I stumbled out of the lounge, crashing into a server carrying a tray of drinks. Bottles smashed on the floor, the sound sharp as a gunshot.

Damian's head snapped up, his wolf senses kicking in. "Who's there?" he barked, already moving toward the door.

"Just a she-wolf, bumped into me by accident," the server stammered.

Damian pulled out his phone, scrolling to my name. My heart thudded as it rang.

Hazel sidled up to him. "What's wrong, Damian?"

He didn't answer, his brow furrowed, a nervous edge to him I hadn't seen in ages. The call connected.

"Amelia, where are you?" His voice was tight, urgent.

"Just left the old den," I said, keeping it short, my throat burning.

He exhaled, relief flooding his tone. "Good. Baby, you worked hard today. Your birthday's next week-you've always wanted to camp and watch fireworks, right? Let's do it, just us."

Baby. That pet name was mine. Hazel's eyes flashed with jealousy, and she rose on her toes, kissing his throat.

Damian's breath hitched. "You okay?" I asked, my voice flat.

"Nothing. just miss you," he murmured, but I heard the lie. He pinched Hazel's cheek, muttering "little minx" as he hung up, then pinned her against the wall, kissing down her neck like a wolf starved.

I heard it all, even as the call cut off. My chest cracked open, tears stinging as I wiped them away. This was what heartbreak felt like-every inch of me splintering, my body no longer my own.

One month. Just one more month, and I'd be free of him.

The whispers followed me everywhere. "Heard Damian booked the entire campground." "He's got a custom fireworks show tonight, plus five thousand drones for a light display. Costs a fortune!" "That's Damian for you-crazy about his mate. Whoever's bound to him must've won the lottery in a past life."

Camping was my dream. A cozy tent, our breaths mingling, eyes locked in the dark, the air thick with romance and secrets. Just us against the world. Damian used to tease, "Didn't know my Amelia was so wild." I was a good she-wolf, but with him, I let go-tried every thrill, every corner of desire, except a tent. I wanted that to be special, to make him happy.

Now? Happiness felt like a ghost.

Because Damian brought Hazel.

"I'm sorry, Amelia," he said, catching me alone by the campfire. "I didn't give you a heads-up. It's Hazel's birthday too, so."

"It's fine," I cut him off, forcing a smile. "More the merrier."

He relaxed, pulling me into a hug. "That's my Amelia-heart of gold. I'm the luckiest wolf alive."

Hazel's smile was tight, but her eyes glinted with something sharp, like the she-wolf who'd taunted me with that text wasn't her. "Thanks, Amelia. I promise I won't get in your way."

I ignored the venom in her gaze and shrugged. "Great. Mind setting up the tent, then?"

She glanced at Damian, then dropped her head. "Sure."

"Amelia, sit here," Damian said, guiding me to a chair. He chatted with me at first, but his eyes kept drifting to Hazel, who was fumbling with the tent poles. I could see him itching to help. Finally, he caved. "Hazel's hopeless with this stuff. Stay put, Amelia-I'll check on her." He didn't look back.

Once, he'd run to me like that.

"I'm sorry, Damian." Hazel's voice carried, small and pitiful.

He snatched the poles from her hands, keeping his distance at first. But when he saw blood on her fingers from a cut, his mask slipped. "Dummy, what's the rush?"

"I didn't want Amelia to get mad," she mumbled.

His face softened, and he brought her hand to his lips, kissing the blood away. "Silly pup."

I watched from afar, my stomach twisting. Damian, who gagged at the thought of germs, was licking her wounds like it was nothing.

The fireworks kicked off right on cue, bursting across the night sky in dazzling colors. Hazel yelped, startled, and Damian whipped around. "What's wrong?"

Then, catching himself, he straightened. "Quit freaking out, Hazel. You're bothering Amelia."

Hazel's eyes darkened, but she muttered, "Sorry."

I pretended not to notice, staring at the sky as five thousand drones lit up, forming my name, then "Happy Birthday," and finally, "I Love You." A grand confession spelled out in lights.

Damian took my hand, his voice warm. "Happy birthday, Amelia. I'll be with you every year, I swear."

You won't. The words almost slipped out, but I bit my lip and stayed silent.

Hazel slipped away, claiming she needed the bathroom. I saw her linger by the drone control station before slinking back to her seat like nothing happened. Then the drones went haywire, spiraling down like a meteor shower, crashing into the grass with deafening bangs.

"Watch out!" Damian shouted, grabbing Hazel and rolling them to safety.

I was left behind, frozen as a drone hurtled toward me. A searing pain exploded in my head, hot blood trickling down my face.

"Amelia!" Damian's voice was frantic, but it was too late.

His first instinct wasn't me.

After a day and night of fighting for my life, the healers finally pulled me back from the edge. As they wheeled me into surgery, I caught fragments of a conversation that still haunts me.

"The birth-block ring tore through her womb," a healer said, voice grim. "It's caused massive infection and scarring. To save her life, we have to remove it-all of it."

Before I could process, Hazel's voice cut in, sharp and decisive. "Damian, don't worry. Any pups I bear, I'll let Amelia raise. Right now, saving her is what matters!"

And Damian-my mate, my everything-agreed. "You're right. Do it."

I woke with a jolt, praying it was a nightmare. But then I saw Damian, his eyes bloodshot, clutching me like I might slip away. "Amelia, if you'd died, I'd have burned this whole healer's den to the ground. I'm sorry, it's my fault. I'm the worst."

He slapped himself, guilt carved into his face. Hazel burst in, grabbing his arm. "Damian, stop! It was just an accident!"

"I failed her," he growled. "I couldn't protect her."

"She's fine now," Hazel soothed, her voice all honey. "Don't take all the blame."

Watching them play out their little love scene made my stomach churn. I leaned over, dry-heaving, my body rejecting the sight of them.

Damian panicked. "Amelia, you okay?"

"Get out," I spat through gritted teeth, my voice raw.

My eyes burned as I shoved him away, too worked up to care that I was still hooked to an IV. I hit the floor hard, the needle ripping free, blood spilling down my hand in a bright, reckless stream. I glared at him, my voice a snarl. "Why'd you let them cut out my womb? Why?"

Damian stared at me, his face twisting with pain. He reached for me, trying to pull me up. "Amelia, calm down. Pups aren't everything. I just need you alive, okay? We can adopt as many as you want later."

I stared into his eyes, searching for the wolf I thought I knew. And then it hit me: I'd never really seen him. The dream of raising our own pups? That was mine alone, a one-sided fantasy.

Hazel stood there, jealousy flashing in her eyes. She let two perfect tears fall, playing the fragile she-wolf. "Amelia, don't blame Damian. He's hurting too." She glanced at him, voice trembling. "Everyone sees how much he loves you. Don't break his heart like this."

Damian's gaze softened, a flicker of tenderness for her. He straightened, voice firm. "I love Amelia. That's my choice."

Their little act was so polished, so blatant, I almost laughed. How blind had I been to miss this? Love really does cloud your vision.

"Get out," I repeated, colder now.

Damian froze, then softened, leaning toward me. "Amelia, rest. I'll stay right here."

But the second they left, I grabbed the water glass by my bed and hurled it at the floor, shattering it like my trust.