Chapter 4

I was locked up for an entire day and two nights.

During that time, I begged for mercy and cried out, but they didn’t give me so much as a bite of food or a sip of water.

An ordinary person might be able to endure two days of hunger, but I didn’t have my own wolf to help me conserve my strength.

By the evening of the second day, I was dizzy and lightheaded, without even enough strength left to shout.

Why had I come back to suffer this?

On the morning of the Mate Ceremony, they finally untied me.

I shook my numb hands, and the bruises left by the rope around my wrists were horrifying.

If I had been any other werewolf, most of the injuries would have faded overnight, but deep purple-red marks still covered my skin.

“You little slut,” Maggie’s shrill voice rang out. “If you try to run again, I’ll break your legs myself!”

“I already gave the money to your sister, so don’t blame me for being cruel. Your sister needs the money more than you do.”

Dora chimed in from the side.

“Exactly.”

I ignored Dora and turned to Maggie, unable to keep the words inside any longer.

“Stop pretending. Didn’t you call me back so you could sell me and give all the money to Dora for her wedding?”

Maggie glared at me viciously and spoke as if she were completely justified.

“I’m your mother! I can spend a little of your money, and you’re going to make a fuss forever?”

I froze and stopped indulging them.

“If I remember correctly, you were the one who banished me from the pack five years ago.”

“You called me back this time because you wanted to sell me for the highest price possible. Why are you still giving me all this self-righteous nonsense?”

“You’re unbelievable.”

Dora rushed over, snatched my bag, and began rummaging through it in front of me.

She didn’t find a single cent, stomped her foot, and walked away.

Maggie’s face flushed red as she cursed furiously.

“You dare talk back to me? I’m your Luna! I can treat you however I want!”

“I’m warning you. If your sister’s marriage falls apart, don’t expect to have an easy time either! Hurry up and help your sister raise the money!”

Just then, John entered, and Maggie’s furious shouting abruptly stopped.

Maggie took my belongings out of the bag and handed them to John.

John accepted them with a wrinkled smile, revealing two rows of large yellow teeth.

Then Maggie took me to the car.

I asked in confusion:

“Aren’t we holding the Mate Ceremony? Where are we going?”

John’s sleazy voice came from the front.

“Of course we’re going to the pack hall to complete the mate ceremony. We’ll make it back in time for the celebration.”

I was so hungry that I barely had the strength to speak.

Without a wolf, my body was this fragile. I couldn’t endure even one day without food.

I responded coldly and gazed calmly out the window.

This farce was about to reach its conclusion.

When we arrived at the pack hall, Maggie forcefully linked her arm with mine and whispered a warning in my ear.

“If you dare say anything inappropriate in front of the Alpha, don’t blame me if I…”

I curled my lips into a faint smile and nodded before walking firmly into the pack hall.

John’s grin stretched almost to his ears, and Maggie gave me a satisfied smile.

Just then, the doors to the hall were suddenly shoved open.

Dozens of werewolf warriors in black combat uniforms filed inside and quickly took control of the entire room.

The man at the front was tall, with a powerful and intimidating presence.

He was Alpha Jason, the leader of Crimson Pack.

Crimson Pack was one of the largest packs in the region, with more than a hundred members and a highly trained elite force.

My fated mate.

He had come.