“I did what had to be done,” Jonathan said coldly. “Janine needed me. Her sister needed me. Natasha’s mother was already dying.”
Billy’s voice cracked like a whip. “You call that a justification? You killed her.”
“I saved Janine’s sister,” Jonathan replied with chilling finality. “And I took Natasha as my mate. That should be enough.”
“Five years, Alpha. Five years of lies. That girl adores you.”
“She means nothing,” Jonathan snapped. “I marked her. Gave her status. But if she ever finds out… then I’ll remove her.”
I couldn’t breathe.
“Banished her?” Billy asked in disbelief.
“If I must,” Jonathan said. “As long as Janine’s happy, nothing else matters.”
That was it. My legs gave out. The world blurred.
I had believed in him—in his touches, his words, the way he shielded me. I thought I mattered. But I was a placeholder. An obligation. A piece in his tragic love story.
I stood up, pulled the key from my pocket, and tossed it into the brazier. Flames devoured the future I once envisioned.
Then, I ran.
My wolf howled, furious and broken as I tore through the halls. The Packhouse warped around me, corridors twisting in my vision.