One

The view from the penthouse atop the tallest building in Artume City really puts things into perspective. The glass wraps around the entire thing, so I have a view of the entire pack no matter what room I'm in. It was a gift from my father as compensation for our sacrifice.

Valentino comes out of his bedroom dressed the way he always is. Like a single entitled dipshit. He fixes his hair with a little black comb in the full-length mirror by the automatic doors that lead to the elevators.

"I'm going out," he announces as if it weren't obvious. "I probably won't be back for a couple of days."

"Sure," I say nonchalantly, wanting nothing more than the peace that will follow with him being gone.

He turns to me and then walks over with the confidence some people just shouldn't have. Especially him. He sits beside me, where I'm lying on the couch and hovers over me enough for me to feel the warmth coming off his body. I grimace, hating how close he is.

"Should we be friends?" he asks.

"What?" I blurt out, completely thrown off by his question. He pulls back, looking me over.

"This is pretty permanent," he says, holding up his wrist where I marked him on our wedding night. "I know from experience that fucking other people while marked feels like shit. I will lay that down as a rule for both of us. I don't want to be your enemy. I don't even want to be in your way. But my parents were arranged, and they hate each other. I don't want my life to be like theirs."

I sit up and take in what he said. That's a very straightforward request. In all honesty, I didn't expect him to be understanding. Especially when he said what he did when he marked me, stopping my wolf from killing me when she attempted to go feral.

"Okay," I nod. "I'm not doing well right now. My body is stiff."

"I know," he pats my head. "It sucks at first."

"You were rejected?"

"My mate-" he takes a deep breath.

"It's okay. You don't have to talk about it."

"Thanks," he nods. Despite having gotten ready to go out, he seems reluctant to go.

"You don't have to leave if you don't want to. I don't make a lot of noise. I'll stay out of your way. Maybe disappearing for a few days would be ideal for the two of us," I suggest.

"I don't like being alone with my thoughts," he admits. "Or sober."

"Just don't bring the parties back with you, or we'll have a problem," I sigh.

"Is it true?" he asks.

"Is what true?"

"That your brother murdered those girls," he says gently.

"I don't know. But I don't hear the lie when he denies it."

"You're still in contact with him?" he asks with disbelief. "I thought you guys disowned him."

"Michael is the only family I have. My parents are rarely ever in the City. I've been the head of the household since I was eighteen. Officially. I had to take over when Michael was sentenced. I was sixteen."

"Shit. You've been on your own for a long time. How do you do it?"

"Lately," I think back at the only person who was helping me. "I've been on my own, but Sophia used to help me a lot."

"Poor Kid," he shakes his head. "If the Alpha continues on this path, you might have to rethink your career."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"We're next in line," he announces, and I sit back staring at him.

"What?"

"Think about it. He has no heir and no beta. We own half the city. Sure, my father's company is ass, but with this mating, we're the richest family in the city. The most powerful," he motions to me. "You'll be alpha of Artume City if the dumb fuck gets killed by Sophie's new best friend."

"Why wouldn't you want to be Alpha?"

"I am alpha-ranked by default. You overpower me easily."

"My wolf has gone dormant," I remind him.

"And you're still a little powerbank, She-Ra," he sighs. "I'll stay in tonight then. I have to call in a favor."

"For what?" I ask.

"Your wolf being dormant is going to be a problem. If you can't shift for consummation, we can't have children," he points out, annoyed. "Then this entire ordeal was for fucking nothing."

His favor arrives an hour later. A group of doctors come into the penthouse. They're setting things up around me as Valentino sits in the armchair watching. He's right. After Ivar accepted my rejection, my wolf turned on me, attacking every vital organ in my body at once. Had it not been for Valentino, she would have killed me.

The hold our mate bond had on us was stronger than either one of us could have imagined, and if he were anything like me, he wouldn't have been able to walk away the way he did. Lovely is paying for my choices and is making sure that I know it. I follow each request as it's made by the doctor.

This reminds me of all the times I visited Sophia at the hospital. I haven't been there since she left. The rumours of her affair with Ivar spread like wildfire, and their latest outing has been on rotation all week.

It's been a week since he accepted the rejection, and he looks as if nothing happened. I haven't been able to get up to use the bathroom without feeling like every muscle in my body is ripping itself apart, and here the two of them are going to the movies hand in hand with the biggest smiles on their faces.

Did he tell her about me?

My body screams when a needle is pushed into my arm.

"Be careful, you idiot," Valentino growls.

"Forgive me, Alpha," the woman bows her head immediately.

"It's okay," I dismiss it. I glare at him, making him roll his eyes.

When the nurses finish putting away their equipment, the doctor sits down and begins writing, then looks up at us.

"You should be hospitalized," are the first words that come out of his mouth. "You need twenty-four-hour help. You can't be moving around the way you are. The damage your wolf created was meant to kill you, and she's not helping you heal."

"How long will her recovery take?" Valentino asks.

"Six months minimum," he sighs.

"Are there any doctors available for home treatment?"

"Yes, I am. I can come in daily to check on her. I have all the services she needs. But you should have brought her as soon as it happened. For the next four weeks, you are not to get out of bed. You will need a catheter."

"I've been moving around just fine," I sigh.

"I know, and if you continue to, you can kiss recovering your ability to shift goodbye. I will be back with everything I need in a bit. I'll also bring in the in-home nurses so you can get acquainted."

"Thanks, Sam. I owe you one," Valentino says.

"I think we finally call it even," the doctor huffs. "This was very irresponsible of the two of you. Rejections are lethal and the fifth reason why the wolf population is as low as it's ever been. The only reason why you're alive is that Mr Alvarez saved your life. You should both remember that."

I press my lips together and look up at said Mr Alvarez.

"Bitch," he murmurs under his breath once the doctor is out.

"So, now that you know something about me. How much trouble are you in?" I ask.

"You catch on quick, Alpha Alvarez," he smirks. Fuck my life. "I have an enforcer on me from Cabria."

"Lucian or Eduardo?" I ask, knowing that I am about to lose my hold on one of their necks.

"Lucian. No one likes the other one," he dismisses with a wave.

"You're going to be a problem, aren't you?"

"I plan to be the whole problem, yes," he smiles, tucking his hand under his chin. "Remember, I saved your life."