Chapter 1

“Lyra, leave. Now.”

Cassian was trembling, fighting the venom tearing through his wolf body.

But when he collapsed, his guards panicked.

“Alpha, only her kiss can neutralize the toxin.”

His hand grabbed mine before he could stop himself.

My lips saved his life. His pride hated it.

Then Theo called.

“You’re still chasing my brother. Pathetic.”

Cassian ripped the phone away.

“You did not cherish her. I will.”

His eyes were glowing when he pulled me close.

Theo's family all had the werewolf gene. After turning 20, they would go into heat every full moon. Whoever they marked for the first time would become their lifelong, sole mate.

I thought the person Theo wanted to mark was definitely me.

But when he first awakened his werewolf nature, his friend called me over to help him ease the symptoms.

Instead, I overheard Theo saying irritably outside the private room:

"I really don't want to give Lyra the satisfaction."

"I want to pursue the campus beauty, but she's not an easy girl."

"Unlike Lyra, who's like an eager puppy, always at my beck and call."

"When she gets here, even if she begs to help me, I'll have to resist."

"I don't want to sleep with her and end up tied to her for life, completely under her thumb."

Standing outside the room, my mind went blank.

I never imagined that Theo, who had grown up with me, saw me this way.

His friends, always quick to jump on the bandwagon, all laughed:

"So in your eyes, she's just a plaything."

"Why don't I call and tell her not to come? Save her from taking advantage of you tonight and trying to climb the social ladder through your bed. To be honest, I think you get what you pay for."

But Theo stopped his friend from making the call, saying uncomfortably:

"Forget it. If we tell her not to come now, what will she think?"

"Even if she's just a plaything, she's the one I've spoiled since childhood. I can't bear to hurt her feelings."

"When she gets here, I'll see if I can resist touching her."

"There are some things I don't want to spell out. This is a good opportunity to let her see things clearly."

At that moment, I wanted to burst in and shout at Theo:

"You can't bear to hurt my feelings, yet you compare me to an eager puppy in front of your friends, letting them mock and belittle me? You don't deserve my infatuation!"

But I held back. Why waste words on someone who doesn't cherish me?

I turned and fled the scene, telling myself not to cry.

After some thought, I called his brother's bodyguard:

"Remember how you begged me to help ease Theo's brother's symptoms? Do you still need that now?"

"Send me the address. I'll be right there."