Chapter 2

Realizing their plan had failed, the two Rogues panicked and fled.

Sawyer glared at Liam, his voice exploding with anger.

“Liam, have you forgotten your mission? You’re Nova’s warrior. If something had happened to her, would you have taken responsibility for it?”

A flicker of panic crossed Liam’s face, but he quickly masked it with indifference.

“Nothing happened, did it?” he replied coldly. “Besides, Lily was injured because of Nova. I couldn’t just ignore her.”

Sawyer’s expression darkened. He stepped forward and punched Liam square in the face.

“So you just abandoned Nova’s safety?” he growled. “We all swore to Alpha Bruce that we’d protect her with our lives. Have you forgotten that oath?”

Though a trace of guilt flashed across Liam’s face, he couldn’t tolerate Sawyer’s accusation—or the punch.

The two of them immediately started fighting.

“Stop!” I rushed forward, trying to separate them.

Just then Lily cried out in pain.

“Liam! It hurts!”

Liam froze.

He immediately turned to Lily, his expression full of concern. Carefully lifting her into his arms, he hurried away without another glance.

Sawyer started after them, but I grabbed his arm.

He turned back to me, his face cold, anger blazing in his eyes.

“Why did you stop me?” he demanded. “After everything Liam just did to you, you still can’t bear to see him get hurt?”

His eyes were actually turning red.

“I didn’t—”

“Enough,” he cut me off sharply. “There’s no need to explain.”

“Since you chose him, then do whatever you want.”

“I didn’t choose him!”

The words burst out of me.

Sawyer froze.

A flash of surprise crossed his face, but it quickly faded.

“You’ve liked him since childhood. Everyone knows that,” he said bitterly. “If you’re not choosing him, then who would you choose?”

He waved a hand dismissively.

“Forget it. Choose whoever you want.”

Then he turned and walked away.

I watched his lonely figure disappear down the path, my chest tightening with pain.

If he knew the fiancé I had chosen was him…

What kind of expression would he have?

The thought filled me with unexpected anticipation.

The next day, my father sent several attendants to deliver gowns for me to choose from for the engagement party.

I had just picked up a dress when Liam walked in, supporting Lily as she limped beside him.

The moment Lily saw the gowns, her eyes lit up.

“They’re beautiful,” she said softly.

But then her expression dimmed.

“Unfortunately, I come from a poor family. I’ll probably never get to wear something this beautiful in my life.”

Liam’s expression softened instantly. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

“Don’t say that,” he comforted her gently. “If you like it, I’ll buy it for you.”

I ignored them.

But Lily wasn’t done.

She glanced at the dress in my hands.

“That one is a limited edition, isn’t it? I saw it in a magazine before. It must be very expensive…”

She lowered her head sadly.

“I could never hope to have something like that.”

Liam immediately walked over to me.

“Since Lily likes that dress,” he said in a low voice, “give it to her.”

Anger surged through me.

“Why should I?”

Liam frowned, as if my refusal was unreasonable.

“You’re going to be engaged to me anyway,” he said arrogantly. “No matter what you wear, you’re wearing it for me to see, right?”

“Besides, Lily was injured because of you. What’s wrong with giving her one dress?”

“At worst, I’ll pay you for it.”

I stared at him for a moment—then let out a cold laugh.

“Who told you I’m getting engaged to you?”