Chapter 3
“Why should I?” I demanded.
“Because you’re older.”
“Selena was treated like a princess before her family went bankrupt. She never know how to do chores. And you, as the Alpha’s mate, shouldn’t cooking and cleaning be your responsibility?”
The pungent scent of white fluids on the bedsheets hit my nose, making me nauseous. I rushed to the bathroom and
vomited violently.
My stomach-and even my womb-twisted in pain. I nearly passed out.
At some point, Selena appeared at the doorway. She no longer wore that sweet, innocent expression.
Now, she was pinching her nose in disgust, her face twisted with disdain. “I know you’re pregnant, but your morning sickness is honestly revolting. Clean it up properly, alright? Charlie and I still need to use this room tonight.”
I turned to look at her, my face pale as a ghost. I stared coldly, like a vampire fixing its gaze on prey.
Suddenly, she stepped forward, grabbed my hand, and let two tears fall down her cheeks. “Victoria, I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have made you do the laundry. My family’s bankrupt now. I should be your servant instead…”
I jerked my hand away in silence.
Just then, Charlie walked by and saw the scene. Without a word, he rushed over, scooped Selena protectively into his
arms-and slapped me hard across the face.
I fell onto the cold floor. Blood from my recent miscarriage seeped out and stained the tiles red.
Selena, trembling slightly in his embrace, whispered fearfully, “It’s all my fault… I must have upset Victoria. I’m sure she
didn’t mean to hurt me.”
Charlie held her tightly, his tone full of fury as he comforted her. “It seems that I have indulged you for so long! You’ve become cruel-Selena only asked you to help with some laundry, and you bared your claws at her?”
“Maybe it’s time I taught you a lesson. Then you’ll understand just how vicious you’ve become.”
With that, he slammed the bathroom door shut-and locked it from the outside.
Selena hesitated. “But… isn’t locking her in the bathroom a bit much?”
“Why are you still worried about her?” he murmured in a low, suggestive tone. “Worry about me instead…”
Their flirtatious voices echoed from the other side of the door.
Suddenly, the bathroom light flickered and went out, plunging me into pitch-black darkness. I immediately scrambled to my feet, banging on the door in panic.
“Charlie! Please don’t do this-open the door! I’m begging you!”
Years ago, I had hidden in a small, dark cave for three days to escape a group of rogues. Since then, I’d suffered from PTSD.
And now, my mate-who knew about my condition-had locked me in this lightless hell.
Chapter 3
1.85%
He knew I had claustrophobia. And yet, he left me here anyway.
Not until the following day at noon did Charlie finally show some mercy and open the bathroom door.
“Well? Do you realize your mistake now?”
I lay slumped on the floor, hands trembling, my eyes bloodshot.
Charlie frowned. “Just let you stay in the rest room for a while. Don’t act like I abused you or something.”
When I was rescued from that cave years ago, Charlie had arrived just moments too late. To make up for that regret, he’d once told me, “Victoria, I swear to you-I’ll never let you go through anything like that again.”
But now, to protect his precious childhood sweetheart, he’had locked me in a bathroom all night.
“Well, since you’re awake, come eat. Even if you don’t have an appetite, don’t starve your pup.”
I forced myself to stand. On the table, the only thing left was raw liver-the one food I hated most.
Still, I swallowed the bloody chunks, forcing them down.
Selena had just finished her bowl of steaming iron-rich herbal stew. She smiled brightly at me. “Charlie’s not just a powerful Alpha of the Lunar Crest Pack-he’s an amazing cook too. I’m honestly jealous of you!”
Charlie’s expression stiffened. He muttered awkwardly, “I’ve been busy with pack affairs. I don’t really have time for housework.”
The words caught in my throat like thorns.
For years, Charlie had said that his hands were meant to wield weapons-not to do laundry or cook.
Even when I accidentally consumed silver thorn wolfsbane and lay sick in bed for a week, he never once stepped into the kitchen.
Everything I had never been given-he offered Selena without hesitation.
