Chapter 3: Caught By Nathan

I jerked my head up. The man who'd been silently watching me—how long had he been standing there?—was none other than Daniel's uncle, Nathan. Everyone in the werewolf community knew who he was. A living legend. The Lycan King. Before his rise, his identity was steeped in mystery. He'd led a battle against the Rogues with only a few hundred werewolves and won. James, Daniel's father, had fought alongside Nathan in that battle. That's why he'd made time to attend the Lunar Festival tonight. His form was imposing. I had to crane my neck just to see his face. He stood well over six feet three. He wore a perfectly tailored black suit, muscles pushing against the fabric. His dark hair was swept carelessly back from his chiseled face. My eyes wandered down his powerful shoulders, to his slim waist, to his long, sculpted legs. Jesus! What a dangerously alluring man! When my gaze returned to his face, I found his olive-green eyes fixed on me. "Do you need help? I could punish them for you, if you'd like." Before I could think, Nathan had effortlessly hoisted me to my feet, heading toward the two traitors. I snapped back to reality, stopping him. "Thank you, Uncle, but I can handle it myself for now." Nathan halted. "Are you sure? Or I could bring it up with Helene." "Please don't," I said quickly. "Just keep this between us." I needed to slip away from Crimson Pack without stirring a whisper. I couldn't afford for Daniel to discover his plan had come undone. Nathan's intense stare bore into me. "Uncle, I'm counting on you to keep this secret. Will you?" "Yeah, if that's what you wish." Thank God. I stepped back, putting space between us. "Then I wish you a pleasant evening, Uncle. I'll take my leave now." Without waiting for a reply, I bolted home. The truth was, I wasn't as composed as I tried to appear. Daniel and I had grown up together. Our bond was forged long before we'd even gotten our wolves. He'd wrapped me in warmth and tenderness. Never had I thought such a mate would cheat on me. All my trust became a joke. Perhaps I never truly knew Daniel at all. I'd believed us inseparable. But the truth was uglier: Daniel had been unfaithful for who knows how long. When was the last trip we took together? I couldn't recall. Somewhere along the way, I'd become the perfect fool—blinded by honeyed words, never once questioning him for three long years. Scattered throughout the living room were photographs. Each picture was a cruel reminder of the love we'd once shared. I flipped through them one by one. Some captured us as young lovers outside our university gates, stupidly giddy with happiness. Others showed us in our graduation robes, caught in a kiss. There were more from our wedding, where he held me tightly. I still remembered it vividly—he got down on one knee, holding up that ring. "Trust me, E. I'll make you the happiest bride in the world." I'd truly believed he'd honor that vow forever. Never did I imagine this kind of betrayal. My chest ached as I pulled each photo out and flung them into the roaring fireplace. I watched the flames lick away the photos until nothing remained but ash. There would be no more "us." I inhaled deeply, forcing my tears back. It was fine. Everything would be fine. Cutting the Mate Bond would free me from this treachery. After that, I'd start anew. But Amy's latest tweet resurfaced in my mind: "Even if you always break my heart, I'll still love you. Always. More than anyone." The image paired with it—her hand clutching Daniel's. I wanted to hurl them both into the flames. Soon, I managed to calm down. I picked up my phone and called Vivian, my financial advisor. "Vivian, I need to stop funding Amy's tuition." A brief pause. "I'll ensure the arrangement is terminated immediately." I hung up and let out a sigh of relief. At least I'd claimed some small vengeance, hadn't I? But barely two minutes passed before my phone rang again. Daniel's name flashed across the screen. "E, why did you stop paying Amy's tuition?" I couldn't even get a word in. "Why did you do that! We agreed we'd fund her education until she graduated! How is she supposed to complete her education?" How had he found out so quickly? Were they together all night? "Amy's a junior. She can take on part-time work to pay for the rest, just like we did when we were in school." Silence crackled between us. Yes, when Daniel had fallen out with his family back then, I'd worked three jobs to support him. And he'd made it. He'd opened his first bar by sophomore year, its success snowballing into a lucrative business empire. I could still remember the day he signed his first major deal. "Darling," he'd whispered, "every dollar from here on out is yours, too." He'd earnestly promised only my name belonged on his accounts from then until forever. But in the third year of our marriage, I saw him locked in a passionate kiss with another woman. "E, I'm sorry if I'm coming across too strong. But Amy really needs the support. Don't worry—I'll cover her expenses from now on." I felt disoriented. How could these words come from the same man? It had only been three short years, yet that was all it took for everything to rot. "She's been like a sister to us since long ago, E. You'll understand, won't you?" Daniel's voice softened—that same sickeningly sweet tone he used with Amy. I used to think that tenderness was reserved for me alone. Now I understood: Daniel could serve up affection to anyone. As long as it suited him. "Alright. Enough about all this drama," he said. "Daniel's in town, and Uncle Nathan's planning to hit the same bar tonight. It's a great chance to improve relations with him. I'll pick you up for the party, okay?" Every instinct screamed. But when Nathan's name hit the air, I immediately agreed. I was afraid he would reveal everything. When Daniel arrived in his car, his sharp nose caught the lingering scent of burnt paper. "E, what happened? Did something catch fire? Are you hurt?" I pulled my hand away. "No, nothing like that. Just some old documents I needed to toss. The shredder broke, so I used the fireplace."