Chapter 3："She'll Always Come First"
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Dane perched on the edge of the bed, his warm fingers brushing my cheek. "You were out cold in the car. Must be exhausted—didn't even stir when I got in."
I didn't respond. The mattress dipped as Dane slid behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist.
"Still mad at me? Can you forgive me, babe?"
His voice was gentle, the concern in it sounding so damn genuine.
During all our previous fights, one embrace from Dane was all it took for me to forgive everything.
But this time, I felt nothing but bone-deep weariness.
I closed my eyes and whispered, "I just want to sleep."
Silence fell. After a moment, Dane withdrew his arms and got off the bed.
His footsteps halted at the doorway.
"About today," he said, "whether Flora meant it or not, I hope you won't hold it against her. She's still young."
"She's my baby sister. If today happened again, I'd make the same choice."
The room fell silent. He paused, then delivered the cruel truth.
"She'll always come first in my heart. I made that clear before we got married."
I smiled bitterly as tears slid from the corners of my eyes.
I'd spent my entire youth chasing after Dane.
He was brilliant—top grades, incredible power, the most promising Alpha heir the clan had seen in generations.
Back then, I was young, confident, beautiful—the most exceptional female wolf in the pack.
The first time I saw Dane, I turned to my best friend Emily and declared:
"I'm going to make him mine."
"Hell yeah, Sophia! You're totally his equal!"
I was passionate and direct, never hiding my feelings for him.
The entire pack knew I was crazy about him.
But he remained cold and distant. No matter how I tried to catch his attention, it was like I didn't exist to him.
I was starting to lose hope when a charming Beta wolf asked me out.
He blushed as he kissed my cheek, trying to mend my broken heart.
Dane witnessed the whole thing. He yanked me away, his face thunderous. It was the first time I'd ever seen him lose control.
"How dare you let him touch you?" he snarled.
His fury left me frozen in shock. The next moment, he had me pinned against the wall.
His lips crashed against mine in a possessive kiss.
I stared at him, wide-eyed. "You... why?"
"You've got me under your spell. Stay away from other wolves. Tell them to back off!" He held me tight, his eyes blazing with possessiveness.
That's when I knew he wanted me too.
Later, I saved his life, but lost Lucy in the process.
He stayed by my hospital bed, confessing his feelings with passionate intensity.
We fell into a relationship and eventually married.
On our wedding day, he pulled me aside to talk about Flora.
"She's innocent and pure to me. I won't let marriage change how much I care for her. I'll continue to protect her just as I always have."
"In my heart, she'll always come first."
Back then, I was drunk on the joy of finally marrying the man I'd chased for so long.
I ignored the warning bells in my mind.
I was too damn confident, believing I could eventually claim his entire heart.
Just a matter of time, I thought.
I had no idea how much that arrogance would cost me.
Now he stood at the door, his voice level, but I could feel the anger simmering beneath.
"I'll sleep in the guest room tonight."
Every argument ended this way.
The cold war would begin, and he'd wait for me to cave.
But this time, I didn't beg him to stay like I usually would.
I curled into a ball under the covers, biting my lip to keep from screaming as cold sweat broke out across my skin.
The door slammed shut.
In the silence, I listened to his footsteps fade down the hallway.
