Chapter 4
Flames roared, the fire alarm screaming. I slipped out a side exit, found a phone booth, and dialed a number I hadn't touched in years.
"Nick, you said I could rejoin the orchestra anytime in five years. Still true?"
His voice, deep as a cello, rumbled back. "Of course, my dear Clare. Elthenia's fans are heartbroken without you."
"My identity's. complicated. It'll take three days to sort out pack clearance."
"How do you plan to leave Galathia Pack? Julian won't let you go easily."
My eyes flickered with resolve. "I'll give him my corpse."
If he wanted someone else to be "Clara," I'd vanish from his life completely.
Suddenly, warm arms wrapped around my waist. Julian buried his face in my shoulder, trembling. "My mate, thank the stars you're okay. If anything happened to you, I'd be done for."
Ethan, panting nearby, added, "Clara, Julian thought you were still inside. He was ready to die searching for you in that blaze. The chandelier nearly crushed him."
I noticed Julian's arms-burned, his clothes torn, eyes red from smoke. My breath caught, my heart stinging like it was pricked by needles. Julian, you'd risk your life for me. So why does your heart howl for two she-wolves?
"Julian." A soft, timid voice interrupted-Lydia, in a white dress, dragging a suitcase.
His grip on me stiffened, then released. He ruffled my hair, lying smoothly, "My mate, a pack ally's here to talk business. Wait for me."
He strode to Lydia, pulling her into his arms, signing, "Lydia, why'd you come alone? I said I'd see you and the pup tonight."
"I missed you," she signed back. "And I want to care for Clara to make up for my wrongs."
"You owe her nothing. I'm the one who wronged you and the pup by making you live under her name."
He kissed her, his eyes brimming with tenderness, then signed, "I named the pup-Nathaniel for a boy, Sophia for a girl."
I stood frozen, my heart slashed to pieces. Last year, when I found out I was carrying his pup, Julian was over the moon. He rented out an entire hot spring villa, gave me a disc with 9,999 recorded love confessions. But when I went to play it, he got a call-a she-wolf crying faintly in the background. He kissed my belly, saying, "My mate, pack business. I'll be back."
I waited a day and a night, but he never came. Instead, an avalanche did. Our pup died that winter.
Now, watching him caress Lydia's belly with that same tender touch, I gave a bitter smile. I was the only one trapped in that avalanche.
"My mate, I've been swamped, so I got a healer to look after you," Julian said, leading Lydia forward, his eyes soft with adoration.
"Ms. Joyner, hi," Lydia said shyly.
Ms. Joyner, not Mrs. Chase. Julian frowned but didn't correct her. My gaze lingered on Lydia's kiss-swollen lips, my nails digging into my palms.
Julian draped his wool coat over me. "It's cold, my mate. Let's head home."
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