Not Your Backup She-Wolf

At the pack clinic, the healer splinted my wrist, muttering on repeat, "Bone's broken. Your wolf's barely hanging on. Three months, minimum. Push it, and you'll feel it every storm."

Emma stormed in, dropped my meds on the table with a bang. "Saw Liam escort Chloe in. Her arm's got a baby scratch, but she whined for premium healing cream. And Liam? Playing nurse—'Does it hurt?' 'Want water?' It was sickening."

I grabbed the bag, fingers tightening around the pill box. The throb in my chest hit way harder than my wrist.

***

Liam brought Chloe back to the mansion at ten.

Our home. Eight years in that house. The sunflowers by the door still leaned like always.

I sat in the dark on the couch.

He walked in, laughing. "Way nicer than your pack's, huh? Hope you stop by a lot."

He flipped on the light. Froze when he saw my splint. "Your wrist okay?"

"Broken," I said. "Three-month heal time."

"Oh. Then don't overdo it."

He turned to Chloe, grinning. "I'll get the peanut butter. Didn't you say you wanted that toast again?"

"Liam." My voice cracked. "You seriously have nothing to say to me?"

He blinked. "Say what?"

"Why you left me in that fire. Why it was all about Chloe. Why you forgot I'm allergic to peanuts, but you're making her favorite snack. Why you never marked me. Not once in eight years."

His face darkened. "I TOLD you—Chloe's a guest. If she got hurt, it'd look bad on us. You? You can handle yourself."

"That's it?" My voice cracked as tears finally spilled. "She's been here for DAYS. I've been with you EIGHT FREAKING YEARS! What's she got that I don't? Is it the fake crying? The constant whining?"

Chloe clung to his arm, eyes all sparkle. "Sophia, don't blame Liam. It's my fault. I should've left..."

"Shut up." My glare didn't leave her. "Cut the innocent act. You're gunning for the Luna spot, right?"

Liam jumped between us. "Enough! She's a guest—watch your mouth."

"Watch my mouth?" I laughed, shaking. "I'm not even your mate, am I? You never marked me. Never claimed me in front of the pack. Was I just your house help this whole time?"

He went quiet. Then muttered, "Not now. Chloe's here. Don't make a scene. Don't embarrass yourself."

"Oh, I'm the embarrassment?" I stared him down. "You make me sick."

His jaw clenched. That Alpha pressure hit like a storm front. "Say that again."

"I said—you make me sick!" I shouted, shaking. "You trash the one who actually loved you, and baby a fake. Eight years, Liam. I was such an idiot."

Chloe burst into tears. "Liam, I'm scared... Let's go. I don't want to stay here anymore."

Liam didn't even glance my way. He walked her to the bedroom and shut the door.

Through the click, his voice came cold. "Think about how you acted. Stop causing drama."

I stood there, staring at that door.

Whatever hope I'd been hanging onto finally shattered—way too broken to fix.