Chapter 3

Lily POV

After lying in the medical center for a few days, the Hunting Festival was nearing its end.

On the final night, following tradition, the camp held a grand outdoor victory feast.

Although no one explicitly invited me, I changed into simple clothes and went out anyway.

I needed to show my face. I couldn't let Pack members think I had completely disappeared. That would make me lose my value to the pack.

The feast was brightly lit, the aroma of roasted meat and laughter echoing throughout the camp.

I held a wooden cup of light wine, avoiding the center of the crowd, standing alone in the shadows.

I watched as Alex was surrounded by people, Chloe following close beside him, smiling sweetly.

His face bore a smile in the firelight, a relaxed expression I hadn't seen in a long time. Only that smile wasn't for me.

I took a sip of wine. It was unbearably bitter.

I walked to a corner of the crowd, wanting some air.

After a while, Alex came by, his arm around a scantily dressed female guest, kissing her deeply as they walked.

His hand had already slipped under the hem of her leather skirt.

The female guest let out muffled moans.

The flickering firelight barely illuminated their entangled silhouettes, and also lit up Alex's slightly turned face.

Our eyes met for a brief moment in the dim light.

His movements didn't pause for even a second. His gaze swept over me coldly, as if I were just an irrelevant bystander, then he kissed even more deeply.

I stood frozen in place, my fingertips cold.

The Hunting Festival wasn't even completely over, the victory feast was still going on, and he couldn't wait to be here with another woman...

How ridiculous.

I turned around unhurriedly and walked back to the noisy center of the feast.

The place in my chest that once held my heart now only felt numb.

I walked to the long table with roasted meat and picked up a plate.

At least I needed to eat something.

Just then, a drunk warrior staggered over, his hand reeking of alcohol trying to rest on my waist.

"Lily, if Alex doesn't want you, how about you have a drink with me..."

I frowned in disgust and warned coldly, "Get your paws off me."

"Oh, feisty!" He laughed lewdly and tried to move closer.

I grabbed the meat-cutting knife from the long table and slapped it hard against his approaching face!

"Smack!" A dull thud rang out. He screamed in pain and staggered backward, falling to the ground.

I looked down at him, baring my fangs, my tone cold as ice. "That's a warning. Touch me again and I'll bite through your throat."

The patrolling warriors came and dragged him away. I put down the hunting knife and picked up my wine glass again.

The people around me looked at me with a mix of surprise and fear.

Cup after cup of wine went down. My consciousness began to blur.

Near the end of the victory feast, I saw Alex's Beta Evan walking toward me, handing me a document envelope.

"Miss Lily, this is from Alpha Alex. Some cooperation projects with Evans Pack after the Hunting Festival. He said... consider it compensation."

Compensation?

I laughed softly, more bitterly than the wine.

At least tonight, I got something tangible.

Even if it was bought with dignity and blood.

I put down my wine glass and walked alone toward my car outside the camp.

I thought I needed to cool down by myself.

The night wind hit me and the alcohol surged.

I had just reached my car and pulled open the door when I felt a sharp pain at the back of my neck and everything went black—

I lost consciousness completely.