Bonus Chapter 3

“Fuck if I know...” I confess, muttering. “Ignore him?”
Ian scoffs, shaking his head. Then, our eyes lock, and he says sternly. “You deserve someone who will truly love you, Vi. Forever. Who will put you first. Give Cedar a chance. A real one. Without thinking he is going to abuse it or betray you.”
“You don’t get it, Ian... It’s not that simple.”
Cedar can’t crack the ice around my heart.
Before he can say anything, I stand up abruptly. “Now you know. Please, I need to be alone, Ian. If I need you, I’ll tell you. I swear. I need you to trust me, too, that I’ll do it.”
Ian studies me for a long moment, his dark eyes piercing. Finally, he acquiesces, though his jaw tightened. “Fine. You better mean it.”
With a small smile, I hug my brother, feeling somehow much better than I did when I walked in here.

🐺 🐺 🐺

Unable to sleep, I scoot up on the bed and lean against the headboard. Rain starts lashing against the window, and the blustery wind howls as a streak of lightning illuminates the room. 
The eerie sounds fade into muted background noise when my mind thinks about my mate’s bond with Jordan. 
The man I thought was my fated mate—who I blindly believed without questioning and who marked my neck—was, in fact, a monster. 
For a split second, I thought about what an awful fucking husband he was during all those years—he didn’t even consider my well-being during a goddessdamn ambush the day he died—but then I remembered he was the one who had planned it. 
He and his fucking sister! I get up furiously from the bed, grab my Birkin purse nearby, and throw on only one spare outfit and some toiletries. Then I grab my trench coat and leave the room. I’ve been staying in this suite in the guest wing since everything happened. I don’t have the courage to go back to my own room.
I hate him. I hate what he did to me.
I walk quickly down the hall. 
A prickle of awareness at the back of my neck tells me exactly where Cedar stands. Off to one side, as usual, surveying in silence from a distance. 
Judging me for everything I did? I bet he is. 
But after a week of being out of his line of sight—and it wasn’t that easy since my damn brother has been telling him where I usually go to be alone. Cedar always ends up finding me out, and I know it was my brother who told him because Ian is the only one who knows—right now, his green eyes are most definitely on me again. It leaves a flutter in my chest that I certainly wish would fuck right off. 
“Going somewhere?” he asks, walking towards from across the hall that I know is where Az’s room is. He raises an eyebrow, sexy as hell, as he looks at my purse and coat in my arms.
“It’s none of your fucking business!” I snap angrily, for a brief second, I half-expect his indifference or anger, how Jordan would have reacted.
Instead, his lips turn up in the most gorgeous smile I’ve ever seen. 
Holy. Hell.
“Stop smiling!” I sneer, stepping furiously toward the stairs while eyeing Cedar, who stands about five feet away now. Still grinning with that wildly overconfident look on his face that no doubt lures many willing females into his bed. I growl in my mind. 
He cocks an eyebrow at me. A move to try to distract me, no doubt. I hate to admit that he’s hot. 
I smell Lily’s scent on him. I hate that I don’t even have time to say goodbye to my daughter. If I do, I know I won’t be able to leave. It has to be now that Ian and Allie have gone to the charity event in Summerville, or else they’ll stop me. This is my chance. Deep down, I know Ian is going to be sad that I won’t be here when they arrive because he’s going to ask his fated mate to marry him. The surprise is all set up.
I run down the stairs, but before I can reach the bottom, I sense him behind me. Just as he’s about to touch me, I yell, “Don’t touch me!”
He quickly takes a step back. “Let’s talk.” Goddess, I almost kneel on the stairs in front of him and rip the gray sweatpants he’s wearing. “Just listen to me for a moment—”
“No!” I tighten my grip on my Birkin and coat. “I don’t want to know about *you*. I don’t want to talk to *you*. Leave me alone!” I angrily look at him up and down. One last time seeing him, even if it’s just to have something to remember with my fingers later. “I don’t want *you*!”
The thickening rain outside is drowned out by the loud echo of my voice against the walls.
“You... were disappointed when you found out it was me, your fated mate?” Cedar whispers, sounding so lost that it makes my gut clench. 
‘Fix. This.’ Roxy growls in my head. ‘Now!’ 
“It doesn’t matter. I’m leaving.” I then turn away. 
“Don’t go.” I hear his deep voice plead, following behind me but keeping his distance at the same time. “I can’t come after you if you leave here now.” Entering the garage, I flip the light switch, illuminating the row of car keys hanging on the wall; my hand instinctively reaches out and grasps the closest fob as he says, “I’m watching the kids right now. I can’t leave them alone.”
That’s just another reason for me to seize this moment. I tap the base of the fob, and the headlights of the car ahead flash as it unlocks. Without hesitation, I stride toward it.
I open the driver’s door and throw my things in the passenger seat, and as soon as I get in, he holds the door. “Vi—”
“Don’t say my name! Don’t talk to me! I don’t want you!”
The word *reject* gets stuck in my throat.
‘Don’t you dare say that to our mate!’ Roxy snarls, trying to take control of my body. ‘He’s ours! We belong to him!’
I shake my head to stop Roxy from controlling me right when I start to listen to what Cedar is saying. “... Let’s talk. You’re mine!”
My wolf and he seem in sync. 
Fuck. Me.
I debate with myself, then slam the car door shut and start the engine. Right before getting out, I say, “I’m not yours!” I hiss. “I’m nobody’s!”

🐺 🐺 🐺

*Four Months Later*
***Cedar***

“Is it ready? Is it really, really ready?” Lily’s voice comes from behind me, bright and breathless. She nearly trips over her own rain boots in her hurry. 
“Whoa there, Tiger,” I chuckle, catching her elbow before she face-plants into a patch of goldenrod. “Yeah, it’s ready.”  
The morning air is crisp but gentle, carrying the faint scent of damp leaves and distant wildflowers. The kind of morning that makes you breathe deeper without even thinking about it.
I lift up my face and glance at the treehouse.
God, it actually looks… good. Real good. 
The planks are sturdy, the windows I salvaged from the old packhouse shed fit perfectly, and the little, *slightly crooked* balcony overlooks a field of flowers swaying in slow, lazy waves. It’s not much compared to the luxury of the packhouse, but I built it with my own hands.  
Lily looks up at me, brown eyes wide and shiny, her freckles scrunching together as she beams. It hits me, that look. 
Smacks me right in the chest.
The tree house is hers—I built it for her—but it feels like she’s the one who made something for me just by looking at it like that. Her happiness feels like the best present I can receive. 
“It’s perfect, Uncle Cedar!” Az says with a big smile but looking at Lily’s face. 
Can they be any more adorable?
“Yeah, loverboy,” I tease, ruffling his blonde hair and earning a swat at my wrist.   
Lily, though, doesn’t say anything. She just stares at the tree house, biting her lip. I nudge her gently. “What do you think, Tiger?”   
She turns and throws her arms around my waist, squeezing hard. For a second, I don’t breathe. It’s tight, too tight like she’s afraid I’ll disappear if she lets go.   
“You made it,” she whispers against my chest.  
“Of course I did,” I murmur, running my hand through her wavy hair. I keep my voice light, casual, but my throat’s tight. “You said you always wanted one, didn’t you?”  
She nods, then sniffles softly against my chest, and before I can say anything else, Az steps closer. His small hand rests on her back, and he leans in slightly. “Hey,” he says, his voice low and careful, like he’s handling something fragile. “You okay, Lil?”  
Lily pulls back just enough to look at him, her eyes still glassy. She nods, but Az doesn’t buy it. His brows pinch together—fierce, protective, too serious for a ten-year-old. He glances up at me, then back at her. Without a word, he slips his hand into hers and squeezes it.   
“Come on,” he says gently. “Let’s go see the inside.”
Her lips twitch into a watery smile, and she nods again, I notice her gripping his hand tighter. Az leads her toward the ladder with slow, steady steps, glancing over his shoulder twice to make sure she’s okay as she wipes her eyes on her sleeve.
I watch them climb, Lily’s fingers trembling slightly as she grips each rung. Az stays close behind her, steadying her when she hesitates, his hand hovering near her back, ready to catch her if she slips. When they reach the platform, she exhales sharply, and he beams at her like she’s just conquered a mountain.   
She grins, a little steadier now, and I watch Az’s chest puffing up, all proud of himself.  
From below, I lean against the tree trunk of another tree, watching as they duck inside the tree house. I breathe in the cool fall air. For the first time in a long, long time, it feels easy. Easy to just… be.
But I still feel Ethan and Allie approaching, not only because of their movements but also because of my sister’s indignation tone as she argues with him to let her walk. Ethan just grunts. I glance over my shoulder and spot him carrying her in his arms.
I have a smile on my lips as I face forward. Through the little window, I spot Lily carefully arranging the tissue paper flowers she made, draping them over the windowsill with slow, thoughtful movements as she takes her time to get it the way she wants. Az, meanwhile, unzips his hoodie and lays it on the floor. “In case you get cold,” I hear him say. The kid sounds casual, but I catch the way he glances at her, making sure she’s okay.  
She gives him a smile, it’s small, but genuine. 
When they get close to me, Ethan finally puts my sister down. I grin and push him out of the way to hug Allie. When she wraps her arms around me, Ethan lets out a low growl but quickly shuts up when Allie glares at me. “He’s my brother!” 
“You might be siblings, but my mind only registers another male touching my mate.” 
Allie rolls her eyes as he drags her closer to him again, placing a protective arm over her swollen belly. Little Ava will be born in two months.
Ethan looks up and studies the tree house. His dark gaze grows stern. I told Josh I was going to make it, but I didn’t tell him because he’s been in Summerville with Allie for the last few days. By the surprise on his face, I bet Josh didn’t tell him. 
*Fuck*. I hope he doesn’t mind; but this is his pack. I haven’t done the ceremony to join the pack yet.
“Did you enter my sister’s room?” He finally asks. Sensing her uneasy mate, Allie stays silent.
“No!” I reply with a frown.
He looks up at the treehouse and then looks sternly at me. “Are you sure?”
“Yes!” I say through gritted teeth. “I know I should have told you sooner, but Lily,” I lower my voice so the little girl doesn’t hear. “I wanted to cheer Lily up a little.”
Ethan gives me a single nod, pressing his mate even tighter against him. Then he opens a small smirk. “Looks like it took a lot of work. Did you build it all by yourself?”
“Yes,” I say, looking back at the treehouse.
“Wow! It’s perfect, C!” Allie says with a smile, surveying my handiwork. “Too bad I wasn’t here to help you!”
Just to tease Ethan, I say, “Don’t worry. You can help me build one for Ava then.”
He growls. “Good idea. Whenever the fuck that is, consider my Little Dove busy. Ask me for help if you need it. Not. Her.” 
Allie and I laugh. After a few moments, I glance at Ethan. Sensing my stare, he slowly drags his attention from my sister to meet my eyes. Before I can even ask, he already knows what it is, or rather, who I’m going to ask about.  
He just shakes his head.
So she hasn’t contacted him then. Fuck. It’s been four long months. I want to go after her. 
Chase her. 
I’ve been tormenting myself ever since that rainy night she ran away. I should have gone after her, I should have shifted and run faster than her damn car. 
But then I remember Lily’s soft voice and take a deep breath. 
Ever since I met that little girl, we bonded almost instantaneously. I killed her father. And it’s my fault her mother ran away. Lily had said earlier that day how relieved and happy she was to have me there and softly asked me not to abandon her, too. 
That was before her mother even left the pack. 
How could I do that to the kid then? I just couldn’t. That’s why I didn’t go after my mate. In these last few months, our relationship has grown stronger. I’ve been taking care of Lily every day since her grandparents aren’t in the pack, and Allie and Ethan are busy taking over Blackmoon. In the morning, I’ve been training with Ethan and Az, but as Ethan trains Az, I train my little girl. She told me I had more patience with her than her uncle did, and she preferred me. Fuck, if that didn’t make me feel happy for days.
The training sessions aren’t just to help the little ones, they’re a balm for my own soul after so many years... there. 
Every time Lily does something right in the gym, Az looks her way and tells her how awesome she is in a matter-of-fact way like it’s the most obvious truth in the world. She just grins back at him.
I glance up at them in the treehouse. I spot her tiny hand in Az’s and the way he watches her so carefully, so softly, like she’s the most important thing in the world.  
And to him, she probably is.  
I let out a slow breath, shoving my hands deeper into my pockets. The wood creaks as they shuffle around inside, their laughter occasionally spilling out through the window. 
Lily giggles at something Az says, the sound spilling out through the window. Then he grabs her hand dramatically and declares, “I, Sir Alpha Azrael. No—Alpha King Azrael, hereby rescue you, Princess Lily!”
Her laughter rings out, high and free. I can’t help but smile.
“We need to talk.” I hear Ethan say to me.
Turning my head to him, I ask, “About what?”
“It’s Vi.”
Immediately, my body goes on high alert. Every muscle coiled tight in an instant, stripping away every ounce of ease I’d felt just a second ago. “Say the word.”