The Second Chance He Doesn’t Deserve

Elira's POV

“Honey, why are you taking so long? You said you wouldn’t be gone that long,” Monica said, flashing me one of her fake smiles.

“Sis, how are you?” she asked, pulling me into a brief hug. “I know it’s not easy to lose Alpha Lucas.”

Then she pulled back and looped her arm around him.

She gave me that fake, syrupy look of concern. I smiled back, cold as ice. “I’m fine. Why should I grieve? People leave. Nothing to cry about,” I said flatly, catching the way Lucas’s jaw clenched. His eyes burned holes into me, like he didn’t expect that answer.

Monica’s gaze dropped to the boxes. “You’re burning them?” lo

“Yeah. Why should I keep anything?” I shrugged.

“Aww, that’s sad,” she pouted, then turned to Lucas. “Honey, we need to go. I have a follow-up at the hospital.”

Lucas didn’t move. He stared at the box. “Don’t burn that. I’ll keep it—for my brother,” he said.

I was about to argue, but he didn’t give me the chance. He ordered one of the guards to take it away. My jaw clenched. What the hell was he doing? Why not just let me go? Why keep torturing me like this?

“Let’s go,” he said, and the two of them walked off like the perfect little couple.

And that’s when it hit me—no matter what I did, I’d never be Monica. Never be the one they chose. I’d never be enough.

A single tear slid down my cheek. I wiped it away quickly.

I kept my head down, ignoring the stares from the pack as I waited for the documents for the island to be finalized. I just needed to leave. Elder Thomas promised to keep quiet about it, that he’d manage things until Thorne decided to take the Alpha title.

Later that day, I returned to the packhouse after handling finances and a council meeting. Monica approached me, beaming, and grabbed my hand.

“Sis! It’s been forever since we went out together. Thorne’s racing tomorrow. Come with me. Don’t just stay holed up here, mourning Lucas,” she said sweetly.

Lucas… racing? That was new. He never did stuff like that. That was Thorne’s thing—speed, risk, freedom. Not Lucas. But something inside me wanted to see what he was up to.

I didn’t want to go, but Monica pushed so hard that I finally gave in.

The next morning, we were at the race track. Monica ditched me to find Lucas, and I wandered around until I spotted his cousin Drake talking to him.

“Seriously? You’ll get yourself killed!” Drake snapped, shaking his head. “I don’t get why you’re doing all this just to stay close to Monica.”

Lucas’s voice was calm, too calm. “It’s the only way. I don’t even know how to drive this car. Tampering with the brakes is all I could do.”

My blood froze.

“You’re insane,” Drake muttered. “Look, I get it. You love Monica. But she’s your brother’s wife. And Elira—your own wife—was wrecked when you died. You really felt nothing seeing her break down like that? She loved you, man. She loved you so damn much.”

Lucas didn’t say a word.

Drake ran a hand through his hair. “Let her go, bro. Let Monica go. Stop this mess.”

I stood there, hidden, silent, breath caught in my throat.

Then I heard Lucas speak.

“I’ll go back to Elira. But after two years with Monica... I’ll fix things.”

Go back?

I scoffed quietly and turned away.

Back to who?

The girl you left broken?

The one who died inside the moment she realized you faked your own death?

There’s no Elira waiting for you.

You can rot in your perfect fantasy with Monica.

You think I was the reason for your misery for five years?

You’re worse than Thorne.

I found a seat as the race began. The crowd roared, wild cheers erupting when Thorne’s name was announced.

Monica returned, sitting beside me. “Don’t look so gloomy, sis. You should get out more.”

I didn’t answer.

“You know, fate’s just cruel like that. Your husband died, mine survived the rogue attack. You’re just unlucky, but hey—some people are born like that. I guess I’m just lucky,” she said with a smug little smile.

I clenched my jaw, hiding the storm brewing inside me. I was about to snap when a loud crash made everyone go still.

“Honey!” Monica screamed in panic.