chapter 4

Then Ryan pulled Lina down by the neck, still breathing hard, and crushed his mouth against hers.

Everything went dark in front of Bella's eyes. She couldn't watch anymore. Her whole body trembled as she squeezed her eyes shut and turned to run. Her footsteps were wild and panicked, just like that time when the Rogues had chased her. Except back then, Ryan had protected her. This time, Ryan was the one hurting her.

She didn't know how long she'd been running, but by the time she reached the exit, she was completely out of breath. She bent over and dry heaved, tears streaming down her face whether she wanted them to or not.

A thought hit her then—Ryan had always been so controlled around her.

He'd hold her carefully and ask if he was hurting her. But now, with another Omega, he'd completely lost that control. He couldn't even manage the basics.

All those promises about how she was the only one, how it would only ever be her—they were just a joke now.

What she'd just seen felt like a slap across the face.

A tearing pain spread through her stomach. Bella clutched at her collar and collapsed on the ground, her face drained of color.

Her consciousness started to fade, and then her communicator pinged again.

Another photo from that same number. The back seat of the brand new car was covered in shredded clothes.

"You saw, right? Ryan did it with me three times. Oh, and he said I can have this car now."

Bella didn't look at it again. She just turned the communicator off.

She went to the bathroom and pulled herself together. When she came out, she ran into Ryan, who looked frantic.

His clothes were a mess, and he still reeked of Lina. He grabbed Bella's arm, his face full of concern. "You were supposed to wait for me in the lounge. Do you have any idea how long I've been looking for you?"

How long he'd been looking for her?

He'd been in the car with Lina. Did it three rounds, apparently.

A cold, mocking laugh bubbled up inside her, but before she could say anything, Ryan started apologizing. His voice went soft and gentle, just like it always did when he was trying to smooth things over.

"But there's something I need to talk to you about. That car's not good for you. The suspension's too stiff. Let me build you a better one, okay?"

Bella looked into Ryan's eyes. Those same eyes used to look at her with such tenderness, but now all she saw was lies. Her voice came out dry and hoarse. "What if... I just want that car?"

A flicker of irritation crossed Ryan's face, though his tone stayed soft. "I really tried, but it's just not right for you. Don't be upset, okay? We can go pick out another one right now. And if we can't find anything, I'll have someone custom-build you one immediately. How's that sound?"

Bella couldn't help but laugh as she looked at his anxious expression.

Back then, if she wanted something, Ryan would move heaven and earth to get it for her. She once mentioned wanting flowers that grew on a clifftop, and Ryan climbed up there himself without a second thought about the danger.

Now he was making excuses because of Lina.

The whole thing was suddenly hilarious to Bella. How had she ever believed his promises that he'd only love her forever? How had she made him her entire reason for living after losing her parents?

Turns out his body wasn't the only thing that wasn't clean anymore. That heart he swore would protect her forever? That was dirty too.

She stared at her own reflection in Ryan's eyes, then remembered how he'd looked in that car just moments ago—face flushed, consumed by desire.

Bella felt sick to her stomach in a way she never had before.

She pushed Ryan away and let out a soft sigh. "Forget it. It's disgusting."

"What?" Ryan didn't catch that.

"I don't want it anymore. Just... let it go."

With that, Bella turned and walked away.

Ryan's instinct was to chase after her, but then he saw her stop in her tracks.

He followed her gaze and his stomach dropped. Lina was sitting in that car right in the middle of the road, and she even had the window rolled down.

Ryan froze. He rushed forward, desperate to explain.

But Bella acted like she didn't see anything at all and just walked right past him.

The moment Bella disappeared from view, Ryan furiously yanked Lina out of the car.

"Are you out of your mind? I told you to stay away from Bella! She's everything to me!"

Lina didn't look worried at all. She pulled open her trench coat to show him. There was nothing underneath except skin covered in kiss marks.

"She didn't even notice, Ryan. Besides, I've got some other fun stuff planned. Want to come over tonight?"

Ryan's expression froze. His eyes went dark with something heated, and his throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. Finally, he let go of her arm. "Don't push your luck."

Bella stood hidden around the corner. She heard every single word.

That night, Ryan didn't come home. He just sent a quick text saying "emergency came up" and vanished.

Bella knew exactly where he'd gone. Hell, she even knew which hotel they were hooking up in.

But she didn't react. She just quietly started taking care of everything she needed to do.

If she was going to leave Ryan's life, she was going to disappear completely.

By the time the Mate ceremony came around, all he'd have left of her was a corpse.

Bella spent the entire night clutching her aching stomach while she burned everything that used to matter to her.

Then she pulled out a box from the study cabinet.

Inside was everything precious from their past together.

First was the land deed to that remote Pack territory. That was also the first gift Ryan ever gave her. He'd said, "When we have pups someday, we'll bring them here to look at the stars."

The fang ring—he'd gotten down on one knee when he proposed with it and told her, "You'll wear this ring until you die, and in our next life, I'll use it to find you again."

And 18 birthday presents, one for each year he'd missed. He'd promised to make up for all the birthdays he wasn't there for, and he'd keep making it up to her for the rest of their lives.

Bella ran her fingers over the fang ring one last time, then contacted the black market and sold everything for a tenth of what it was worth.

She donated all the money to the struggling Packs out in the borderlands. Those wolves didn't even have enough food to get through winter. They deserved kindness way more than Ryan's fake bullshit ever did.

By the time she finished dealing with everything, dawn was breaking outside.

Ryan rushed in with a blast of cold air, his face pale and his hand clutching the transaction record from the black market.

"Bella, what the hell? Why'd you sell our rings?"