That night, Beta Steve came looking for me, carrying a small bottle of medicine in his hand .

I smelled him before I saw him—the mint and pine of his musk still clinging to my memories from years ago. It used to make my heart race. Now, it just made my wolf growl low and annoyed.

When he finally stood before me, his brows knit, he sighed.

“Julia, must you always be so stubborn? A simple apology would have ended all of this. Why make things so difficult?”

“You’re acting like a slave on purpose, aren’t you? Just to stab Joe and Penny in the heart?”

I curved my lips into the faintest hint of a smile.

Did they even have a heart when it came to me?

Back in Midnight Ridge Pack, I used to love listening to Beta Steve’s patient guidance. I had trusted him completely, relied on him.

I had called him “Steve” with warmth and sincerity.

Until the day he held a bloodied Penny in his arms, his expression filled with frantic worry, while his gaze toward me was as cold and sharp as a blade stripping me of every last drop of my blood.

That was when I finally realized—any kindness toward me had always been conditional. As long as I was the Midnight Ridge Pack princess, they would smile at me.

I tilted my head, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “You really think they have hearts, Steve? ”

His jaw tightened at my words, and for a moment, I saw something flicker in his eyes—guilt, maybe? Or irritation?

“When you return to Midnight Ridge Pack,” he continued, his voice firmer, “you must let go of these grudges. Don’t entertain any schemes. Julia, even if you hold resentment, you must never harm Penny.”

I didn’t bother suppressing the laugh this time. My wolf, Luna, joined in with a snort. Harm Penny? As if her precious tears wouldn’t drown us all before I even got the chance.

Steve’s eyes narrowed at my laughter. “Julia,” he said, more quietly this time,“I’ve waited for you these past five years. Our engagement was never annulled. I will still marry you.”

Steve stepped closer, his eyes locking onto mine, his voice softening. “As long as you return to Midnight Ridge Pack, live in harmony with Penny, and stop hurting her—”

“Stop right there.” My voice was firm, my wolf stirring at the back of my mind with irritation. She didn’t like this tone now, and frankly, neither did I.

“Let me get this straight,” I said, folding my arms. “You’re offering me the chance to marry you, on the condition that I play nice with the sister who’s spent her life making mine miserable? ”

He flinched at the sarcasm, and I saw his composure waver, just for a second. “Julia, you know it’s not like that. I’m doing this for you.”

“Ah, yes. For me.” I stepped closer, my wolf’s growl rumbling softly in my chest. “Tell me, Beta Steve, when did my ‘happiness’ become so synonymous with Penny’s safety?”

He had no answer for that, of course. He just stood there, his lips pressed into a thin line, looking like he wanted to say something but didn’t know what.

I let the silence stretch out before finally speaking, my voice calm and clear.

“Beta Steve,” I said, meeting his gaze with steady eyes, “you don’t need to trouble yourself.”

His brows furrowed slightly, confusion flickering across his face.

“I won’t be returning to Midnight Ridge Pack, And I certainly won’t be marrying you.”

Then I delivered the final blow, the words that severed the last, tattered thread between us:

“I, Julia Barrett, reject you, Steve Dolton, as my mate.”

For a second, I thought he might argue, but then his shoulders slumped, and his face twisted in something that might have been pain.

Steve stood frozen for a moment, his Beta pride no doubt struggling to process what had just happened.

“I’ve found someone better—I’m getting married soon.”