Chapter 3

Guilt creeping in, Ethan dropped the sandwich bag on the nightstand. “Fine, I was wrong, okay? I apologize. But Vivian had an emergency too. She’s just a human—”

“Is she more important, or was your unborn pup?”

Ethan scowled, lowering his voice into a sharp hiss. “Mia, can you stop being so aggressive? The baby was born healthy, wasn’t she? Vivian’s kid was having a real medical scare! We’re all pack neighbors here. Protecting the weak is basic wolf nature. What's wrong with helping out? Can’t you be a little more gracious?”

*Protecting the weak. Wolf nature.*

Looking at his self-righteous expression, this mate I had shared a bed with for three years suddenly seemed like a terrifying stranger.

Just then, his phone rang. A custom ringtone. Vivian.

Ethan instinctively glanced at me before slipping into the hallway to answer. Through the glass pane, I watched his face soften into an affectionate, almost indulgent smile as he nodded repeatedly.

Five minutes later, he stepped back inside, wearing an apologetic grimace.

“Mia, look... Vivian rushed out and forgot her house keys, and she needs to take Tommy back to the human hospital for a checkup. I need to run a spare key over to her. Aunt Sarah is here to look after you anyway, and your parents will be here this afternoon. I’ll be back in no time.”

Without waiting for my answer, he turned on his heel and walked out.

From beginning to end, he hadn’t looked at his newborn daughter once.

Ethan stayed away for three full days.

During those three days, my parents rushed over from the other side of the pack lands. My dad was a retired warrior, and my mom helped manage pack affairs—both proud, lifelong members of the Crimson Pack. Seeing my pale face and the empty chair beside me, Mom’s eyes welled with tears, and she turned away to weep. Dad paced furiously up and down the corridor; if I hadn't held him back, he would have tracked Ethan down and torn him apart.

Ethan's texts never stopped, though. One moment it was *[Vivian’s car broke down, just helping her fix it]*, the next it was *[The kid needs an IV drip, Vivian can’t manage alone]*. Every excuse sounded so noble, and every excuse drove another dagger into my heart.

My daughter didn't have an official name yet. Watching her sleeping face, I whispered a name to her: Emma. I only prayed she would live a peaceful life and never pick the wrong man like her mother did.

On the day of my discharge, Ethan finally showed up.

He pulled up in his car, with Vivian and Tommy sitting right in the front passenger seat. Ethan rolled down the window and waved. “Mia, over here! Vivian needed to bring Tommy for a follow-up anyway, so I gave them a lift so she wouldn't have to call a cab.”

Mom trembled with rage, raising a finger to curse him out, but I stopped her. Blank-faced, I held Emma close and opened the rear door.

“Dad, Mom, get in.”

The tension inside the car was suffocating.

Vivian turned around, wearing her signature fragile, innocent smile, though her eyes glinted with blatant mockery.

“Mia, I'm so sorry to trouble Ethan again. Tommy insisted on riding in Ethan's car, saying only his godfather's car makes him feel safe. You’re so generous, I’m sure you don’t mind, right?”

I looked her straight in the eye. “I mind.”

Vivian’s smile froze.

Ethan glared at me through the rearview mirror. “Mia, watch your mouth. Don't be so petty in front of your parents.”

“Petty?” I let out a dry chuckle. “Ethan, I just got discharged. My stitches aren’t even healed, yet you cram me and our newborn into the back while another woman and her kid ride shotgun. Who’s the petty one here?”

Ethan choked on his words, but before he could speak, Tommy screamed at the top of his lungs, “Godfather! This mean lady is bullying Mommy! Make her get out!”

With that, he hurled a plastic Transformer toy straight at my head. The hard plastic edge clipped my forehead, leaving a sharp sting and an instant red welt. Startled, Emma burst into tears.