2 Chapter 2 On the way home , I bit my lip so hard it almost bled , but tears streamed down my face regardless . Six years . For six whole years , I had naively believed that he understood me . When I first told him I wanted our bonding ceremony at Aurora Peak , he smiled , ruffled my hair , and said , " Okay . " I was so moved in that moment . He remembers , I told myself . He had to . He remembered it was where we first met . He remembered I fell and was covered in blood for him . He remembered how I held his hand tightly in a blizzard and said , " Don't be afraid . " But it turned out he didn't remember at all . Or rather , he had never truly cared . I remembered the healer's warning that emotional turmoil would affect my recovery . I tilted my head back , trying to force the tears back , but my throat was tight with sobs . Ethan contacted me through our mind - link . The background was a wall of sound , the music deafening . " Sarah , Leo and the guys are throwing me a bachelor party tonight . I won't be home . " I paused for two seconds . " Okay ? " This " bachelor party " had been going on for three days . At 1 a.m. , I couldn't sleep and scrolled through social media . Leo had posted a nine - photo grid with the caption : The Alpha's Last Night of Freedom . In the center photo , Kira , her cheeks flushed , was leaning drunkenly in Ethan's arms . Ethan's hand was pressed firmly against her bare waist . There were plenty of comments below : " They look so good together . What a shame . " " They grew up together , don't start rumors ." " Ethan Thornfield , watch yourself ! Don't make Sarah mad ! " Ethan had replied to that one . " Sarah won't mind . If she makes a fuss over something this small , then we shouldn't even be getting mated ." I quietly liked his comment , then turned off my phone and went to sleep. 20:00 1/4 2 Chapter 2 He was so sure I would put up with it , just like I put up with him changing the ceremony location , put up with the $ 200,000 necklace , and put up with every " we're just friends . " But this time , I didn't want to put up with it anymore . I went to the pack's medical center alone for a follow - up on my old injuries . " I told you last time , your old wounds are unstable . Someone must come with you ." Hearing the healer's words , I just smiled quietly . " I can handle it by myself ." As I left the medical center , a heavy rain began to fall . I glanced into a nearby coffee shop and saw two people . Ethan was holding up his phone , and Kira was leaning on his shoulder . They were in a close embrace . " The watch on Kira's wrist was the new model Ethan had said he was " getting for a client " last week . I laughed at my own foolishness and walked home in the downpour . When Ethan got home , I was taking off my soaked shirt , revealing the black lace lingerie underneath . He looked up and froze , his Adam's apple bobbing . " Why are you soaked ? " " My follow - up ." Ethan's expression stiffened . " That was today ? " I gave a small laugh . " Yes . This was the third time I reminded you ." Ethan ran a hand through his hair , frustrated , " I've been too busy lately , I forgot . Anyway , you've recovered . Missing one appointment is fine ." I watched him quietly . " The healer said my wolf core is still shrinking ." Ethan was speechless . After a moment , he looked up , a hint of displeasure in his eyes . " Are you trying to remind me again that you almost died for me ? " So , that's what this was . In his eyes , my sacrifice was just a tool I used to make him feel guilty . When I didn't say anything , Ethan suddenly became furious . " There's that dead - eyed stare again ! I forgot one time ! Why do you always get so worked up over every little thing ? " 20:09 2 Chapter 2 1 looked at his collar and said softly . " You have Kira's perfume on you . " Ethan instinctively sniffed his collar and froze . " You … " I added calmly , " Kira's new watch looks nice ." Ethan's face turned red with anger . He pointed a finger at me , exasperated . " Are you following me ? Seriously ? She was just in a bad mood and wanted to talk ! " " You know what her family situation is like ! She only has me! " " Sarah Carter , can't you be more generous ? This is getting ridiculous ! " I couldn't help but laugh out loud . " What a coincidence … At my appointment , I also ' only had me . " " Ethan seemed stung by that . He stammered , " She's different … You have people who care about you … " Suddenly , his phone rang . It was Kira again . Ethan quickly answered . Kira's tearful voice came from the other end . " Ethan , I fell . It hurts so much … " " Don't be scared , I'm coming right now … " He hung up and pulled the door open . Then , as if remembering something , he looked back at me . " You should think about what you've done . I'll take you to the gift shop tomorrow . " " And stop following me … it makes you look pathetic . " Ethan left , but his words echoed in my ears . Pathetic ? He was right . I just couldn't believe it took me this long to see it . It seems my heart has been blind for a very long time . 20:03