I spent two days recovering in the healer's den, making sure to send home a batch of pale bedding and supplies tailored to Kayla's tastes. My phone stayed silent-no messages from Nicholas. Back when I'd vanish for even two hours, he'd blow up my phone. Once, I was just at a spa, and he nearly called the enforcers. Now? Two days gone, and not a single word.

I smirked, tossing my phone aside. Guess it's all about the new she-wolf now.

No matter. I didn't care anymore.

The day I left the healer's den, the sky was clear and bright. But when I pushed open the villa's door, I stopped dead. In the living room, Nicholas had Kayla pinned beneath him on the couch, their lips locked, a thread of saliva glinting between them.

The door creaked, and Nicholas's head snapped up. His face shifted when he saw me, and he quickly pulled away from Kayla. She flushed, fumbling to fix her rumpled dress. "Rachel, don't get the wrong idea... I tripped, and my lips just... bumped into his."

Nicholas frowned, adding, "It was an accident."

Their flimsy lies didn't even stir me. "Sure," I said, nodding. My face was pale from the procedure, but I kept my expression blank.

Nicholas finally noticed. "You okay? You look sick."

"Just my cycle," I lied smoothly.

He grunted, accepting it without question. "Good."

A sharp pang hit my chest. Back when my cycle hit, Nicholas would cancel pack meetings, stay up all night rubbing my stomach, fetching painkillers. Now? His eyes were glued to Kayla.

"By the way," he said suddenly, "Kayla's birthday is in a couple of days. She's never had a proper celebration, especially since her parents passed."

He looked at me. "You handle it. Make it exactly how she likes."

"Got it," I said.

As I headed upstairs, Kayla's coy voice drifted behind me. "Nicholas..." Then came the rustle of clothes and his low, restrained breaths. I shut my eyes briefly and quickened my pace.

On the night of the birthday bash, the Grant villa glowed with lights. I'd pulled out all the stops for Kayla-a lavish affair with impeccable decor, gourmet food, and fine drinks. The pack's elite arrived, praising my "generosity" for throwing such a grand party for my mate's "sponsored she-wolf."

During the gift-giving, Nicholas presented Kayla with three extravagant gifts in front of everyone: a certificate naming a star "Heart Nebula," a deed to "Love Island," and a priceless pink diamond heart necklace. The crowd gasped.

"That's no sponsored pup-she's his heart's mate!"

"Nicholas is smitten with this Kayla."

Some even mistook Kayla for his mate, fawning over her. "Such a devoted pair!"

Kayla blushed, ducking her head but not correcting them. Nicholas's gaze, though, cut through the crowd to me, standing in the corner. For some reason, my calm stare made him tense. He strode over.

"Rachel," he said softly, "the gifts are just to make her happy. It's her first big birthday. Don't read into it."

I thought back to when I was sixteen, when Nicholas confessed his love in a snowstorm. I'd told him I'd say yes if he found a four-leaf clover. He searched all night, hands red from the cold, until he held up a clover, eyes shining like they held the whole universe. "Rachel! You're mine!"

"I know," I said now, my voice steady.

Kayla bounced over, all smiles. "Thank you, Rachel, for this amazing party. I love it." She batted her eyes. "What gift did you get me?"

I pointed to an elegant box atop the gift pile. Kayla practically skipped to it, unwrapping it under everyone's gaze.

The moment Kayla opened the gift box, a green snake shot out with a hiss. Her face went white as a ghost, and she screamed, flinging her hand, but not before it sank its fangs into her. She stumbled, collapsing into Nicholas's arms, her voice weak and trembling as she looked at me with red-rimmed eyes. "Rachel, I respected you so much... Why would you hurt me?"

Nicholas's face darkened. He scooped Kayla up, glaring at me like I was a monster. "Rachel, have you lost your mind? You said you were okay with her!"

"It wasn't me..." I stared, stunned. "I got her a bracelet..."

"Enough!" he snapped, his eyes brimming with disappointment. "You've always been jealous, couldn't stand another she-wolf near me. I'm not surprised you'd pull something like this. I knew your sudden 'understanding' act was fake!"

Without another glance, he stormed off with Kayla in his arms.

I stood there, the guests' shocked and judgmental stares burning into me. I closed my eyes, exhausted. The irony wasn't lost on me. In my last life, my jealousy drove Kayla away, earning Nicholas's undying hatred. This time, I chose to step aside, and yet I was still branded as the jealous villain.

Taking a deep breath, I grabbed the microphone. "Sorry, everyone. Party's over."

After seeing the guests out, I dragged myself out of the hotel. The night air was cool, but before I could hail a car, darkness swallowed me-a sack yanked over my head.

"Mmph-"

Before I could scream, a brutal kick sent me sprawling. Fists and feet rained down like a storm, pain exploding through every inch of my body. I curled up, shielding my head, but a blow to my stomach stole my breath. A stick cracked against my back, and I choked on the coppery taste of blood.

"Keep going!" a voice growled. "Beat her till she can't stand!"

Another barrage of punches and kicks. Blood pooled beneath me as my vision blurred. Just before I blacked out, I heard one of them make a call, voice low. "Nicholas, it's done."

Nicholas's voice came through, cold and detached. "Good."

Then Kayla's soft, fragile tone. "Isn't this too much? She's still your mate..."

"She didn't hold back when she sent that snake after you," Nicholas said, his voice like ice. "She deserves this."

My body shook, nails digging into the ground. So it was him. Nicholas had sent these wolves to beat me within an inch of my life.

He paused, his tone softening. "Kayla, Rachel's important to me, but so are you. She hurt you, so I made this right. If she tries anything again, I'll make her pay a thousand times over. Stay with me, okay? Don't talk about leaving. I'll protect you. No one will ever hurt you."

The call ended, and the world went silent.

Lying in my own blood, I laughed-a broken, bitter sound. The wolf I'd loved for ten years had thrown me into hell for another she-wolf. As my vision faded, I saw sixteen-year-old Nicholas again, standing in the snow, grinning. "Rachel, you're mine!"

Liar.

It was all lies.

When I woke, I was in my bedroom, every bone feeling like it'd been crushed and pieced back together. My skin burned, raw and aching. The mirror showed a ghost of myself-pale, blood crusted at my lips, bruises blooming across my arms. All of it, a gift from Nicholas.

It took two days before I could even stand. On the third, I started packing. Just essentials and documents-everything else, steeped in memories, I left behind.

Halfway through, the door swung open. Nicholas was back, Kayla at his side.

"What are you packing?" he asked, eyeing my suitcase with a frown.

I kept my back to him, voice steady. "Just clearing out old clothes."

He didn't seem to consider I'd ever leave. Without pressing, he said, "You were wrong about what happened. Kayla's not holding it against you, but you can't treat her like that."

He paused, then ordered, "Go make her a meal. It's the least you owe her for an apology."

My fingers dug into my palms. He'd had me beaten half to death, and now he wanted me to cook for her?

When I didn't move, his frown deepened. "Didn't you promise to take care of her?"

He stepped closer, his tone softening, almost coaxing. "Come on, no one's making a big deal out of this. It's just a meal. Don't make it a thing."

I looked up at him, his familiar face now so foreign, and felt a bone-deep weariness. I knew he wouldn't let this go.

So I turned and went to the kitchen.

As I chopped vegetables, memories crept in. Nicholas used to pamper me, never letting me lift a finger. Once, I tried cooking to surprise him and nicked my finger. His eyes had welled up, and he held me for hours, swearing I'd never touch a knife again. That warmth felt like a lifetime ago, replaced by a cold, sharp reality.

What would that Nicholas think of the wolf he'd become?

Three hours later, the meal was ready. I carried the final dish-a steaming bowl of soup-to the dining room. As I set it down, Kayla's foot "accidentally" shot out.

"Ah!"

The bowl crashed, and I hit the floor, scalding soup splashing across my arms and chest. Blisters rose instantly, the pain so intense my vision darkened.

Nicholas's first move was to shield Kayla. "Kayla!" he said, checking her hands frantically. "Did it burn you?"

Tears welled in her eyes. "Just a little..."

"I'll get you some ointment." He didn't spare me a glance, just wrapped an arm around her and headed out.

I knelt in the spilled soup, my skin screaming from the burns. I watched him guide Kayla upstairs, so careful, so protective. I remembered when I had a fever, how he'd stay up all night, wincing every time I so much as frowned.

How quickly a heart can change.

Gritting my teeth, I dragged myself to the bathroom, rinsing the burns with cold water and struggling to apply ointment. Halfway through, the door opened.

Nicholas stood there, his brow furrowing at my injuries. "Why didn't you say you were hurt this bad?"

I tied my shirt closed, voice calm. "You were busy with Kayla. I didn't want to interrupt."

He froze for a moment, then stepped forward, grabbing the ointment. "Let me help."

"No need." I sidestepped him. "I've got it."

He studied me, his expression unreadable. "You've... changed lately."

I gave a faint smile. "Have I?"

Yeah, I've changed.

Changed enough to stop aching for him.

Changed enough to stop loving him.