Chapter 1 Chapter 1

With a broken leg I listened to Lucas answer me through the phone. "Isn't it just a minor injury? You can sign the consent forms yourself.What is with this fuss, calling me over and over again? No matter how upset you are about Shane, she is hurt. I know you are upset with the way the ritual was interrupted, but did your have to hurt yourself like she did? Shane is really hurt! All this just to add to the chaos, did you ever stop to think about me? Stop adding to this mess!" He said in frustration. Since he rushed away to take Shane to the hospital I had not seen him for half a day. I had to call several times, this time being my twentieth call to him. He had rejected all the other previous calls. “It was Shane who pushed me.” I said in a rasp voice. “The doctor says a family member needs to sign the form. I don't have any family in this territory. Are you not in the hospital? Can't you pop in and sign?”“Charlotte… I really can’t.” Lucas said after a slight pause, then he ended the call without hesitation. He did not bother to ask about my injury. As I stared at the black screen, I found it hard to breathe. It felt as though something was trying to squeeze my lungs out of all it's air. I took a moment to calm myself before I made my decision to stop waiting. “Bring me the consent form. I’ll sign it myself.” I said. The doctor seemed to know Lucas and looked at me in worry. “Maybe he didn’t hear you clearly? Maybe try calling to explain things much clearly,” the doctors said. “He had us on standby since yesterday for the Marking Ritual. He was worried Shane would cause trouble and you would be hurt and had us on standby in case you got hurt.”“He has always been careful with your health. Lucas would summon every specialist in town if you caught a cold and would sit by your bedside for days.”“He cares about you greatly and would be angry if he really knows you fractured your foot and Shane was the one who did it.” I glanced at the doctor, it seemed he did not only know Lucas, he must be his friend too. But his words made me laugh bitterly. I also used to believe he loved me that much, but it seems I was wrong and all these years were an illusion. "I will sign for myself," I insisted and the doctor had no choice to to keep the sign. The doctor finally let me sign my consent form and I was wheeled in for surgery. A part of me still had hope Lucas would come for me. Even after the surgery was done, I saw no sign of Lucas. A quick glance at me phone showed a post from Shane. It was a short video of Lucas blowing on some porridge to feed Shane, then another scene of Shane tucking her into bed. His expression looked tender as he did this. Shane looked happy. The caption of the post read: You were my greatest fortune these past three years. I will spend my entire life proving how much you mean to me The scene was hard to stomach. Just a few days ago, Shane was just someone drinking herself to oblivion over Lucas. I remember she had stormed in to Lucas' home to scream at me. Her words hunt me daily. “I was Lucas’s secret girlfriend for three years!" She had suddenly said and my heart dropped. "What makes you so special that he refused to touch me, claiming you were the one for him?I gave him everything!” She had completely lost her mind. “He called me a mere substitute? I learned to cook soup like you do, and he slapped me across the face. Everyday, I had to listen to him say I could not compare to you no matter what I did, threatening to throw me out the moment you returned, but you actually returned? Charlotte, why did you come back? Why didn’t you just die overseas?!” I remember how much this realization hurt me. While I was away, Lucas had gotten with someone else. Lucas had quickly thrown her out that day and declared that I was the one for him. As he threatened Shane to never return, I slowly calmed down, telling myself I had been gone for a while.It was normal if he dated other people. Maybe her words about how Lucas she thought of me, was the reason, cause I decided to go ahead with the Marking Ceremony. But I only got hurt while he ran to Shane without hesitation. I wondered why I returned? How could I let myself be humiliated this way? Every look of pity thrown my way by strangers felt like a slap to my face. My surgery finished and Lucas finally came. But it was not to find out how I am, but for my ring. He had rushed into the room ina fluff and made for me quickly. I opened my eyes to find him pulling out my hands in a hurry. He yanked my hand with the IV in it and pain shot through me waking me up. When he could not find it on one hand, he hurried to the other side to grab the other. When he still found not find it, he finally looked at me. "Where is your engagement ring? Give it to me." he declared.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

He wants the ring back? "Why do you am want the ring?" I asked. That ring was something I had spent a great deal of effort designing myself, then spent months crafting by hand. "Shane wants us to wear matching rings." he said, he said without remorse. I could not believe my ears. He was asking me to give up my ring to another wolf, his ex-lover? He must have seen my expression because he quickly spoke, "it's just to let her play, besides, It is just a cheap ring." But this excuse was even more absurd. He quickly found the ring on the table beside me and took it to leave quickly. That was my ring, I quickly tried to take it back, forgetting I was injured and fell from the bed. "Give it back!" I insisted. "Why are you suddenly this way? You used to be so generous," he said and I froze. Generous? While still on the ground, I looked up at him. Since he walked in, he showed no concern for me, No care. My heart died. "If you take that ring away, we are over," I said and he froze. This seemed to wake him up as he turned around in panic. "Charlotte you mean everything to me. How can you talk about throwing away our relationship over this? Just because of a ring, you would leave me? You can't leave me. You are my life," he declared, burrowing into my arms. Despite his words, I looked at him, my heart turning colder. How dare he claim to be unable to live without me, when he would take my ring and hand to another woman? “You can't live without me?" I asked bitterly, "It was you who gave me up for Shane.”Lucas buried his face in my arms, and held me tightly. “No, I am not giving you up.bshe is threatening to kill herself. I am just trying to claim her down. When she recovers I will come back to you. We will have our Marking again, I promise!” I resisted the urge to throw his hands off me. As his arm tightened around me, I suddenly realized, Lucas is an Alpha. He would not let go if he did not want to. I could not struggle out of his arms even if I tried. I took a deep breath and calmed myself. "Alright," I answered. Only the did he let go of me, letting out a breath of relief. He turned and left with the ring. I touched the spot where my ring used to be. I had never thought I would ever take it off. But this was the last straw. I picked up the phone and called the Oracle's temple. For the longest time, I spent time in the temple assisting the Oracle. Soon, one of the assistants answered. "Has the Oracle crossed out my name yet? I want to return," I asked.Oracle's were rare beings and being chosen to assist one was a big deal. Yet, I insisted on returning for Lucas. The person on the other end sounded delighted. “Really? The Oracle was so upset when you left. He will be happy to hear you are returning. He has not taken off you name yet. So, technically, you still assist the Oracle,” he said and I let out a breath. If I had lost that, after all that had happened, I was not sure what I would do. “But didn’t you leave to become the Redline Luna? Won’t it be inconvenient to fulfil your duties from afar? What about your mate to be?” I apart of me suddenly started looking for excuses make up for Lucas but paused. It was laughable. There was no need for such an effort. "He’s Dead. No need to worry, I will no longer be distracted from my duties assisting the Oracle.” I said and ended the call. After hanging up, I booked an early flight to the Neutral Territory, where the temple was. I discharged myself from the hospital and returned home alone to recover. Lucas never came by to see me since that day. All I saw were Shane's posts. In one post, Lucas brought her flowers, in another he was feeding her. The caption was always said, "three years with you waiting for more. In each post, Lucas was tender and always looked at her with eyes full of care. Every picture stabbed at my heart. It was clear she was deliberately flaunting how much Lucas does for her. She would make sweet posts showcasing a tender side of Lucas everyday, it was almost as though she wanted me to see them. Once, she posted about preparing for her Marking Ritual with Lucas and he reposted it, but quickly withdrew it and posted a picture of his mother's birthday celebration preparation and I paused. He had told me about this before our Marking. He wanted me to come that day as his mate. Even if the Marking did not happen and I really did not have a deep bond with his mother, I still wanted to give his mother a gift, so I went to the birthday. The moment I walked in, I paused a the door. The scene before me cause my entire body to freeze. The banquet had already begun, and all the relatives were there. Lucas and Shane sat beside his mother. Lucas' mother who had always been caring towards me held Shane's hand with worry. "You have gotten thinner. Eat some more," she said, adding food to Shane's plate. Then she looked at Lucas in accusation. "How have you been taking care of her, that she got this thin?" She asked and Lucas sighed. "She is a picky eater and won't peel shrimp herself. I always need to do it," Lucas answered as he peeled some shrimp for Shane and feeding her himself. As he did this, he wiped the corners of Shane's mouth as she ate. I was not sure why I had not left yet. I guess my body was still frozen, because they soon noticed me. "Charlotte?" someone said in shock.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

The moment Lucas saw me, he got up sharply and walked over to me. "My mother did not invite you, why did you come? Are you here to cause a scene?" He asked and it was my turn to be shocked. He grabbed me by the arm and dragged me out. His hard tug oulled on my wounds, making me wince. But he did not seem to care that i had been injured and is just recovering. When I heard his words, I could not believe my ears. "I brought her a gift," I said. I could people looking at me. Lucas frowned at me. "If you are here to make a scene because Shane is in the spotlight, you are not welcome. No one invited you today or informed you, yet you still appeared here, what are you trying to do?" He asked. My heart dropped. Was he really saying that? "You invited me. You told me to come," I said and he paused. A flash of guilt crossed his face before he quickly denied it "I don't remember inviting you, Charlotte. Are you making things up now?" He asked. Seeing that people were looking, Shane's mother stepped out. "Charlotte, Shane is not feeling well so I asked Lucas to bring her to my birthday to eat. It is best if we don't upset her for now, so can you leave?" She asked me and I stared at her. These were the people who once cared about me, but today I was an outsider. I realized it was wrong if me to come today. I was not welcome here. I turned to leave when Shane stepped out. "Why is everyone acting like I am so fragile. I am not so petty. She can come in," Shane said, "Charlotte came despite her injury, how can we just ask her to leave? Let's all eat together." Her face was full of mockery, but I had not interest. "No thank you. I will leave now," I said and continued to leave, but Lucas blocked my path. "You should stay. Since Shane does not mind you showing up invited and even invited you inside, why are you trying to embarrass her?" He asked with a dark look on his face. "If you leave, the marking ceremony is cancelled. You have already left the temple and can't assist the Oracle again. I am all you have now, do you want to loose everything?" He asked. I froze. Lucas had pursued me for ten years. In those years, I had not interest in him until he saved my life from wild wolf attacks. He held my hand all the way to a hospital. I was touched. "Saving you so saving my life. As long as you are willing to give me a chance, I promise you my entire life," he had promised. I had been moved and left the temple to be with him. Was he just trying to get me to leave the temple all these while? Did he want to manipulate me to stay with him? Was the love I gave a tool to chain me? I steadied by breath. "Alright. Cancel the Marking," I sand and walked out without hesitation. .as a left, I missed the confusion that flickered in Lucas's eyes. I spent that night packing up.The flight I booked was leaving tomorrow and I was healed enough. I had been busy packing when Lucas appeared by my door. I was shocked to find him here. He caught the house that I had stripped and cleared halfway and then paused by the wall. "The photo wall of our trips, what have you done to the wall?" He asked. "They are broken. I have thrown them out," I answered softly and turned to go back to packing but he hugged me from behind. "Why won't you look at me? Are you still angry about my mum's birthday? Why are you so stubborn? I had relatives there and I had always introduced Shane before you showed up. Coming at that time made things awkward. Why did you not leave the gift and leave before anyone noticed?" He took my hand and slipped a ring on my finger. It was a beautiful ring for a woman, but not the one I designed. He tried to kiss me but I leaned away, causing his face to darken. The next moment, Shane called. I caught her name on the screen of his phone. "I need to go. But be at the ceremony Hall tomorrow for our Ritual, don't forget," he said and hurried away to answer the call, slamming the door behind him. Attend the Marking Ceremony? No way. I had not even recovered from the injuries front the first one. My flight was tomorrow. On second thought I should go and officially break things off and return his ring. I packed my bags and went to the venue, asking the cab driver to wait for me. When I got the venue, I paused. Shane stood there dressed as the Mate to be. The decorations had Shane and Lucas' names on there. She greatest guests with a smile. It was clear it was her Marking Ceremony and not mine. Oddly I was not shocked anymore. Shane spotted me, smiled and walked over. "Charlotte, did you actually think the Marking Ceremony was for you? Lucas agreed to make me his mate. I just wanted you to witness it yourself, so he invited you. If I did not ask him t invite you, you wouldn’t have even been allowed in." She said smugly, a look of victory seizing her face. "Well, I guess congratulations are in order," I said and she smirked in return. It was clear after everything, she won. Looking at her ceremonial dress, I let loose a bitter smile, which she seemed to love. She paused as though she noticed someone and then in the next second, a small smile crept up her face. I had a bad feeling when I saw this smile. She suddenly sung her bouquet of roses at me and then at her self, causing the thorns to scratch us both, spilling blood. The next moment, Lucas dashed over. The moment I saw him I understood Shane's plot. From his angle it looked like I had hit Shane with the flowers. He held Shane and looked at me in anger. He obviously thought I hit Shane. "I invited you to our wedding and this is how you behave as a guest? Did I not give you a ring? I even planned to have you marked as my mate later after I have consoled her with a Ceremony, but this is how you behave?" He immediately took Shane away with a dark expression. As they left, I saw the smug look on Shane's face through my bloodlines vision. The blood had gotten in my eyes yet he did not care, yet he talked about making me his mate while giving Shane a ceremony? I took a deep breath to steady my shaking hands. It took a second, but my hands finally stopped shaking. I steeled my heart. I was done.There was no use waiting to break up in person. The next moment, I requested for a paper, wrote him a letter and left it at the door of the venue with the ring he had given me. I was done with this farce. As I left, Shane and Lucas's ritual had just begun. He led her up to the stage and his family formed a circle around them. But the next moment,one of his pack barged into the halls in a hurry and shouted towards Lucas. "Lucas, There is no time. Charlotte left a letter and her ring. What is gone. The taxi looks to be an airport taxi! There is no time for this ceremony, she is leaving!"