Chapter 6
Once again, I woke up in the werewolf hospital.
Thick bandages were wrapped around the back of my hand. The wound was so severe that even my wolf couldn’t heal it.
A nurse spotted me tending to my injury alone and asked with concern, “Where’s your mate? You’re hurt this badly, and he’s not here to take care of you?”
Charlie arrived late.
Once his temper cooled, he finally seemed to realize how far he had gone. With a trace of guilt, he said, “Victoria, I’m sorry for hurting you. I acted out of love. I let my jealousy get the better of me, but I want to make it up to you.”
As he apologized, I noticed that his shirt was buttoned wrong-one button off. Beneath it, there were visible love bites and
scratch marks.
Clearly, in the two hours I’d been unconscious, my mate had already rushed off to have sex with his sweetheart.
I pulled out a document I had long prepared-the mate bond termination agreement.
“If you really want to make it up to me,” I said, “then sign this.”
Charlie didn’t even read it. He scribbled his name across the bottom and said, “I know you’ve always wanted that Heartbane Ruby-it’s worth a million dollars. I’ll give it to you. So please, don’t stay mad.”
Since becoming his mate, I had handled all his meals, managed order within the pack, and even patrolled the borders with him when needed.
The responsibilities of a Luna had left me with no time for myself.
Just then, the TV in the hospital room switched to a broadcast of a grand art competition being held within the Lunar Crest Pack. The painting with the highest number of votes was shockingly familiar-The Bondrose Maiden.
It was a piece I had painted.
But the signature beneath it said: Selena.
A young werewolf, freshly shifted and still struggling to control his transformation, was wagging his furry tail as he gave an interview on-screen.
“Miss Selena is amazing! Even though her family went bankrupt, the Moon Goddess clearly blessed her with talent!”
My mind went blank.
The Bondrose Maiden was the artwork I was most proud of. It was a tribute to my mother. I didn’t have many memories of her-only a vivid image of her wearing a necklace of bond roses.
I had spent an entire month completing that painting and had stored it carefully in a hidden storage cave. The only person who had ever seen it… was Charlie.
Back then, he had even comforted me, saying, “Even though your mother is gone, you still have this painting. And you have me.”
I turned to look at him. He avoided my gaze, guilt written all over his face.
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“Why?”
My most cherished painting had been stolen-and Charlie was dismissing it like it was nothing.
“It’s just a trophy,” he said casually.
“You’ve won so many. What’s the big deal about giving one to Selena?”
“Don’t be so petty.”
It felt like a silver whip had lashed across my chest. My wolf let out a furious snarl.
I felt my claws extend, uncontrollable, and I slashed them across his face.
“Charlie! You knew exactly how much that painting meant to me!”
A red mark streaked across his cheek, but with his powerful Alpha regeneration, the wound healed almost instantly.
His rage, however, didn’t fade so easily.
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“You’ve gone insane! Jealous harpy!” he roared.
I gave a hollow, bitter laugh. My eyes burned with unshed tears as I grabbed my phone.
“Then let me go insane. I’ll tell everyone right now that Selena is nothing but a plagiarist who stole my work!”
Charlie panicked. He snatched the phone from my hand and slammed it to the ground. It shattered with a sharp crack.
“Why are you so vicious?” he snapped.
“Selena’s only in her twenties. Are you trying to ruin her future?”
His words broke me.
Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face as I sobbed.
Charlie softened and tried to comfort me.
“You’re getting older now. Why don’t you just stay quiet and be a housewife?”
“Selena’s still young. Without her parents’ support, she’s vulnerable. She could be bullied by others in the pack. She needs that award more than you do.”
“Besides, without her, your painting probably wouldn’t have gotten this much attention in the first place.”
I couldn’t speak. The words caught in my throat.
I looked at the man who was supposed to be my fated mate-and said nothing.
Charlie gently tucked the blanket around me, then said in the cruelest tone imaginable, “Get some rest. When you wake up, make sure to post about Selena on Instagram. I remember you have a lot of followers. She’s a newcomer-she needs exposure and buzz. Help her out, won’t you?”
How laughable.
An original artist being asked to promote a thief.
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My tears flowed silently down my cheeks.
Charlie thought I was just throwing a childish tantrum. He stroked my hair gently.
“There, there. Don’t cry. You’ll upset the pup. Awards and fame don’t matter. Isn’t my love enough?”
“The day after tomorrow is our tenth mating ceremony anniversary,” he added.
“I’ve planned a grand banquet at Moonstone Feast Hall just for you.”
He kissed the corner of my eye.
I smiled faintly, gazing into his pale blue eyes. On the surface, they were as calm as a lake-but beneath, they hid crashing
waves.
“Alright. Then I’ll prepare a special gift for you, too.”
Chapter 6
