Chapter 3
Not far away, Buddy lay helplessly in a pool of blood, his small body twitching slightly. My heart tore itself apart as I watched him fight for his last breaths.
"Buddy!"
Tears streamed down my face as I rushed toward him, desperation clawing at my chest. My crutch had slipped away, and I collapsed to the ground, but the pain didn’t register. All that mattered was reaching him. I’d already lost my pup—I couldn’t bear to lose him too.
With trembling hands, I gently stroked his fur. Buddy struggled to open his eyes and looked at me, his gaze filled with a loyalty that shattered what was left of my heart.
"Someone, call the Healer..." I cried out, my voice breaking, but the pack members stood around, their faces indifferent, their loyalty to the Alpha binding them to silence.
My hands shook as I reached for my phone to call for help, only for it to be knocked from my grasp by Alpha Musa Bennett.
He stood tall, his broad frame casting a shadow over me, his expression cold and mocking. "It’s just a mutt," he said, his deep voice dripping with disdain. "Why the drama?"
My wolf stirred within me, a low growl of anguish that I barely managed to suppress. "You’re the real monster—your entire bloodline is!" I yelled, clutching Buddy as tears poured down my face.
The next moment, a sharp pain stung my cheek. Sloan White, the Omega who had clawed her way into Musa’s graces, had slapped me with all her might. She brought her reddened hand to Musa’s face, pouting like a spoiled pup. "Alpha, her face is as hard as stone. Look, my hand’s sore. Blow on it for me."
Musa obliged, his lips brushing her palm with a tenderness that felt like a knife to my heart. As they turned to leave, he tossed over his shoulder, "Her crying is grating on my nerves. Lock her in the shed."
The pack members moved swiftly, their hands rough as they grabbed me and dragged me toward the shed. I struggled, but their strength was overwhelming, their obedience to the Alpha absolute. Meanwhile, Buddy’s body lay still, his life extinguished, his loyalty repaid with cruelty.
My heart shattered with his.
Curled up in the dark, musty shed, I drifted in and out of restless sleep. My dreams took me back to the day I’d learned I was carrying Musa’s heir. I’d shown him the pregnancy test, my heart bursting with joy. He’d embraced me, his strong arms wrapping around me, his lips pressing against mine in a kiss that had felt like a promise. He’d been so proud, so full of hope for our future.
Why…
Why had he changed? Why had he allowed another’s whispered lies to twist his heart, to lead him to indirectly cause the death of our unborn pup?
Even Buddy, my loyal companion, hadn’t been spared from their cruelty.
Hatred burned within me, a fire that threatened to consume everything in its path.
In the past, when I’d faced injustice, I’d cried, pleaded, naively hoping that Musa would see reason, that he’d return to me. But now, I knew better.
Counting on a wolf’s loyalty and conscience is the most foolish gamble.
A she-wolf must rely on herself in this world.
The sound of the shed door unlocking jolted me from my restless sleep. The door creaked open, and Sloan stepped inside, carrying a steaming bowl, her smile sweet and venomous.
"Oh my, I just can’t sleep without your calming presence," she said mockingly, her voice like honey laced with poison. "So I had the kitchen whip up something special. You should try it."
The savory aroma of meat stew filled the air, but I didn’t trust her intentions. I remained silent, my gaze fixed on the ground.
With a smug grin, she taunted, "Not hungry? Well, that’s too bad. It’s Buddy stew. I guess I’ll have to give it to the dogs."
Her words struck like a whip, tearing open the wounds she’d already inflicted. My wolf snarled within me, a sound of pure anguish and fury, but I bit my tongue, refusing to give her the satisfaction of seeing me break.
Not again. Never again.
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