Chapter 2

When I reached the apartment, I pulled out my phone and saw a message from the bank.

[Your account has been frozen.]

For a second, my mind went blank.

Then it hit me. A crucial line of working capital from my family’s design company, funds held at a bank affiliated with Thorn Pack, had been frozen.

My personal account had been dragged down with it.

Lucas didn’t waste any time.

He was trying to force me back with money.

My phone rang again. It was my father.

“Lydia, what exactly is going on between you and Lucas? Everyone’s calling. They’re saying you called off the bond and humiliated Thorn Pack.”

He paused, then continued, voice tightening. “Your mother… her blood pressure spiked. She was just rushed to the hospital.”

My head buzzed.

“I’m coming right now.”

I rushed to the hospital. My father was standing in the hallway, his brow tightly furrowed.

I pushed open the ER door. My mother lay pale on the hospital bed.

“Mom…” My voice shook. “I’m sorry…”

My father came in and patted my shoulder. “Don’t cry here. If she wakes up and sees you like this, she’ll worry even more. Go get some air.”

I nodded, wiped away my tears, and stepped out of the ER.

I had just reached the corner of the hallway when a sharp voice cut through the air.

“Lydia!”

I turned. Lucas was standing there.

Two tall Gammas flanked him.

“Lucas, what are you doing here?”

Inside me, my wolf, Nora, let out a low warning growl. I forced her agitation down.

Lucas walked closer, his tone calm and detached. “How’s your mother?”

Against my will, a fragile flicker of hope rose in my chest.

Then he added, casually, “As long as she’s not dead, that’s fine. Saves you from using that excuse to keep making a scene.”

Nora let out a low, furious whine. Rage surged through my blood.

“You came all this way just to say that?”

“Of course not.” Lucas clicked his tongue, his voice turning cold.

“Isabella’s been very worried since you unilaterally canceled the Mate Bond. You know how sensitive she’s been since Daniel died.”

My stomach churned.

He could say his dead brother’s name so easily.

My whole body went cold. “Lucas, that’s your sister-in-law!” I said hoarsely. “Daniel’s wife! Do you even remember how Daniel died?”

“So what?” he snapped, cutting me off. A flash of violence crossed his eyes before he forced it down. “I’m the Alpha of the Pack now.”

Again. Alpha. Since when had he become this obsessed, this unhinged, about power?

Nora sensed the threat clearly, growling low in my chest.

Lucas continued, his voice firm. “Your tantrum hurt Isabella. You’ll apologize to her, then come back and fulfill your duties. Don’t even think about refusing me. Don’t forget who the Alpha of this Pack is.”

He dared to turn his betrayal into my fault.

I thought of my mother lying in that hospital bed and my father’s exhausted face.

I didn’t have any choice.

“What do you want?” I asked.

Lucas answered coldly. “There’s a Pack business gala tonight. You’ll publicly apologize to Isabella and then resubmit our Mate Bond application.”

He glanced toward the ER doors. “Seven p.m. A driver will come pick you up.”