Second Chance Mate Regretted

"I've got a liver thing," I croaked, my voice barely holding together. "I know my own body, so don't bother filling him in." I turned my face away, dodging Jaxon's gaze. "He doesn't care."

Jaxon let out a cold laugh, his tone flat as a frozen lake. "You're right. Your health's got nothing to do with me. Just don't die on me yet." He turned to leave, but his phone buzzed.

"Jaxon, where are you? I miss you." Aubrey's syrupy voice oozed through the speaker.

He glanced at my hospital bed, a smirk curling his lips. "At the healer's den. Miss me? Come over."

He hung up and looked at me, his smile sharp and mocking. "Didn't you say you wanted me to stick around for these Three weeks, Margot? Well, wish granted."

Not long after, Aubrey breezed in. She froze when she saw me, then quickly sidled up to Jaxon, all sweet and docile. He pulled her close, his arm snaking around her waist, and kissed her like I wasn't even there.

Aubrey melted into him, their lips locked in a shameless display, completely ignoring me on the bed. My face drained of color, nausea churning in my gut.

I grabbed the glass from the bedside table and hurled it at them. "Get the hell out! Don't make me gag!"

Jaxon spun fast, shielding Aubrey with his back. The glass shattered, a shard grazing her cheek, leaving a thin red line.

"Jaxon." Aubrey clutched her face, tears spilling instantly. "My face."

His eyes narrowed, his expression darkening like a storm cloud. He scooped her up in his arms, his voice carrying a panic I'd never heard before. "Don't touch the cut!"

"Get the top skin healer!" he barked at the guard by the door. "No, get a chopper and fly in the best experts from other packs-now!"

I slumped against the bed, watching Jaxon rush out with Aubrey in his arms, his frantic shouts echoing down the hall. "Use the best meds! No scars, you hear me?"

My heart felt like it was being carved up with a dull blade.

I glanced at my hand, littered with needle marks, and let out a bitter laugh. How pathetic. Aubrey's just a shadow of Lauren, and he's losing his mind over a scratch. Me? His actual mate? I can't even get a glance.

Another wave of pain twisted through my liver. I curled up, cold sweat soaking my hospital gown.

I spent days in that healer's den. Endless pills, countless needles, and pain like a knife grinding in my gut. I was wasting away, my hair falling out in clumps. Even the nurses couldn't stand it, slipping me extra painkillers on the sly.

Then today, Jaxon stormed in, his face like thunder. He yanked me off the bed. "Aubrey's face was nearly ruined," he growled. "Bet you're thrilled, huh?"

I struggled weakly. "It was just a scratch."

"Shut up!" he snapped, cutting me off. "You dared touch my she-wolf, Margot. Now you pay."

Before I could react, Three guards grabbed me, dragging me to the stairwell. The floor was littered with jagged glass shards, glinting under the lights.