Chapter 12
+ 5 Points
At the pack’s celebration, my fated mate—my husband, Alpha Jerome—
stumbled into our bedroom with his
lover, Elise, clinging to his side.
Moments later, the unmistakable
sounds of moaning filtered through
the door.
I just stood there, numb, unmoving, outside the room … waiting, like always, for his orders.
I don’t know how long I stood there before he emerged, shirtless and
smug, wrapped in nothing but a
towel. He tossed a few bills at my feet
like I was a servant.
“Go get me some condoms. Three’s not enough.”
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I didn’t flinch. Didn’t even blink.
His best friend, lounging on the couch. with a drink, grinned and tried to
break the awkward tension. “Luna
Audrey’s probably still sulking. I’ll go.”
Jerome opened his mouth, probably
to make another jab at me–but I bent down and picked up the money.
That was enough to set them off.
Laughter exploded around the room.
“Pay up! What did I say? She’d kneel and grab the cash without a word!”
Their mockery rang in my ears, sharp and cruel, but I didn’t react. I didn’t
need to.
They all thought I was desperately in love with Alpha Jerome.
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I stayed for the money.
Now the debts are paid.
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And I’m finally ready… to walk away.
By the time I returned, the deed was done. Elise was curled against
Jerome’s bare chest, her voice syrupy
sweet.
“We didn’t use protection. What if I get pregnant?” she pouted.
Jerome laughed low, wrapping an arm around her. “Even better. One barren hen in the house is enough.”
His eyes flicked to me.
He didn’t need to say my name. I knew exactly who that line was meant
for.
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It was only the third day after my
miscarriage.
But Alpha Jerome didn’t care.
Grief, pain, humiliation–none of it
mattered to him.
To him, I was less than a stray mutt.
When I didn’t react, something shifted in his expression–surprise, maybe
even irritation.
He opened his mouth to say more, but Elise suddenly gasped, delighted.
“Oh! It’s snowing! Jerome, build me a
snowman!”
With a fond smile, he tapped her
nose, then turned to me just as I was slipping away.
“Audrey, you’re good with your hands.
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I froze, my brows knitting before I could stop them.
I’d just been out in sub–zero weather buying his damn condoms.
Now a dull, dragging ache pulled at my lower abdomen, deep and raw.
But when Jerome saw the color drain from my face, he just clicked his tongue in irritation.
“Stop faking. You’re tougher than Elise,” he muttered, grabbing my arm. and shoving me toward the door.
It slammed shut behind me.
The message was clear–no snowman, no way back in.
The bitter wind sliced through my
paper–thin clothes Ishivered as snow
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Three days ago, Elise complained
about the cold weather and insisted I
take her massive, aggressive Tibetan
Mastiff out for a walk.
I was already pregnant at the time, and the pack doctor had warned me that my pup was fragile. Shifting during pregnancy was strictly forbidden–it could put both me and my unborn child at risk.
From the moment I stepped near the Mastiff, it growled at me, baring its teeth with a hostility that made my blood run cold. Its intense aggression was impossible to ignore.
I pleaded with Jerome not to make me do it. “Please,” I begged, “don’t put me in danger. Don’t put our pup in danger.”
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But he didn’t listen. His response was
a shove that sent me stumbling out the door, the leash gripped weakly in my trembling hand.
The dog didn’t hesitate. It lunged at me, its powerful jaws snapping inches away from my abdomen. Terror
flooded my system as I realized it wasn’t just attacking–it was going for my belly.
I couldn’t shift to defend myself, couldn’t summon the strength of my wolf. All I could do was run. My screams echoed through the air, desperate pleas for help that went unanswered.
And then it happened.
A crushing blow landed against my back, sending me sprawling to the
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ground. The Mastiff was on me in an
instant, its teeth tearing into my flesh.
Pain shot through me like fire as the hot, sticky wetness of my own blood soaked through my pants.
The world began to blur, darkness
creeping into the edges of my vision. I fought to stay conscious, to protect my pup, but my strength was fading
fast.
Just before I passed out, I heard
Jerome soothing Elise.
“It’s fine, Elise, Don’t blame yourself. She’s a fool–this is all her own fault.”
Now, I forced my trembling body to shape the snow into a half–hearted snowman, numb fingers stiff and
uncooperative.
Not far away, Jerome had stripped off
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his coat and draped it lovingly around
Elise.
By the time I finished, my body was barely holding together.
Shivering, dizzy, I stumbled toward
the door.
Jerome blocked my path.
He looked at me–flushed face, vacant eyes, bleeding lips–and something flickered in his gaze.
He reached out instinctively,
fingertips brushing my cheek.
Revulsion twisted my gut. I turned my
face away.
His expression turned cold, sharp. Without a word, he shoved a camera
into my hands.
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“Take a picture of me and Elise.”
The cold had sunk deep into my
bones, but I raised my hands and numbly pressed the shutter.
Then came the shriek.
“Oh my god! Look at her pants—she’s bleeding!” Elise screeched, pointing at
me in horror.
I looked down.
Blood was pouring down my legs.
One breath later, the world tilted.
I collapsed into the snow.
I caught the flicker of panic in Jerome’s eyes.
He took one st
Chapter 12
I caught the flicker of panic in
Jerome’s eyes.
+ 5 Points
He took one step toward me–then
stopped.
And turned away.
Without hesitation, he scooped Elise
into his arms instead.
