Chapter 4

"Julian, thank you for standing up for me. I was terrified."

He clicked his tongue, affectionately pinching her cheek. "What do you want as an apology gift?"

Bianca giggled, snatched the Moon Goddess signet ring from his hand, and tossed it straight into the roaring fireplace.

Seeing his face darken, her eyes immediately welled with tears. "Was it that important to you?"

She pretended to reach toward the flames. "I'll dig it out for you then. After all, you two shared ten years. Even if she hurt me, I don't want to make things hard for you."

Julian caught her waist, his heart melting completely. "Nothing is more important than you. Don't dirty your hands. Here, take the master key to the Pack vault. Take whatever your heart desires."

Bianca pouted playfully. "I don't want your riches. I only love you for who you are."

"I know, I know. But an Alpha provides for his Mate. If you don't spend it, I won't be happy."

Only then did she reluctantly pocket the key.

Three days later, I was dragged out of the freezing detention cell, battered and hollow.

I was escorted straight into a VIP lounge at an elite shifter nightclub.

When the door opened, Julian and Bianca were lounging on the center leather couch, feeding each other a grape.

The grape slipped, and the two immediately melted into a heated, passionate kiss.

The surrounding pack members cheered and whistled, practically raising the roof.

It took several long minutes before Julian finally noticed me standing by the door.

Taking in my gaunt, deathly pale face, his expression instantly soured. "What happened? Did someone mistreat you in the cells?"

Before I could answer, Bianca burst into a delicate laugh.

"Miss Miller really knows how to play the victim. With her history with Julian, who would dare touch her? That sickly makeup looks so real, it must have taken you hours to put on."

Julian's movement to stand up froze mid-motion.

He tapped out a cigarette and let Bianca light it for him.

The smoke obscured his sharp features, but the gaze he turned on me held suppressed impatience.

"Since you've reflected on your mistakes, come over here and apologize to Bianca."

Bianca, dressed in pure virgin white, leaned demurely against Julian's chest, swirling a glass of high-proof wolfsbane whiskey.

"Honestly, I don't want to make things hard for you."

"But you insulted my parents. No daughter could ever tolerate that, right?"

She paused, as if remembering something, and let out a dramatic gasp. "Oh, silly me, I forgot. Your own parents abandoned you on a doorstep when you were a pup. You're just a pathetic orphan who never had a family."

I remained silent.

She placed the glass on the table with a light clink. "Apologize, then."

I lowered my eyes. "I'm sorry."

Bianca shook her head. "Just words? That lacks sincerity. This whiskey is sixty percent proof, spiked with wolfsbane extract. Drink it."

I stared at the bubbling, dark-green liquid, instinctively looking toward Julian.

During the bloody wars to secure his Alpha seat, I had taken countless silver blades and poisoned drinks on his behalf. My internal organs were completely ruined. The Pack Healer had strictly warned him that my wolf could not withstand the shock of wolfsbane and hard liquor.

Back then, Julian had been terrified, banning alcohol from our house entirely.

He knew better than anyone how close I had come to dying on that operating table.

Yet the man before me simply blew a lazy smoke ring, his tone as casual as commenting on the weather.

"Emily, it's just one drink. Your tolerance isn't that fragile."

I hadn't expected any mercy, yet my heart still seized with a sharp, agonizing twist.

I picked up the glass and swallowed it in one gulp.

A scorching fire tore from my throat straight down into my stomach. A heavy, violent cramp ripped through my lower abdomen, making me stumble.

"Since Miss Miller holds her liquor so well, why not finish the rest of the tray?"

Bianca pointed at a row of colorful, lethal cocktails.

My face turned ice-cold.

Bianca looked up at Julian with puppy-dog eyes. "Julian, she called me a whore and threatened my parents' lives. I suffered so much trauma. Asking for a few drinks as an apology isn't too much, is it?"

"Of course not," Julian said smoothly, crushing his cigarette into the crystal ashtray. "Emily, I want to help you, but you crossed the line. Listen to Bianca. Once she forgives you, your debt is paid."

I nodded calmly.

Clutching my wrenching, bleeding abdomen, I grabbed the entire pitcher of wolfsbane liquor from the table. "A few glasses aren't enough. I'll chug the whole pitcher."

The heavy glass pitcher shattered on the marble floor.

A mouthful of dark blood sprayed from my lips, and my legs gave out beneath me.

Bianca recoiled several steps in disgust. "Miss Miller, it's just a drink! Did you really have to use fake blood capsules just to be dramatic?"

Julian bought into her excuse, scowling with deep irritation. "Enough! How long are you going to keep acting? Bianca was merciful to you. Stop embarrassing yourself and get up!"

I said nothing, raising my hollow eyes to meet his.

Suddenly, a she-wolf sitting nearby let out a bloodcurdling scream.

"Blood! Look at her pants—there's so much blood! She's... she's having a miscarriage!"

I looked into Julian's face as the color drained from his skin, and I offered him the most genuine smile I had worn in months.

"I paid her back with your pup. Are you satisfied now?"