When he returned the next day, he knelt by my bedside, claiming he’d been at a pack negotiation and was angry with himself for not being there when I needed him. He even slapped himself repeatedly as punishment for his failure.
But, while I was in agony and almost died, he was having fun with another woman.
My last hope vanished in that moment, and my heart turned to ashes.
When Mabel saw my defeated expression, she became even more smug, placing her hands on her hips and announcing:
“My son celebrates his third birthday tomorrow. Dylan is throwing a big party to announce my boy as the pack’s heir.” She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a vicious whisper. “He’ll also recognise me as the new ranking female. “Your replacement.”
Her eyes gleamed with malice as she stood up.
“I look forward to seeing you at the celebration! ”
With that, she walked out of the room, her chin held high and her steps full of triumph.
As I watched her triumphant departure, sharp pains stabbed at my chest; the next moment, everything went dark and I collapsed.
I awoke to the next morning.
Dylan sat beside me, his eyes bloodshot and swollen, and his normally immaculate hair was dishevelled, as if he’d been running his hands through it all night.
He immediately drew me into his arms, his voice breaking as he spoke.
“Amelia, you’re finally awake,” he choked out, burying his face in my hair. “Your heart stopped twice that night. I thought I would lose you.”
The image of him with Mabel made me sick, and I pushed him away.
“I’m fine.”
Dylan froze, his arms still outstretched, a flash of pain on his face, followed by confusion.
“What’s wrong?” Are you experiencing pain? Should I call Elijah?”
I stared at him, looking for any sign of guilt in those Amelia eyes I’d once completely trusted, and then I asked the question that had been burning in my heart.
“Do you remember what I told you prior to our mating ceremony?”
Before we mated, I told him that if he fell in love with someone else, he should tell me right away, and I would step aside for the other woman.
But if he ever deceived me, I’d disappear from his life forever.
Dylan’s eyes flickered with panic, but he quickly recovered. “I will only ever love you in this lifetime,” he declared firmly.
“Why would you ask such a question?” He pressed, studying my face. “Has someone been telling you lies?”
I withdrew my hand. “I’m just tired.”
Dylan stared at me for a long time before standing abruptly. “Get dressed.” I’ve got something to show you.
Despite my weakness, I let him help me up. He wrapped a thick blanket around my shoulders and led me through the corridors of the healing den.
As we stepped out onto the grounds, I gasped at what awaited us.
An elegant private aircraft sat in the wide grassy clearing, gleaming in the morning sun.
Dylan looked at me with affection in his eyes, “You’ve always said you wanted to travel the world, but I’ve always been too busy with packing. I’ve organised everything.”
Dylan’s arm tightened around my waist. “In one month, when you’ve fully recovered, I’ll delegate temporary leadership to the pack council. For three months, we will travel wherever you want. “Just you and I.”
