Once Love, Double Betrayal Chapter 09

Once Love, Double Betrayal Chapter 09

“Adrian.”

Candy stood before him, her gaze soft as ever. “Even without Claire, you still have me.”

He stared at her face-once innocent, even adorable. Now, no matter how long he looked, all he felt

was weariness.

“Adrian,” she whispered, stepping closer. “Claire’s not the only one who can stand by your side.

Her voice dropped lower, coaxing. “I can, too.”

Candy pressed on, her tone firmer. “If Claire doesn’t show up at tomorrow’s mating ceremony, I

can finish it with you.”

But the thrill he’d once felt sneaking around was long gone.

Now, whenever he looked at Candy, all he could think of was how Claire used to praise her-every

single time her name came up.

He remembered Claire saying that Candy was the kindest person in the world, even better than him.

Now, hearing Candy murmur, “Claire doesn’t know how to cherish you. You don’t have to keep thinking about her,” something inside him snapped.

His hand shot out, closing around her throat. “You really think Claire’s beneath you in every way?”

He flung her to the floor. “The truth is, you’ll never measure up to her. What makes you think you could even compare?”

“If I hadn’t been afraid of breaking Claire’s heart, did you really think I’d have let you crawl into my

bed?”

“Candy.” His voice turned cold, his eyes sharp with disgust. “I never cared about you. Not once.”

He towered over her, his words like blades. “To me, you were nothing but a toy to kill time. Claire’s reserved-shy, gentle. I could never bring myself to try too much with her, never wanted to hurt her in any way.”

“But you,” he sneered, “you’re different. Because to me, you were always easy.”

“You will never, ever come close to Claire. Not even to a single strand of her hair.”

Adrian didn’t spare her another glance. His mind was filled with thoughts of Claire-of me.

He had to see me. Had to tell me he knew he’d been wrong. That Candy was a mistake, a moment of

weakness. He’d never felt anything real for her. Never meant to hurt me.

He burst out of the house, heart pounding, desperate to drive to the Crescent Moon Pack. But just as

he reached the parking lot, Candy stepped into his path.

My parents had handed all pack business over to the beta, eager to plan their long-delayed trip like a pair of newlyweds. They scoured travel blogs and maps, laughing like teenagers.

Dad proudly showed me the itinerary he’d put together. “What do you think? We start here, then

head south-a real family road trip.”

Mom nodded enthusiastically. “Your father’s been dreaming of this for years, but pack duties

always got in the way.”

Dad grinned. “And it’s all thanks to my baby girl that we finally get the chance.”

Watching them-hair graying, still fussing over me-a quiet warmth filled my chest.

The day we headed to the airport, I got a call from Julian, a mutual friend of Adrian and mine.

“Claire,” he said, “can you take a video call?”

I didn’t think much of it. With time to spare before boarding, I accepted.

The screen lit up, and there he was-Adrian, pale and motionless in a hospital bed. His red-rimmed eyes locked on me through the camera, heavy with desperation.

I reached for the hang-up button-then heard his voice crack through the speaker.

“Claire…”

His voice trembled, raw and broken. “Claire, I know I was wrong,”

“I really know I was wrong,” he choked out, tears spilling freely. “I never meant to betray you. Candy said it didn’t have to mean anything. She said she just couldn’t stand losing to you, that she

wanted me once. So I…”

He couldn’t finish. His words dissolved into sobs.

He just kept crying until Julian’s voice cut in. “Adrian was trying to get to you. Candy stopped him They argued she grabbed the wheel. They crashed.”

My eyelid twitched.