Chapter 17

My face darkened when I saw him. "Derek? What are you doing here?" I snapped, frowning.

Shouldn't he be back in Belmor Town, prepping for his sacred bond with Brittany? Why the hell was he here, chasing me down?

Before I could make sense of it, Derek grabbed my wrist, yanking me like he was on a mission. "Hannah, don't be scared. I'm taking you back home!"

I wrenched my arm free, confused and pissed. "Derek, what's gotten into you?"

I stepped toward Evan, concern flooding me. "You okay?"

Evan shook his head with a smile. "I'm fine." Then he turned to Derek, his eyes icing over. "Let me introduce myself. I'm Evan, Hannah's mate-to-be."

He'd dug into Derek's past long ago, learning he was nothing but a lowlife. Half my life's wreckage was Derek's doing. Evan hadn't even had a chance to settle that score, and here Derek was, showing up uninvited.

The sky churned, half-dark, half-clear, brewing a storm. Derek opened his mouth to retort, but I cut him off, my voice cold. "Derek, you don't belong here. Leave."

I grabbed Evan's hand, softening. "Evan, let's go home."

"I won't allow it!" Derek lunged, blocking the door like a rabid wolf. But when his eyes met my icy stare, he crumbled, pleading, "Hannah, I messed up. I went too far before. Can you forgive me? I'll apologize—name your price, I'll make it happen! Didn't you always want to be my mate? I'm ready to form a sacred bond with you now!"

He thought I was just throwing a tantrum, that a few sweet words would fix everything. But there was no spark of hope in my eyes—only disgust sharp enough to cut. I turned to Evan, voice gentle. "Evan, let me handle this."

Then I spun around, slapped Derek hard across the face, and called security to drag him out. "Memorize his face," I told them. "If he shows up again, call the enforcers."

I didn't waste another word on him, let alone forgiveness.

"Hannah! Hannah!" he screamed, but I didn't look back as I walked away, hand-in-hand with Evan. Thunder roared, and rain poured down. Derek wandered the streets, soaked and unhinged, dodging passersby who stared like he was a lunatic. When a few offered help, he lashed out, attacking them. It landed him in jail for a month.

When he got out, he was a gaunt shadow of himself. Checking his phone, he saw news of Brittany's miscarriage everywhere. In an interview, she sobbed, blaming him, and he felt a twisted satisfaction. A year later, he logged into his social media and posted: Karma catches the wicked.

Brittany, back in Belmor Town, traced his post to Westron Town and flew out that night. She didn't go to Derek—she came for me. "Ten million. Leave Derek," she said, tossing a bank card on the table, not even bothering to remove her sunglasses.

I stared at the card and laughed. When Mom died, Derek offered me ten million to keep quiet, to save the Sullivan pack's face. Now Brittany was offering the same to buy my future happiness. Ten million—a dividing line between rich and poor, right and wrong.

Brittany frowned, annoyed. "What's so funny? Ten million not enough? Want more?"

Her arrogance was Derek's twin. I smirked. "You and Derek really are a perfect match."

She missed my jab, thinking I was greedy, her smugness growing. But I pushed the card back, voice flat. "Get out. Derek's choices aren't mine to make."

Furious, Brittany spat, "Hannah, you bragging that Derek's head-over-heels for you? You're just a homewrecker's pup. What right do you have to be by his side?"

Slap. I cut her off with a strike across her face, my calm eyes finally flickering with anger. "I told you—my mom wasn't a homewrecker. Say it again, and I'll sue you for slander."

I grabbed my bag to leave. Brittany, seething, snatched a scalding teapot, aiming for my head. Just then, the café door burst open.

"Watch out!" Evan rushed in, pulling me into his arms. A pained scream rang out—not from me, but Derek. Boiling water splashed his face, searing down his neck, hot enough to peel skin. He writhed on the floor, howling, yet still looked to me, hope in his eyes.

He'd rehearsed words to comfort me, but I didn't spare him a glance. The Hannah who once gazed at him with love was gone, now fussing over another wolf. Defeat stabbed his heart.

He had to face it: I didn't love him anymore.