Chapter 2

Derrick rushed to my side, pulling me into his arms.

"Viola, you're finally awake. You scared me to death."

In that moment, Derrick seemed to have become the same Alpha who had once cherished me so much.

But the ache in my chest was a constant reminder that everything that had happened was real.

He was no longer the man who had once loved me more than his own life.

When I remained silent, Derrick released me from his embrace.

But his hands tightened on my shoulders.

"Viola, please don't cry. It breaks my heart to see you like this. The mate bond… it makes me feel your pain."

He paused, then continued.

"I have already bonded with Clara. You can consider this your atonement for what you owe her."

I stared at him, as if I could see right through him.

After a long silence, I finally spoke.

"Derrick, now that you have the woman you want, just let me go."

Derrick had once knelt before me, begging me to stay by his side for all of eternity and vowing that if he ever betrayed me, he would lose his greatest love forever.

Hearing this, Derrick shot to his feet.

"No, Viola. You know I can't be without you."

But he already had Clara by his side.

"Clara is different from you. She's a burning, intense passion, while you're the companion I want by my side for the rest of my life."

So, he was certain I would never leave him.

But a daughter of the Spiritwood Pack is never shackled by love.

Seeing me shake my head, he suddenly lost his patience.

"Enough, Viola. I just need some of your heart's blood. It's not like you're dying. Stop being so dramatic."

"I told you, once this affair with Clara runs its course, I'll come back to you."

His tone was chilling.

The air in the room instantly froze.

Just then, Clara sauntered in.

"Viola, I've come to see you."

She offered me the silver flowers she was holding.

Before Derrick could even finish praising her for being so thoughtful, I shoved the flowers away.

Clara looked at Derrick, stunned and helpless.

Seething with rage, Derrick slapped me hard across the face.

"Viola Spiritwood, Clara was just trying to give you flowers! Don't take it too far."

So he had forgotten. He'd forgotten how my mother died from silver poisoning while picking those very flowers for me, and how the entire pack has loathed me ever since.

And because of it, I developed a crippling fear of silver flowers.

Back then, Derrick held me in his arms and promised me he would never let a single lily near me.

But promises, it seemed, only held true in the moment they were made.

My tears fell, splashing ceaselessly against his hand.

Only then did Derrick seem to remember. He grew flustered, his gaze falling in shock on the red mark on my face.

"Viola, I didn't mean to, I..."

Clara chimed in at the perfect moment.

"Derrick, Viola has every right to be angry. It's my fault for stealing you away."

As she spoke, she made a move to leave.

Derrick pulled her back, his heart aching for her.

"It's not your fault. She's the one with the issue, this thing about not being able to stand lilies since she was a kid."

Clara looked at him in disbelief, so Derrick had no choice but to turn to me.

"Viola, apologize."

My head snapped up to look at Derrick.

He was actually demanding I apologize to Clara for my own condition.

When I refused to speak, Derrick commanded again.

"Viola, don't make me say it again."

I remained stubbornly silent, tears welling in my eyes.

Clara tugged on Derrick's sleeve, her expression aggrieved.

"Forget it."

Derrick's eyes narrowed slightly.

He pulled out his phone, made a call, and issued a command to the person on the other end.

"Cut off all business cooperation with the Spiritwood Group, and announce to the public that our century-long alliance with Spiritwood is terminated."

Hearing his words, I ignored the needle in my hand and immediately got out of bed to plead with Derrick.

"Don't, Derrick. I was wrong."

Derrick said nothing.

I knew he didn't want an apology from me; he wanted me to submit to Clara.

I swallowed the bitter ache in my throat and apologized.

"Miss Clara, I was wrong. I'm begging you, please ask the Alpha to spare my pack."

When Derrick heard how I addressed them, a flicker of pain crossed his face, but he was immediately pulled back by Clara's words.

"Viola, I never asked Derrick to move against the Spiritwood Pack. Don't try to blame me for this."

Just as I'd expected, Derrick heard her and concluded that I was only feigning weakness to secretly blame Clara.

He spoke into the phone again, his voice a command.

"I want the news to reach every pack in North America within two hours."

With that, he refused to look at me again, taking Clara by the hand as they left.

The silver flowers by my leg made it hard to breathe.

I blacked out again.

Before I slipped into unconsciousness, I heard someone whispering my name beside my ear.

"Viola...Viola..."