Wrong Bride, Real Goodbye Chapter 02

Wrong Bride, Real Goodbye Chapter 02

Ivy’s POV

I dried my hands and my own phone buzzed.

New message on screen.

“Monday morning, I’ll take you to register the mate bond.”

I kept my reply short.

“Okay.”

I sent it and went to the bedroom to pack.

That’s when I found it, tucked into the back of the closet.

A piece of clothing that wasn’t mine.

Skimpy. Barely there. Drenched in Bella’s rose perfume.

Crumpled into a ball, like someone had shoved it in there in a panic.

I looked closer. Stains on the fabric. Dried.

The door creaked.

Adrian walked in.

He took one look at my reddened eyes and immediately understood.

Without missing a beat, he reached over and took the clothing from my hands.

“Aaron probably left it when he brought his girlfriend over.”

My head was down. My hands were shaking.

Not from sadness.

From disgust.

Adrian misread it entirely.

He reached up and touched my hair with a kind of fond gentleness.

“Ivy, you know what I love most about you?”

He didn’t wait for an answer.

“You listen.”

My wolf curled deeper into my consciousness, quiet. Like she’d long since learned to accept the collar.

Over the years, I’d heard those words so many times.

Listen. Behave. Be good.

Like a well-trained pet.

Like a Omega that knew how to duck its head and wag its tail.

Nothing like a she-wolf with any self-respect.

“Bella is the past.”

“Giving her that ceremony was just making up for something. That’s all.”

“Stop reading into it.”

He patted my head like I was something he owned.

The same way he’d pointed a finger at me years ago and decided to take me in.

Just a casual gesture. He brought me into Silvercrest territory and got me into a Pack school in the city.

But the second Bella cried, he’d drop me in a corner and let the Alpha family kids use me however they liked.

Disposable.

Effortless.

Like garbage nobody wanted, kicked around between people.

“Alright.”

“You should rest.”

“Bella wants to get her ceremony nails removed.”

“I’m gonna take her.”

Maybe it was the accumulated sting of every defeat.

Maybe it was that small, stubborn part of me that refused to give up.

I grabbed his wrist before I could stop myself.

“Can’t you stay?”

Just stay.

Even once.

It would prove I mattered.

But Adrian just paused, and a look of faint exasperation crossed his face.

“I promised her.”

He’d promised me so many things too.

Promised to take me to the Pack hospital for my cramps.

Promised to come with me to visit my grandmother’s grave.

Promised to spend at least one birthday with me.

Even once.

Every single time. Nothing.

“Oh.”

“Okay.”

I let go of his wrist. My voice came out flat, like it always did now.

For some reason, Adrian reached back and caught my hand.

His tone suddenly softened.

“When I get back, I’ll bring you some taro cake. The kind you like.”

Taro cake was the last thing I’d ever want.

I couldn’t stand sweets.

Tears blurred my vision for just a second.

I smiled anyway.

“Thanks.”

Adrian didn’t come home that night.

Bella posted on her social media.

Nothing fancy. Just a peace sign.

But I knew in an instant. It was meant for me.

Just like back in school, the day Adrian dropped me for her because she said one word.

I was locked in a bathroom stall, pinned to the ground and beaten until I couldn’t stand.

Bella stood over me, flashing that same sign.

Taunting.

Humiliating.

My personal nightmare.

“Like a bunny, right?”

The comments didn’t get it.

“It’s Mate Ceremony night. Who cares about bunnies?”

“Spill it. How was Adrian?”

Bella replied fast.

“Amazing. So good.”

I scrolled past it and booked an appointment at the Pack hospital.

I’d been breaking out in hives since yesterday.

Probably an allergic reaction to the sleep draught.

My neck was already scratched raw.

The doctor gave me a shot.

Then looked at me seriously.

“You cannot take any more sedatives. Your body can’t handle them.”

“Understood.”

I grabbed my prescription and turned to leave.

And walked straight into Adrian in the lobby.

He was holding Bella’s hand.

When he saw me, he went still for a second.

But his hand didn’t let go.

“What happened to you?”

“Allergic reaction.”

Adrian gave a casual nod.

Didn’t ask why.

Didn’t ask if it was serious.

Then he sighed.

“She nicked her finger getting her nails taken off. I brought her in for some antiseptic.”

His voice was thick with concern.

Like Bella had suffered some terrible injury.

I looked.

The cut was barely visible. Already scabbed over.

Bella huffed and pretended to be annoyed.

“It’s your fault for bothering me the whole time. Otherwise I wouldn’t have gotten hurt.”

Adrian laughed quietly and apologized like it was nothing.

“Fair enough. My bad.”

Then he turned to me.

“Head home. I’ll be there soon.”

I nodded and started walking.

I’d barely taken a few steps when Bella’s voice floated after me.

“She’s covered in hives on her face and neck. You sure that’s not contagious?”

“She should get a full checkup.”

“She already had one.”

“That was then! I’m trying to look out for you and you’re not even grateful?”

Adrian’s voice was bored.

“Fine. She can go tomorrow.”

Same tone you’d use to schedule a vet visit for your dog.