Chapter 2
710 Words
"You earned it," Maxwell said, buttoning his shirt with deliberate calm.
"Three years ago, I mentioned I didn't want Sophie studying dancing abroad. I wanted her by my side forever. And you, you reckless she-wolf, took a blade to break her leg so she could never dance again. Then you turned yourself in to the enforcers, saying you'd rot in a cage if it meant my happiness."
He paused, his voice softening.
"I'm a cold-hearted wolf, but even I can't ignore that kind of selfless love. Sophie gets to bask in my devotion openly, but you? You're hidden here in this villa. Giving you a bond's title is only fair."
I stumbled back, my heart carved to pieces.
Once, when some rich pup mocked me as a "broken-winged" she-wolf, Maxwell had his teeth bared, growling, "Anyone who slanders Sophie pays in blood."
Yet here he was, kissing the she-wolf who broke me, binding her, loving her.
"What if Sophie finds out?"
Madeline asked, her voice laced with fake worry. "She'd never accept this."
Maxwell's tone was steady, certain.
"My love for Sophie hasn't changed. I'll protect her forever, and she'll never know."
Before he left, he slipped a sapphire ring onto her finger.
Madeline gasped. "This is the Sotheby's finale piece, worth a fortune. Am I really worthy of this?"
"You're my mate," Maxwell said, kissing her softly. "Happy anniversary, my love."
I stood frozen as his black Cayenne vanished down the road.
My phone buzzed again.
Sophie, I'm on my way home.
Can't wait to celebrate our Seventh anniversary, my sweet mate. Love you.
A laugh broke from my lips, bitter and broken, tears streaming down my face.
He just celebrated with her, and now he's rushing back to play-pretend our Seven? T
If his love meant clipping my wings and caging my soul, I wanted no part of it.
I gripped my dancing form, my resolve hardening.
I wiped my identity clean from every pack record. Like I never existed.
I re-entered the dancing contest under a new name.
Two years ago, when Madeline broke my leg and threw it into the fire, she didn't just take my flesh—she stole my future.
No healer could reattach what was gone.
Maxwell lost his mind with grief, pouring billions into crafting me a prosthetic leg so lifelike it fooled everyone.
It worked for daily life, but the delicate precision of movement? That was dead.
My dreams were shredded, and I unraveled with them— times I tried to end it, countless nights I sobbed until dawn.
But I clawed my way back, teaching my left leg to be strong again.
Over a thousand grueling days, calluses built up, and I earned my spot in the Belvaria contest. I'd kept it secret from Maxwell, planning to surprise him, to show my mate that I'd never bowed to fate.
Now, I was just glad I'd kept my mouth shut.
If I'd told him, I might've lost my left leg too.
My phone rang.
"It's about your identity erasure request," a staff member's voice came through, "we've received it. The processing will be completed in two weeks."
I'd be on my way to Belvaria, never looking back.
Even Maxwell's suffocating control couldn't track a she-wolf who didn't exist.
I returned to the villa.
Maxwell had the staff tied up, his voice like ice as he demanded to know where I was.
The moment he saw me, relief flooded his face.
The staff looked like they'd been spared execution.
His sharp, cold eyes softened, and he pulled me into a tight embrace.
"Sophie, why did you keep your phone shut? I was losing it."
I forced my voice to stay steady.
"Ran into an old friend on the way, ended up chatting for ages."
He smiled, gently tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
"Guess I'll have to tag along next time—can't let old friends steal all your time, right?"
"Today's our Seventh anniversary," he said, his voice warm.
"Come see what I got you."
"Got held up watching a drone show in the square, it was so amazing I couldn't tear myself away."
He grinned, taking my hand and giving it a light squeeze.
- Writer
