Chapter 3

Tears spilled uncontrollably, burning as they ran down my cheeks.

I had come to a place like this because I was worried about her.

I was afraid some werewolf would see her as just a human and hurt her.

But the one who was truly hurt

was me.

That realization cut into my heart like a silver blade.

Sebastian’s hand rested on Amelia’s waist, gripping her with unmistakable possessiveness.

His lips pressed against the side of her neck, his breathing low and dangerous.

I didn’t even need to look to know what he was doing.

He was marking her.

The next second, he lifted her up and disappeared with her into the VIP room behind them.

I could imagine exactly what they were about to do.

Using those restraints,

fucking like the most intimate of lovers—wild, rough, unrestrained.

I remembered what Sebastian had once told me.

“To me, betrayal is the same as death. My father betrayed my mother, and my mother chose suicide because she couldn’t bear to live after being betrayed. So I told myself that if I ever reached that point, I would rather die first.”

I remembered the way he looked at me when he said it.

“Evelyn, you are my light. My salvation. To others, I’m a monster—a beast that could lose control at any moment. But with you, I can stop. You remind me that I can still be loved.”

At night, he would hold me in his arms, his heartbeat deep and steady.

“You’re not my weakness. You’re the reason I’m alive. As long as I live, no one will ever touch you. I will protect you forever.”

Even though our worlds were vastly different,

I was willing to embrace his.

When he proposed the mating bond, my family was fiercely opposed.

They fell silent for an entire night because of it.

My mother held my hands, her voice trembling.

“The Wellington family is too dangerous. They’re at odds with many other families, even openly hostile packs. Sebastian could die at any time. Who would protect you then, my dear? You are our princess. We don’t want you to get hurt.”

But I agreed anyway.

Without hesitation.

Not because I wasn’t afraid—

but because I believed I was the exception.

He rewrote the rules of the territory for me.

Night patrol routes avoided my residence.

Full-moon gatherings were moved to distant valleys—

just because I didn’t like the sound of howling.

He built an estate for me and planted night-blooming jasmine along the borders,

simply because I once said I loved that scent.

He exiled subordinates who had followed him for years

just because they privately called me a “useless ornament,”

as a warning to anyone who dared disrespect me.

He was ambushed by a rival pack and injured right before my birthday,

yet still stood at the kitchen door wrapped in bandages,

watching the private chef all night—

just to make sure my birthday cake was flawless.

I cried as I ate it, scolding him for not caring about his own body.

He only said,

“Evelyn, don’t cry. This injury is nothing. Nothing is more important than you.”

Now, every memory became a new claw,

ripping at my heart again and again.

How could I have been so foolish?

I thought my love could save him.

That my light could warm his darkness.

I wasn’t his light.

Not his salvation.

Not his exception.

I was just a carefully placed decoration

in this twisted game.

Without realizing it, I had moved closer to the room.

Through the narrow glass window, I could only see shadows moving—

entangling, pressing, claiming.

I turned to flee.

But my feet were nailed to the ground.

I couldn’t take a single step.

Then my phone vibrated.

The ringtone cut sharply through the pounding music.

Caller ID: Sebastian.

My hand began to tremble.

Through the glass, I could clearly see him still kissing Amelia, lost in her.

Yet his phone

was calling me.

Whose sick idea was this?

Amelia’s? His?

With shaking fingers, I answered.

“Baby.” Sebastian’s voice was sickeningly gentle—

exactly the same as every night when he lulled me to sleep.

“Miss me? I didn’t see your message earlier. I was handling something.”

I opened my mouth. My entire body trembled.

No sound came out.

“Why aren’t you talking?” He chuckled softly.

“Are you mad?”

The next second, I heard it—

sounds coming from inside the room.

“Ah… don’t stop…”

A woman’s voice.

Low, hoarse, immersed.

Amelia’s—cruelly familiar.

Sebastian cursed under his breath, clearly panicking for a split second, and reached out to cover her mouth.

He was worried.

Worried that the sound might crawl through the phone line

and into my ears.

“Evelyn? Baby, are you listening? I saw your message.”

He paused, his voice dropping lower.

“Don’t worry about her. She knows how to take care of herself.

You just need to eat properly and stop overthinking.

You’re about to become my Luna.

I don’t want you wasting your emotions on something so trivial.”

Sebastian’s voice was still so gentle.

So attentive.

I clenched my phone tightly, tears blurring my vision.

Inside the room, Amelia’s eyes were shut tight, her fingers tangled in his hair, completely lost.

“Evelyn, you’re not saying anything. I’ll worry,” he continued, still playing the role of the loyal wolf.

“You know I love you, right?”

Love me?

Is this what love looks like?

Marking my closest friend

while whispering promises to me?

Would a man who loves me

call me while entering another woman?

“Evelyn, my Luna. I will always love you.”

His voice softened even more.

“I miss you. I’ll come see you as soon as I’m done here.”

Done with what?

Done sleeping with my best friend—

and then coming back to keep playing the devoted fiancé?

I wanted to hang up.

I wanted to smash the phone on the ground.

But it was as if I were cursed, frozen in place.

“Sebastian…”

I finally found my voice.

“Yes, baby?”

“You…” My throat tightened. Every word trembled, carrying sobs I couldn’t fully hide.

“Are you sure… you really… ever loved me?”