Chapter 3

Emily Carter POV

"Why should I?"

I clutched my bruised neck, coughing hoarsely as I looked up to meet James's gaze.

"I will never apologize for something I didn't do."

James's face darkened instantly. He let go of Sophia and took a menacing step toward me, his voice dangerously low.

"Emily, have I been too soft on you? Sophia is my Fated Mate and the future Luna. If this scandal isn't cleared up, the pack will reject her! If you don't issue a statement, she's ruined!"

"If she's ruined, how is that my problem?"

I let out a cold laugh.

"She knows exactly what kind of trash she did in her past. James Whitfield, you're protecting her so blindly. Aren't you afraid you're holding a piece of garbage?"

Slap.

A violent slap struck my face.

My head snapped to the side, my ears ringing as the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.

The room fell into a suffocating silence.

Sophia gasped, covering her mouth in mock horror.

"James, why did you hit her..."

James's hand hung in the air, trembling slightly.

He hadn't expected to hit me that hard. A flash of regret crossed his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by cold indifference.

"That's the price for your filthy mouth."

He said coldly.

"Emily, I'll give you one last chance. Are you going to clear her name or not?"

I slowly turned my head back, wiped the blood from my lip with my thumb, and laughed.

I laughed so hard tears almost came out.

This was the man I had loved for ten years.

For a woman filled with lies, he played judge and jury without knowing the truth, and even raised his hand against me.

"Alpha James, didn't you say I did this because I love you?"

Barefoot, I stepped off the bed and walked over to the corner, kicking open the massive black trash bags.

Shredded clothes, torn photographs, and smashed gifts spilled across the floor.

James's pupils contracted instantly.

He stared at a torn photo on the ground. It was a picture from his eighteenth birthday, a photo I had practically begged and annoyed him to take with me.

He had hated it, but I had framed it and kept it by my bedside like a treasure.

Now, his face in the photo was cut to pieces.

"Do you see this?"

I pointed at the mess on the ground.

"I don't love you anymore. Your things disgust me. So believe me, I don't have the time or energy to waste on your little precious princess."

James's face drained of color.

"You..."

He opened his mouth, but his throat was too tight to produce words.

Seeing this, a flash of jealousy and malice shot through Sophia's eyes.

She quickly grabbed James's sleeve, whispering gently,

"James, since Emily said it wasn't her, let's just leave it. We'll find another way. Don't force her."

James took a deep breath and gave me one last frigid look.

"It better not be you. Otherwise, I will make you pay."

With that, he pulled Sophia and walked out.

I stared at their retreating figures and muttered,

"Get lost."

James paused for a fraction of a second, his back stiffening, but he didn't turn around. He stormed off.

I collapsed onto the floor amidst the wreckage and closed my eyes.

It was over. Truly over.

The next morning, I carried my suitcase downstairs, ready to leave the Packhouse.

I wanted to find a quiet place to stay before the Alpha King's men arrived, away from their drama.

As I reached the living room, James and Sophia were heading out to manage the public relations crisis.

Seeing my suitcase, James frowned.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Back to my parents' old house," I said flatly. "Didn't you tell me to get the hell out yesterday?"

James choked on his words, his expression souring.

Before he could speak, the front doors were violently thrown open.

A disheveled woman with bloodshot eyes burst in, clutching a gleaming silver dagger. She lunged at Sophia like a maniac.

"Sophia Langley! You bitch! You framed me for seducing the Alpha and got me kicked out of my pack! My mother died protecting me from rogues because of you! Today, I'm taking your life!"

It happened too fast. Nobody had time to react.

The dagger sliced through the air, heading straight for Sophia's chest.