Chapter 2

Alpha Damien never told anyone we were mated.

We've been together for three years, yet he still appears in public as an unmated Alpha—elegant, composed, and rational.

I never questioned him about why he wouldn't make our bond public.

Because I used to think that just being with him made me happy enough.

Ever since that day in high school when he shielded me from the scalding hot water those bullies threw at me, I started secretly liking him.

Ten years have passed, and that feeling hasn't diminished one bit.

Three years ago, Alpha Damien broke up with Clarissa and got completely drunk.

I ran to the bar and endured the smoky, suffocating air to stay with him all night.

In his drunken state, he asked if I wanted to try being with him.

I knew he only said it out of spite. I knew he didn't like me yet.

But I couldn't resist the temptation of those words, so I said yes.

I thought that as long as I was good to him, someday he would like me the way I liked him.

Now I see how wrong I was. Completely wrong.

Alpha Damien didn't come home until very late.

It wasn't until midnight that he texted me: "Baby, I have a pack meeting tonight. I'll be home late. Go to sleep early, don't wait up for me."

But I clearly saw Clarissa's social media post—a silhouette photo of a man carrying her on his back.

"Someone is still so Alpha-material, I'm almost moved to tears~ Should I say yes to his marking proposal?"

It wasn't a pack meeting. It was a marking proposal...

Not the casual, perfunctory verbal promises he gave me, but a real proposal for a lifelong mate bond.

I stared at that blurry photo on Clarissa's social media over and over again.

I felt like I was back in school, watching their love story from the shadows.

A sharp pain shot through my stomach. I quickly closed my phone and stopped looking.

I was already planning to leave. What was the point of looking anymore?

I got up and started cleaning the house, throwing away all the couple's items I had picked out myself—the matching toothbrushes, mugs, and cushions—straight into the trash.

When Alpha Damien pushed the door open, I was standing by the trash can, tying up the bag.

He glanced at me. "Didn't you really like those things? Why are you throwing them all away?"

I kept my eyes down, my fingers cold, but tried to sound casual. "They're old. I don't want them anymore."

I thought he would at least ask one more question, but he didn't. He didn't care about whether those things stayed or went.

He just walked over and naturally placed his hand on my belly, speaking softly to the pup: "Was pup good today? Daddy's home."

Alpha Damien put on his usual good father act. Before, this would have moved me. I would have thought that since he loved the pup so much, he must love me too.

Just wasn't good with words.

But now I knew the truth. He loved the pup, but he didn't love me.

"Baby, are you still upset about what happened during the day? Don't blame me for not telling you before arranging for Clarissa to join the pack. She can't find a suitable position right now. I'm just helping her out as a friend, letting her work beside me temporarily. She'll leave soon."

When Alpha Damien realized I wasn't coming to help him take off his coat as usual, he knew I was angry. For once, he softened his voice to coax me.

"Are you jealous? Don't worry. Even though Clarissa is my ex-mate, I couldn't possibly like her anymore. I have you now."

I wanted to laugh, but couldn't.

Alpha Damien kissed my cheek, being more affectionate with me than usual.

If I hadn't caught him with Clarissa, I might have actually believed his words and been moved by them.

But now that I knew the truth, all his kindness toward me felt like wolfsbane.