Chapter 4

The gala was held at the Four Seasons Hotel Seattle. The moment I arrived, I saw Victor and Amanda standing together by the entrance, greeting guests like a picture-perfect couple.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

It made sense. They were the true mates, after all.

Clutching my wine glass, I slipped out to the back garden. The summer night was muggy, and my thoughts were a tangled mess.

Suddenly, a commotion broke out nearby.

A few Alphas were surrounding a woman. The one leading them was Ryan Cooper, one of Seattle's most notorious rich brats.

I looked closer and saw that the woman they had cornered was none other than Amanda.

"Hey, beautiful, why don't you have a drink with us?" Ryan sneered, reaching out to touch Amanda's face.

"Ah! Don't touch me!" Amanda cried, stumbling back. Her voice was thick with tears. "My mate is Victor Ironridge! You just try and lay a hand on me!"

Ryan scoffed. "Bullshit! Victor’s had a mate for five years, we've all seen her! You’re not his mate. You’re just some mistress he keeps on the side."

"I am his mate!" Amanda retorted, stomping her foot as her eyes reddened.

Before the words had even left her mouth, Victor stormed over and sent Ryan sprawling with a single punch.

"You're dead!" His gaze was sinister, his voice terrifyingly cold. "You dare touch my woman?"

Amanda immediately threw herself into his arms, sobbing pitifully. "Alpha, they bullied me, and they called me a homewrecker..."

His heart aching, Victor pulled her tighter, gently kissing the crown of her head. "Shh, no more tears. I'm here now. No one will ever bully you again."

He gently wiped away her tears, but when he turned his head, his gaze was vicious. "This isn't over."

Amanda seized the opportunity, swaying his arm. "Then I want to move into the Mercer Island villa. I don't want to sneak around anymore."

Victor's brows furrowed, but seeing her red-rimmed eyes, he relented and gently pinched her cheek. "Alright. Whatever you want, I'll make it happen."

I clutched my wine glass and sent Victor a text. Not feeling well. Heading out.

My phone remained dark all the way to the main entrance.

I had just reached the parking lot when a hand clamped over my mouth and nose from behind.

An acrid smell flooded my nostrils. My vision swam, and I was shoved into a rough burlap sack.

I struggled with all my might, only to be thrown violently to the ground.

"Alpha, we've got Cooper," an unfamiliar voice grunted.

Victor's voice was as cold as ice. "He dared to touch Amanda. Cripple his hands and feet."

Before I could even process the words, a heavy boot slammed into my leg.

I heard the sickening crack of my own bone snapping.

The agony was so blinding I nearly passed out, a scream trapped behind the duct tape sealing my mouth.

Then came the dull thud of an iron rod smashing against my hands.

Once, twice, three times...

The sharp sound of finger bones shattering rang out, and warm blood soaked through the sack.

"Clean this up," Victor ordered, his footsteps fading away.

By the time they dumped me in the wilds of Mount Rainier and tore the sack away, I was on the brink of death.

In the frigid night wind, the past flashed before my eyes.

The grateful tears in his eyes when I stayed up all night with him through his rehab, the way his fingers trembled as he put the necklace on me the day he "marked" me, the fierce hug he gave me when he stood on his own for the first time...

As dawn began to break, my phone vibrated, displaying a missed call.

Just then, I felt a gush of warm liquid between my legs, flowing down my thighs.

I lay on the cold, muddy ground, tears streaming uncontrollably from my eyes. Our pup… a miracle conceived when I thought we had nothing left. And now, gone in a wave of despair and blood.

Trembling, I picked up my phone and returned the call.

"Where are you?" The voice on the other end was urgent and achingly familiar.

Fifteen minutes later, a tall figure came rushing toward me. The moment he saw me covered in blood, he froze.

"I'm taking you away from here." He swept my fading form into his arms, his own body trembling.

As he carried me away, a sudden, bright explosion lit up the horizon.

The Mercer Island villa, filled with five years of my memories, was collapsing in a storm of fire.

Victor. This time, it really is goodbye.