Chapter 2

I picked up Tom's duffel bag and headed straight for the guest bedroom.

Jack barked, "Stop right there!"

"You're actually putting another Alpha in that room?"

"Letting him through the front door was already my biggest compromise. Now you're pushing it?"

"Absolutely not!"

I didn't stop. I kept pulling the luggage toward the door.

Jack didn't even wash the dish soap off his hands. He stormed over and grabbed my wrist, demanding:

"Have you lost your mind?"

I ripped my hand away, giving him a flat look.

"Lily said she wasn't feeling well and could only sleep comfortably on a king-sized mattress."

"I already gave up the master bedroom for her. Didn't you tell me I could do whatever I wanted with the guest room?"

There were only two proper bedrooms in this house. Lily had cried and thrown a tantrum until she took over the master bedroom.

She even complained about my clothes and makeup, saying there was too much clutter and it suffocated her.

So, I had been kicked out, forced to move all my belongings into the guest room.

Jack paused. Remembering that incident, his tone softened a bit, though his brow stayed furrowed.

"This isn't about doing whatever you want."

"Then what is it about?" I asked coolly. "Tom has mobility issues and his legs are still broken. If he doesn't sleep in this bedroom, where else is he supposed to go?"

Jack’s temper flared again. "He’s an Alpha! He’s a strange male!"

Watching Jack’s face turn bright red, it hit me—weren’t these the exact same lines I threw at him days ago?

I sighed. We really needed to have this talk.

"Jack, I was wrong."

Jack instantly lowered his defensive posture. "Good. As long as you understand."

I looked him in the eyes, my voice eerily calm. "I mean, I finally understand how you feel."

"Lily is the one in your heart. Seeing her suffer breaks you inside."

"Seeing Tom today made me feel the exact same way. I can't just abandon him either."

"How about this? You take care of Lily, and I'll take care of Tom. We can coexist peacefully."

"You make up for your past regrets, and I fulfill mine. Everyone wins."

Jack stared at me, dumbfounded, before blurting out:

"That's ridiculous!"

"That is utterly insane!"

I frowned in confusion. "Isn't it fair? You were the one who brought Lily in first. If anyone started this insanity, it was you!"

Jack stood frozen, tongue-tied. His neck was flushed red, but he clearly couldn't process it.

Just then, Lily made noise in the master bathroom again.

"Jack! Hurry, come here!"

Surprisingly, Jack didn't dash in right away like he used to.

He remained where he was, studying me in silence.

"Emma, are you doing all this just to spite me?"

Inside, Lily's cries grew louder. I didn't want to waste any more breath on him, so I shoved his shoulder.

"Spite you? Go on, get inside. Lily is pregnant. What if something happens to her?"

Reluctantly, Jack turned and left.

I let out a breath and hurried back to unpack.

Tom was sensitive. I needed to go check on him.