Don’t Flatter Yourself, I Won’t Haunt You After Prison Release Chapter 03

Don’t Flatter Yourself, I Won’t Haunt You After Prison Release Chapter 03

Slowly, Amarok started talking about Thalyn all the time.

First, he said she was sweet and innocent. Then he said it was unfair people picked on her for being a rogue’s daughter. Finally, he said, “Velvela, stop being mean to Thalyn.”

I tried to talk to him, but it was the anniversary of Mom and my sisters’ deaths. I went to the cemetery to watch over their graves.

When I came home, I saw something I’d never forget.

Amarok and Thalyn were naked together in my white bed.

Loud and lewd sounds filled the room.

“Amarok, you’re so good. Why didn’t you go to the cemetery with my sister? Don’t you wanna leave flowers for your dead mother-in-law?”

“Mother-in-law? She’s just a dead wolf who fell down stairs. Your mom’s a better mother-in-law—Wilderun Pack’s Luna helps me more.”

I couldn’t catch another word after that. I lost all sense of reason. I snapped and grabbed a dinner knife from the kitchen and ran into the room. Thalyn’s scream filled the house.

After the incident, the council wanted to go easy on me for being betrayed. But Amarok used his alpha heir influence, I was sentenced to three years in the punishment dungeons.

When I got out the dungeons, I left Wilderun and Nightshade Packs for good.

Seven years later, I saw Amarok again at my repair shop on Valehowl Pack’s border.

Time hadn’t touched him. He was still handsome, his brown hair neat and shiny.

My hair was frizzy. My hands were cracked, grease stuck under my nails forever.

I pushed the black card back to him slightly.

“Don’t need it, Amarok. I’m doing fine.”

“I have food and a roof. I’m free. I work hard, no stealing, no lying.”

“Just a regular person—no big money, no big trouble.”

Amarok held the card out stubbornly. “Just… consider it compensation. You saved me from rogues and lost your wolf. Take it, and we’re even.”

I shot him a surprised glance.

Proud Amarok was offering to make up for something? He never backed down before.

“Even less reason. I saved you because you were my boyfriend. I hurt someone and went to jail—that’s fair,” I shrugged. “We owe each other nothing.”

Amarok clenched his fists and stared at me firmly. He studied me like he couldn’t believe it was really me. Finally, he lowered his head, glistening tears welling up in his eyes. His voice cracked. “Velvela… you’re so strange to me now.”

I checked the clock. “Been a long time. Makes sense.”

“I shouldn’t have cheated,” he said, voice thick with emotion. “All these years, I thought if your wolf was awake, I never would’ve looked at anyone else. I still want you. You would’ve been my Luna, the happiest wolf alive.”

I was quiet for a long time. Only the clock ticked in the shop.

“Life’s unpredictable,” I said, pulling out a lollipop and unwrapping it. “I don’t regret any choice I made.”

“You—” Amarok frowned, then snapped. “You haven’t changed at all. So stubborn! Set in your ways!”

I nodded happily. “I call it persistent.”

“Vela!”

Amarok clenched his fists and called my nickname.

I froze for a moment. He sounded just like he used to.

He softened his voice. “If you won’t take compensation, I can get you back into Wilderun Pack as the alpha’s daughter. Dad has cancer. He doesn’t have long. Beg for his forgiveness, and you’ll get inheritance. No more hard life.”

“Really?” I smiled. “He finally got what he deserved.”

Amarok couldn’t bear it any longer. He grabbed my arm and tried to pull me to his car. “Velvela, how long will you keep lying to yourself?”

“Look what you’ve become!”

“Small, dark apartment. Dirty, tiring work.”

“Eating frozen junk, happy over a free ketchup packet!”

“You think this is tough or cool? It’s not.”

“You’re just a lowly mechanic, an omega werewolf.”

I looked down at my grease-stained jumpsuit and ponytail. “I’m not that bad. At least my face is still whole. How’s my sister’s?”

Amarok jumped like he’d been burned. “Thalyn had surgery! Her face is fixed! She has scars, but makeup covers them! You smell like oil, your hands are like sandpaper—who’d want you as a mate?”

He shouted and nearly knocked over my pizza again.

The glass door creaked open.

Two young werewolves ran in like rockets.

They yelled, “Mom!”