Chapter 2

I scrolled through our messages. For half a year now, every message in the thread had been sent by me.

"Dami, I made your favorite beef stew tonight. Coming home for dinner?"

No reply.

"Dami, I slipped on the stairs and sprained my ankle. Could you pick up some medicine on the way back?"

Still no reply.

With trembling fingers, I selected every message between us.

And deleted them all with a single tap.

At the same moment, a red dot bloomed beside a new contact—Vanessa.

I hadn't accepted her request, but as though pulled by some unseen hand, I tapped into her Instagram.

Picture after picture of a blissful family of three.

The day I lost my first child, Vanessa had posted a selfie, flashing a peace sign. In the corner, a trash can overflowed with empty cigarette packs.

"We're getting ready ~ my Alpha quit smoking. He promises to be the best daddy."

The day of my second miscarriage, there was a photo of Vanessa lying weakly in Damien's arms, holding a wrinkled newborn pup.

"Welcome to the world, my little one. My Alpha cried harder than I did during labor."

I traced the red rims of Damien's eyes in the photo, and suddenly I remembered the trip we'd taken years ago to negotiate with another wolf family.

There had been a sudden car crash. Without hesitation, I'd thrown my body over Damien's.

He had been untouched. A length of rebar had pierced clean through my chest.

Damien had clutched my hand, his eyes anxious—yet still, somehow, distant.

Even at the edge of death, he had called me by my full name.

"Scarlett Rosewood, stay awake."

I had told myself he was simply cold by nature, unable to love, and I would warm him through.

But the truth was, I had never set foot inside his heart.

I couldn't tell anymore whether what ran down my face was rain or tears. I only wanted to flag a cab and disappear.

But I was soaked to the bone. Taxi after taxi refused to take me.

So I walked.

Tears slid down my cheeks. I slipped the wedding band off my ring finger and tossed it into a hedge.

By the time I reached the house, there were just three hours until my flight.

I shook my dizzy head, braced myself against the wall, and punched in the door code.

The electronic lock buzzed, then released a piercing alert.

"Incorrect password."

The next moment, the door swung open from inside.

Vanessa looked me up and down with a provocative smirk, then offered an apologetic smile.

"Sorry. I happened to mention that I couldn't remember the password, and Dami just went ahead and changed it to my birthday."

I stood frozen in the doorway, staring as the household staff packed up and threw out the furniture and decor I had chosen with my own hands.