Chapter 2

For three days, Ethan didn't come home.

But the wedding planners he hired had already arrived to prepare for the Mate Ceremony.

It was the dream I had chased for five years. I wanted to wear that wedding dress at least once before I left.

On the third night, Ethan finally returned. And he brought Sophia with him.

He didn't offer a single word of explanation for his three-day disappearance.

"Sophia is moving into the estate starting today. I've had the maids pack your things. You'll be staying in the guest room."

Sophia was incredibly fragile, looking like a porcelain doll that would shatter at any touch.

She stood behind Ethan, whispering meekly, "Hello, Luna. Sorry to intrude."

The title made both Ethan and me freeze. Ethan recovered first.

"Just call her Lily."

I knew I had no right to act like the lady of the house. I gave a polite, emotionless nod and turned to go upstairs.

But then, a loud pattering of paws echoed down the hall. Buddy hadn't seen Ethan in three days.

Seeing a stranger, Buddy trotted over and began sniffing around her. He liked her scent and tried to jump up to play.

Sophia burst into tears instantly, throwing herself into Ethan's arms.

Ethan wrapped his arms around Sophia and screamed at Buddy, "Get the hell away! Lily, get your damn dog!"

He kicked Buddy. Hard.

Buddy's small body rolled across the hardwood floor, crashing into the wall.

The poor dog didn't understand why the Alpha who used to pet him had suddenly kicked him. He could only lie there, whimpering in confusion.

I rushed over and scooped Buddy into my arms. "Buddy! Buddy, are you okay? Does it hurt? Mommy's here, don't be scared."

Buddy was a stray dog I had rescued years ago.

Back when loan sharks threw me onto the freezing streets, and I was shivering to death with a high fever, Buddy had used his tiny, warm body to keep me alive.

He was old now. The vet had already warned me that he didn't have much time left.

I lost my mind. For the first time, I screamed at Ethan. "He's so small! How could you kick him?!"

Ethan looked shocked by his own actions.

His lips parted as if to apologize, but Sophia's hysterical sobbing cut him off.

"I'm sorry! It's all my fault!" Sophia gasped, clutching her chest. "I overreacted. The underground casino... there were vicious attack dogs everywhere. I had a panic attack."

Sophia had an abusive, gambling-addicted father who had literally used her as a betting chip. She had suffered unspeakably before escaping.

The casino owner was obsessed with her. He demanded she spend a night with him to clear her father's debt.

The casino owner had powerful backing. Even Ethan's pack hesitated to cross him.

Sophia started hyperventilating. Ethan forgot everything else. He swept her up in his arms and rushed toward the master bedroom.

"Get the Pack Healer! Now!"

The house erupted into chaos. No one cared about me or Buddy.

Buddy whimpered softly, his back leg bent at an unnatural angle.

I grabbed a passing maid. "Buddy is hurt. Can someone drive us to the Healer's clinic?"

But everyone was running around for Sophia. The maid shoved my hand away, glaring at me.

"Miss Miller, look at the situation! Is your stupid dog more important than Miss Sophia's life?"

"Honestly, even if you were dying today, you'd have to wait in line."

Buddy's whimpers were growing fainter. I couldn't wait. I held Buddy tight and walked out of the estate.

Silver Creek Estate was perched on a hill far outside of town. The winding roads had barely any traffic during the day, let alone at night.

Surrounded by pitch-black pine trees and the sound of my dying dog's whimpers, I swallowed my terror. I begged the heavens to save him.

I had so little in this world. Please don't take Buddy away from me.

After walking for nearly an hour, my legs trembling, I finally saw the headlights of a pickup truck rounding the bend.

I ran into the middle of the road, waving my arms frantically. The driver was an old human man. He took one look at my tear-stained face and the bleeding dog and told me to get in.

At the clinic, the vet told me Buddy only had a fractured leg. No internal bleeding.

My chest heaved with relief. But when I stepped down, a sharp pain shot up my soles. I looked down and saw my feet were covered in bloody blisters.