Chapter 2

The screen refreshed. A cloud album popped up: Sun & Sea Recovery.

Hundreds of photos flooded the monitor. Beaches, yachts, and Alaric holding Elena. Geotag: Last week. Santorini.

Just a week ago, Alaric had kissed my neck in bed. "Once work settles, I'll take you to the islands. We'll make up for our honeymoon."

It was never our honeymoon. It was Elena's recovery trip.

With numb fingers, I scrolled down. A sonogram appeared—dated six months before my blood pact with Alaric. On the back, in his sharp handwriting:

"For the baby we couldn't have. I swear, I will never have another."

My hand shook too hard to hold the mouse.

In the second year of our pact, I'd begged him for a child. He had simply cut me off. "Your bloodline is too frail. It would kill you. Drop it."

What did the outside world say about me? "A defective pet. Even her womb is useless."

He didn't refuse me because I was weak. He did it because he'd already given his vows to someone else.

My phone buzzed, snapping me out of the chill.

It was a text from Alaric: [Bring the file from my desk.]

By the time he returned from settling his supposed "emergency," I'd be long gone.

I would deliver the file, end this sacrificial joke of a bond, and leave his world forever.

...

Half an hour later, I reached his executive suite.

The vampire guards' stares pricked my skin—a sickening mix of pity and disgust.

I stopped at his door. It was cracked open.

"Still feeding her that honeymoon lie?" Elena's sweet voice slithered out. "That was my recovery trip. She'd shatter if she knew."

"She's not your concern." Alaric's voice was low. "You only say that to me. Don't give her a reason to be suspicious."

"I know." Through the gap, I saw Elena shrug off her silk top and straddle his lap.

"Elena," Alaric warned.

Then came the wet sounds of kissing and muffled moans.

"Punish me... Alaric..."

I covered my mouth. My blood turned to ice.

No wonder the guards looked at me like that. Everyone knew. I was the only clueless fool.

I dropped the file by the door and fled.

Pushing through the back exit, my knees buckled, and I collapsed on the icy stone steps. Hot tears spilled over my trembling hands.

"Hiding out here crying? Pathetic."

Elena stood over me, fresh hickeys glaring on her neck.

"You sent that text from his phone," I rasped.

"I did." She smirked. "For years, every 'meeting' he had was in my bed."

She shoved a phone in my face. A video of two bodies moving frantically.

My stomach heaved. I pushed her away, turned to the bushes, and dry-heaved.

"Can't handle that? There are plenty more positions."

I straightened up.

I put everything I had into my palm and slapped her across the face.

Elena's head whipped aside. When she looked back, her pupils were crimson slits. Murderous intent spiked.

"You filthy human bitch. You dare touch me? Do you really think you're Alaric's mate? You're nothing but a pain-free blood pump! Every drop he took from you, he fed to me!"

She lunged. A silver blade flashed, slicing my right arm wide open.

Blood poured. But I didn't flinch. Even with the bone visible, I didn't feel a thing.

"Freak." Elena smiled at the wound. "A numb little monster. I should've stabbed you more."

"Elena!"

Alaric's voice rang out.

Elena instantly dropped the blade, clutching her red cheek. "Alaric! Help! She's trying to kill me!"

He caught her as she feigned a collapse, then roared at me. "Are you insane?!"

I stared at my profusely bleeding arm. "She stabbed me."

"Bullshit!" he snapped, completely ignoring my torn flesh. "Elena wouldn't hurt a fly. The knife is at your feet!"

He fiercely shielded the trembling woman in his arms, glaring at me. "You used your numbness to mutilate yourself and scare her? You know blood makes her faint!"

A hollow laugh escaped my throat.

"My blood scares her? The blood you drained from me for years—was it really for 'purification filters' to keep me alive? Or did you feed it all to her to suppress her wolf venom?!"

Alaric went rigid. Panic flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly masked by cold arrogance.

"It was to keep you alive! I don't have time for your delusions. Elena needs a doctor!"

Without a second glance at my severed, bleeding arm, he scooped up the fake-fainting Elena and stormed off.