Chapter 3

Scarlett POV

Since I knew I was never coming back, I decided to bury Ruth.

I bought a small pendant, placed a lock of Ruth's hair and a pinch of her ashes inside, and buried the rest in the pack cemetery.

Kneeling before her gravestone, I clutched the pendant.

"Grandma, don't worry. I am going to do what I want now. I'll protect myself."

It was evening when I returned to my apartment. As soon as I walked in, I heard laughter.

Ruth and I didn't live in the main Packhouse. We lived in a small, quiet cottage further away.

It was usually very silent.

As I walked in, confused, Lucas spotted me.

He quickly walked over and pulled me inside. "Come, let me introduce you to some friends."

A man and a woman stood up from the couch. They turned to look at me, their eyes gleaming with mockery.

It was Chloe and Liam.

My body began to shake slightly. It was a physical reaction from years of Chloe's bullying.

But that didn't mean I was afraid of her.

Lucas smiled. "Chloe is my childhood friend, and Liam is my twin brother. They just got back, right in time for your birthday party."

Chloe waved at me, smiling sweetly. "Scarlett and I already know each other. From the training grounds."

With that, she rushed over and grabbed my arm, whispering in my ear.

"Right, Scarlett?"

Flashbacks of my torment flooded my mind. Every time she finished beating me, she would whisper those exact words.

"Just a little girl-talk, right, Scarlett?"

Instinctively, I flinched and shoved Chloe away.

Chloe fell to the floor, looking completely victimized. "Scarlett, do you still hate me? I just wanted to get along with you."

The twins' expressions instantly darkened. Lucas rushed to pull Chloe up, his eyes glaring at me.

Liam frowned. "Lucas, is your lover always this arrogant?"

Lucas shielded Chloe behind his back, his voice cold and furious. "Scarlett, apologize!"

I looked at the three of them, my fists clenching at my sides.

Thinking about what I had heard at the bar, my heart felt like it was being ripped out.

I silently turned to leave.

But after two steps, Lucas grabbed my wrist tightly, pulling me back so hard I stumbled.

I looked up into his eyes, which were burning with anger. "Who said you could leave?"

Liam said coldly, "An Alpha's family values rules, Lucas. Your girl needs to learn some discipline."

"You're right." Lucas's eyes were icy. "Scarlett, as my girlfriend, you must watch your behavior. You need to reflect on what you did today."

With that, he dragged me down to the basement.

Before I could react, he slammed the heavy wooden door shut.

The door sealed shut, blocking out all light. I was surrounded by old boxes and pitch-black darkness.

Panic seized me. I began to breathe heavily, frantically pounding on the door.

But no matter how hard I screamed, there was no response.

I spiraled into terror.

The day my parents died in battle, they had hidden me in a dark basement.

No sound, no light, for three whole days.

Until the rescue team finally found me.

Since then, I had a severe phobia of dark, enclosed spaces.

After coming to the Ironroot Pack, Chloe had locked me in an abandoned warehouse once.

I had a mental breakdown, and my wolf almost killed her.

Fortunately, I snapped out of it in time.

Chloe never told anyone about the incident because she was terrified Alpha Alexander would find out she was bullying pack members.

But it only made her hate me more, and her methods became even more vicious.

For the past few years, even while living with Lucas, I always slept with the lights on.

Lucas was annoyed at first, but after hearing about my trauma, he held me close.

"It's okay, baby. We'll always keep the lights on. Don't be scared."

He had trouble sleeping at first, tossing and turning, but whenever I suggested turning the lights off, he refused.

"Scarlett, don't force yourself. I can adapt."

He knew. They both knew.

Yet, they still chose to punish me this way, all because I pushed Chloe.

My heart ached with a dull, throbbing pain. I curled into a corner, wrapping my arms around my shaking body.

Right. The warmth of the past was all an act. They were just playing their parts.