Chapter 2 Lena's POV The flames blazed fiercely, and the fire alarm screamed loudly. In the chaos, I rushed to another exit and found a phone booth by the roadside. I dialed the mysterious number. "Gavin, you said I could rejoin the orchestra within five years. Does that promise still stand?" His deep voice, rich and resonant like a cello, came through the line. "Of course, Lena. The fans in Scandinavia have been missing you terribly." "But my situation is a bit complicated. It'll take three days to process my departure from the werewolf realm." "How do you plan to leave the werewolf realm? As far as I know, Blake won't let you go so easily." My eyes flickered with resolve. "I'm going to send him my corpse." Wasn't it Blake who had someone else take my place as "Lena"? If that was the case, then I would disappear completely from his life. Suddenly, a pair of warm hands wrapped around my waist. Blake buried his head in my shoulder, his voice trembling with fear. "Babe, thank God you're okay. If something happened to you, I wouldn't be able to live." "Luna, Alpha thought you were still inside. He said you couldn't see, but he insisted on going in to find you. The fire was so fierce, and the chandelier almost killed him inside." Ben pounded his chest, his face pale with fright. I noticed the burns all over Blake's arms, his clothes torn in places, and his eyes bloodshot from the smoke. My breath caught in my chest, and a sharp pain pierced my heart. Blake, you would risk your life for me. But how, then, could your heart love two women at the same time? "Alpha," a timid female voice called from behind. Kendra stood there in a white dress, weakly dragging a suitcase behind her. I felt Blake's grip on my waist stiffen, then loosen. He rubbed my head and lied without flinching, "Babe, an Alpha is suddenly visiting the pack. Wait here for a moment." He quickly stepped forward and wrapped Kendra in his arms, using sign language: [Kendra, why did you come alone? Didn't I tell you I'd be with you and the baby tonight?] [I missed you so much. I wanted to come and care for Lena, to atone for what I've done. I owe her an apology.] Kendra responded with sign language too. [You have nothing to apologize for. It was my fault for making you bear someone else's name. I'm the one who should be sorry to you and the baby.] He kissed Kendra on the lips, and the tenderness in his eyes was almost overwhelming. Then, he signed again: [I've already picked out names for the baby. If it's a boy, he'll be Griffin Cramer. If it's a girl, she'll be Raine Cramer.] I stood there, frozen, watching the scene unfold, my heart breaking with every passing second. Around this time last year, I found out I was pregnant. Blake was overjoyed. He rented the entire mountain lodge, giving me a CD with 9,999 of his recorded love declarations. Just as I was about to play it, he received a phone call. In the background, I could vaguely hear a woman crying. Blake kissed my lower abdomen and said, "Babe, the pack needs me urgently. I'll be back soon." I didn't suspect anything. I obediently waited for a day and night, but instead of my beloved, I was met with an avalanche. Our baby died that winter. I watched Blake gently touch Kendra's stomach in the same way he once did with mine. A bitter smile tugged at my lips. I realized that only I had been trapped by the avalanche. "Babe, I've been busy lately, so I hired a nutritionist to take care of you." Blake held Kendra's hand, his eyes full of affection. "Lena." Kendra called shyly. Lena, not Luna. Blake frowned slightly at her addressing, but he didn't correct her. My gaze lingered on Kendra's swollen lips, where Blake had kissed her, my fingertips digging deep into my palm. Suddenly, I felt a warmth spread over me. Blake had draped a wool coat over my shoulders. "It's too cold outside. Let's go home, babe." Before I could respond, I saw Kendra make a gesture of acknowledgment, earning her a sweet kiss from Blake. I watched them walk hand in hand ahead, inseparable. I watched the man who hated the smell of cooking oil most, now wearing an apron in the kitchen, laughing happily as he cooked for Kendra. I watched Blake thoughtfully serve me soup as always. But then, in the next moment, he wiped bread crumbs from the corner of Kendra's mouth. [You silly girl, how are you so cute?] He signed with his hands. I took a sip of the hot soup, my head bowed low. My eyes were burning with unshed tears, but not a single one fell. Because I had been loved by Blake, I recognized every familiar gesture, every look. I finally realized he had truly fallen for Kendra.