Why was he like this? Why did her name rip him open?
He stared into the fire like he was seeing something I could not. Memories. Feelings. Regret. I could see it all twisting in his expression.
He was remembering her.
Again.
The past ten years, all the moments he tried to bury.
I remembered every stupid detail I wished I could forget. The nights she sat beside him when he could barely move, pushing him through rehab even when he cursed at the pain. How she grabbed his arm and held him up when his legs gave out, taking the weight he could not carry. How she sold her only pendant, the one thing Father gave her, just to keep his treatment going a little longer. How she worked herself half-dead creating product designs and formulas so Luna Pharmaceuticals would stay afloat. She never complained. Not once. And he knew it.
His pain showed me his truth.
Jessica mattered.
More than I ever wanted her to.
What if Johan learned that It was also Jessica the one who sacrificed her wolf’s soul bone to completely heal her?
My lips trembled.
Hatred poured out of me like venom.
“Jessica, you should just die already,” I hissed under my breath, my voice shaking with rage.
He didn’t hear it.
Of course he didn’t.
He only heard her.
When Johan broke free from the guards, the force sent me crashing onto the ground. My elbow hit the asphalt hard, pain shooting through my arm.
He didn’t stop.
He didn’t turn around.
He didn’t even spare me a glance.
He ran straight toward the flames.
“Jessica! Do not be scared! I am coming for you!”
My heart cracked.
He had never yelled like that for me.
Never.
And suddenly, everything felt wrong.
The fire was massive, heat pushing everyone back.
But he kept going, face twisted with raw desperation.
“No! You cannot die! Jessica, you cannot die!”
Every word ripped deeper into me.
My jealousy turned rabid. My thoughts felt like poison.
If she dies, good.
Let her die.
Let the fire swallow her.
Let her burn until nothing is left.
Then maybe, he will finally stop loving her.
But no.
He charged forward again until the heat forced him to stumble back, skin burning.
A beam fell. Someone yanked him back.
They tried to hold him.
Johan fought like a possessed wolf.
“Alpha!”
“Johan!”
“Stop him!”
I had never seen him like this.
Not even when I was sick.
Not even when I told him I was dying.
Was he really willing to die for Jessica?
Then what the hell was I?
I felt sick.
Then the flames roared louder. Smoke blasted out the broken window. Everything smelled like burning flesh.
And still he fought.
Still he tried to run inside.
He was out of his mind.
No. I would not let him die. If he died, my entire world would collapse. My title would be useless. My life would be meaningless.
I whipped toward Dr. Oaken, who stood there frozen like an idiot while Johan thrashed against the men holding him.
“Dr. Oaken! Shoot him!” I screamed, voice cracking. “Use the sedative gun, now! He is a beast, no one can stop him! Do it!”
The doctor jolted, fumbling for the gun strapped to his medical belt.
Johan shoved two guards off him, roaring Jessica’s name again as if he was ready to tear the whole damn warehouse apart.
The moment Dr. Oaken raised the gun, Johan surged forward.
He fired.
The dart hit Johan in the back of the neck.
Johan gasped. He stumbled. His eyes rolled and he passed out.
“Move! Put him in our car!” I ordered, voice sharp as a blade.
They obeyed. They carried him to the vehicle.
I followed them, refusing to let anyone else touch him.
“Drive! Now!” I shouted.
We sped off.
Inside the rushing car, I looked at his unconscious face.
Burns covered his arms.
His chest.
Parts of his neck.
I reached for him.
My hand trembled.
“Why?” I whispered, voice breaking.
Why did he throw himself into fire for her?
Why did he scream like she was the last thing he had?
Why did he forget I existed the moment Jessica was in danger?
I had set this whole damn scene up to show Jessica that Johan would always choose me. That I was the one he would run to. That she meant nothing and I meant everything.
But the second he thought she was dying, all of it blew up in my face.
Jessica might not even know what I planned, but she still won. She still had his heart.
And the worst part? She would be dead in seconds, and he would grieve her like she was the love of his life.
The bitterness crawled up my throat as I looked down at his unconscious face.
I forced a smile. At least she will burn. At least she will be gone.
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