When Natalie woke,she found herself lying in her own bed.

She turned her head and saw Daniel beside her.Noticing her gaze,he opened his eyes and pulled her into his arms,his voice soft with a guilty timbre.“Natalie,you’re awake.Do you want to sleep a little longer?”

Feeling the warmth of his chest—the steady,familiar heat of a mate and pack-bond—a sharp ache cut through her and she pushed him away.

“Daniel,what are you pretending for?”

He froze,then answered,“I’m sorry.I thought Mother was only trying to scare you.I didn’t think those two retainers would actually lock you in the cellar.”

“Mother went too far this time,but you were the one who hurt Jennifer.”

Even now he made excuses.Natalie let out a cold,humorless laugh.“If you hadn’t said what you did,would they have dared to lock me up?”

She paused,then added,“Since your mother already treats Jennifer like her real daughter-in-law,why don’t I just leave?Then you and Jennifer can be together and your mother won’t be upset every time she sees me.”

With that,she rose and started to walk away.

Daniel moved quickly and pulled her into a hug,his voice shaking.“Natalie,after three years together,I won’t let you go.”

“Are you still upset about Jennifer?Then I’ll ask her to move out.I won’t see her again.”

His words might have fooled a naive girl;Natalie would not fall for them again.She shoved him away.Just as she opened her mouth to speak,the bedroom door burst open and Jennifer stood in the doorway,frozen,eyes wide,tears welling.

“No need to kick me out.I’ll take Rihanna and leave right now.”

With that,she turned and hurried away.Daniel sprang from the bed in a panic and chased after her,not even glancing at Natalie.

Natalie followed him down the hall.

Jennifer waited on the second-floor balcony,staring down at the two-meter-deep swimming pool below.Her eyes were rimmed red as she faced Daniel,voice trembling.“Daniel,if even you don’t want me anymore,then I’ll just jump.I know you and Natalie are the real couple,but I can’t stop feeling jealous.”

“Please take care of Rihanna after I’m gone.Don’t try to stop me.”

She stepped toward the railing.

Daniel lunged and wrapped his arms tightly around Jennifer,eyes full of anguish.“I’m sorry.It was my fault.I shouldn’t have said those things.The one I truly love is you.We still have Rihanna.If you really jump,what will happen to her?What about me?”

He looked at Jennifer with an affection that made Natalie’s skin crawl.Watching their little spectacle unfold,Natalie stepped from the shadows and slowly began to clap.

When Daniel saw her,his face went numb.He opened his mouth,then finally said with difficulty,“Natalie,I’ll explain everything tonight,okay?”

She shook her head and met him coolly.“No need.I’ll leave on my own soon.I won’t get in the way of your love.”

She turned to go,but Daniel reached out as if to stop her.Before he could touch her,Jennifer stepped between them.

“Natalie,please don’t leave Daniel because of me.This is my fault.I shouldn’t have brought Rihanna here and I shouldn’t have gotten so close to Daniel.I should be the one to leave.”

Jennifer’s false contrition made Natalie sick.

“Are you done?If so,move aside.”

Instead of stepping back,Jennifer grabbed Natalie’s arm.“Natalie,you and Daniel have to stay well.That way I’ll feel better even if I leave…”

Natalie gave a mocking smile and wrenched her arm free.

The next instant Jennifer screamed,flung up an arm and stumbled backward.Daniel,panic-stricken,shoved Natalie aside and lunged to catch her.He held Jennifer at the waist,voice trembling with relief.“Thank goodness you’re okay.I would never forgive myself if something happened to you.”

He did not see Natalie slip from the balcony;she fell into the pool below.

The pool water rushed into her nose,choking Natalie instantly.

She flailed her arms and shouted up toward the second-floor balcony,“Daniel!Help me!”

She saw Daniel rush down in a panic,but he stopped at the edge of the pool.Then he pulled Jennifer into his arms.“You’ve suffered because of Natalie.Now it’s her turn to learn a lesson.”

He looked down at Natalie as she struggled,eyes full of something that might once have been concern but now read as cold calculation,and he did not move.Natalie stared at him in stunned disbelief;the world narrowed to the sharp,desperate rhythm of her breath.Everything went black as she weakened from lack of air.

Right before she lost consciousness,Daniel shrugged off his jacket,dove in and hauled her out.His touch was efficient,his face hard.“Natalie,this is just a warning.If you hurt Jennifer again,I don’t know what I’ll do.”

When she woke,raised voices downstairs pulled her back.She opened the bedroom door and saw Daniel and Jennifer arguing.Jennifer clutched a suitcase in one hand and kept hold of Rihanna with the other,making a show of trembling tears.

“Daniel,let go.Instead of waiting for Natalie to force us out,I’d rather take Rihanna and leave now.”

With that she shook off Daniel’s hand and moved to go.Daniel’s eyes were full of pity and pain;he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Jennifer’s waist.“No.As long as I’m here,no one will chase you away.You and Rihanna can stay.What happened yesterday was Natalie’s fault.I already punished her.She won’t touch you again.”

Natalie walked down the stairs slowly,blade-cold smile aimed at Jennifer.“If you truly wanted to leave,you would’ve left last night while Daniel slept.”

Jennifer hesitated,bit her lip,and then dropped to her knees.“Natalie,it’s my fault.I shouldn’t have come between you and Daniel.If you two are okay,I’ll go.”

She stood,opened the villa door and began to walk out.Daniel grabbed her arm and shouted,“Enough!”

He whirled to Natalie,anger burning in his eyes.“Natalie,don’t you think this house has had enough chaos?Jennifer never tried to hurt you.Why do you keep going after her?”His voice carried the disappointment of a packmate who expected loyalty.“We’ve been bound three years.When did you become so jealous?I barely recognize you.”

Natalie lowered her head and stepped closer,the words cutting.“You don’t recognize me because your heart was never with me.All you care about is Jennifer.”

“If you’ve chosen to let her stay,then I’ll go.”

The villa reeked of Daniel’s scent,a constant reminder of a bond twisted into betrayal.Natalie did not want any of it;she left everything behind.

As she stepped out the door,Daniel’s voice followed her,angry and final.“Natalie,there’s a limit to jealousy.If you walk out today,don’t bother coming back!”

She did not turn.In her mind she repeated it like a vow:fine,I won’t return.

Outside,she took out her phone and sent a message.

[When will the heart-source be found?]

The reply came quickly:[We’ve got news.Just wait two more days.]

In two days,she would be able to leave this place for good.

The next night,Natalie arrived at the pack celebration in formal dress.

It was held for the Swift Pack’s eldest daughter’s coming-of-age rite,a promise made long ago,so she had to attend.She sat quietly in a shadowed corner,nursing a drink.

As expected,it wasn’t long before Daniel and Jennifer made a grand entrance.Jennifer linked her arm with Daniel’s,smiling politely.The others assumed Jennifer was his mate and began praising them.

“Daniel and his mate have such a sweet bond!We’re so jealous.”

Daniel smiled softly,accepting the compliments as if they were true.

Not wanting to watch them any longer,Natalie took her glass and stepped out onto the lodge balcony for air.Her champagne was nearly finished when Jennifer came up beside her.

“Natalie,you’ve already lost.Daniel loves me now.Can you really leave little Rihanna without a father?”Jennifer said.

Natalie answered with a cold smile.“What exactly are you saying?”

“I want you to leave right now.I want to be Mrs.Chalamet.”

Natalie nodded.“Don’t worry.I’ll go.I gave up on Daniel long ago.”

She turned to leave,but Jennifer grabbed her arm.Before Natalie could ask what she meant,someone came up behind and pressed a damp cloth—drugged—over her nose and mouth.Everything blurred.Just before the world went black,she saw Jennifer’s smirk.

When she opened her eyes again,she was tied to a chair,unable to move.Jennifer sat bound beside her,wearing a smug expression.“Natalie,if Daniel knew we were both captured and could only be saved one at a time,who do you think he’d choose?”

Natalie stared at her.“This was your doing?”

Jennifer laughed.“So what if it was?I only want Daniel.Is that wrong?”

A voice at the door announced,“Boss,Daniel is here.”Two men in black stood behind them,knives glinting.

As Daniel stepped in,the leader grinned.“Daniel,lucky man.Two beautiful wolves,but you can only pick one.Choose now,or both die.”He began the countdown.“Three…two…”

Before he reached one,Daniel pointed at Jennifer.“Her.Let her go.”

The man smirked.“Daniel doesn’t hesitate.Fine.Deal with the other one.”He ordered someone to untie Natalie,then shoved her to the floor.In seconds,blows rained down on her.

Natalie clutched her belly,trying to shield the life within.A brutal kick landed.The man laughed at her pain.“Daniel,leave now.If I change my mind,she won’t survive.”

Through the chaos she searched for Daniel’s face and begged,“Please…save me,save our pup…”

But Daniel did not turn.He took Jennifer’s hand and walked away without looking back.

Tears tracked down Natalie’s face and fell onto the floor as she pressed both hands over her stomach,feeling the tiny life slipping away.She closed her eyes,filled with pain and despair.