Chapter 1 Chapter 1

Looking at my Alpha father stood on the stage, I heaved a deep sigh over my tortuous fate. Today was the day he announced his successor to the pack. As the eldest, I should be the one who inherited his Alpha title. It was not me... but my half-sister, Vanessa Baker. “From today onwards, my daughter, Vanessa Baker, will be the Alpha of Red Moon Pack!” My father raised Vanessa’s hand and announced to everyone. Howls and cheers erupted all around. All the guests’ gaze fell on Vanessa who wore a shiny golden silk dress. No one noticed that I sat in the corner with numbness. Tonight was a wonderful night for them all. Except for me... It was just an extraordinary day for me. Besides seeing my father give me up, today was actually my 19 th birthday. But the weak didn't deserve attention. I learned that from my father. I had been born prematurely, my mother died when she was giving birth to me. I believed it was the reason why I was so powerless. I felt my wolf’s presence at fourteen, and tried to establish a connection with her. However, she never answer me. Vanessa’s situation had been the opposite. Just two days after I had failed, Vanessa had shifted into a white strong she-wolf. She seemed to personify nobility and power. From then, my father doted on her, and his treatment toward me turned progressively colder and he was no longer smiled at me. Even though I had long known it would happen, my breath still caught when he made the announcement. He really gave up on me and didn't care my feelings. He even forgot it was my birthday. Well...he never remembered it. I grew up with no one to celebrate my birthday. The sadness wasn’t too unbearable. I had already gotten used to my father’s preference for Vanessa. The whispers of the people around me caught my attention as I took a deep breath. "Wow... Alpha Vanessa is so beautiful. Much better than her elder sister Chloe!" "Yes! Besides, Alpha Vanessa is more powerful than Chloe. It was a good thing that Chloe didn’t inherit to be Alpha, or our pack would have been miserable. I heard that she is nineteen years old and hasn't changed yet. Tsk, good for nothing.” Hearing what they said, I lowered my head slightly and stepped back to a shadowy corner. Now no one could find me because I wore a plain black dress and hid in the dark, while Vanessa was standing in the center of the stage with a shiny crystal crown on her head. She was so charming and dazzling. I gulped down a mouthful of red wine. Out of the corner of my eye, Lisa Morris, my stepmother and the current Luna of the pack smirked at me as if she were mocking me, deeming me a laughable failure. Let her laugh . Lisa opened her mouth and said something silently since she knew my gaze on her. I knew what she said from her mouth movements. ‘Loser . ’ I didn't mind her sarcasm if it could make her please. Then she wouldn’t stir up trouble for me. As it was, she and Vanessa had robbed me of everything. Well... nearly everything. I still had my mate. I shifted my gaze towards the man who worked to maintain order at the party a short distance away. He had a tall frame and was incredibly handsome. My heart beat faster when he looked over. The affection in his eyes made me believe everything would be better. He was my mate, Alan Meyer, the strongest Sentinel of our pack. I had found him when I was eighteen and we were truly in love with each other. As long as I had him by my side, my life wouldn’t be too miserable. My stomach grumbled, and I wondered if I could find some cake to celebrate my birthday, even if only by myself. Perhaps Alan would remember to celebrate my birthday when the banquet was over. He could be the only one who remembered my birthday. Luckily for me, I spotted my favourite blueberry cake on one of the tables. It was rare to even catch sight of a blueberry as Vanessa hated the taste. I approached the cake with a small thrill but a green-haired girl beat me to it, reaching an arm out and elbowing my wrist. I flinched and frowned. Pain... the pain came from my hand. My newly bandaged wrist opened up and the blood oozed. The girl shot me a look of disdain, “Really? I didn’t even elbow you that hard!” she said, “You really are a weak wolf.” With that, she walked away with the blueberry cake in hand. I gritted my teeth as I tried to endure the pain and explore the wound with my finger, trying to establish its extent. I could feel that it was wet and I relieved that my dress was black that the guests could hardly see my wrist hurt with blood. They would not know the secret of Alpha who they respected. That secret was the reason why I was even alive. I, Chloe Baker, had been living as Vanessa’s personal blood bank! My blood was unique and could treat Vanessa’s heart disease. It was the only thing they valued about me. I knew it very well... I swallowed my displeasure and made a pathetic attempt to smile, then reached for another cake. A different flavored cake was better than none. I got used to consoled myself. As I was about to dig in, a commotion broke out. “Impossible!” I heard Vanessa screeched, her voice breaking as she continued, “How can my mate possibly be… a Rogue?” I turned and found Vanessa staring at a man who stood before her. The man did not utter a single word. Listening to Vanessa voice her disbelief out in public, he had a slight furrow of disbelief between his brows. I was taken aback by his cold yet handsome face and realized. I knew him! He was the critically injured Rogue I rescued at the border two months ago. I had begged my father to take him in but hadn’t seen the man much since then. Who would have thought he was Vanessa’s mate? As if feeling my gaze on him, the man tilted his head slightly and looked at me. His eyes were beautiful, the color of amber. The moment his beautiful amber met mine, I felt strangely nervous. My attention was quickly diverted while Vanessa turned toward me and glared at me with hatred. The banquet was quick to end after that. I went to the attic and shut the door, afraid that Vanessa burst into my room. I felt awful and then lay on my bed, replaying the words Vanessa said. I was wondering how Vanessa would take her revenge on me this time... I've had quite enough of her childish stunts and tantrums. She wouldn’t let me off easily and there was no one dared to against her. Maybe Alan would... Thinking that, would he come to see me since the banquet was over? Today was coming to an end, I was still expecting he came to give me the only blessing for my birthday. So many thoughts whirled around in my mind and I gradually sank into sleep... A series of loud knocks suddenly startled me out of a nightmare. It should be Alan! He came to celebrate my birthday! I bolted upright and made haste to open the door. No...it was the maid... I felt an overwhelming sense of loss when the maid called out, “Quick, get up! The Alpha’s asking for you in his study.” When it came to my father’s demands, I never dared delay, so I hurriedly changed my clothes and ran to the study. After taking a few deep breaths, I pushed the door open. Vanessa and Lisa were in the study as well. They were sitting on the sofa, looking at me smugly. Vanessa even raised a cocky eyebrow at me. Based on past experiences, it meant that something bad was in store for me. I swallowed anxiously and shifted my gaze to my father. “Did you need me for anything?” I asked cautiously. My father exuded the powerful aura of an Alpha with a neat suit. His gray hair was pushed back, imparting a dignified appearance. With his scrutinizing gaze on me, my knees tremble slightly. My hands could not help but break out into cold sweat. “I need you to do one thing,” he said with a deep voice, and the sound of his clothes rustling making me tremble even more. “What is it?” I asked after a moment’s hesitation, clenching the hem of my clothes unconsciously. “Since you’ve been giving your sister blood transfusions for so long now, your scents are fairly similar,” he said without preamble. “As you know, Vanessa is the next Alpha in our pack, and her mate can't be a Rouge. So...” I looked up at my father blankly and my heartbeat quickened as I wondered where this was going. “Exchange your mate with Vanessa!” he continued and my heart sank.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

“Exchange… my mate?” My eyes widened with shock as I stared at my father. “Don’t you agree?” Father squinted his eyes and continued, “Chloe, you’re the eldest child in our family, don’t be selfish! You need to put the pack’s reputation first! Got it?” I could not believe that the only time my father willingly acknowledged my identity as his eldest daughter was because he wanted to take my mate away from me. I felt cold, like fell into endless abyss, more bleak dark! I turned to look at Vanessa, who was calm and kept smiling. It was clear that she had expected this. It turned out that this was the revenge she had planned for me. She would take away my only hope in this world—Alan. Alan was all I had! If he was taken away from me, I would truly be left with nothing. I bit my lip hard and tried my best to suppress the anger. I would not give Alan up anyhow. I had to stick up for myself this time! “Father…” I clenched my fists and screwed up enough courage to say, “I’m willing to sacrifice everything for the pack, but please don’t take Alan from me. You know how much I love him. I can’t be without him.” It was the first time I had rejected any request from my father since I turned 14. He seemed a little taken aback, but he was not in a rage as I had expected. He frowned as if he was considering my words over in his mind. A glimmer of hope rose in my heart. ‘ Perhaps he does care about me . ’ I was imbued with full expectation. “Forget it, sweetheart. You don’t have to force Chloe…” Lisa suddenly sighed aloud, “Vanessa can put up with getting looked down upon by the other royals. We can’t force Chloe to give up on her love…” As she spoke, she looked over at Vanessa, who kept her head down, hiding his features, seemingly aggrieved. “Well... if they mock our next Alpha, I would fight them to the death,” Lisa continued. Upon hearing that, the way my father looked at me change drastically. Lisa’s “kind words” meant to work in my favor had planted a seed in his mind. Lisa had indirectly implied to my father that all I cared about was my love and I did not care about the pack’s honor. My father was a domineering but conscientious Alpha. What he cared about the most was our pack. If anyone tried to do anything to affect the pack’s interests, he would not let them off easy even if they were his relatives. Lisa’s words would make him more insistent on getting me to exchange mates with Vanessa. As expected, my father said sternly, “Chloe, I’m not negotiating with you. I am merely informing you!”“Father, please...please don’t take my mate away!”“How did such as you dare to against me? For someone with a weak wolf like yourself, what could you possibly contribute to the pack other than sacrificing your mate?” My father interrupted my pleading, and yelled impatiently. “You have three days to break your mate bond with Alan. Don’t let me down, Chloe!” He demanded without hesitation, ignoring my desperate pleas. He strode out of the study, Lisa followed closely behind him. I fell to the ground dejectedly, overwhelming bitterness welling in my heart. Once my father made his decision, it was impossible to sway him. If I refused him, he would definitely force me to obey his order with his Alpha wolf. Did it mean I had to let Alan go? No...I couldn’t! It wasn’t possible! Alan...Alan would help me! Even if the whole world went against me, I was sure Alan would still be my side. He loved me too much to do that. I was certain that he would defy my father for me. Alan was the pack’s most distinguished Sentinel. His words held weight. Alan would definitely be able to persuade my father. Anyway, I had to find him first. I could not sit around and do nothing like a useless coward. “Wanna seek Alan’s help?” As I got myself off the ground and sprinted to the door, Vanessa’s voice came into my ears. I paused and turned around to look at her. She got up from the sofa, stood there with her hands crossed. Her lips were curled into a mocking smile. “You can’t possibly believe that Alan truly loves you, right?” she asked with a sneer. I held my breath and clenched my fists as a chill ran up my spine. “What do you mean?” I asked, staring at her. “Wonder the truth?” She shrugged, an easy smile blooming on her face. “Aah! Alan is really good in bed. I really enjoy it.” The blood in my body run cold in an instant. What the hell was she talking about? Was she trying to tell me that Alan had cheated on me? With her? Was this just another trick she was pulling to provoke me? “You’re lying!” I glared at Vanessa. “You don’t believe me?” Vanessa raised her eyebrows at me, then walked up to me in her high heels. “Well, fine. Stop by my room later tonight. Everything will come to light soon enough! Poor guy, let’s see if that your confident tone will still be intact at that time.”“Wh-What? Are you trying to kill me?” I questioned her, trembling in every limb. “Do you think that your life is really in your hands?” Vanessa clenched my chin, forcing me to meet her eyes. Her sharp nails dug into my skin painfully. “I still need your blood to treat my disease. You won’t die so easily.” She lowered her head, inched closer to my ear, and whispered, “You can’t even decide on your own life or death. Oh...how pathetic.” With that, she let go of my chin and walked away with a chuckle. I leaned heavily against the door, my entire body was frozen in petrification. I felt oppressed by worry. It did not seem like Vanessa was lying. I could not help but wonder if Alan had cheated on me. Thinking of his gaze in the banquet, I was quick to dispel that thought. I remembered the exact moment he realized that I was his mate. There was the most sincere smile on his face, and he had been nothing but kind to me all these years… How could all that be fake? He loved me! I had to believe in Alan. Vanessa was lying and tried to ruin the affection between Alan and me. I consoled myself by that and smacked my face several times to get myself together. I could not believe that I had allowed Vanessa’s nonsense to get to me. ‘ I must be going crazy ! ’ I knew the danger of indulging such speculations so I refocused my attention on something else. I started to think of making dinner for the entire pack. Lisa had said that I could not simply spend my days as a freeloader. So I was forced to take a series of boring jobs. It was fortunate that I loved cooking. It was an activity that allowed me to temporarily forget all my worries. I cut some vegetables for my famous spaghetti. Once that was done, I started cleaning the steaks. To ensure that they tasted great, I had to first marinate them in some red wine for 15 minutes. While waiting for the steaks to finish marinating, I had already calmed down and tried to connect with Alan via the mind link. I wanted to know what he was doing, even though I was sure that everything Vanessa said had been nonsense. But I panicked again because he wasn’t responding to me. My hands trembled slightly and Vanessa’s words were still ringing in my ears. The sharp blade of the kitchen knife slid over my finger, making me suck in a deep breath. I hurriedly put my injured finger under the running water, my mind jumbled up in a mess. ‘ Why won’t Alan answer me? Where is he now...Could Vanessa be telling me the truth? ’ In spite of my outward calm I was very shake. ‘ No, that cannot be. He must be busy with something else. He’s a Sentinel. Perhaps he is out patrolling. Yes, that must be the case… ’ I tried to convince myself. I retracted my hand and continued to slice up some tomatoes, placing them onto a plate once I was done. “Chill out, Chloe. You have to trust Alan.” I kept telling myself. Suddenly, a buzzing sound filled my mind. Vanessa was mind-linking me! “Oh! Alan! That feels so good…” I stiffened all of a sudden. The plate in my hand fell onto the floor with a loud clang, breaking into pieces. The sliced tomatoes were scattered everywhere. “Oh my God! What the hell are you doing, you idiot!” the maid-in-charge yelled. I did not hear her loud cursing, as my mind had gone blank. “Move out of the way!” The maid pushed me aside, causing me to stagger backward. The broken glass pierced through the soles of my shoes and those of my feet as well. The sharp pain I felt broke me out of my reverie. I left the kitchen in a panic. Ignoring the pain, I hurriedly ran upstairs. The link had been cut off. But Vanessa’s voice still echoed in my ears like thunder, causing me to fret out of my mind. I clenched my fist and dug my nails into my flesh. I was trying to convince myself not to think, but my heart was beating so fast that I couldn't calm down! As I got closer to Vanessa’s room, I felt my legs grow heavy. Every step forward took a huge toll on me. Upon reaching the door, I could clearly hear Vanessa’s soft moans accompanied by a man’s loud groans. The sensual sounds coming from inside made me tremble all over. The door of the room was left ajar, as if it was inviting outsiders to peek into it. I could even make out the warm orange glow of the light inside. My heart palpitated in my chest. I held my breath and pushed the door open with trembling hands… The room was filled with a thick musk of sweat and perfume. A glimpse of two naked bodies entangled with each other on the bed came to my sight. Both of Vanessa’s arms were hooked around the man’s neck, and her legs were wrapped around his waist as she writhed. The man had short blond hair and a slender figure, seemed quite familiar... Undoubtedly, the man was… Alan! I was dumbfounded at the scene and covered my mouth in shock. I stood there with a lump in my throat and tried to fight back tears. When he turned his face a little and I could see his lustful expression in the dim light, a tear traced a path down my cheek.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

My heart clenched tightly and I could hardly breath. I held my chest, trying desperately to quell the suffocating feeling. I wanted to say something to stop them, but my throat had been stuffed with cotton, sucking up every ounce of moisture. I could not get any words out and could only watch them with tears streaming down my face. “A...Alan... Harder! I feel so good. Ah! Fuck me harder!” Vanessa kept moaning, kissing Alan's neck. “Darling, tell me, do you love me?”“Of course!” Alan answered without any hesitation. He was so indulging their sexual proclivities that he had not even noticed my presence. That was not sense...He should have detected my scent as my mate! “If you had to pick between me and Chloe, who would you choose?” Vanessa asked in a sweet voice, her chin resting on Alan’s shoulder as she panted. At the same time, she cast me a smug, provocative look. She had already noticed my presence. Ruined my only hope was her ultimate motive. “You, of course you. I love you the most.” With that, Alan stiffened as he let out a low groan. Vanessa looked intoxicated at that moment. Alan pulled out of Vanessa, he rested his forehead on Vanessa’s and said, “You’re much sexier and prettier than Chloe. She is prudishness and weak. You’re so much more capable than she is. I’ve always hoped that we could grow together and end up as mates.  ” He called me a prude. I never know that he held such a low opinion of me. How fake his love! My legs felt weak but I forced myself to stand up and kept staring at them. “Then why don’t you reject her?” Vanessa kissed Alan’s shoulder softly. “Well, she’s the Alpha’s eldest daughter. It’s not as easy as you think,” Alan said, holding Vanessa’s chin and kissed her hot lips. “It won’t be a problem now, Alan. My father asked Chloe and  me to exchange mates. Her status won’t matter anymore.” Alan looked taken aback, “Really?”“Why? Aren’t you glad?” Vanessa asked. Alan remained silent for a few moments. He lowered his head to kiss Vanessa, “I can't tell you how happy I am.” Hearing that, my stomach heaved, and I nearly threw up from the disgust as if someone had punched me in the gut. Damn it! I should just rush up to Alan and slap him hard, but I held back my temper. It was so pathetic that I didn’t have enough courage to confront him. All I could do was remain rooted in the spot and torture myself further as my gaze was on them . Vanessa looked in my direction again and raised her lips to mock me. Seeing my gloomy expression, she shrieked. “Fuck, it’s Chloe!” She acted like she had just noticed me. She hurriedly backed away from Alan to seek out her clothes. I didn’t have mood to sneer her terrible acting. My eyes clouded with tears and I wiped them hard, then fixed my gaze on the man. Alan seemed to stiffen for a short moment. But he was quick to calm down and avoid my gaze. He reached for the bathrobe lying on the floor and put it on slowly. His indifferent look made me sick. “Explain?” I asked in a brusque tone. Even though I knew how stupid this question was, I still harbored a glimmer of hope. Maybe... he was forced to betray me. It should be  Vanessa’s trick, She threatened him. I still kept staring at him but he gave me the stoniest look I ever got. “You have saw it. I don’t think I have to explain anything to you.” He said ruthlessly and my heart shrunk again. “Nothing to say?” I staggered backward in disbelief. “If that’s the case, why did you pretend to like me? Why didn’t you reject me right away?” I cried bitterly, feeling as if a dagger had stabbed my heart. Alan frowned and glared at me. He stunned for a moment before taking a few steps towards me. “Chloe, I...”“Alan, since Chloe has found out our relationship, we should just come clean,” Vanessa interrupted Alan with all dressed. She hugged his arm and her eyes was red. “Chloe, it’s all my fault. I know that I shouldn’t have fallen for Alan.” Vanessa looked at me as she cried. “But I couldn’t control my feelings. I love Alan! Chloe, you’re my elder sister, you... you will forgive me and give us your blessing, right?”“You want my blessing?” I retorted and was trembling with anger. I still held on hope that Alan would say something to save me from despair. But he didn’t! He just remained silent and looked at me impassively. “Alan, it’s done. Just reject Chloe and get it over with.” Vanessa shook Alan’s arm, begging him pitifully. I held my breath as I looked at Alan. My heartbeat began to quicken. His head was lowered, and I couldn’t see his look. And his silent panicked me and I felt alarmed as he raised his head. ‘ No… ’ ‘ D on’t reject me. Alan ! ’ ‘ Y ou’re all I have left… ’ ‘ Are you really going to toss me out like nothing? ’ ‘ D on’t be so cruel ! ’ I thought to myself and folded my hands nervously, tarrying for his answer and... a miracle. However, the Moon Goddess didn’t favor me, I was the outcast again. Alan’s steely voice rang out above my head, “I, Alan Meyer, Sentinel of the Red Moon Pack, officially reject Chloe Baker as my mate!” As the last word fell, a sharp pain hit me, and I had to steadied myself against the wall. I sucked in a breath and stroked away my tears again. I gritted my teeth, reminding myself to stay strong. I looked up at them in front of me. Alan was expressionless, and Vanessa was smirking out of his sight. They were truly despicable! I couldn’t shed tears in front of them! “Fine! Alan, I accept your rejection. From now on, we won’t have anything to do with each other,” I said, enduring the pain from the broken of mate bond. With Alan’s pained howl, I spun on my heel and walked away disappointed. As he wished, we were both free from the mate bond. ‘ Let it be. ’ ‘ I ’ ve had enough! ’ I wandered by myself along the corridor. The wall lamps came on one after another upon detecting my presence, then went out accordingly as I passed. Perhaps the lights was the symbol of my life. No matter how much hope I hold onto, it will always come to nothing in the end, such as my mother’s death after giving birth to me, my father’s hatred for me, the pack treated me coldly, and Alan’s betray. They give me hope and then smash it. Thinking back, I would have rather they never gave me any hope. “Hey, careful!” A sudden low voice came from above my head. I was dim and it turned out that I had accidentally bumped into someone. “Sorry,” I said with my head low and walked around that man to leave. I ran into my room in terror and laid on my bed. I tried to cry, but all my tears seemed to have dried up. I wanted to scream, yet it felt like there was something stuck in my throat. The pain was unspeakable and as if I was living in a world of darkness. There was nothing to keep me tethered. I looked up at the ceiling and thought blankly, “What’s the point of living?” I did not know the answer but I knew it very well that I was tired of this world. My gaze fell onto the small bottle of pills by the windowsill. The pills would kill me, even though I was invulnerable to all poisons. Our pack made the poison for a living. But my blood was special like an antidote, which was why I had become Vanessa’s personal blood bank. Knowing that I was a weak wolf, my father just asked me to take good care of myself so that I could supply Vanessa with my blood when she needed. I had to slit my wrists, leaving ugly scars on my smooth skin. But now I no longer cared to win my father’s love anymore… I took slow steps toward the window and took some pills. Perhaps it was my only way to get free. “What the fuck are you doing?” Just as I was about to swallow the pills, someone kicked my door open. “Damn! You can’t die without my permission!” Vanessa threw the pills of my hand. I looked at her in shock. She grabbed my wrist, “Wanna die? No way! I still have some important tasks for you to complete. Come with me!” A crafty look came to her eyes and she forcefully tugged me out of the room.

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

A red blinding rage coursing through my veins as Vanessa tugged me toward father’s conference room. I struggled to free myself but failed. Vanessa’s aura was so powerful that it almost pushed me back. “Don’t you dare resist me! You worthless cunt!” she warned me in a low tone, and her hand gripped my tiny neck. She didn’t loosen her grip until saw my face turned pale. Then she pushed me into the conference room. The bright lights inside were a bit too harsh and made my eyes blur. I blinked my eyes continuously and saw my father sit in gloomy silence. Lisa was next to him. I also saw that Alan and the man I had saved last time, the man who was meant to be Vanessa’s mate. The moment the door opened, they were looking at me. Vanessa couldn’t stand for Alan to spare another second on me. She ran up to him and hugged his arm close. I shifted my gaze from them over to my father, awaiting his instructions. I had to obey his orders no matter what he asked. My life was enough terrible and there was nothing worse could happen to me anyway. “Get started.” My father’s stern voice rang out in the conference room. He didn’t even be bothered to tell me what was about to take place. He had regarded me as nothing more than a dispensable object. I was not allowed to have my own mind, nor did my feelings matter to him. All I had to do was stand on the sidelines quietly and wait for them to decide my fate. I was merely their puppet... As I was in a daze, Vanessa’s words came to my ears. “I, Vanessa Baker, reject Blake Hayes as my mate!” Blake Hayes. That was his name, and we had met the same fate. How pathetic and ridiculous we were! I shot him a sympathetic look. I had expected a look of pain to cross his expression, but he was still expressionless. Ignoring Vanessa’s ecstasy, he said indifferently, “I accept your rejection.” Vanessa had not expected Blake to accept the rejection without any hesitation. Her hands clenched into fists and her lips shook, looked fumed. Her feelings was nothing to do with me. My attention was on the problem that how they could be so calm when severing their mate bond. The pain from the broken of mate bond should be so bad that hard to stand. But Vanessa and Blake looked like nothing had happened. Father’s voice rang out and pulled me out the doubts. “Alan, our bravest Sentinel! Now, I permit you to mark your new mate.” There was a loving smile his face. I knew that he was delight that his heir had found a mate who satisfied his requirements. “Vanessa, go on! Don’t be shy, silly girl.” Lisa said in a soft tone, pushing Vanessa’s waist gently. Vanessa blushed and tugged on Alan’s sleeves, “Alan...I’m ready.” Her fake shyness made me sick. She had already slept with Alan for many times and I had even witnessed their sex live just now. How could she so hypocritical! I forced myself to stop thinking and my gaze fell on Alan again. He pulled Vanessa into his arms and buried his head in Vanessa’s neck. As he was biting Vanessa, he suddenly raised his head and looked over at me. My heart literally shattered into pieces when our eyes locked. ‘ Fine... I won ’ t sob my eyes out like a fool any more. ’ I met his gaze without flinching and kept indifference. The relationship between Alan and I had already done from the moment I discovered his betrayal. Once the marking was complete, my father and Lisa was pleased and congratulated them. “My dear, I’ll leave the pack’s future to you and Alan now. Don’t let me down.” My father said, patting Vanessa’s shoulder with smile. “With the Moon Goddess’ blessing, you’ll both be happy together,” Lisa hugged Vanessa with tears. “Definitely!” Vanessa hugged my father and Lisa, “Thank you, I love you guys so much.” ‘ What a touching and loving family . ’ I sneered this scene as they forgot that I was also the one of this family.  I sighed bitterly and came to my sense when father’s voice came out. “Chloe!” The expression on his face changed from delight to stern. “Your turn now. Accept Blake’s mark!” he demanded solemnly. This was their ultimate goal. They asked Blake to mark me, ensuring that my bond with Alan would be severed completely. I didn’t say any word but nodded indifferently, then turned to look at Blake. Blake kept staring at my father. Half of his features were shadowed, and his eyes looked icy. Sensing my gaze, he glanced over at me casually. His indifferent look made me avert my gaze right away. His aura was too strong that it sent shivers down my spine. Blake had been the only one I knew who exuded such an intimidating aura, other than my father. I was almost certain that he disliked me. If it hadn’t been for me, he would have had the chance to meet his second mate. He wouldn’t be stuck here and be forced to mark me as his mate. But I didn’t have any rights to help him, the Moon Goddess could prove it. “Blake,” my father continued, “Chloe is my eldest daughter. You will not get any lose as long as you mark her as your mate.” Blake nodded without expression. His gaze fixed on me and he walked up to me. I raised my head slightly, looking at each other in silence. “Sorry in advance. It might be a little hurt.” Blake lowered his eyes as he spoke in a deep tone. He held my head with one hand and pulled me into his firm arms. His bangs were hanging over his eyes as he lowed his head on my shoulder. I couldn’t see his look, but feel the gentle touch of his tongue. He licked my skin with a hint of flirtation and I couldn’t help trembling. The pain came to my neck suddenly and I felt sharp teeth pierce through my skin. It hurt...and the feeling was so strange that I needed to bit my lip hard to stop moaning. I felt like something was spreading through my body from the bite, coursing through the blood in my veins. And the pain was gradually replaced by an indescribable sense of satisfaction. It was the feeling of two scents mixing together. I could smell his scent, faint and refreshing. Blake stepped back after the marking was done. But his gaze still fixed on me. There was something indefinable in his eyes. “Good!” My father said excitedly, and all of them indulged in a happy atmosphere... Except for me. My heart ache painfully and I breathed hard. I thought I could go through it calmly. “Are you okay?” Blake asked and supported me as I had almost fallen over. “Of course I’m fine!” I pretended all was well and pushed his hand away. It was already dawn by the time I left the pack house. I was falling apart and ran into the forest, hoping that running could smooth my pain. I tried to summon my wolf again, expecting that she could shift and take over my body to help me escape from this cruel world. However...my wolf still didn’t give me any response like she did five years ago. I felt so downcast and slowed down. I was a loser that couldn’t even shift! My wolf abandoned me like everyone else in my life. Thinking of that, I squatted on the ground and sobbed. I wrapped my arms around my knees and buried my head on my legs, crying out of control. I ceased my cry as a familiar scent wafted over. I turned around and saw that Blake was leaning against the tree opposite me. He looked at me with his arms crossed. “Wh...Why are you here?” I asked in a broke voice. He did not answer me, but walked towards me and bent down on one knee before me. Then, he opened his arms. I was stunned and looked at him in disbelief. He remained still as if expressed that I could cry to him. So I ran into his arms and cried again, as if to vent out all the grievances I’d suffered in those 19 years. He hugged me and patted my back gently. I got tired and my voice turned hoarse after I vented my frustration. I broke free from his arms with puffy eyes. “Feeling better?” He asked gently. I nodded and noticed his shirt was wet by my tears. “Sorry...” I said, feeling embarrassed. He sat next to me and shook his head. “You haven’t answered my question.” I wiped my tears and changed the topic. “Why did you follow me? Why did you stay with me? You must’ve noticed how much the entire pack despises me.”“Well, you’re my mate. It’s my responsibility to keep you safe.” He said as if it was not a big deal. Reminding of the fact that he was my mate now, I lowered my head. “I’m sorry for dragging you down with me. You would’ve been able to get a better mate if it weren’t for me.” He shook his head, "You're the best choice," he said and caressed my head. I froze when I heard his words. I didn’t expect him to say that...although I felt the warm from his answer. After much deliberation, there was only one reason he willingly marked me. “It’s because I saved you before, wasn’t it? That’s why you agreed to mark me when my father had asked you…” I turned to look at him as I asked. Blake frowned slightly and remained silent for a short moment, “Don’t think it more.” I let out a bitter laugh. His hesitation told me the answer. Unsurprisingly, it hadn’t been because he liked me. But it was normal not to like me...I got used to it. I heaved a sigh and got up from the ground. “Come on, go back now,” I said in a bored tone. I did not want him to see how haggard I looked any longer. “Chloe.” Blake suddenly called me up while I turned back. My heart clenched and the atmosphere seemed to vibrate with tension. I turned to look at him and forced myself smile. “What?”“Anyway…” The moonbeam broke through rifted clouds and I could see a sudden tenderness dawned in his eyes under the moonlight. “I swear that I’ll remain loyal to you forever." He said in a deep and mellow voice. My heart beat fast, and then faster and faster under his steady gaze.

Chapter 5 Chapter 5

I looked at Blake in bewilderment. My mind came up blank, and I thought  that I had misheard him. But Blake's stern expression and earnest tone told me that it was all true. "Don’t kid me." I lowered my head and crooked my fingers nervously. "I know you marked me just to pay my father and thank me for saving you... I won't force you to stay with me. Once you meet someone you like, we can break our bond.  I...""Break our mate bond?" Blake interrupted and shot an angry glance at me. "Yes…" I lowered my voice unconsciously and said while trembling, "I won’t interfere in your pursuit of love." I fixed my eyes on my shoes as I awaited Blake's answer. But I did not get any response for a long while. I looked up at him with a puzzled frown and met his icy gaze. "You want to break our bond?" After being silent for a long while, he repeated his words once more. His tone was as cold as ice and I was shaken. "No! I’m not the one who wants to break it." I shook my head anxiously. Did this man have trouble hearing or something? "I meant that if you want to sever our bond, I’ll agree to it…""Well, I don’t want to do it." he replied instantaneously. "What?" I looked at him in a shock. "I said I don’t want to break our mate bond." I was stunned and opened my mouth in confusion, "But we’ve only just met. I don’t even know your full name or how old you are! You don’t know me at all. How could we possibly be together? We’re…""Blake Hayes, and I’m 25. We’ve known each other for two months. Do you have any other questions, Miss Chloe?" he answered unhurriedly with a calm expression. My eyes widened in surprise. I merely blinked at him, not knowing what to say. "No...no questions." I replied and felt embarrassed. "Then what about you?" he asked. "What?""You said I didn’t know anything about you," he said with a serious look, as if he was completing a task. But his attitude and expression made me indescribably pleased. I smiled at ease and moved to sit with Blake under the tree. The night breeze caressed my cheeks, and I was shrouded in Blake’s scent. I leaned against the trunk and looked up at the starry sky, feeling the pain ease up gradually. "My name’s Chloe Baker." I introduced myself before letting out a giggle. "Well, I suppose you already knew that. I really need to work on my opening, don’t I?" Blake nodded along without commenting on my blunder. He listened quietly as I retold my life experiences... "That’s all. Even Alan abandoned me." I lowered my head, getting upset. "The wrong person is not worth your emotions," Blake said suddenly. "Huh?" I turned to look at him and teased him, "So are you implying you’re the right one for me?" Blake nodded in silent agreement. The smile on my face froze. I felt my cheeks heat up as my heartbeat quickened. I stared at him intently. My eyes roaming from his thick eyebrows to his eyes, from his tall nose to his thin lips. I hadn't noticed it before... he was so handsome! "What are you staring at?" Blake tilted his head. "What? Nothing!" I hurriedly turned my gaze and tried changing the subject. "I’m just curious why you would be a Rogue?" I rubbed my fingers to hide my noisy heart. Blake kept silent for a short moment, and replied, "I made a mistake, so I was shunned and kicked out of my pack." It seem like he didn’t want to talk about it, so I did not ask him to elaborate. I knew that everyone had secrets. Perhaps it was too upsetting for him to talk about. "Well, we’ll live together from now on. Even though the life might not be easy, at least you won’t go on your wandering way." I looked at him and said encouragingly, "I’m sure things will get better." Though I said those words, I did not believe them myself. My life was not much better than Blake’s. I had even planned to end my own life before. Blake seemed to know that I was lying. But he did not say anything about it. He nodded slightly in agreement. I rubbed my ears, feeling slightly awkward. I did not know what else I could say. Blake did not say anything. His words were few and his tone had grown harsher and colder. "I’m pretty insipid, aren’t I?" I said self-deprecatingly. Blake looked over at me with a questioning gaze. "Compared to Vanessa, who was supposed to be your mate, you must think I’m really boring." I shrugged. "Well, Alan had said that I’m not as sexy, bold, or capable as Vanessa is. I’m a prude." A soft chuckle echoed in my ear. "He must be blind. Don’t take his words to heart," Blake said quietly. I was stunned and felt my heart fill up with warmth. I could not help asking, "So how do you feel about Vanessa? Didn’t you feel bad when she rejected you?""No. I didn’t feel anything," Blake said  in a quiet voice. I was shocked. The scene that had taken place in the conference room flashed in my mind. Blake did not feel pain when he was rejected by Vanessa. "But why?" I asked, a doubt niggled at me. Blake looked at me with helplessness in his eyes. It was the first time I had ever seen an expression that wasn’t plain coldness on his face. "She isn’t my true mate. You’re." he said firmly. I was shocked at his words. "I’m your true mate? So you mean that you’re my second mate?""I might not like that words ‘second mate’, but you can put it that way," he said expressionlessly. "But if that’s the case, why did Vanessa mistake you as her mate? And I couldn’t even feel our mate bond!""I didn’t know at first," Blake answered calmly. "But after hearing your story, I think I might know the reason.""You think it might have something to do with our blood, don’t you?" I was suddenly hit with the realization. "Yes. You regularly supply Vanessa with your blood. It’s what causes both your scents to be so similar, which interfered with your wolves’ judgement. That’s probably why Vanessa mistook me for her mate. As for the reason why you couldn’t feel our mate bond, it is because your wolf was mischievous." He squinted his eyes slightly. I saw the image of a black wolf flashed in his pupils, trembling in every limb. He withdrew the look that frightened me quickly. "I have never considered Vanessa as my mate. I accepted her rejection because I don’t want to explain anything." Blake’s tone was filled with disdain. It seemed like he hated having anything to do with Vanessa. It dawned on me that Blake and I were mates from the very beginning, which shocked to me, yet it was also a relief. At least I wouldn’t have to feel guilty for my father forcing Blake into marking me. We were meant to be mates! I heaved a deep sigh and felt that life was still hopeful. I decided to give myself a chance to continue living. If I lost... then I resign myself. The sky was turning bright, I stood up and stretched. "We really need to get back now. Look, the sun’s coming up," I said, looking up at the rays of sunlight. "Alright," he replied in a deep tone and followed me. Before stepping into the pack house, I held Blake back. I had to admit that pain from my past were starting to creep up on me, but I had to make sure one thing. "Blake, I won’t ask anything of you. But if possible, please promise me...you will never lie to me. I’ve been tired of too many lies. So I won’t forgive you if you lie to me." Blake stared at me in silence. His lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something. Before he said anything, Vanessa’s voice suddenly rang out from behind me. "Chloe, you’re finally back!" I turned to see Vanessa who was rushing up to me with a bright smile. She grabbed my hand and said, "Where did you go? Do you know we’re all worried about you?" I had a bad feeling about her words. Every time Vanessa talked to me like that, it meant something bad was going on. I tried to pull my hand back, refusing to talk with her. As I broke free from her grab, Vanessa staggered backward, acting as if I had pushed her with all my might. Alan came out and managed to catch Vanessa before she fell over. What a coincidence! "Are you okay?" Alan asked her anxiously. "I’m fine." Vanessa choked up, "Please don’t blame Chloe. I understand why she can’t forgive me. She was sore about that I took you from her." Vanessa was trying to imply that I had pushed her out of jealousy. I had long since gotten used to her tricks, so I was calm. I tugged Blake’s sleeve, "Let’s go.""Wait! Stop!" Alan yelled out from behind me. "Aren’t you going to apologize for pushing her?" I clenched my fist in exasperation. "Chloe, I didn’t expect you were such a horrible person. It seems that I made the right choice by rejecting you!" I chuckled softly and suddenly relieved by Alan’s betrayal. Vanessa and him were truly a match made in heaven. I did not want to stir up unnecessary trouble. I had been accused of many things throughout my entire life, so it wasn’t anything new. I didn’t care about my end if this incident got to my father, but I could not drag Blake down with me. I took a deep breath and turned around. Before I apologized, Blake had moved to stand in front of me. "Stay away from my mate!" Blake warned, glaring coldly at Alan and Vanessa. "You’re nothing but a rogue! How dare you say that?" Alan roared loudly. His eyes were filled with fury. If he hadn’t pulled Vanessa in his arms, I would even think that he was jealous. I was tired of arguing with them and tried to get Blake to leave with me. Vanessa noticed my movements and she tried to make things worse. "Chloe, Alan wasn’t able to sleep the entire night after he rejected you out of guilt! But what about you? Have you already been cheating on Alan with this man long?" Guilt? Cheating? I burst out in sarcastic laughter. Should I have been grateful for Alan’s guilt? Weren’t they the ones who forced Blake to mark me? "You’re so heartless! Someone as horrible as you are deserving of a lowly Rogue as your mate!" Vanessa insulted me in her self-righteous tone, implying that I was the cheater. All the maids looked at me strangely, insulting me with harsh words. Vanessa still looked pathetic, but her eyes glowed with the excitement of humiliating me. I was almost throwing up. I needed to leave as soon as possible. It wasn’t the first time they insulted me so it didn’t matter to me. "Shut up!" As I was about to drag Blake along with me, he suddenly let out a loud roar, exuding a strong and formidable aura. Everyone present fell silent, and some had even started to tremble. Even Alan and Vanessa’s legs had gone weak. "How can this be possible… You...You’re nothing but a rogue…" Vanessa was trembling with fright. She looked slightly pained. I knew what she was implying. I was also as shocked but I was more worried about things getting worse. "Blake! Calm down, I’m fine," I whispered, tugging on Blake’s sleeve to hold him back. Blake glanced at me and regained his usual composure. Everyone let out a sigh of relief. I hurriedly took Blake away from the scene. Otherwise, Alan and Vanessa would just make things worse out of anger. Arrogant people like them would not stand the fact that a rogue had stood up to them. Furthermore... The way Alan looked at Blake was strange. It was obvious that he suspected Blake of something. He might suspect Blake’s true identity. I believed in Blake, but that didn't mean everyone was able to accept that such a powerful person was just a rogue. They might suspect Blake for being a spy from another pack. I knew it very well that my father would end up killing Blake if word got out. He would never let him go easily. I couldn't keep letting the trouble grow! I kept worrying for a week, but my father still didn't seem to know anything. Nothing happened this week. Everything went well, especially my relationship with Blake. "Alright, let’s meet tonight." I happily cut the mind link with Blake. We had found more and more things to talk about. Even though I was usually the one talking, with him listening, we got along very well. I felt comfortable with him. I was starting to get used to have him around me. I changed into my work clothes and headed to the kitchen. I had a date with Blake tonight and I decided to make some delicious food for him. My father treated him like a slave so he had to work hard all day. I needed to make something to supplement his nutrition. Two hours had passed before I was done cooking. I checked the time and found that it was time for my date with Blake. I changed into clean clothes and packed the food into containers, planning to see Blake. As I passed the corridor, I could hear two maids gossiping among themselves. When they saw me coming, they shot me looks of disdain. "Heartless bitch..." One of the maids mocked, "Her mate’s about to get kicked out of the pack, yet she still has the mood to dress up." I paused, looking at them in confusion. "What did you say?" I asked, their words disturbed me. "Don’t you know that? Your new mate, the slave, is being questioned by the Alpha right now. Everyone’s saying that he’s going to be drove out of the pack soon," the other maid replied. Drove out... of the Pack?!

Chapter 6 Chapter 6

My mind was dazed before I recognized what was happening. I almost fell onto the ground as my body trembling vehemently. Why? Father had accepted Blake into the pack and promised he would treat us well. What on earth had happened? “Where are they?” I asked anxiously. One of the maids rolled her eyes at me and mocked, “Why the hell would we tell you?”“Leave away from us! We’re busy with work! We don’t have time to…”“Damn! Just tell me where they are right now!” I blurt out in sudden rage, and my eyes constricted with anger. My roar frightened them. They cringed and stammered, “They… they’re in the basement.” Something pierced through my chest while their response rang in my ears. I gritted my teeth and ran to the basement without looking back. I could still hear the two maids whispering with each other behind me. “What the hell? Why’d she get so intimidating all of a sudden?”“Tsk…Did you see that? I saw something horrible flashed in her eyes…” The maids’ voices faded as the distance between us further. I didn’t mind what they think of me, the only one I cared about was Blake…My mate. As I arrived at the basement, I could hear my father roaring in a fury. My whole body trembled as his thunder voice echoed around the basement. “Expel this lowly Rogue out of our pack!”“No! Father!” I shouted, rushing into my father. Everyone’s gaze fell on me but my eyes fixed on Blake, who was curling up on the floor. His limbs were bound by thick iron chains. His lips had turned purple, and his eyes were black and blue. The veins on his arms and forehead protruded out, and his white shirt had soaked with sweat. It was the symptom of poison… Blake had been poisoned! My heart sank to the bottomless ground, and my breathing was quick and uneven. Feeling my gaze, Blake glanced at me but quickly averted his eyes. I pulled the guards away and rushed over to Blake’s side. I wanted to help him up but my father stopped me. “Chloe! What are you doing?” He asked in a cold inquisitorial voice. It had been ages since I’d seen him so angry. I took a deep breath and swallowed my anger, “Father, what happened? Why did you poison Blake? Why are you banishing him!?”“He was trying to steal lethal poison from our castle!” Vanessa interjected. “Everyone knows that the castle is a restricted area. No one is allowed to enter it without father’s permission.” I felt my heart drop to my stomach. If Vanessa’s words were true, my father would definitely punish Blake by using the cruelest means. I looked down at Blake with worries. A smile lifted the corner of his mouth. He let out a disdainful sneer, as if he had heard the funniest joke. “Blake, did you—”“Don’t worry about me. Leave now!” Blake interrupted my words with a cold voice. His indifference stunned me. But I knew his intentions. I knew he acted like that so as not to drag me down with him. My nose twitched as I held Blake’s hand tightly. I whispered in his ears, “No, we will get through it together.” Blake’s lips moved soundlessly. He stared at me unblinkingly, a hint of guilt flash across his eyes. “Enough!” Father barked out. He glared at me coldly before instructing the guards next to me, “Get her out of here.”“Yes, Alpha!” The guards rushed over and gripped my arm tightly. “No, don’t touch me!” I pushed the guards away with all my might and turned to look at my father. I begged desperately, “Father, please! Please investigate it first. Blake didn’t steal anything!!”“I watched him steal the poison from the castle with my eyes!” Vanessa said with a smug on her face. Her words struck me and I yelled at her, “It was you, wasn’t it? You set Blake up!”“What are you talking about? Why would Vanessa do anything like that?” Lisa hurriedly pulled Vanessa into a protective embrace, then turned toward father. “Dear, I think Chloe’s gone insane! She’s trying to frame her sister to protect a lowly rogue!” Vanessa was lying in Lisa's arms, looking at father with tears. Trembling with anger, I was about to retort but my father gave the guards a grim order, "What are you guys standing around for? Get her out of here! Then throw this rouge over the border!"“No! Father, please don’t expel Blake. I beg you. Blake is innocent!” I shouted with tears. But my father turned deaf ears to my pleas. The guards prised my fingers off Blake’s hand, intending to pull me away. My words couldn’t change anything. Father would rather kill those he considered threats out of precaution. He would not spare their lives only to have them cause trouble later on. I knew that there was no way he would let Blake off easily. Even though he knew that the man was my mate and I would suffer miserably without him. If that were the case… “Father, if you insist on banishing Blake, then please banish me as well,” I shouted hysterically. Everyone turned to look at me in surprise and regarded me as a madman. Father squinted his eyes and asked coldly, “What did you say?”“I want to leave with Blake,” I reiterated firmly. “How dare you say that? Do you think you can leave here in this life?” Father suddenly let out a cold chuckle. My heart quiver slightly. ‘What does he mean? Why I can’t leave… Since I’m nothing to them, then just let me go!’ My legs were trembling and I felt something was wrong somewhere. Father waved a hand at the guards, signaling them to take Blake away. I pounced, planning to fight with them. However, one of them pushed me over, and I lose my balance and stagger backward. I cracked my head on the cold concrete floor. A dizziness overwhelmed me. I saw nothing but darkness, and everything sounded extremely muffled. Suddenly, a loud roar came to my ears and then I fell into warm arms. I blinked my eyes to take a good look at the scene before me. The guards had all fell on the ground, unmoving and yelling. I noticed Blake’s wolf-like features and the iron chains around him were broken into pieces. Once he noticed that I was conscious, he calmed down slightly but vomited blood. The vein on his forehead seemed to throb painfully. “Blake!” I yelled, trembling in every limb. He wiped the blood and gasped, “I’m fine, don’t worry.”“I might have underestimated you.” Father’s low voice rang out, his gaze becoming more dangerous. Blake glared at him without saying any word, the savage look in his dark gaze. I tugged on Blake’s sleeve and said weakly, “Take me with you.” Hearing my words, Blake looked down at me. Then, he carried me toward the exit. “Stop!” Father commanded, his threatening voice echoing in the basement. “You can leave, but Chloe stay here.” The guards gathered around the exit when they heard my father’s words. Blake paused, turning to stare at my father. “Once you leave my pack, you will encounter countless Rogues. Are you certain that you can keep Chloe safe? Or are you planning to get her to protect you since you’re poisoned?” Father sneered at him. Blake’s body stiffened instantly, and I could feel his muscles tense up. Father’s words had a huge impact on him. I tugged Blake’s shirt and said firmly, “I don’t care. I’m not scared. Please just take me with you!”“You’re not afraid, doesn’t mean he isn’t.” Father lounged on the sofa, lighting a cigarette in his hand. He raised his eyebrow at me and said, “You’re my daughter. Without my permission, do you think you can pass the border? The pain of exiling yourself from the pack would be enough to kill you! Stupid girl.” His words stroke Blake’s mind. Blake frowned and looked at me in confusion. “So, are you still going to take her with you?” Father asked casually. Blake closed his eyes and his cheeks pushed up with teeth. I whispered his name softly, hoping that he could take me with him. He opened his eyes and took a deep breath, then put me down. When my feet touched the ground, I felt chill. “Blake…”“Wait for me. I promise that I’ll come back for you,” Blake said, his gaze was deep and gentle. “Don’t…” Tears started streaming down my face. Blake took my hand and planted a kiss on it. “Trust me, I swear that I’ll be back for you in no time.” He let go of my hand and took a few steps back. He glared coldly at my father and warned, “Dean Baker, I leave her here. If I find out anything bad happened to her, your entire pack will go through hell!” Father’s gaze dark and his expression turn stern, “Chloe’s my daughter. Your worries are unfounded. If you want to protect her, you should save yourself first.” Blake clenched into tight fists and his gaze fell on me again. He shot me a gentle smile before walking away. “No… Blake. Don’t leave me here. Take me with you…” I screamed, running after him. But the guards at the door stopped me. All I could do was watch Blake’s figure disappear from my sight as the metal door shut. I slumped on the ground and sobbed. Why wouldn’t he just take me with him? I was fearless and I could endure any pains as long as he took me with him! But he didn’t…He leave me here…Leave me alone… I shot my father a hateful glare. Why wouldn’t he just let me leave? He had never once regarded me as his daughter. Why was he so insistent on making me stay? As I was in unspeakable agony, Vanessa’s mocking voice came into my mind. “You must be wondering why father wouldn’t banish you, right?”“Poor guy…It’s because…” Vanessa didn’t continue to say that but let out a mischievous smile toward me. Then she bent over and clutched at her heart. “Father… Mother… it hurts…” she cried out weakly. Everyone began to swarm around her. My father picked her up and made quick strides to the door. When he walked past me, he gave me a cold glance and demanded, “Follow me. Vanessa needs your blood now.” My limbs grew cold as he left and my heart shattered at the next words Vanessa spoke, “It’s because you’re my personal blood bank!”

Chapter 7 Chapter 7

“Save me, Chloe…” Blake lay in blood and bound by cold iron chains all around him. He reached out to me, begging me to pull him out of the abyss. I wanted to save him... I didn’t want him to die! But there were countless hands pulled my clothes, and my hair…They wouldn’t leave me alone and kept pulling me backward. “Blake!” I screamed, unable to get close to him. Tears streamed down my face, and anxiety filled my heart. Suddenly, the iron chains around Blake tugged him down into the bottomless abyss. “Blake!” I yelled and opened my eyes. I breathed heavily, sweat soaking through the sheets. My heart beat faster and my body get tense. I snapped back to my senses and realized that it was a nightmare. Five days have passed since Blake was banished and I was forced to give Vanessa my blood. I had spent most of my time lying in bed. I refused to eat anything nor speak with anyone. My father tried summoning me to see him, but I ignored everything he said. I no longer wanted to please anyone, nor did I care about the punishments. It would be great if they punished me. Only then would I be able to die and escape from misery. To me, every living moment was riddled with pain. The air here was stifling. I disliked this world, repugnant periphery all people, including my father. I would probably be doing something completely different now if not for him. All of a sudden there was a terrific bang. Someone had kicked the door open. “This is so fucking annoying!” A sharp female voice rang in my ear. “Why do I have to bring you meals every day?” It was the maid my father had sent to look after me. She slammed the food tray onto the table,  and the hot soup splashed on my face. However, I did not feel any pain. I had slumped into a state of torpor from which nothing could rouse me. “Sending you food is just wasteful.” The maid muttered angrily as she proceeded to take the previously untouched meal out. She glared at me with disdain. “If you really want to die, just jump out the window. That’ll spare me from running this tedious errand.” With that, she left in a huff. I rolled my eyes, feeling numb. Looking into the mirror, I was met with the image of a pale woman lying in bed. Her eyes were hollow, and her lips were dry. Her skinny figure resembled a skeleton, making her look as if she was on the brink of death. I let out a self-deprecating laugh and rolled over, fixing my gaze on the ceiling. It was said that people who would lose the perception for the world when they were dying. I was in that state. It was pity that I wasn’t able to wait for Blake to pick me up. I hoped that he would live a full life. I shut my eyes once more. Soon after, the door was pushed open again, but the one seemed more polite than before. There was a delicious scent of cake… I wrinkled my nose and opened my eyes. My gaze met with my father’s stern eyes. He sat by my bed, holding a blueberry cake. I glanced over at him curiously, unable to comprehend the reason behind his sudden visit. It was a rude awakening to learn his purpose when I caught a glimpse of the calendar. Tuesday... so he was here to get my blood for Vanessa. “What happened to your face?” Father asked in a lukewarm voice. I knew he was referring to the scald from the hot soup, but I was too exhausted to talk with him. I remain ed silent and he did not try to pry. He mumbled, “The maid I sent didn't take good care of you.” I discerned a hint of stern anger in his flat tone. It sounded like he would kill that neglectful maid for me. I sneered inwardly, reminding myself not to overestimate my place in his heart. The reason he came to me was for my blood. My father was a man who valued efficiency. Even though I was his daughter, he would not waste time dawdling. He signaled a guard to bring him a knife and a bowl. Father looked at me for a moment before saying, “You know your duty.” I had always done everything he asked without any complain. I would cut myself voluntarily to fill up the bowl. However, I felt the sudden urge to rasped his nerves. “Father.” It took me a lot of effort to sit up on the bed. The white sheets fell off as I panted heavily. “I don’t feel well today.” He squinted his eyes, and his expression turning cold as he said, “You refuse to give blood?”“No.” I forced out a laugh. “I just meant that I was too weak. I hope you could cut me yourself to get the blood.” I stretched my arm out, rolling up the sleeves to reveal my pale wrist. Father fixed his gaze on my arm. His eyes widened, and he seemed to stop breathing for a second. I smiled. “Sorry, it’s so ugly, isn’t it?” I had given Vanessa my blood over several years, my wrist was littered with scars. Each one was incredibly ugly. Father averted his gaze and instructed the guard, “You! Do it.”“I want you to do it, father,” I said again firmly. “Or are you too disgusted by me to even lay a hand on me? But don ’ t forget that...h alf of my blood was from you. I am your daughter.” I had never spoken to my father in such a tone. To him, I was nothing but a dog that did not bark. I would always be regarded as a stray, begging for scraps. A thrill ran through me as I noticed how troubled he looked at the thought of cutting my wrist. “Do it . Take my blood, father,” I said obediently, passing the knife to him. He hesitated for a moment and did not cut me right away. All I could do was wait. Just when I thought he would give up, I suddenly felt the pain from the knife pierce through my skin. I sucked in a huge breath. No matter how used to the procedure I was, it still hurt. But the pain was a lot more unbearable than before. My father placed the bowl under my wound and waited quietly as it filled with my blood. While we waited, I looked up at his stern face and asked, “I’ve always been curious about something. Could you give me the answer?”“What?” Father asked, avoiding my gaze. “Why you treated me so cruelly. I’m your daughter too, am I not?” My father remained silent for a long moment. His knuckles turned white from tightening his grip on the bowl. “As an Alpha, I need a strong, capable heir to lead the pack. I have to ensure that the next Alpha lives well.” Permitt ing myself a wry smile , I asked , “Aside from the fact that I am not a worthy heir, did you ever love me?” The heavy, brooding silence descended on us. I waited for father’s answer a long while, but he did not say any word. His hand that was holding the bowl trembled slightly. I suddenly didn't care so much about his answer. I t wouldn’t change anything. I was still nothing but a disease-treating machine. Who would have any feelings for an inanimate object? It’d be ridiculous! Once the bowl was filled, my father spoke up. “I remember you loved blueberry cake when you were younger. I brought you some today,” he said while bandaging my arm. I stayed quiet for a moment, then replied with a bitter smile, “I don’t like it anymore...” He paused wrapping the bandage around my arm. His face, which had always been unfathomable, seemed to have aged ten years in a moment. Indiscernible emotions stirred behind his eyes. I withdrew my hand, my lips trembling with blood loss. I managed to make my voice sound firm as I said, “I can tend to the wound myself. You should get the blood to Vanessa now.” I shut my eyes and turned to look away. I did not want to spare him another look. It took a long while for the sound of my door closing to echo through the room. I took a deep breath and felt coolness on my face. I touched my cheek and found myself in tears. ‘That's it, I've had enough!’ I had given up on my hope of receiving even a hint of compassion from my father. I passed out while crying. It was late at night when I opened my eyes again. I looked out the window and made a decision. If I had to die, I refused to die here. I was sick of everyone here, and I wanna seek Blake out. I kept holding out hope that someone would come and save me, but this time, I had to save myself. I eyed the slice of blueberry cake left on the table, along with the porridge that had been brought by the maid. Without hesitation, I picked up the porridge and gulped it down. I was no longer the girl who had set my heart on blueberry cake, on my father , and on this fucking family. Now all I want ed was free . Even if I failed, I would accept the consequence. Nothing could weaken my resolve to leave! With conviction, I got up on the bed and walked to the door...