Chapter 3

　　I still held the mushrooms, my fingers tightening around them as my mind reeled.

　　Lily’s bright smile felt like a blade to my chest. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think.

　　"His wife."

　　She turned to me, beaming. “Hello! I’m Lily, Liam’s wife. Welcome to our home.”

　　Her words rang in my ears like a cruel joke.

　　The others greeted her one by one, their casual conversation grating against my raw emotions. Lily was warm, talkative—too talkative. She complimented nearly everyone, her energy infectious.

　　When it was my turn, she gasped. “Ava, you’re so beautiful! Your figure is amazing—I’m so jealous! And your hair, oh my God, it’s gorgeous! Unlike mine, which is thinning from stress.”

　　I managed a stiff smile, swallowing the lump in my throat.

　　Lily suddenly turned to Liam, pouting. “It’s definitely because of you always blowing on my hair! Be careful, or I’ll be a bald bride at our wedding next week!”

　　Liam chuckled, ruffling her hair. “Okay.”

　　I froze.

　　"Wedding."

　　The word felt like a slap.

　　One of the pack members—pretending to be a traveler—feigned surprise. “You’re getting married?”

　　“Yes!” Lily clasped her hands together, eyes sparkling with excitement. “Next Wednesday. We hope you can all come!”

　　I grabbed another beer, downing it in one long gulp.

　　Lily reached for one too, but before she could take a sip, Liam snatched it away. His voice was quiet but firm. “You can’t drink.”

　　Lily pouted. “Just one sip.”

　　Then, without hesitation, she leaned up and kissed him—right in front of me.

　　My fingers clenched around the cold can.

　　"Liam, just one sip, please!" she coaxed, her voice playful.

　　Liam exhaled, handing her a cup with rose petals floating inside. "Drink this instead."

　　Lily wrinkled her nose. "Rose tea? Liam, I’ve told you a hundred times I don’t like flower tea. Why do you always forget?"

　　Liam hesitated. "I… I just do."

　　My breath hitched.

　　I turned away, my chest tightening.

　　Brooks used to brew me tea.

　　He always worried that I didn’t drink enough water. In the winter, he’d make apple water and snow pear soup. Every time I drank more, he’d reward me with a pink thermos.

　　I swallowed hard, shoving the memory away.

　　Lily’s voice broke through my thoughts. "Look, Ava finished a whole can of beer! Maybe that’s the secret to her gorgeous hair!"

　　I forced a small smile. "My mate never let me drink. He said I’d down the whole bottle if I started. He was strict about it."

　　Lily giggled. "That’s so strict! Doesn’t he get mad when you drink now?"

　　I glanced at Liam, my heart hammering against my ribs.

　　I shook my head. “He doesn’t care anymore.”

　　Silence.

　　For a moment, Lily looked like she wanted to say something, but she hesitated. Instead, she obediently sipped her rose tea, finishing the entire cup.

　　I, on the other hand, had barely eaten. Between the alcohol and the suffocating tension, my head was starting to spin.

　　Excusing myself, I pushed away from the table.

　　As I turned to leave, Lily’s laughter trailed after me. I looked back just in time to see her climb onto Liam’s back, giggling, clinging to him like she belonged there.

　　Liam sighed but didn’t push her away. Instead, he continued cleaning the table, as if her affection was something he had grown used to.

　　Something he accepted.

　　That should be me.

　　I turned away, my stomach twisting.

　　Biting the inside of my cheek, I forced myself back to my room. The moment the door closed behind me, I ripped open my bag, fumbling for my medication.

　　The pills rattled in my hand as I swallowed them dry.

　　Slowly, my pulse steadied.

　　By the time Doctor Reynolds entered, I had forced myself into calmness.

　　"I thought you’d make a scene," he said, his voice measured.

　　I gazed out the window. The moon was high, bathing the courtyard in silver light. "I considered it," I admitted quietly. "But then… I felt sorry for him."

　　Doctor Reynolds’s gaze sharpened. "You brought a lot of things with you. Are you planning to help Alpha regain his memories?"

　　I glanced at the open box beside my bed.

　　Inside were ten years’ worth of memories.

　　His first love letter.

　　Our first photo together.

　　Our wedding pictures.

　　I reached out, brushing my fingers over the faded edges.

　　Then, I closed the box.

　　"No," I said.

　　Doctor Reynolds frowned. "Why not?"

　　I exhaled slowly, my grip tightening.

　　"I don’t want him to experience the pain of losing loved ones twice."

　　And if forgetting me meant he would never have to relieve that pain…

　　Then maybe it was better this way.