both funny and sweet then.

But now, he gave the same tenderness to another woman.

Back then I thought it was ridiculous but also touching.

Now he was giving that same gentleness to another woman.

After the nurses left, beta Evan seemed like he wanted to say something.

I raised my hand to stop him. "Don't bother. You can go. My injury isn't serious. I don't need care."

He hesitated for a moment before nodding and saying softly, "Then get some rest."

After I was alone in the hospital room, I braced myself against the bed and slowly stood up.

The anesthesia hadn't worn off yet, making my steps unsteady.

I had just reached the bathroom door when I heard Evan's voice in the hallway:

"Alpha Alex, shouldn't you go see Lily? She's all alone, it's kind of pitiful..."

"What's pitiful about her?" Alex's voice was very impatient. "Chloe is the victim. She's the perpetrator. What's happening to her now is what she deserves."

I froze in place, my chest feeling tight.

The next second, I pushed open the bathroom door and locked it behind me.

I didn't want to hear another word from him.

I suddenly remembered the night I fell in love with Alex.

I had gone to an upscale nightclub to meet a strange Alpha, hoping to find aid for my Pack.

That bastard actually had the audacity to slip his hand under my skirt. I angrily threw my drink in his face.

Just as the guy grabbed my hair and was about to hit me, Alex appeared.

Without a word, he pressed the man to the ground, his fists pounding down again and again, so viciously it frightened me, but also made my heart race.

From that day on, I accepted Alex's help and obtained the promise of protection from Moonclaw Pack that he represented.

And I secretly decided in my heart that I was willing to give everything for this man.

I knew he liked "pure" women.

So I changed my style of dress, my makeup, my way of speaking.

I became the "model of gentleness" in everyone's eyes, became what he liked.

Only when I saw Chloe did I finally understand.

He didn't like me.

What he liked was that "fragility" that could stir his compassion.

No matter how much I imitated it, I was only pretending.

But her—she was naturally like that.

Thinking of this, I laughed.

Laughed at myself for diving headfirst into a trap I knew was there.

Since it was like this, letting go was fine too.

At least this time, I was the one who said goodbye first.