Chapter 16

Julian’s POV

It hit me like a lightning strike. The last Werewolf Council meeting was hosted in Thorn Pack. Amber had helped me organize it as part of her housewife duties, even though she appeared only as an assistant. Maybe she met Roman at the reception.

Did their affair begin back then, or had they met later?

Either way, Amber was still my wife. Her running away, her becoming involved with Roman, all of it made her a disloyal woman.

This image of Amber shook me to my core. I couldn’t make sense of this version of Amber I was discovering. It didn’t mesh with the affectionate, loyal woman I remembered being married to.

“Find Amber’s address, Beta,” I said. “Spare no expense. I need answers.”

Of course, Beta returned soon with her address. I couldn’t wait to wrap up the rest of my work for the day.

As soon as I could leave, I drove over to the address Beta had recovered for me. The house was modest, not dangerous or run-down, but far from luxurious. I thought of her working in restaurants in Dawn Pack.

Why would she choose a life like this when I could provide her with so much more?

It didn’t make sense, considering how much she’d loved money back when we were together. It was possible that Roman was her new sugar daddy, but if that was true, he obviously hadn’t given her much.

I got out of the car and walked up to the door, knocking.

Amber opened the door. Shock covered her face.

“Why are you here?” she whispered at me, pulling the door close so that only her face was visible. She seemed nervous.

Like she was facing off with an unwelcome ex.

“I’m here to take you home,” I said.

“No, Julian,” Amber said. “I told you no.”

I reached into my pocket, pulling out a bank card. I’d come prepared. “There’s ten million on this card. Is that enough?”

Amber hit the card back towards me, rage enveloping her face.

“You don’t have to play hard to get, Amber,” I said, my temper flaring.

Suddenly, the door opened wider, revealing a frowning Roman. He stepped forwards, his arms crossed.

“You’re following us?” he asked, his arms crossed.

Amber’s POV

I’d been making dinner for Alice while Roman helped her build Lego in the living room.

I knew Alice didn’t like Roman very much. He never took playtime seriously, more hanging around Alice while she played her games while he sat nearby. He acted like they were close, but he didn’t spend much time actually connecting with her.

I sometimes suspected Roman’s affection towards Alice was an act. He often came off as though he found kids loud and annoying, like when they’d been waiting for the auction to start at the school and he’d rolled his eyes at two boys playing a game in the hallway.

Then, someone knocked on the door. I went to open it and left Roman to watch Amber. I saw Julian on the other side, an intense, angry look on his face.

A quick flash of fear coursed through my body, but it left quickly. My bigger fear was of Julian discovering Alice.

I’d never imagined Julian would come to my house. I’d never imagined he’d be standing on my doorstep. It shattered any sense of safety I’d felt here.

I swatted the bank card out of his hand, sending it back at him. The feeling was familiar, bringing back the memory of Olivia offering to pay me away in the hospital years ago.

I’d known he was the Alpha, and that he had the ability to find me if he wanted to. But I didn’t think he’d show up at the door, uninvited, and insult me with the assumption that all I desired in life was money.

Roman came to the door. I assumed he’d heard Julian’s voice, as he wrapped is arm around me, pretending to be my doting husband. His casual touch made me uncomfortable, as I knew the feelings he had for me, but I played into it for now. I just wanted Julian to leave me alone.

“You live together?” Julian demanded, anger settling even more deeply on his face.

“Yes,” Roman said, pulling me even closer into his body.

Again, I went along with it. If Julian thought that another man, another Alpha, even, lived here, then he wouldn’t try to get to Alice. He wouldn’t try to hurt her.

“Go home, Julian,” I said. “I don’t want you here. I don’t want your money. I don’t know why you keep trying.”

Despite his off-putting behavior, something inside me still yearned for Julian. I shut it off quickly. Julian was no longer a dream of what could have been. He was a threat to my family and the life I’d carefully constructed for my daughter and I.

“All I’m asking for is my wife, my legal wife, to come home. That’s all. I’m not going to force you.” Julian paused, and his blue eyes seared into mine with a mix of emotions I couldn’t quite read. “You won’t find happiness here, though.”

“If you keep harassing me, I will get a lawyer. I will petition the Werewolf Court for a restraining order,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “You’re stalking me, Alpha. That’s illegal.”

I saw Julian clench his fists and waited for the backlash of sharp, pointed words, accusations he himself couldn’t understand. The words never came. Instead, Julian restrained himself, taking deep breaths before meeting my gaze again.

“I’ll wait,” Julian said quietly. “You’ll come back to me eventually.”

I had nothing left to say, and his quiet words unsettled me, being so far from what I had expected. I closed the door, going back into the house.

As I returned to preparing dinner, which thankfully hadn’t burned, Julian’s words haunted me.

He’d caused me so much pain. There was a previous life where all I’d wanted was for him to reciprocate the same love I felt for him, and he’d been unable to give that to me.

Part of me wanted to try again, and I hated that part of me. If I went back, it would only mean more heartbreak.

Then, of course, there were all the times he had tried to buy me off. He fundamentally misunderstood my motives and my values. When he looked at me, all he ever saw was a woman who loved money above all else.

A sharp ache shot through my chest at the thought. Any of the feelings I’d felt seeing him again were gone. I felt nothing towards him but bitter coldness.

“Don’t you have Olivia at home?” I’d asked before shutting the door, reminding him again of how he’d been the one to ruin our marriage. “Go back to her.”

Shock once had once again run across Julian’s face. He was wordless at my defiance.

I wasn’t the submissive little housewife I’d been in that previous life.

I had a career I loved and had trained long and hard to do. I had a daughter who was my whole world, my motivation for everything I ever did.

I had nothing to fear from Julian, even if he was the Alpha.

Still, the emotions overwhelmed me, washing over me like a tidal wave. Hovering above the dinner simmering on the stove, I broke down and cried.

My tears sizzled as they landed against the hot steel.