When I came to, a group of Nathaniel's interns surrounded me, Lila among them. I propped myself up. "What are you all doing here?"

A plain-looking wolf spoke up. "Nathaniel said to use you as a teaching case. Told us to come ahead."

Another elbowed him. "Why explain to her? She's just leeching off the Skye pack's debt. Doesn't deserve our respect."

My face paled. Before, I'd have brushed it off. But now? They were right. I was the chain binding Nathaniel, trapping him because of my mom's sacrifice.

"If it weren't for her, Nathaniel could chase his true mate," another said, glancing at Lila pointedly.

Lila's cheeks flushed, and my heart took another hit. Someone clapped their hands. "Bet her mom took the fall just to secure her pup a bond with Nathaniel. Their kind could never claw their way up to a pack like the Skyes otherwise."

The others chimed in. "Yeah, makes sense. Mother and daughter, both schemers. Her mom's the worst, playing martyr for status."

My fists clenched. They could tear into me-I'd take it. But my mom? She took the blame out of gratitude, not for some payoff. Their words grew venomous, and I couldn't let them slander her. I stood, arm raised to slap the loudest one.

Lila, catching Nathaniel's approach in her peripheral vision, stepped in front of the wolf. My hand landed on her cheek with a sharp crack. I froze.

Nathaniel stormed in, pulling Lila into his arms and shoving me back. "Sylvia, what the hell are you doing?" he growled.

I flinched, stunned. He'd never spoken to me like that. He didn't meet my eyes, just led Lila out to treat her cheek, his gaze full of worry.

Ten minutes later, he returned. His first words: "Go apologize to Lila."

I turned my head, silent.

"You've been too spoiled," he said, voice hard.

My body stiffened, eyes burning as I looked at him. "They said I was holding you hostage with my mom's sacrifice. Said she only took the fall to bind me to your pack. I wasn't aiming for Lila-she stepped in front of my swing!"

His eyes didn't soften. "And they're wrong?"

My breath caught, pupils shrinking. Disbelief and grief flooded me. Of course, that's what he thought all along. Why else would he sabotage our bond thirty-three times? Why else call me a duty?

I dropped my gaze, a bitter smile twisting my lips. "Fine. I'll apologize."

Dragging my battered body, I followed him to his office. Inside, Lila sat alone in his chair. I remembered when I wanted to wait for him there after hours. He'd refused, saying, "My office holds sensitive pack records. No one stays alone."

Yet Lila could. A wolf's principles only hold for those he doesn't love. I swallowed the dense pain in my chest and stepped forward. "I'm sorry, Lila. I didn't mean to hit you."

Lila gasped, hand to her mouth. "Mrs. Skye?"

Nathaniel touched her head, frowning. "We're not bound yet. You don't need to call her that."

He never corrected others who called me Mrs. Skye. But with Lila, he did. Didn't want his true mate saying it, did he? Bitterness flashed in my eyes.

Lila nodded sweetly. "Sylvia, don't feel too bad. I forgive you."

Her gracious act made Nathaniel ease up. "Go rest," he told me.

My nails dug into my palms. I turned to leave, but someone passing by bumped me. I crashed to the floor, pain exploding, sweat beading. From the office, Nathaniel's voice drifted out, soft and concerned. "Does your face still hurt? Let me put more salve on."

Tears broke free, spilling onto the floor. I clamped my mouth shut to stifle sobs, my shaking shoulders the only sign of my heartbreak.

The next day, Nathaniel went to another pack's healing den for an exchange, taking only Lila. During my week in the hospital, interns kept coming by, saying Nathaniel picked Lila to take her out for fun, to dine at fancy spots, to visit trendy pack landmarks-things he never did with me.

I stayed silent, but my heart felt like it was tearing apart. Finally, a flicker of release passed through me. Nathaniel, I set you free.

The moment I was discharged, I headed to the Skye pack's old den. I was going to break our bond.

I stood in the living room of the Skye pack's old den, my voice steady as steel. "Richard, I want to break the bond with Nathaniel."

Richard froze, caught off guard. "What's this all about? The binding ceremony's right around the corner, isn't it?"

I lowered my eyes, hiding the bitterness pooling there. "Nathaniel and I aren't meant for each other. It's better we don't hold each other back. My mom's getting out soon, and I want to take her away, spend real time with her."

Seeing my resolve, Richard sighed. "Alright. I'll arrange plane tickets. Your mom's out in two weeks, and you can leave then."

A voice cut through from behind me. "Who's leaving?"

My body stiffened. Before Richard could answer, I spun around, forcing a casual tone. "No one. Why are you back?"

Nathaniel didn't press. "Heard you were here. Came to pick you up."

Richard insisted we stay for dinner. At the table, Nathaniel piled food on my plate like always, his habits flawless-picking me up, serving me food. It's why I fooled myself into thinking he cared.

Halfway through, he brought up the ceremony. "Dad, the binding's still on for two weeks. Make sure the guests know."

Richard blinked, glancing between us. "Didn't Sylvia tell you? She wants to break the bond."

His words drowned in Nathaniel's phone ringing. He answered, and I, sitting right beside him, heard every word.

"Nathaniel, Lila's burning up but won't leave work. Come talk some sense into her!"

He gripped the phone, voice tight with urgency. "Keep an eye on her. I'm on my way."

Hanging up, he turned to Richard. "What'd you say, Dad?"

Before Richard could repeat himself, Nathaniel waved it off. "Tell me later. I've got something urgent." He stood, chair scraping loudly, and strode out, abandoning his usual manners.

Watching his back, my heart felt crushed by an invisible grip, a dull ache spreading.

After leaving the Skye den, I headed to the prison. Holding the visitor's phone, I looked through the glass at my mom, Clara, her face worn and weary. My nose stung, but I held back tears.

Her eyes lit up, hands pressing the phone tight to her ear. "Sylvia, all these years-have the Skyes, Nathaniel, treated you well?"

I tugged my sleeve over my scars, forcing a smile. "Real good, Mom. Don't worry."

Relieved, she smiled. "Your binding ceremony's soon, right? Shame I can't be there."

"We're not getting bound," I said, keeping my face light. "He doesn't love me. Mom, when you're out, let's leave this place, okay? Just you and me."

Her eyes welled up, voice breaking. "Okay, sweetheart. Whatever you want."

Back at my empty house, it'd been a month and a half since I'd last been here. The familiar rooms felt foreign now, like I didn't belong. I went upstairs, packing only what was truly mine. The gifts from Nathaniel and the Skyes? I left them behind. They were never really mine to keep.

That night, Nathaniel didn't come home. He showed up the next afternoon with a stylist and makeup artist in tow. "There's a healer's gala tonight. I'm taking you to meet some folks."

He never hesitated to show me off as the Skye pack's future she-wolf, but it was all duty-nothing more.

When I was ready, I reached for the passenger door of his car, but it wouldn't budge.

Nathaniel, behind the wheel, spoke up. "We're picking up Lila. She gets carsick. Take the back."

My hand tightened on the handle. Did he forget I get carsick too? I gave a bitter smile, said nothing, and slid into the back seat.

When Lila got in, her first words were, "Nathaniel, thanks for staying with me all night. I wouldn't have recovered so fast without you."

His eyes softened, a fond smile breaking through as he ruffled her hair. "Glad you're better. Take care of yourself-you're too fragile."

The sight burned my eyes. Lila, as if just noticing me, gasped. "Sylvia's here? I shouldn't take the front-let me move."

"No, stay," Nathaniel said, starting the car.

My carsickness hit hard. Halfway there, I was swallowing bile, but we made it to the venue before I lost it completely. I clung to Nathaniel's arm as we entered, Lila trailing close behind.

At the gala, he introduced me to some big names in the healer world, but it was perfunctory. His real focus was parading Lila to the top wolves, leaving me as an afterthought. The carsickness lingered, making me queasy. I couldn't stay. I told Nathaniel I was hitting the restroom and slipped out.

After half an hour outside, I took a deep breath and headed back. At the entrance, I froze. Nathaniel was guiding a flushed, unsteady Lila upstairs, her breathing uneven. His voice was low, strained. "Lila, hang on, we're almost there."

My heart lurched. I followed, trailing them to a room on the upper floor. They disappeared inside.

My mind buzzed, thoughts grinding to a halt. A hotel room-what did that mean? I wanted to believe he was just dropping her off. Standing at the door, I heard their muffled, heated sounds-moans, the wet press of lips. My last shred of hope vanished.

I didn't barge in. I was already humiliated enough. Stifling a sob, I stumbled out of the hotel, fleeing.

That night, I sat on my couch, staring out the window until dawn. My mind replayed what might've happened in that room, each thought a knife to my heart.

Nathaniel came home the next day, clothes wrinkled, some unknown stain on his shirt, reeking of Lila's perfume. My eyes, red from sleeplessness, met his. "You slept with Lila."

He paused, mid-yank on his tie, then spoke. "I'm sorry. It was a mistake. She drank something spiked, and the effects were intense. I had to help her."

"But you slept with her," I said, voice trembling, rising as I stepped toward him. "Do you even remember you have a mate?"

He rubbed his temple, exhausted, patience thin. "I told you, it was just to help her. A one-time thing. Don't overthink it. I'll still be bound to you-the ceremony's soon. Stop making a scene."

He turned and left, slamming the door, like I was the unreasonable one. I sank to the floor, tears streaming, a broken laugh escaping. How pathetic was I, clinging to hope when he only saw me as a duty?

I don't know how long I sat there before crawling to bed, falling into a dead sleep.

Nathaniel yanked me awake, dragging me to the car despite my struggles. "Nathaniel, what the hell!"

He sped off, voice dripping with venom. "You ask me what? I told you to stop making a scene. Why'd you take those bed photos to threaten Lila?"

I blinked, lost. "I didn't do that."

"Who else would it be? Lila left a resignation letter and went to the hospital rooftop. If anything happens to her, I won't forgive you." His words were sharp, seething with hate.

We reached the hospital, and he hauled me to the rooftop. Lila sat on the edge, the crowd kept below. Just the three of us up there.

Nathaniel's eyes locked on her, voice soft. "Lila, I brought her. She'll swear not to leak the photos. Come down-it's dangerous."

He didn't even let me explain, already convinced I was guilty. My heart felt pierced by a thousand needles. "I said it wasn't me," I snapped coldly.

Lila stood, eyes brimming with calculated pain. "Nathaniel, if those photos get out, I'm ruined. Why even live?"

He panicked, pulling me closer to her, his voice shaking. "Lila, don't do anything rash. I won't let the photos leak."

He soothed her, inching forward until he was two steps away. The moment she relaxed, he let go of me, yanking her into his arms and stumbling back to safety. I, caught off balance, was knocked aside-and fell from the fourth floor.

Time slowed. Nathaniel cradling Lila seared into my vision. Weightlessness hit, and I stared at the blue sky, despair closing my eyes.

The pain was worse than I imagined. I didn't even have time to cry before everything went black.