Chapter 4
Early the next morning, the guest room door swung open, and Vanessa stepped in, fully dressed in a delicate cream blouse and pastel jeans. She crossed the room quickly, pulling back my blanket as if we were close friends.
Claire, why are you still in bed?” Her voice held a strange mixture of innocence and urgency. “I heard you got hurt and that you’re angry with Ethan. Please, don’t blame him–it was my insistence that he save me first. If you’re upset, take it out on me.” She tried to give
me a look of pity, as if she were the victim, the one who needed comforting.
For a moment, I just stared at her, refusing to take the bait. My silence didn’t seem to sit
well with her.
Behind her, Ethan stepped in. His gaze softened at the sight of her, and he immediately
moved to reassure her.
“Don’t take it to heart, Vanessa,” he said. “Claire’s just in a bad mood because she’s
recovering.” His words held a casual dismissal that pricked at something deep inside m
Varessa pouted, but not at me–she directed it at him, as if she needed him to keep. defending her.
“I think I’ve been humble enough,” she murmured, voice trembling. “It wasn’t intentional–I have a serious heart condition, and it was an emergency. It’s hard to make that call, you know?” She looked down, pretending to hide her tears, the corners of her eyes glistening as
if on cue.
Ethan’s face melted with sympathy. He stepped closer, gently placing a hand on her
shoulder.
“I know, Vanessa,” he murmured soothingly. “It wasn’t your fault. The situation was urgent,
and you couldn’t help it.”
My stomach churned watching the two of them, acting like they were in their own little world.
Forsaken Mate Alpha’s Second Chance at Love
Chapter 4
It was disgusting
The landslide that had nearly killed me had been a long time coming.
It was supposed to be our four year anniversary. Ethan had planned a surprise trip. something just for the two of us. He’d said he wanted to surprise me with this little escape,
just the two of us. But Vanessa had found out.
She made a casual comment about how he’d never taken her to see tulips, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Ethan had hesitated, torn between the trip we’d planned
and her fleeting wish. I could see it in his face, the moment he made his choice.
“Ethan,” she’d said with a forced, tragic smile, “I know I’m overstepping, and I don’t have much time left. But if it’s too much trouble, forget it.”
With a forced look of apology, he’d turned to me and said, “I’ll pick you up in the morning.”
Our romantic getaway turned into a three–person trip.
“Vanessa has a heart condition, Claire, As a doctor, you should know that traveling with that is even more dangerous for wolves! How could you be so vicious and petty toward her? We can take a romantic trip anytime!” He explained with barely veiled irritation.
But I just looked at them silently, without asking why. So, I swallowed down everything I wanted to say and let him make the choice.
That night, the rain came down in torrents. As we made our way back along the mountain road, Vanessa sat up front, Ethan driving carefully in the poor visibility, and I was stuck in
the back seat.
I didn’t see the landslide coming. I barely remember anything except the shattering impact, the metal crumpling around us.
When the rescuers finally arrived, Ethan’s first words weren’t to check if I was okay. He was frantic, yelling, insisting they get Vanessa out first.
One of my colleagues happened to be among the rescuers, and he’d done his best to get me a spot on the first chopper. But Ethan wouldn’t let go of Vanessa, even threatening to pull
Forsaken Mate Alpha’s Second Chance at Love
his donations from the hospital if they didn’t get her out first.
I watched them disappear into the sky, leaving me behind. Only my colleague’s persistence got me onto another helicopter, and that was the only reason I survived.
Q00
