Chapter 3

One night at his penthouse, I finally snapped.

His place was in the eastern district of Timber Ridge, a luxury standalone villa with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the entire pack territory. I set my cup down and looked at him.

"Ethan, what is going on with you lately?"

He sat on the couch, staring at his laptop screen.

"Nothing. Just pack business."

"Is this about what Vanessa said?" I cut straight through the bullshit.

Ethan looked up, his gaze heavy and dark.

"What did you hear?"

"It doesn't matter what I heard," I said, drawing in a sharp breath. "What matters is... do you actually believe her?"

I walked over, knelt down in front of him, and met his eyes. They were deep brown. Looking into them used to bring me comfort. Now, all I saw was cold suspicion.

"I'll explain this one last time: Jason and I are just pack members. You are the only one I love. Always have been. Ember and Shadow are calling to each other—can't you feel it? We are Fated Mates!"

Ethan stared at me.

"If you two barely know each other, why didn't you mention him from the start?"

I froze.

"Because there was nothing to mention," I said, staring at him in disbelief. "I can't possibly give you a full report on every single male pack member I say hello to!"

Ethan let out a bitter scoff.

"Didn't feel the need to mention him? Or did you have something to hide?"

My entire body went rigid.

"What did you just say?"

"Sophia, there's no need to get so defensive."

He stood up, looking down at me from above.

"I'm just asking."

He turned and walked out onto the balcony, lighting a cigarette. The flame flickered once and died out. Watching his back through the glass door, he suddenly felt like a complete stranger.

I thought as long as I stayed genuine and honest, he would trust me eventually.

I had no idea.

The seed of doubt inside Ethan had already grown out of control.

I didn't stay the night. I walked alone through the cold streets of the pack territory, the wind cutting my cheeks like glass. Inside my head, Ember remained dead silent. Her silence was heavier than any words.

I didn't know the worst was yet to come.

Everything blew up two weeks later.

It was Ethan's birthday.

I had scrimped and saved for months to buy the luxury watch he had been eyeing. He had flipped past it in a magazine once and muttered, "That looks nice," and I never forgot. I had it wrapped in a deep blue gift box, tied with a ribbon.

Full of excitement, I walked up to his front porch.

Only to find him standing there with Vanessa.

Vanessa held an elegant gift box of her own, smiling sweetly as she handed it to him.

"Happy birthday, Ethan."

Ethan took it. "Thanks."

"Is Jason coming tonight?" Vanessa asked casually.

"Yeah," Ethan replied. It was his birthday gathering, with a few pack friends invited.

"Well, you better keep an eye on Sophia then," Vanessa giggled, covering her mouth. "Wouldn't want things getting awkward."

Standing around the corner, I held my breath, waiting for Ethan to shut her down.

He didn't.

He paused for a second, then simply said, "Let's go inside."

To him, I really was just a suspicious woman who needed to be watched.

I turned around and tossed the blue box straight into the roadside trash can.

That night, the worst fight of our lives erupted in his living room.

Every ounce of heartbreak and humiliation I had bottled up over the past month poured out. And Ethan finally spit out the poison festering in his gut.

His eyes burned red as he glared at me.

"Did you only get close to me to upgrade your bloodline? Did you plan on securing your status by popping out pureblood pups for me?"

I stared at him in utter disbelief, tears spilling down my cheeks.

"Ethan, have you lost your mind?"