Chapter 3
“Since you saw it, I might as well tell you now.”
Erevan’s voice came from behind me.
“Virelle said the scenery there is beautiful. I remembered you were from Mooncrest, so while you supervise the venue setup, you can be her tour guide too.”
I lifted my head.
He had more to say, but when he saw my reddened eyes, he fell silent suddenly.
Eight years.
And for the first time, I showed him a trace of vulnerability.
“Liora? Are you crying?”
His voice softened. “If you really mind, I won’t force you.”
Every werewolf knew how much I loved Erevan.
No matter how he treated me, I had never once lost my temper, never even shed a single tear.
It was all because he was the mate I had chosen.
I loved him so much, and yet he chose to mark another woman in my hometown.
When I thought about it, I found it was really a little too cruel to me.
Erevan sighed.
Just before he could offer to postpone the Mate Bonding Ceremony, I composed myself, as if the redness in my eyes just moments ago had been nothing but an illusion.
“No. I don’t mind.”
I asked calmly, “When do we leave?”
He clenched and unclenched his fist, then grabbed my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze.
He stared at me intently, as if trying to see whether I had any feelings left at all.
“We’ll depart this weekend. Once the Mate Bonding Ceremony’s done, you can get the hell out of the Rosenoir Pack for good.”
I nodded.
But inside, it felt like a weight had finally been lifted.
All these years, I helped Erevan secure his place in the Rosenoir Pack, handling one problem after another for him. Whatever h asked for, I made it happen, no matter the cost.
Now, my duty was almost over.
The plane touched down.
Mooncrest was beautiful, but dangerous because it was located right at the border.
Chapter 2
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Erevan arranged for a team of Betas to escort Virelle. They stayed in the city’s most luxurious hotel.
Virelle feigned kindness.
“Erevan, Liora’s been working so hard. Since she’s back home, why not let her stay with her family? I’m sure she misses
them.”
Erevan didn’t even turn around.
“Did you hear what Virelle’s words? Liora. Do as you like.”
I nodded obediently.
He had probably long forgotten the very first words I said to him eight years ago when I came into his life.
I have no family left. Please let me stay.
That night, I stayed in a cheap motel near their hotel where they were staying and had a nightmare.
Gunfire raged in every direction, and the ground was littered with bodies.
I woke in a cold sweat suddenly and rummaged through the bottom of my suitcase, pulling out two items: a moonstone ring
and a locked diary.
I clutched them tightly and finally drifted back to sleep.
The next morning, several of Erevan’s closest friends arrived in Mooncrest as guests for the ceremony.
“Well, Erevan. Liora’s still tagging along.”
Erevan puffed on a cigarette, laughing with thinly veiled mockery.
“She’s born to grovel, so you can’t shake her off even if you try.”
I, who had been silent until now, spoke up suddenly.
“If I remember correctly, you said I could leave after the Mate Bonding Ceremony. I’ve finished all my handovers. I’ll leave.”
The room fell dead silent all of a sudden.
Erevan, perhaps feeling humiliated, narrowed his eyes dangerously.
He blew a puff of smoke straight into my face and sneered.
“Liora, do you really think you have the heart to leave me?”
When danger came, I was the one who stood in front of him.
When the Rosenoir Pack was in crisis, I volunteered to take the fall and go to prison for him.
For him, I had given up my pride, my reputation, my future, even my life.
It was as if my entire existence revolved around protecting him, being his mate.
How could someone like me, someone so obsessed with him really possibly leave?
Erevan didn’t believe it.
“What? Are you trying to play hard to get now?”
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The others burst into laughter.
“I’ve always wondered if it’s true that no matter how badly Erevan treats you, you never get mad?”
Erevan raised an eyebrow. “Feel free to test that.”
One of them kicked me hard in the knee, forcing me to kneel, then deliberately flicked fresh ash from his cigarette into my
palm.
The burn stung, but I didn’t even blink.
Until he grinned wickedly and reached out, pretending he was going to tear my dress.
“What the hell is all this? It’s so gross.”
Seeing the vicious scars all over my body, he stopped.
Erevan’s gaze flicked over just as I was buttoning up my neckline.
Maybe he thought they were hickeys, so his expression turned to open disgust.
“Were they from Mr. Gideon last time? Hah. I didn’t expect you were into and messing around with older men like that.”
I lowered my gaze, a faint confusion deep inside.
Erevan seemed unaware of what I had endured at the hands of the kidnappers.
It was so strange. Wasn’t he the one who gave the order?
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