“Hello, Miss Brightman,” she said, shy and sweet, and my chest twisted. Miss Brightman. Not Mrs. Thornhill. Not mine.
Drake frowned for a moment, and then he just… let it go. Didn’t correct her, didn’t even flinch.
I clenched my fists in my lap, fingertips digging into my palms, trying not to scream. Trying not to shatter right there.
And then he draped a wool coat over my shoulders, “It’s cold out. Come on, let’s go home, honey.”
I froze, and through the corner of my eye I saw Chiara nod, and he leaned down and kissed her, soft, lingering, like he’d been waiting to do it forever.
That evening...
I watched him in the kitchen, always careful, thoughtful. He’d serve me my soup, gently, like he’d done a thousand times before. But then he’d turn and wipe sauce from Chiara’s lips, smiling down at her, laughing warmly, as if she was everything he’d ever wanted.
“Silly girl,” he signed, “how can you be this cute?”
I lowered my head, my lips tasting the soup, my eyes burning, and I couldn’t cry. I wanted to. I tried to. But I couldn’t. Because I knew him. I recognized that movement. That look in his eyes. That care. That love.
And then it hit me. All of it. All the warmth, all the touches, all the promises he’d given her. He’d really… fallen for her.
And I was nothing.
After dinner, my private pack doctor came again, like he always did and checked my eyes.
“Alpha Thornhill, Dr. Peterson couldn’t make it today, so I came instead. I reviewed her records, and honestly… if she keeps taking the proper treatment, there’s a really high chance her eyesight will come back.”
I stood outside the door, quiet, listening. My chest felt heavy for no reason.
What would it even change… if I could see? Would I see him choosing her more clearly? Would I see every lie right in front of me?
Inside, there was a pause. Then Drake spoke. Calm. Flat.
“No.”
The doctor sounded confused. “No…? Alpha, I don’t think you understand. This is a good thing. She can recover, she can—”
Drake cut him off, his voice colder now. “Didn’t Peterson tell you? For the past five years, I’ve only had him prescribe the most basic tonics. Nothing more.”
The doctor went quiet. “You mean… you’ve been holding back her treatment on purpose? Alpha, that’s… that’s not right. She deserves to know. She deserves a chance.”