Chapter 2

Kyle's POV

The first night Ella came back, the whole manor felt wrong.

The servants kept their heads down, barely daring to breathe. They remembered how lively Lady Hudson had been a year ago. Now this ghost-like woman who followed silently behind their lord scared them to death.

I walked into the bedroom and yanked off my tie. My rut was approaching—desire coursed hot through my veins. I turned to look at Ella, standing motionless by the door.

"Go shower," I ordered.

"Okay." She nodded and walked into the bathroom.

Ten minutes later, she emerged wearing a thin silk nightgown. Her fox ears hung limp and wet.

I sat on the edge of the bed and patted the space beside me. "Come here."

She walked over and stood stiffly in front of me.

"Lie down." My throat worked as I reached out to touch her face.

Just as my fingers were about to brush her skin, she spoke: "Master, I can tell you want to fuck. Do you need me to help you out? I can turn off the pain so it won't mess with your fun."

My hand froze in midair.

"What did you say?" I stared at her in disbelief.

"Isn't that what you want?" She tilted her head slightly. "They taught me that wives have to do everything their husbands want. No crying, no making them upset."

Rage shot up from my feet straight to my skull.

"You think this is a JOB?!" I jumped up and grabbed her chin. "I'm your HUSBAND! You used to love clinging to me—now you're playing dead fish for who exactly?!"

"Master, I don't know that word. I only know you're my master." She was forced to look up at me. "If you want me to act like I used to enjoy this, I can learn."

Her facial muscles began twitching unnaturally. Seconds later, she forced an incredibly stiff "shy" smile: "Kyle, I've been waiting for you."

"ENOUGH!"

I jerked away from her like I'd been electrocuted. The wolf inside me howled warnings—this was wrong. So fucking WRONG.

"Get out." I pointed at the door.

"Got it. Good night, Master."

Without a hint of reluctance, she turned and walked out, gently closing the door behind her.

That night, I didn't sleep at all.

The next afternoon, Selina came over.

She wore a pure white cashmere sweater, rabbit ears twitching on her head. She looked innocent and fragile.

Selina was my ex-girlfriend. A year ago when she had nowhere to go, I took her in. As a pack leader, what was the big deal about helping out a former flame? But Ella had screamed at me about it multiple times—absolutely unreasonable.

"Kyle, I heard... Ella came back." Selina settled carefully onto the living room sofa.

I rubbed my throbbing temples, saying nothing.

That's when Ella emerged from the kitchen carrying a tea tray.

As she approached the coffee table, Selina's eyes narrowed slightly.

I knew Selina too well—I wasn't blind to what lurked behind that innocent face. I'd just been too lazy to deal with it before, thinking Ella's reactions were too extreme.

Selina suddenly stuck out her foot, very subtly tripping Ella.

With Ella's old temper, she would've dumped that entire pot of scalding tea right onto Selina's face, then pointed at her nose and let loose with every curse word she knew.

I was already bracing to stop Ella's explosion.

Instead, Ella just swayed slightly, steadying herself. But the teapot still tilted, and boiling red tea splashed out, pouring directly onto Ella's exposed hands and forearms.

"Oh!" Selina gasped dramatically. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Ella! I didn't mean to! Are you burned?"

I shot to my feet, my heart jumping into my throat. That was freshly boiled water! Even though shifter skin was tough, it couldn't handle that kind of heat.

I stared at Ella, waiting for her to scream, waiting for her to explode.

Nothing.

Ella didn't even flinch. She simply set the tea tray down calmly, then looked down at her rapidly swelling, already blistering arm.

"Master." She turned to look at me. "I got burned. It's not that bad. Want me to clean this mess up?"

Dead silence.

Selina went completely rigid, staring at Ella in horror like she was looking at some creature that couldn't feel pain.

My head buzzed and the last thread of my sanity snapped. I rushed over and grabbed her injured arm. The skin was alarmingly red, the burning heat searing my nerves.

"Doesn't it HURT?!" I was practically roaring.

"Hurts like hell, but I was taught not to make noise. Unless you say I can scream, I have to stay quiet. Want me to cry for you now?"

"You're insane... what the FUCK have you become?!" I felt unprecedented panic. I'd sent her to that place with my own hands. I just wanted her to tone down her temper—I never meant to strip away her basic human responses!

"Kyle..." Selina spoke up timidly. "Is Ella... is her brain broken?"

"SHUT UP!" I whipped around. Powerful alpha pressure flooded out instantly, making Selina's face go white with terror.

I turned back to Ella, who still maintained that smile, and the dread in my chest expanded like a black hole.

I'd killed my wife's soul.