Chapter 2
My mind involuntarily drifted back to the darkest chapter of Alpha Gorge's life.
His family, once a paragon of wealth and prestige within our pack, had been maliciously framed by their rivals.
I remember the day the news broke as if it were yesterday.
The entire pack was abuzz with rumors and speculation. But for Gorge, it was the beginning of a nightmare.
Overnight, their fortune evaporated into thin air. Their grand mansion was seized, and all their possessions were sold off to pay their mounting debts. Their reputation, which had been built over generations,plummeted to the depths of disgrace.
Friends who had once flocked around him like moths to a flame now vanished without a trace.
Relatives, too, turned their backs on him.
He was left alone, with no one to turn to.
I defied my parents' desperate pleas.
They begged me to stay away from him. But I couldn't abandon him.
We ended up sheltering under a bridge.
The cold, hard ground was our bed, and our meager bedding offered little protection against the biting cold of the night.
For an entire month, instant noodles became our only sustenance.
Day after day, I watched as we swallowed those dry, tasteless noodles with icy mineral water.
To make matters worse, Alpha Gorge, weighed down by chronic depression and the combined effects of hunger and cold, fell ill.
I scoured every nook and cranny of the area, searching for inexpensive herbs to brew into a remedy.
Day and night, I remained at his side, my eyes never leaving his face, constantly monitoring his condition.
When hunger pangs gnawed at me, I would munch on a few pieces of dry, stale bread.
I didn't care about my own discomfort.Eventually, my body gave out, and I, too, succumbed to illness.
Once Alpha Gorge made a spectacular comeback and regained his wealth and status, I, who had been by his side through thick and thin, I remained nothing more than a low - paid nanny in his household.
Now, I was in my room, packing my luggage.
As I folded a shirt that held memories of better times, a knock suddenly echoed through the room.
"Come in," I continued with my packing, my hands mechanically moving as if on autopilot.
Alpha Gorge pushed the door open and stepped in.
In his hand, he carried an elegant bag.
I didn't look up at him right away.
I just kept folding the clothes in front of me.
He cleared his throat softly and said, "Well, Lora, I admit my tone was a bit harsh. Here, this is for you as a gift for apology"
As he spoke, he extended the bag towards me.
I paused in my packing and took the bag from him.
When I opened the box, a delicate bracelet lay quietly inside.
In the past, I would have been overjoyed at receiving a gift from Alpha Gorge.
I knew all too well that this bracelet was merely a freebie when Alpha Gorge purchased an expensive watch.
Previously, in the luxury store, when I accompanied Alpha Gorge to choose a gift for Salina, I had witnessed firsthand the salesperson presenting this very bracelet as an added bonus for high - value purchases. In his eyes, I was only worthy of such a casually - brought - along item.
I lifted my head and looked straight at Alpha Gorge. "Thank you. I'll take it," I said, my voice flat.
I placed the box with the bracelet on the table beside me and resumed my packing.
"Oh, right. I'm going back to the countryside these two days," .
Alpha Gorge nodded emphatically.
The truth was, he didn't want me to cross paths with his fiancée.
Alpha Gorge added,, "Come back early. Be careful on the way..."
Chapter 3
Without a word, I turned on my heel.
Just then, my phone buzzed with a new post.
I pulled it out.
It was from Salina.
On her fair hand, a massive diamond ring sparkled brightly, its brilliance almost blinding.
The caption read, "Given by my dear. He bought it at an auction for 500 million. Now, that's what love is. Get it!"
Beneath the post, comments were flooding in.
"This is an astronomical - priced diamond ring!"
"Such envy! Which wealthy young master has his eyes on her?"
I stared at the screen, my eyes burning.
I knew all too well who Salina's fiancé was.
Salina, once an outcast abandoned by the Riverside pack, had been taken in by Alpha Gorge during the first year of the Silver Moon pack's establishment.
He had brought her into the Silver Moon pack, trained her in werewolf skills, and arranged various training for her.
However, not long after, Alpha Gorge had simply made her an assistant...
Suddenly, Alpha Gorge's phone rang, and Salina's voice came through the line.
After hanging up, Alpha Gorge continued, "Don't bother cooking dinner for me tonight. I have something to attend to and will be out..."
"Did you hear me?"
I remained silent.
I made my way back to my room and began packing all my belongings. The hours ticked by as I toiled away.
Just as I was about to rise and head out for a meal, my phone suddenly began to vibrate vigorously.
I reached for the device, and my eyes widened as I saw Alpha Gorge's name lighting up the screen.
Before I could utter a single word, Alpha Gorge's voice, laced with a hint of weakness yet still carrying an air of command, crackled through the speaker.
"Lora, I left my stomach medicine at home. You need to bring it to me immediately. I'm at the 101 private room in the 'Finest' bar."
My first instinct was to refuse.
But then, my mind flashed to a small, precious item that held my childhood memories close - an old photo album filled with pictures of me and my family.
That album was stashed away in a drawer in Alpha Gorge's study, a drawer secured by a special lock.
The only key to that lock was in Alpha Gorge's possession.
If I ever hoped to retrieve that album, I had no choice but to get that key from him.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "Alright,"
I ended the call.
Chapter 4
The moment I pushed open the door of the private room, a wave of raucous sound hit me.
Alpha Gorge's laughter and the animated chatter of his friends filled the air.
"See? This is my little puppy dog. No matter when I call, she comes running right away," Alpha Gorge boasted.
Alpha Gorge's face was flushed with drunkenness.
When he saw me enter, a sneer curled his lips.
"Well, well, Lora. You finally made it,"
His friends, upon seeing me, joined in with raucous jeers.
Suddenly, as if struck by a wild idea, Alpha Gorge lurched to his feet, his balance unsteady.
Pointing a finger at me, he announced to the room,
"We haven't had enough fun tonight, guys. Let me liven things up a bit." Then, turning his gaze back to me, he commanded, "Lora, bark like a dog and crawl around the room. Do it well, and I'll give you what you want."
I stared at Alpha Gorge.
The room fell silent in an instant, and all eyes were fixed on me.
"What? You don't want to?"
Alpha Gorge taunted.
I wanted to scream at him. But I knew that if I did, I might never get my photo album back.
I took a deep breath, trying to hold back the tears .
"You've always done whatever I said. Can't you even do this simple thing today?"
My hands clenched into tight fists.
I slowly crouched down.
I let out a few dry, strained "woofs".
Then, my body trembling , I began to crawl on the floor.
"This is hilarious!"
Alpha Gorge and his friends erupted into a fit of laughter.
"Damn, I never thought Lora would actually do this. She's really got no pride," one of them jeered.
"She's crazy about our Alpha Gorge. She'd do anything to please him," another chimed in.
I kept crawling.
I lifted my head and looked straight at Alpha Gorge.
"Now,can you give me the key?"
Alpha Gorge frowned.
He reached out and lifted my chin with his finger.
"Are you angry,babe?" he asked, a hint of amusement still in his tone.
"It was just a joke. Don't take it to heart."
I just looked at him calmly and said, "The key?"
Alpha Gorge reached into his pocket and pulled out the key.
I took the key.
I turned on my heel and walked away.
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