But for now, I just needed rest. My wolf was restless, pacing beneath my skin, but exhaustion pulled me under.
I’d barely drifted into sleep when the door slammed open. Light flooded the room, and my senses snapped to attention.
“What the hell is this, Elena?” Erwin growled, his voice low and feral.
I sat up, my wolf bristling at his tone. “What are you talking about?”
He shoved his phone in my face, the screen glowing with a voice note I’d sent earlier: “You bitch.”
“You called Mina a bitch?” His voice trembled with restrained fury, the edge of a snarl lurking beneath his words. “Have you lost your mind?”
Behind him, Mina lingered in the shadows, cradling her mangy cat. Her eyes were rimmed with tears, and she looked like a broken, fragile thing—an act I no longer fell for.
“Erwin, don’t,” she whimpered. “I sent her that picture because I thought it would ease her worries. I didn’t mean to upset her.”
Her soft, manipulative tone was like nails on a chalkboard.
“Ease my worries?” I barked out a bitter laugh, my wolf’s growl slipping into my voice. “You sent that photo to gloat. Don’t act innocent now, Mina.”
“Enough!” Erwin’s voice cut through the air, sharp and commanding. His golden eyes glowed faintly as his wolf stirred beneath the surface. “She’s grieving, Elena. She’s lost her mate. And all you can do is attack her? What’s wrong with you?”
“She’s manipulating you!” I snapped, my wolf pacing furiously beneath my skin. “She’s been doing it for years, and you’re too blind to see it!”
Mina’s lower lip trembled as she cradled the cat tighter. “I’ll leave,” she said softly. “I’ll stay away from both of you. I never wanted to cause this much pain.”
“You’re not going anywhere,” Erwin said, stepping toward her and wrapping his arm protectively around her shoulders. “You’ve done nothing wrong. Don’t let her make you feel otherwise.”
The sight of him comforting her ignited something primal in me. My wolf clawed at the edges of my mind, demanding release, demanding retribution.
“How dare you,” I said, my voice trembling with fury. “How dare you stand there and comfort her while you let her tear me apart?”
Erwin turned to me, his gaze icy. “You’ve changed, Elena. You used to be understanding, patient. Now? Now you’re just bitter and cruel.”
Tears burned at the edges of my vision, but I refused to let them fall. “I haven’t changed, Erwin. I’m just done pretending. Done pretending that you don’t treat her like your true mate.”
“That’s ridiculous,” he snapped. “She’s my family. Nothing more. I’ve told you this over and over, but you refuse to believe me. You refuse to let go of your jealousy.”
“Jealousy?” I laughed, a sharp, bitter sound. “This isn’t jealousy. This is me finally seeing you for what you are—a coward who hides behind promises and excuses.”
His jaw tightened, and his eyes flickered dangerously. “I’m doing this for you, Elena. To help you atone for what you did to my brother. Everything I’ve done, everything I’ve sacrificed, has been for you.”
“Sacrificed?” I spat the word like venom. “You’ve sacrificed me. You’ve sacrificed our bond. All for her.”
Erwin stepped closer, his wolf pressing against his skin. “Watch your tone,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous. “You don’t get to twist this. You don’t get to play the victim.”
My wolf snarled, rising to the surface. “I’m not playing anything, Erwin. I’ve given you everything, and you’ve thrown it away for her.”
I grabbed my phone, ready to show him the messages Mina had sent—proof of her deceit. But when I opened the conversation, the messages were gone. Withdrawn.
All that remained was the voice note: “You bitch.”
Mina let out a soft, pitiful sob, and something inside me snapped.
I raised my hand, the slap already forming before I could stop myself.
But Erwin was faster. He caught my wrist mid-swing, his grip firm and unyielding.
“Enough,” he said, his voice a low rumble that sent a shiver down my spine. His wolf hovered just beneath the surface, ready to break free.
For a moment, we stood there, locked in a battle of wills.
And then I realized the truth.
This wasn’t just about Mina.
This was about Erwin. About the bond we’d once shared and the shards of it that now lay scattered between us.
I wasn’t just fighting Mina anymore—I was fighting him. And it was a fight I couldn’t win.
My wolf whimpered softly, retreating into the recesses of my mind as the weight of the moment settled over me.
“Erwin,” I said, my voice barely a whisper. “If this is what love looks like to you, I want no part of it.”
I pulled my wrist free from his grip and stepped back, the ache in my chest nearly unbearable.
For years, I had fought to keep him, to hold onto the life we’d built.
But some battles weren’t meant to be won.
Without another word, I turned and walked away, the faint echo of my wolf’s howl following me into the night.
