Chapter 3

My voice trembled as I looked up at him, eyes red.

"Raven, please. Don't let her throw anything else. I can pack everything myself. I'll take it all. I won't leave a single thing behind."

Raven's jaw tightened. Slowly, he released his hold on Anya.

The pups were still whimpering pitifully, trying to get their father's attention.

They wanted him to nuzzle them like he used to.

But before Raven could say anything—

Anya's eyes turned red, and she rounded on him accusingly:

"Raven, are you feeling sorry for her? Sorry for her and those pups she whelped for you, aren't you?!"

"I knew it. You say you're disgusted, but you can't let her go!"

Raven frowned. "I didn't—"

"You promised to come back for me, remember?"

Anya cut him off, tears streaming down her face.

"And what happened? You stood in front of the entire pack and bid a fortune to buy her. Those she-wolves laughed at me for half a year, saying I was delusional to think an Alpha like you would ever want me."

"After that, no werewolf wanted me. I had to work at the pack house, cleaning, serving—every degrading job you can imagine."

"One winter, I was burning with fever for seven days. I was delirious, lying in that cold room, thinking only of you. Wondering when you'd come for me."

"And you? Were you holding some other breeder in your arms, already forgetting I existed?"

She sobbed harder, collapsing into his chest.

Her fists pounded weakly against him as her voice softened.

"Raven, we can have pups too. I can give you so many..."

"Stop looking at other breeders, okay?"

Raven's rigid body gradually relaxed.

He pulled his gaze away from me and the pups, gently wiping the tears from her face with unexpected tenderness.

"Don't cry. I'll do whatever you want, all right?"

The pups looked at their father with heartbreak, their whimpers growing fainter.

They nudged my fingers with their noses.

Their bright golden eyes reflected my face, as if asking:

Why won't Father look at us when we're hurt?

I just watched.

My face felt frozen. I couldn't even form an expression.

Feeling their sadness, I stroked their little heads.

After a long moment, I forced a bitter smile.

"It's okay, my babies."

I lowered my head and started gathering the scattered belongings.

Things kept falling out as fast as I packed them.

I picked them up again and again, over and over.

Hot tears hit the ground.

Gone in an instant.

I numbly listened to Anya cooing playfully at Raven:

"I want you to order a custom bed! I'm not sleeping in one you shared with another breeder!"

"And have someone tear out those flower beds. I want a different design. That fencing too—it's tacky. Replace it all!"

Raven followed her pointing finger with his eyes.

His gaze lingered for a moment on the carefully tended blooms.

He lowered his head, glancing at me once.

Then, after a long pause, he turned back and rested his chin on top of Anya's head.

"All right. I'll have it done tomorrow."