Chapter 2

Betty leaned closer, her voice deliberately soft—as if she wanted to make sure someone outside the door could still hear. “But Joey… what if Rory finds out? Aren’t you afraid she’ll do something?”

Joey let out a cold laugh, full of pleased contempt. “Rory? Please. She’s soaked in human’s scent now. She can’t go back to the pack. Without me, she’s nothing. If she dares to make trouble, I can kick her onto the street any time.”

Betty giggled. Joey kept going. “What a pity. I originally wanted Rory’s heart. Who knew that once a werewolf sleeps with a human, she’s not ‘pure’ anymore. Good thing Rory has a sweet little sister.”

Tears blurred my vision. My chest felt crushed, like something heavy was sitting on it. Even breathing hurt.

I didn’t say a word.

I backed away, step by step, and left. The tears were scalding, thick, rolling down my cheeks.

By the time I reached the doorway, my legs gave out. I collapsed onto the cold concrete.

I cried until my throat was raw.

I leaned against the yard wall, shaking so hard I wanted to tear myself off.

It was my fault.

I shouldn’t have brought Sansa out of the pack.

I shouldn’t have trusted Joey’s explanations just because I loved him—trusted him blindly.

He always told me I could never go back.

That I was alone, with no one to rely on, and I’d depend on him for the rest of my life.

What a joke.

My fingers trembled as I dialed a number I once swore I’d never call again.

My father.

The Alpha of Ash Born Pack.

The king of our wolves.

A single pulse of his dominance was enough to make even a werewolf’s soul feel like it might turn to ash.

And the person he hated most was me—because I’d left Ash Born to marry Joey, letting human scent stain me.

Back then, I was naïve.

I thought Joey treated me well. For him, I cut my family off.

And the worst part…

I got Sansa killed.

She had only come to keep me company, afraid I’d be lonely, afraid I wouldn’t fit in.

On the other end of the line, my father’s voice was low and icy. “Rory? You’re still alive?”

I inhaled, forcing my voice to steady. “Dad. I lost. I’m ready to accept the Alpha succession. In five days, come get me—I’ll finish the divorce before then.”

There was a beat of silence. Then his voice snapped like a whip. “Divorce? Didn’t you love him to death? What happened?”

I shut my eyes and spat every word out with the taste of blood on my tongue.

“Sansa was killed by him.”

My fingers clenched until my knuckles turned white. “And I’m going to make him pay.”

The line fell into the kind of silence that comes right before a storm breaks.

“I warned you,” my father said, rage pressed down so hard it made the words vibrate. Sansa was my sister—and his daughter. “Joey isn’t worthy of you. He’s not even worthy of the dirt under your heel.”

A bitter laugh scraped out of me. “I know that now.”

“Come home, Rory,” he said, his voice carrying unquestionable force. “The pack has been waiting. Joey will learn what it means to offend wolves. He will learn the price.”

After I hung up, I saw Betty’s car drive away.

I went back inside.

Joey saw me and froze for a split second. Then he frowned, displeased, like I was a fool standing in his way.

“Since you’re back, why aren’t you cooking?”

I glanced at him and scrolled my phone.

“Aren’t you already full?”