But as I straightened up, the room suddenly tilted sideways. My knees went weak, and I had to grab the edge of the sink to keep myself upright. The familiar weakness was back, only this time, it was worse than before.


    I gripped the cold marble until my knuckles went white, waiting for the dizziness to pass. My reflection in the mirror looked pale and drawn, and for a terrifying moment, I wondered if this was it. If I was finally going to copse for good.


    But slowly, the room stopped spinning. I managed to steady myself, although my hands were still trembling. I sshed cold water on my face, careful not to ruin my makeup, and took a few deep breaths.


    Then, I stered that smile back on and returned to the auction.


    Alexander


    I stooped to pick up the broken pieces of the ne and felt my heart ache. Earlier, I’d overheard Lilith giving this jewelry to her; she’d said it was a family heirloom. E was so upset she had just run off without picking it up.


    “Gabriel,” I called, motioning my Beta over. When he reached me, I handed him the broken pieces of the locket. “Take this to the best jewelry maker in the territory. Tell them to fix it, no matter the cost.”


    Gabriel frowned as he looked at the damaged silver. “It’s pretty badly damaged, Alpha. Are you sure it can be repaired?”


    “It has to be.” I felt a muscle feather in my jaw, recalling the moment I had overheard earlier, when Lilith had given it to E. It clearly meant everything to them. “It’s irreceable.”


    Gabriel nodded and pocketed the ne. “Very well. I’ll take it to the jewelry maker tonight.”


    “Good.”


    As Gabriel left to handle the locket, I found myself wandering aimlessly through the auction disys, my mind spinning. I couldn’t spot Sophia anywhere, as if she had left abruptly after


    the ident.


    Finally, I stopped in front of a disy of delicate jewelry. Most of it was too shy for E’s tastes, but one piece caught my eye: a simple silver bracelet with a small charm in the shape of a cherry blossom.


    It was a ridiculous impulse. E didn’t need more jewelry, and she certainly didn’t need gifts from me. Our rtionship was contractual and temporary. I had no business buying her presents on a whim like this.


    ~~~~4/2


    But I couldn’t stop staring at that bracelet. The cherry blossom charm was delicate and perfect, just like the flowers E loved so much. The ones I’d brought to her hospital room without really understanding why.


    “You’re going soft for her,” my wolf’s voice echoed in my mind.


    I pursed my lips. “It’s not like that. I just feel bad.”


    “It’s because you want her. You love-”


    “Enough.”


    My wolf went silent at mymand, but I could still feel his amusement as he curled up and went back to sleep.


    Before I could talk myself out of it, I found the volunteer managing that particr table and ced a bid. It was a charity auction, after all-everything was for a good cause.


    “That’s a lovely piece,” the elderly woman said as she wrote down my bid number. “Your wife has excellent taste.”


    “Thank you.”


    Twenty minutester, I was the proud owner of one silver cherry blossom bracelet. I slipped the small jewelry box into my jacket pocket, all the while trying to convince myself that I was only doing this to make up for what had happened to the locket.


    Nothing more.


    I made my way toward the bathroom, nning to wait for E to emerge so I could give her the bracelet.


    As I rounded the corner, I saw E already stepping out of the bathroom. She lookedposed again, her makeup refreshed and her smile firmly in ce.


    She turned toward me and began to approach. But before she could reach me, her knees buckled beneath her, and she began to pitch forward.


    Chapter III