Chapter 4

Amber's POV

My heart broke as Julian turned away from me, his arm still around Olivia, his words ringing through my mind. I turned and left. I could almost hear the wail in my heart, a voice constantly calling my name.

I started packing as soon as I got home. The house – our house – was filled with so many memories. There were the flowers and plants I had arranged myself, along with the vases, paintings, and even the color of the sofa and the cushions.

Some of my favorite objects in the house were the furniture covers I had learned how to weave myself. The precise movements of weaving often reminded me of medical school, learning to sew stitches into skin with depth and skill. I told myself that both the acts of weaving furniture covers and sewing up human bodies were beautiful, in their own, distinct ways.

Julian never said it out loud that he liked the furniture covers, but he often sat on that sofa and went through his documents. He would lean back, casually leafing through important documents and new proposals, looking more relaxed than he did at practically any other time.

I warned myself not to think about him anymore. He’d shattered everything. Like the covers, I’d manufactured this life for myself. This prison I found myself trapped in had been built by my own hands.

Julian had never truly appreciated me, or this manufactured cage, and now he wanted to push me further into it, to tighten my chains even more than they already were. What did he think I was? His toy?

Someone who just stayed at home, ready to spread her legs for him whenever he wanted?

My luggage was strewn about the house as I decided what to bring with me and what to leave behind. I stood behind the couch, running my fingers over the woven texture of the sofa cover. I’d spent so long on the project, it was tempting to bring them with me.

But I didn’t think I would ever be able to look at them without thinking of Julian, of his dark black hair and blue eyes, of his long limbs resting against the soft fibers.

I decided to leave them. At the very least, they would be proof that I’d been here, even if no one else decided to acknowledge the large role I’d played in Julian’s life.

I finished packing in the bedroom. When I finished, finally zipping up my last suitcase and sealing the last box with strong, clear tape, I lay down on the bed. I tried to rest, but I was unable to sleep through the night.

Julian didn’t come home. Not that this was entirely unusual, but the context was different now, and usually he’d send word when he wouldn’t be home so I wouldn’t have dinner ready for him to heat and eat when he returned.

I turned on the news, and the image of Julian and Olivia entering a fancy restaurant occupied the TV screen. Immediately, I turned off the TV. I didn’t want her, even the image of her, to scar this bedroom Julian and I had shared.

Not while I was here, at least.

The next morning, as soon as it was a reasonable hour to make a phone call, I consulted a lawyer. He told me what I already knew: if I divorced him, I would have to leave Thorn Pack.

I made up my mind.

I bought a ticket to leave.

Third Person POV

Olivia sighed with relief. Julian had finally left for work, finally left her alone. She could breathe, not stifled by Julian’s overbearing chivalry and her own web of lies.

“Are you sure it’s alright if I leave?” Julian asked her. “I can tell the office I can’t come in today.”

“Oh, sweetie,” Olivia had purred in her best impression of a demure, wifely woman. “Of course I’ll be alright. After all, I have my own security here. They won’t let anything happen to me.”

“Alright,” Julian had finally acquiesced, “but if Amber shows up, I want you to contact my office immediately. I’ll be home as soon as possible.”

“Of course, darling,” Olivia replied.

As soon as Julian left the house and Olivia saw his car leave her driveway, she rose, going into action.

“Contact my office immediately,” Olivia repeated, mocking Julian’s concern. “Right. Like I need an Alpha to protect me.”

Olivia was very familiar with Alphas, along with what she perceived as their hubris. After all, she was the daughter of Obsidian Pack’s own Alpha.

She tried not to think about that too much. Her father’s incompetence was the reason she was here, merging the two packs herself. Nothing would get done if she didn’t take the reins.

Olivia shirked off her frilly house robe, gliding confidently down the stairs to her study. She sat behind the magnificently carved desk, flicking on the lamp and opening her little black book.

Now, who would be best to recruit to her scheme? She had no draught of criminals or bad boys to recruit to her cause. After all, seducing men to her side was one of Olivia’s more practiced skills.

But who could she trust to do what she needed? Who would be most suited to murdering Amber without turning Olivia into Julian? Who would be unconditionally loyal, choosing Olivia over the temptations of reward money and heroic fame?

Olivia flipped through the pages of her book. She had sections divided by occupation, every name labelled by what the man could do for her. She stopped at the page labelled “Thorn Pack Airport.”

Finding the number she wanted, Olivia dialed her phone. After a quick conversation, her suspicions were confirmed. Amber Wood had booked a flight out of Thorn Pack for that afternoon.

Olivia needed to work fast.

She skimmed the rest of the page. Her next call would require some more skill to convince.

“Olivia?” She could hear the loud sounds of plane engines and mechanics in the background of the call. Perfect. He was at work.

“Hello, darling,” she purred. “I have a favor to ask of you.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line. “Yes?”

“I need you to sabotage the engines for a flight after the pilots do their safety checks.” Olivia waited to see what her contact would respond.

“Olivia, that’s pretty serious,” the man said. “What do I get if I do it?”

“Well, dear,” Olivia said. “Anything your heart desires, I can make come true.”

“Anything?” The man was softening to her pleas, just as Olivia had anticipated.

“Anything,” she said.

“Alright. Consider it done.”

Olivia sat back in her chair after hanging up the phone, satisfied with her plan. Everything was in place.

Soon, Amber would be dead.