chapter 9

Audrey didn't even get a chance to ask Jason why he had saved her—everything just went black.

When she opened her eyes again, she was already lying in a hospital bed at the werewolf hospital.

Audrey blinked, her dry eyes adjusting to the plain white ceiling. When she turned her head, the only person sitting beside her was Jason, quietly keeping watch.

Even after a few glances, she still couldn't believe it. Of all people, it was him.

She hid the surprise behind a calm expression and asked plainly, "Aren't you supposed to be with Lucy right now?"

"I checked in on her earlier," he said. "The room was packed, and Ethan was already there."

Jason expected her to get upset when he brought up Ethan. But Audrey stayed completely neutral. If anything, it sounded like she wanted him gone.

He was silent for a while, as if he was trying to find the right words. But once he started talking, it all came out in a rush. "Don't go through with mating with Ethan. He's not in love with you. He only stuck close to you to keep you away from me. The truth is, the one he's always cared about is Lucy."

Finally saying it seemed to lift something off his chest. But when he looked at Audrey again, her face was still unreadable, as if she had known the whole time.

His eyes widened. "You already knew?"

"If you're done talking, you can go now," she said. She didn't even react to what he'd said and just told him to leave.

Lilith growled faintly inside Audrey, as if warning him to back off.

But Jason wasn't ready to leave. Frustration started creeping in. "Do you even realize what you're doing? You're gonna mate with someone who doesn't even care about you. Once that bond is locked in, your wolf will be tied to him forever."

Audrey just smiled.

She looked him straight in the eyes. Her voice was soft, but there was a sharp edge to it. "Are you saying this because you feel guilty? Or is it because Lucy messed with your feelings and now you're suddenly remembering I exist?"

"Audrey, I ... " He dropped his gaze and muttered, "I'm sorry."

She let out a laugh.

"Why would I care? Didn't I already break our bond and hand you right back to Lucy?"

Jason had no comeback.

He didn't even know why he felt like this. He knew he should have been happy. But now, every time he saw Lucy, he'd think of Audrey. She'd show up in his dreams, and even his wolf would react when she was close.

Before he could say anything else, the hospital room door slammed open. Ethan stood in the doorway. The second he saw Jason, his face turned cold.

"What are you doing here?"

And just like that, the conversation ended. Jason gave Audrey one last glance and walked out.

As soon as he left, Ethan rushed over and pulled Audrey into his arms.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "It's not that I didn't try to save you ... I just ... I didn't realize it was you in the water.

"Please don't be mad at me. I swear, I'm done with Lucy. Just don't get close to Jason again.

"You finally got over him and chose me. If you go back to him now, I'll lose it."

Ethan kept talking, one apology after another. But Audrey didn't say a word. She shut her eyes, her thoughts elsewhere.

All she could think was, I hope this all ends soon.

In the days that followed, maybe to prove he meant it, Ethan didn't go near Lucy. He ignored every update about her. Instead, he stuck to Audrey like glue and bought her countless gifts—pheromone perfumes, expensive rubies, and her favorite venison dishes.

And then came the night before their bonding ceremony.

Out of nowhere, Audrey began packing her things.

Ethan noticed but didn't question it at first. He even helped her pack.

But the longer it went on, the more he started realizing something—she was packing up everything he had ever given her.

All the photos he'd taken of her, every love letter he'd written, and all the gifts he'd once proudly given her—stuffed into one bag.