Category: English

My name was Keira Knightley. After dropping out of school, my parents didn’t pressure me at all. But then my boyfriend, Logan Ridley’s so-called high-IQ childhood friend, Megan Robinson, called me out of the blue. I was too busy working in the fields, planting vegetables, and splashing around in the water to even think about writing code. In my past life, Megan had submitted an identical program design just a day before I did. Everyone accused me of being shameless, of plagiarism, and of deceit. I tried to set the record straight, but no one believed me. To make matters worse, Megan went live on social media, slandering me for bullying her in school. The online mob turned against my entire family, and my parents died in a car accident while trying to escape the extreme harassment from internet trolls. I couldn’t bear the weight of it all. I jumped from a tall building, unable to find peace in death. Even in those final moments, I couldn’t understand how everything had gone so wrong. After all my hard work, why had someone stolen my success? When I opened my eyes again, I realized I hadn’t died at all. ***** I had been reborn. I fumbled for my phone, checking the date—August 28th, the day before I was supposed to submit my most important competition entry. My teammates gathered around me, their faces lit up with admiration. “Keira, you’re amazing! You cracked such a tough problem! Once you finish the program, we can submit it, right?” My advisor patted me on the shoulder, looking pleased. “Keira, you’ve really put in the effort. Thanks to your core program design, I’m confident we’ll take first place in the competition. Your graduate school application will be a breeze.” A wave of bitterness washed over me. In my previous life, when I was accused of plagiarism, it was the same teachers and classmates who stood up for me. But their voices had been drowned out by the torrent of online abuse. Some even had their information leaked online, caught in the crossfire of my scandal. I glanced back at the unfinished code on my computer, a chill running down my spine as horrific memories flooded my mind. If I remembered correctly, I had stayed up all night on the 28th, excited to finally submit the program. But the next day, I received a notice of disqualification. The competition organizers had issued a public statement accusing me of plagiarism, and I was suddenly the target of a relentless online attack. “Does she think she can cheat her way through this competition? What a disgrace!” “Plagiarists are the scum of the earth. They should just disappear!” “It’s disgusting that she would take someone else’s hard work and pass it off as her own.” Even walking around campus became unbearable; I was bombarded with disdainful glares and insults. “Isn’t she the one who plagiarized? What a shame for Arona University to have her here.” “Someone so shameless wouldn’t care about the consequences of her actions.” “I heard she was just trying to use this to apply for grad school. What a joke.” The malice in their eyes was palpable, as if they wished for my immediate demise. Suddenly, a cold shiver jolted me back to reality. I couldn’t help but reach for my phone and open WhatsApp, searching for Megan. She was the one I had “plagiarized” in my past life, and she was also my boyfriend Logan’s childhood friend. With her beautiful complexion and cute features, Megan was the picture of innocence that attracted countless suitors. Both of her parents were professors. Her name often graced the campus confession board, a testament to her popularity. My boyfriend, Logan, would go to great lengths every day to shower Megan with gifts and flowers. When I discovered his actions, he explained that he only saw her as a little sister and accused me of being overly jealous. Later, I stumbled upon chat logs where Logan complained to his roommate about me, labeling me as plain and boring compared to the adorable and cute Megan, even expressing disgust at being with me. I’d considered breaking up multiple times, but each time, Logan would transform into a different person, begging for reconciliation. However, now I see through his act. Scrolling through Megan’s status, I found one of her taking a selfie surrounded by a group of teammates, all huddled around a computer. The caption read: [Pulling an all-nighter with the team to finish our code. Hoping for a great ranking in this competition!] Curiously, I zoomed in on the photo, only to find several segments of my original code seamlessly integrated into her program, down to the very last character, including an extra parenthesis I had mistakenly typed in. I was stunned, staring at my screen. “Could it be that we share the same thoughts? Her post was set a day before mine, meaning her code was written ahead of mine. Yet, I had created my code and logic design entirely independently, never borrowing from anyone else’s source code. Why does Megan’s match mine perfectly, including that careless parenthesis? This is strange!” I buried my face in my hands, my mind racing with confusion and disbelief. I couldn’t fathom how this could be happening. Yet, I couldn’t abandon the upcoming contest. It wasn’t just about me; it was the collective effort of the entire team. Withdrawing would only bring harm to them, and I couldn’t bear to let them down. As night fell, I finally made up my mind. No matter what, having a second chance meant I had to protect everyone around me and fight for justice. I looked at my screen filled with lines of code, then clicked delete and shut down my computer.

I was the top student at Arona University, guaranteed a spot in the graduate program, and I had chosen to major in Computer Science. In my field, everything had been going smoothly; I dominated my department, racking up accolades and participating in countless competitions. As graduation approached, I finally mustered the courage to approach my long-time idol, Vincent Stewart, about pursuing further studies. His only condition was that I had to secure first place in an upcoming international competition. Determined to meet his expectations, I decided to tackle the most challenging project I could find. I spent countless hours in the computer lab, pouring over research and coding late into the night. But just when I thought I was on the brink of success, Megan swooped in and easily claimed the fruits of my labor. As I strolled through the quiet campus, a nagging feeling crept in that I might be overlooking something crucial. Just as I was lost in thought, a flash of inspiration struck me. If my current project wasn’t working out, why not try a different programming language and structure? Once back in my dorm, I pulled out my laptop and began typing out a brand-new code. With intense focus, I suddenly had a fresh perspective on the logical framework, and I set to work on building it up from scratch. This way, my program wouldn’t be accused of plagiarism, and I could enhance its efficiency! The excitement surged within me as I coded faster and faster, translating my ideas into reality. That was when I heard my roommate’s worried voice from behind me. “Keira, you’re pushing yourself too hard. Staying up all night isn’t good for you. You should take a break!” I glanced at my phone, only to realize it was already 4:30 AM. My roommate sighed and rubbed her temples, trying to reason with me. “Keira, you’ve got a whole week until the competition. There’s no rush. What if you burn out before the big day? That would be such a waste.” Her words hit me like a wake-up call. Of course, I had a whole week left! I didn’t need to rush to submit anything just yet; I could wait for news from Megan. If there were still similarities or oddities in our projects, I’d have time to tweak and refine mine. This way, I could avoid the plagiarism debacle that had haunted my previous life and finally present my own hard-earned work at the competition. With that thought, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. I thanked my roommate and dove back into coding, determined to finish the second version of my program. After a trial run, it worked flawlessly! I took a deep breath, staring at the completed program. Finally, my creation was born. But then, memories of my past life flooded back. Megan hadn’t just accused me of plagiarism; she had gone live on social media, spreading lies about me bullying her on campus. With tears streaming down her face, she played the innocent victim, and her sweet, pure image captured the hearts of many. The online backlash against me was relentless. [I can’t believe there’s bullying happening in college. This girl is so arrogant; we need to make sure she pays for her actions!] [Poor Megan! Not only was she bullied, but she was also plagiarized. Keira is just evil!] [Megan is too kind-hearted. It’s up to us to stand up for her! Does anyone have Keira’s number?] I couldn’t understand why she was lying. I tried desperately to clear my name, but it only fueled the fire of online harassment. Someone maliciously leaked my family’s private information online, leading to my parents being harassed to the point where they had to move. Tragically, while on the road, they were involved in a serious accident caused by aggressive internet trolls, and they died on the spot. As I thought about it now, my fists clenched in anger, my nails digging into my palms. If I didn’t uncover the root of all this chaos, I couldn’t ensure my family’s safety. Just as I was racking my brain on how to investigate, I heard a classmate exclaim nearby. “Did you guys see Megan’s status? Someone stole her competition entry!” “Seriously? With only a few days left until the contest? What’s she going to do now? There’s no way she can rewrite it in time!” “Plagiarists are the worst! It’s disgusting!” I felt as if I had been struck by lightning. I immediately pulled out my phone and opened Megan’s status, my heart racing.

I saw her new pinned post, and my heart sank. It read: [Can someone really plagiarize code and still enter a competition?] A chill ran down my spine as a troubling thought crossed my mind. “Perhaps this status was the spark that ignited the wave of abuse I’ve faced in my previous life.” Megan was popular on campus, backed by her parents, who were professors, while I was just an average-looking student with no connections. In a world that often valued appearances, she always seemed to have the upper hand. Before long, her ambiguous status was bombarded with comments. [What’s up, Megan? Did someone steal your code?] [You should tell your parents and have the school investigate. We need to get that plagiarist out of here!] [Plagiarists are a disgrace to Arona University! With the competition coming up, this is a serious issue.] Reading those words made my blood boil, pulling me back into the shadows of my past harassment. Back then, I received thousands of hateful messages daily, and someone even posted my information on a “meat market” site, leading to countless calls from creepy men. “Stop pretending to be pure; you’ll just end up serving some old professor after graduation. Want to play with me? I know your address. If you don’t let me sleep with you, I’ll come find you myself.” My parents had chosen to move because of this, only to die in a tragic car accident shortly after. The painful memories washed over me, and I instinctively wanted to escape. But just before I could shut off my phone, I caught sight of my name in the comments. [Is Megan talking about Keira? I saw her program with the teacher a few days ago, and it looked just like Megan’s!] As soon as that comment was posted, the floodgates opened, and people began to argue. [Keira? The one who aced in the competition to get to the college? You really saw her program, and it was identical?] [No way! She’s always been at the top of our department. Why would she need to copy? You better have proof!] [Ha! How do you know her top scores weren’t due to cheating? Besides, Megan didn’t specifically name her; don’t be a fool!] Before long, the comments devolved into chaos, with many classmates even posting their own statuses to rally behind Megan. My boyfriend Logan was among the most vocal, posting three times in a row, each with a different selfie of Megan. [Megan’s hard work is evident. She often stays up late to prepare for the team competition. I hope whoever is involved in this plagiarism scandal steps up and admits it. If not, I’ll report them to the authorities to get justice for Megan!] Almost every guy in our department liked his posts, and Megan chimed in below. [Thanks, Logan! You’re the best!] A wave of jealousy and bitterness surged within me, but I also felt a sense of relief. Thank goodness I hadn’t submitted my program yesterday; otherwise, I would be facing another round of online bullying right now. Once I composed myself, I decided to leave the classroom and discuss my newly written program with my team. Just then, I noticed Megan’s latest status. [Thanks for all the support, everyone! Even though someone stole my code, I can still redesign the program in no time. That’s a talent no plagiarist can take away! Here’s my new program; come check it out!] With a mix of anxiety and curiosity, I clicked on the link she posted, and my heart dropped—her new program was identical to my second version!

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My name was Nancy Robinson. When my brother Tom Robinson’s wife, Megan, was pregnant and about to give birth, a new nursing intern named Rebecca Amore volunteered to take my place in the exhausting neonatal ward. I was grateful for her timely help and pulled some strings to secure her a permanent position at the hospital. That very night, Megan delivered a set of twin boys. Tragically, one was born with severe health issues, while the other had a genetic condition that made him extraordinarily aggressive. In just a few short years, Tom and Megan were financially ruined due to the medical expenses for their ailing son. They ended up selling their organs to cover costs and died on the operating table. My parents, too, met a grim fate after a confrontation with someone due to my aggressive nephew, Mark Robinson. They suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and passed away, filled with resentment. As for me, I was fired for my misconduct in helping Rebecca get that position, and I had to settle for washing dishes at a restaurant to make ends meet. Meanwhile, Rebecca quickly climbed the ranks and became the head of the nursing department. One day, in a cruel twist of fate, I found myself in the hospital after my aggressive nephew had severed my arm. As I lay there, teetering on the edge of death, Rebecca coldly revealed that on the night of the shift change, she had switched my brother Tom and Megan’s children with her own. When I regained consciousness, I was back in the hospital, right at the moment Rebecca had suggested swapping shifts with me. ***** Dragging my severed arm, I stumbled into the hospital and humbly begged Rebecca to save my life. She looked down at me from her lofty position, my aggressive nephew Mark lurking behind her. “Ha, just because your family has a little money? That’ll be perfect for raising my kid! “You don’t know, do you? The day Megan gave birth, I switched her baby with mine!” That devilish nephew of mine stood behind her, his hairless face twisted into an evil grin. “Auntie, I’ve grown up without ever tasting a woman. I know you love me the most. Since you’re going to die anyway, why not let me have some fun first?” Despair washed over me, and I shut my eyes, succumbing to the darkness in that cramped little room. But when I opened my eyes again, I found myself back at the hospital right before Megan was due to give birth! Rebecca was in front of the mirror, adjusting her hair and trying to cover her tracks. “I don’t even have a boyfriend, so how could I be pregnant? I’ve just gained some weight these past few days! By the way, Nancy, you’ve helped me so much. I’ll cover your shift in a couple of days!” I quickly gathered my thoughts. Rebecca was young, and her nutrition during pregnancy had been poor. Even though she was about to give birth, her belly wasn’t very pronounced. In my past life, I had been deceived by her sweet demeanor. I often covered her shifts and even shared my family’s nutritional supplements with her. When she offered to cover my shift, it coincided with Megan going into labor, and my parents and brother were out of town, leaving me as the only one to care for her. To show my gratitude to Rebecca for her timely help, I not only gave her a 20 thousand dollars thank you but also used my connections to get her a permanent position. Now, I smiled and replied, “Sure, but I’ll need your help not just on the due date, but for the next few days as well.” Rebecca didn’t expect me to agree so readily, and her forced smile faltered. I stripped off my nurse’s uniform, asked the head nurse for some time off, and rushed straight to Megan’s room. Megan was carrying twins, and her belly was enormous, making it difficult for her to roll over. “I wonder who they’ll look like. Hopefully, they’ll take after me; I’m the prettier one!” Megan’s face radiated happiness. She was such a gentle soul, yet in my previous life, she had tragically passed away in a dark hospital room, trying to raise money for that sickly child who had taken her son’s place. When I went to collect her body, I found maggots crawling over her hollowed-out corpse. This time around, I would make sure that nothing like that happened again!

I said, “It doesn’t matter who the kids look like, as long as they’re healthy.” Megan smiled brightly and replied, “You’re right! Auntie knows best, and we’ll listen to her!” She spoke to the babies in her belly with such warmth that it made my eyes sting with unshed tears. In my past life, Rebecca had switched her two premature infants with Megan’s, and I had never heard of her raising any children. My two nephews were either sold off or, worse, discarded like trash. The night shift in the neonatal unit was no walk in the park. After one long night, Rebecca looked like a ghost. She approached me, her voice sweet and coaxing, trying to persuade me to take back the shift. “Nancy, I’m just wiped out from the night shift! You’re taking care of Megan, and it’s not too tired, so why not come back to the night shift? It’ll be easier for you!” Rebecca had just graduated from nursing school and was only eighteen. In the past, I felt sorry for her youth; whenever she played the damsel in distress, I’d do anything to help her out. Rebecca probably thought I’d do the same this time. To her surprise, I shot her down. “The night shift is your responsibility. If you can’t handle it, then maybe you should rethink your career choice!” Her eyes widened in shock, a flash of malice flickering across her face. But she quickly masked it with a weak smile. “It’s fine! I can manage; I just need to push through this discomfort!” “Is that so? You’re really tough. By the way, didn’t you promise Amanda you’d help her with the paperwork? You should get on that tonight since you have some downtime.” With that, I turned and walked away. In the reflection of the door’s glass, I caught a glimpse of Rebecca’s eyes, filled with venom. As I stepped out of the room, I noticed a man lurking near the women’s restroom, peeking in. I recognized him as a relative of a patient downstairs, someone who often tried to sneak peeks into the women’s restroom. I thought for a moment and pretended to be on a phone call as I passed by him. “You won’t believe it! Lately, there have been couples sneaking into the women’s restroom at all hours!” That night, after settling Megan in for the night, I made my way to the restroom to wait. Rebecca was already struggling; her body was undernourished, and with her due date approaching, the grueling night shifts and paperwork were taking their toll. During the day, I passed by the nurses’ station and saw her, drenched in sweat, clutching her belly. I knew she was in labor; the contractions were starting, and she wouldn’t be able to hide it for long. In my previous life, I had no idea when Rebecca gave birth, but I was certain it wasn’t in a hospital. Back then, I covered all her night shifts, and she hadn’t worked a single one for nearly a month until she finally switched with me for Megan’s delivery. But this time, I had agreed to the shift change early on, and after three consecutive nights, Rebecca was cornered. The hospital was her only option, and the restroom at midnight would be the perfect place. Sure enough, the peeping tom had taken my words to heart and stealthily crept into the women’s restroom that night. When he came out, his phone was nowhere to be found.

Before long, Rebecca rushed into the restroom, clutching her belly. I stood guard outside, listening to her muffled cries of pain—she was going into labor. I had to admit that youth was on her side. Less than thirty minutes later, Rebecca emerged, her face pale and reeking of blood, cradling two tiny bundles in her arms. I didn’t rush in right away; instead, I waited patiently for a moment. Just then, the peeping tom couldn’t hold back any longer and approached the restroom to retrieve his phone. As he stepped out, I grabbed him by the collar. “Caught you, you creep! Let’s go see the police!” The man froze, terror etched on his face as he collapsed onto the floor, pleading for mercy. “I swear, I’ll never do it again! Please, just let me go!” I hadn’t actually planned on taking him to the police; it wasn’t the right time for that. Instead, I handed him over to the hospital security. They confiscated his phone in front of me, placing it in an evidence bag, intending to file a report in the morning. I didn’t object; I just wanted to get back to the newborn ward and check on things. When I arrived, Rebecca was nowhere to be found. I approached the head nurse, casually inquiring, “Is the newborn ward empty? Why isn’t anyone on duty?” The head nurse’s eyes widened in alarm. “That lazy girl Rebecca must be slacking off again!” Not long after, I heard the head nurse’s stern reprimands mixed with Rebecca’s sobs. Through the crack in the door, I saw her limping back to the ward, tears streaming down her face as she clutched her belly. Typically, there were four nurses rotating in the newborn ward, so Rebecca’s absence shouldn’t have caused any issues. But I relished the thought of her discomfort. Megan’s due date was the same as in my previous life—4 AM. She had initially hoped for a natural birth, but I shot that down immediately. In my past life, Megan struggled for five exhausting hours in the delivery room, ultimately needing help from the nurses in the newborn ward. In the chaos, Rebecca had effortlessly swapped Megan’s babies. To avoid any unnecessary complications this time, I insisted on a C-section for Megan. Rebecca had no right to step into the operating room or pull any tricks! Before long, Megan delivered two healthy boys. As they were placed in my arms, I felt tears of joy welling up. These were our children! In my previous life, Rebecca had swapped them out early, and one of the babies had been so tiny and frail, even lacking hair and eyebrows—he looked like a little monster! But the real challenge began after the babies arrived. My parents showed up at the hospital that morning, and as soon as they walked in, they handed Megan three gifts and a box overflowing with gold jewelry. Just then, Rebecca, who had just finished her night shift, walked in and caught sight of the scene. Her eyes glimmered with envy and jealousy. A nurse entered the room, ready to take the babies for a bath. Rebecca’s eyes lit up. “I’ll do it!” Before I could respond, she eagerly stepped forward. “I’m Nancy’s colleague; she’s always been so kind to me. I’d love to repay her kindness. Let me handle this little task!” My parents, seeing her eagerness, handed her two more gifts. “Oh, you’re Nancy’s colleague? Come, share in the joy!” Rebecca’s face brightened as she touched the gifts, her earlier jealousy momentarily forgotten. My parents owned two factories and were quite generous; the gifts easily totaled over three thousand dollars. “Alright, I’ll take the babies for their bath now. Don’t worry, Nancy; I’ll be gentle and careful!” I stayed silent, quietly trailing behind Rebecca as she whisked the babies away.

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I came across a test for boyfriend loyalty online. So the next day, while we were shopping together, I deliberately put the hairband I just bought into his coat pocket. On the way, I made an excuse to go to the restroom and secretly observed him. I saw him put his hands into his pockets. Then he suddenly looked puzzled and took out the hairband. To my surprise, his expression changed abruptly, and he quickly walked over to a trash can and threw away the hairband. My heart skipped a beat. Jackson might be really cheating on me.

So, here’s the thing. I took the place of my sister and ended up marrying her fiancé, who unexpectedly lost his sight. Surprisingly, we hit it off really well after tying the knot. He always believed I was my sister, so he treated me with utmost care, love, and affection. For me, life was supposed to be smooth sailing from there. But one day, out of the blue, this supposedly blind man regained his sight.

My dad is the Chairman of a company. In order to boost my ability, my dad arranged for me to work as an ordinary employee in the grass-root department of the company. I didn’t expect my boyfriend to dump me for my “poverty” and got together with the manager’s niece. But my dad was the chairman!

My stepmother abused me for eight years straight. My father wanted me to kill her so he didn’t have to do it himself. My half sister broke my hand the night before my college entrance exam. Would you be driven crazy if you were me? But I kept my head clear and calm. Because I needed to see them pay for it all.

Prologue 1 How does it feel when the person you love leaves you alone with kidnappers? I loved Matthew Harrington for seven long years. As the heir of the Harrington Group, he was wealthy and powerful. Yet, he didn’t want to pay any ransom when I was kidnapped. Even his attractive secretary suggested that it could be a chance for me to learn my lesson. He agreed with her. And just as he wanted, after I managed to escape from hell, I finally learned my lesson and became obedient enough to never dare to love him again. But out of the blue, he started crying and begging me to treat him like before…   *** The day I walked into the city barefoot, it made headlines. I’m Skylar Brown, the adopted daughter of the Harrington family, and I got kidnapped a few months back. I was a mess, wearing torn clothes, covered in dirt and stink, with my feet all scarred up. I ran back in shame. The reporters were all up in my face, snapping pics like there’s no tomorrow. I stayed cool though, not letting them rattle me. Skylar Brown was gone, just like that. That glamorous, simple-minded, and proud girl was gone. Those kidnappers and Matthew Harrington destroyed her. Soon, a group of bodyguards in black suits led me through the packed crowd. The captain was named Noah Smith. I knew him. During the seven years when I pestered Matthew, he often showed me to the doors of Matthew’s office and apartment. To be exact, he dragged me out those places because I kept pestering and annoying Matthew. “Miss Brown, Mr. Harrington’s waiting for you in the car. Please come with me,” Noah said. When Noah saw me, he was shocked. He never expected to see me looking so messed up. I nodded and lifted my messed up foot, leaving bloody footprints on the road. Pain? Nah, didn’t feel a thing. This little journey was a cake walk compared to my escape route. Noah trailed behind me and couldn’t help blurting out, “Miss Brown…” I didn’t even bother responding. Did he feel sorry for me? He must be grateful ’cause I learned my lesson. No more pestering Matthew or causing him any trouble. As I hopped into the car, I caught sight of Matthew rest in the seat, eyes shut tight. Hair all neat and sharp features on point, dude looked like a model. When I vanished, he must’ve been feeling all peaceful and zen, like never before. He was in tip-top shape. Hearing the commotion, Matthew slowly popped open his eyes. He near didn’t recognize me. “Skylar?” I nodded, all obedient-like. I learned to play nice. I used to think I was the Harrington family’s golden girl, acting all proud and bossy as if I was their real flesh and blood. But after that kidnapping ordeal, I realized my life was in their hands. If Matthew didn’t cough up the ransom, I could’ve been dead any second. Matthew frowned with displeasure. “Why did you make yourself like this?” Like this? Like what? A lunatic? Or a beggar? I ran for miles, stayed awake day and night, and had to be on guard not just against kidnappers, but also against wild animals in the suburban mountains. When I was thirsty, I drank rainwater. And when I was hungry, I scavenged food from highway trash bins. It’s enough to drive anyone insane. I knew Matthew blamed me for causing trouble for his family’s company, specifically because I appeared in front of the media in this state. “Sorry for that…” For grossing out you, bastard. Matthew was taken aback for a moment, then smiled. “She was right. You’ve learned some manners.” I didn’t understand what Matthew meant. The door closed and the car started. Suddenly, Matthew reached out his hand towards me. I instinctively recoiled into the corner. He stopped abruptly and said with disdain, “Skylar, you smell.” Maybe it was because the car had no fresh air. Matthew finally noticed the awful odor coming from my body. It was a mix of blood, sweat, and garbage. Hearing his words, I subconsciously moved away from the seat, but the car was unstable, so I ended up kneeling down. “S…Sorry… I won’t dirty the seat. I’ll just…” Kneel here. My knees were in pain from the bloody wounds inflicted by the kidnappers’ thin steel needles. They blamed me. I wasn’t important enough to Matthew, so he didn’t pay the ransom. They thought it was a waste of time, so they took their anger out on me. I couldn’t stand up, so I knelt in that cramped space. Matthew was furious. “What are you doing? Go back to your seat!”

He ordered me, but he thought I was dirty and didn’t offer any help. I had to obey his command. It took a lot of effort to prop my body up and sit back down. Due to the pain and low blood sugar I had been experiencing, I couldn’t help but burst into tears. Matthew always ignored my tears. They annoyed him. But for the first time, he threw his handkerchief, which he had used to wipe his hands, at me. I clutched the clean, white handkerchief tightly. In the past, I would have been overjoyed, but now, it only reminded me of how dirty and destitute I was. Noah glanced at me through the rear-view mirror. I lowered my head. Perhaps he had never seen this humiliating and pitiful side of me.   Back at the Harrington Manor, Matthew told the maids to take me to the bathroom to freshen up. I declined their help and only allowed them to pick out a dress from my old wardrobe. They searched for a while and eventually found a simple, long-sleeved dress that resembled a school uniform among all the fashionable clothes. There was no set definition for a student’s dress style, but as I looked at myself in the mirror, I realized that I looked more like a student now than I did in the past when I dressed more flamboyantly. Before being kidnapped, I had received an acceptance letter from a top design school abroad. It had been three months since the registration deadline had passed. “Thanks.” The maids were surprised. They didn’t expect me to thank them. After everything I had been through, I understood that I was no different from them. They were maids hired by the Harrington family, and I was a daughter they had brought in. When I pushed the door open, I saw Matthew waiting for me on the stairs. He was leaning against the railing, lazily eyeing me up and down, and sneering, “Skylar, what are you doing? Why are you dressed like that?” Was the dress unfashionable? Matthew believed that I was trying to get attention with this childish behavior, but in reality, I just wanted to cover up the scars on my body. I followed Matthew into the quiet dining room. He motioned for me to walk ahead, and then I saw his parents, Yannick Harrington and Danielle Harrington, sitting at the dining table with worried expressions. As soon as Danielle saw me, she got up and hurried over. She walked unsteadily and leaned on another woman for support. “Mrs. Danielle Harrington, don’t worry. Miss Brown has come back safe and sound. Miss Brown, Mrs. Danielle Harrington has been so worried about you that her hair has turned gray.” I recognized the woman. She was Matthew’s secretary, Alyssa Davis. Alyssa had silky hair and was dressed in a simple turtleneck sweater and jeans. She wore a beautiful rose gold necklace around her neck. I was safe and sound while Danielle’s hair turned gray. I was the victim, but Alyssa seemed to imply that I was an ungrateful daughter of the Harrington family. Danielle cried as she held my hands, and Alyssa tried to comfort her. But I couldn’t cry. I looked at Matthew, and his expression seemed to suggest that I was heartless. Finally, Yannick interjected seriously, “Stop crying. Let’s sit down for dinner with Skylar.” Danielle wiped her tears. “It’s my fault. I’m sorry for putting you through this, Skylar. You must not have eaten well these past few days. Come on, I made your favorite clam chowder.” She pulled me to sit between Yannick and herself. Matthew sat across from me, and Alyssa sat next to him. We looked like a “family”. I looked at the food with a good color and a sweet smell. I almost forgot what normal food looked like. I wanted to throw away the fork, grab the food with my hands, and stuff it into my mouth. The closer to the urban area, the stricter the sanitation management was. Gradually, I couldn’t find any garbage or food, so I was hungry for almost three days. I had to allay my hunger with leaves. Under all eyes, I restrained myself and shoveled the food into my mouth with the fork. But I saw Alyssa’s mocking eyes. She took small bites elegantly. Seeing this scene, Matthew disliked me more. However, under Danielle’s instructions, he had to put some meat on my plate. I thought I could gulp down the most unpalatable food, but looking at the tempting meat that Matthew placed on my plate, I felt sick. “Skylar, help yourself. Matthew knew you liked it and asked me to make it for you.” No, it was not true. Matthew didn’t know what I liked at all, but I knew his preferences. For example, he liked rose gold best. Seeing me hesitate, Yannick asked with concern, “What’s the matter, Skylar? Did you quarrel with Matthew on the way back? Do not worry. I will punish him after dinner.” “Dad!” Matthew shouted. Maybe it was because he felt embarrassed in front of Alyssa. I didn’t speak and shook my head. I held back the feeling of nausea, took the meat with my fork, and put it in my mouth. But the moment I swallowed, I spat it out.

Matthew was astonished. I immediately stood up from the chair, buried my head in my hands, and hid in a corner. “Sorry. Sorry… I will eat it. Don’t beat me!” Everyone was shocked. Danielle cried again. She walked over and hugged me. “Did those people abuse you? Skylar, tell me.” With a worried face, Yannick brought Matthew over. Matthew frowned without saying a word. His face was gloomy. What happened? The kidnappers threatened the Harrington family that if the ransom was not paid, they would abuse me. Why did Danielle ask me whether I was abused? They should all know that! Eating rotten food wasn’t abuse for me, cuz I had to eat garbage just to stay alive days ago. But what really scared the living daylights out of me was that my destiny was in the hands of Matthew. The bad guys were negotiating with him, but he coldly abandoned me. He held nothing but disdain for me. Maybe that’s why I felt sick to my stomach.   After dinner, Yannick called me into his study. Yannick, who usually had a serious demeanor at work, asked me softly, “Skylar, you’ve had a crush on Matthew since you were kids. Do you still like him now?” I vigorously shook my head, wincing as the wound on my face throbbed. I had been infatuated with Matthew for seven years, always putting myself down, but I never learned my lesson. That’s why I ended up suffering through hellish revenge and torture. I couldn’t dare to like Matthew anymore. After I gave my answer, Yannick pondered for a moment. He said with pity, “Ah well, forget it. Even if you can’t be our daughter-in-law, you’ll always be our daughter. You’re a kind and beautiful girl. Matthew isn’t good enough for you.” He took out a bank card from the drawer. “This is what your parents left for you. There are four million dollars in it. They wanted me to keep it safe for you and give it to you as a wedding gift when you grow up.” The ransom was also four million dollars. During my days of being kidnapped, I had complained about my parents for leaving me alone in the world and allowing me to endure such torture. But it turned out they left me with a fortune that would let me live comfortably. They loved me so much. I bit my thumb and chewed on it to hold back my tears. “Thank you, Yannick.” It was already eight o’clock in the evening when I left the study. On my way to my room, I bumped into Matthew. He knew I was going back to my room, and his tone was incredibly gentle. “Alyssa will be staying in your room tonight. You can take the room next to mine.” So it turned out he came for Alyssa. I nodded and went in the opposite direction. When I first moved in with the Harrington family, Matthew despised me and moved to the room farthest from mine. But my room was decorated by a top luxury designer hired by the Harringtons, and it was much nicer than the guest room. I couldn’t refuse Matthew. After all, it was the Harringtons’ house. After taking a few steps, Matthew stopped me. “Skylar, why are you suddenly so obedient?” I turned around and saw a mocking expression on his face, mixed with a hint of concern. “I… I’m sorry…” I stammered. Besides apologizing profusely, I didn’t know what else to say to Matthew. “This is the third time you’ve apologized to me today. You’re acting really strange.” Matthew approached me, leaning over to touch my forehead. I quickly dodged his hand as if I had been shocked. My legs went weak, and I barely managed to hold onto the railing in the corridor. Matthew looked at me as if I were crazy, growing impatient. I struggled to keep my voice calm and said, “I… I’m going to move out tomorrow. I already told Yannick.” I thought Matthew would be happy and let me go when he heard the news, but he unexpectedly became furious. “Move out? Why? I just let Alyssa stay in your room for one night. She’s a guest. What’s the big deal?” I frantically shook my head. “No, you’ve misunderstood.” Matthew walked towards me with a scowl, grabbing my wrist and dragging me towards the room at the far end of the hall. “Come with me. We need to talk.” A wave of fear washed over me. I cried and pulled out the bank card that Yannick had just given me in the study. “I’m sorry, I have money. Please don’t hurt me.” “I have money. Don’t hurt me.” Matthew turned around in astonishment. I had collapsed on the ground, with my wrist still held high by him. “Skylar, what are you saying?” I had bitten my lips until they turned blue. As Matthew approached me, memories of what the kidnappers said started flooding back. They called me a clingy dog of the Harrington family. “Matthew, no. Mr. Harrington, I won’t bother you anymore. I promise, I won’t.” Finally, Matthew realized something was off with me, and his movements became gentler. He held onto my waist and lifted me up from the ground. The sensation of being weightless made me instinctively wrap my arms around Matthew’s neck. His serious expression softened a little. “Skylar, I never said you were bothering me. I just…”

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The Alpha was forced to marry me.I still fell for him anyway. What’s worse… I only have six months to live. He doesn’t love me… So why can’t he let me go? —— “Did your family not come with you today, Luna Leah?” I frown. This was just supposed to be a routine check-up and bloodwork. Nothing that required another person. Besides… What family did I have? My mother died in the last pack war, and to make peace my father pledged me to Alpha Aaron. I was thirteen when I had to leave my home, and was forced to move to Aaron’s pack. At first, he was tolerant of me. Sometimes, even kind. I used to resent him for tearing my family apart. But eventually, I came to love him, not as a child, but as a woman loves a man. When I came of age at eighteen, we were married. It should’ve been the start of a beautiful life together. But Aaron never wanted to marry me. To him, I was still the enemy. And the worst of it all—my wolf never manifested. Without a wolf, I was useless. I couldn’t be a real Luna. I couldn’t be a true mate. Still, I always held out hope. I refused to give up on the dream that someday my wolf would emerge. That someday, Aaron would love me. It was the whole purpose of this visit to the doctor, alone. I wanted to know how I could be a full-fledged wolf… …so I could have a baby. “I’m sorry, Doctor. I didn’t know I needed to bring anyone,” I say as he stares at me. “I thought you were just giving me my test results.” He looks uncomfortable. Perhaps even anxious. Maybe he’s afraid Aaron will be mad that he treated me without his knowledge. “I know I’m a ‘late bloomer’ compared to other shifters,” I explain. “But there have been cases of wolves emerging later in life—” Ohhh, wait. Maybe he thought I needed to be here with my husband because of my symptoms. I’m tired all the time and I’ve been feeling nauseous lately. Maybe I’ve been feeling off, not because of my wolf, but because I’m carrying a baby. The thought ignites a spark of joy inside me. “Doctor,” I whisper, smiling. “Am I pregnant?”   If I’m pregnant, maybe Aaron will finally mark me, and we can be a true family. Oh my gosh–a baby! Happy tears leak free. Doctor Henley coughs to clear his throat. He slides a stack of papers across the desk to me. “I’m afraid I have some… terrible news, ma’am.” I flip through the files, but I’m not sure what it all means. “You’re not pregnant, Luna Leah,” he says softly. “You have cancer. I’m sorry.” “What? No, that can’t be right.” I shake my head. I’m still reeling from the high of thinking I was carrying a child. I feel that loss to my soul. I can barely process that I have cancer. “I’m… I’m only twenty-three. And, my wolf healing should prevent me from getting sick!” He sighs. “It’s possible that this is why your wolf hasn’t surfaced. You have an aggressive form of liver cancer, and I’m afraid… you’re in the advanced stages now.” It feels like the ground crumbles beneath me, and I’m spiraling downward… He closes the file and comes around the desk to squat in front of me. He squeezes my hands for a second. “I’m sorry, truly.” I don’t respond. His dark eyes flit nervously around the room, and he adds in a voice so low I struggle to hear, “Are you still paying the blood debt?” I look down in embarrassment. It was a common form of reparation in peace treaties for surrendering wolves to offer their blood. Normally though, no one had to do it for as long as I did… I nod. “Yes, once a month. Aaron’s physician draws my blood personally.” “Your body will only weaken with more offerings. You have to stop.” My head is spinning. “What can be done, Doctor?” “I recommend seeking help at a facility that specializes in cancer treatment. Somewhere outside the pack.” He places his hand on my shoulder in comfort. “And I suggest you do it quickly.”

It’s raining when I leave Doctor Henley’s office in the city. I took a taxi here, alone, and I chose to walk back to our packlands, thirty miles away. Alone. People walking in umbrellas and driving in cars glance at me as I pass by, soaked through my clothes. But I don’t care. I’m dying. What difference did a little rain make? A black SUV pulls up beside me. The driver’s window rolls down, a large, brooding man sitting at the wheel, glares at me like I’m a wet stray on his doorstep. It’s Aaron’s Beta, James. He doesn’t say a word, his piercing eyes speaking for themselves, demanding I get in the car. I open the passenger door and get inside, shivering and turning up the heat. He doesn’t ask where I was, or what I was doing. I doubt he even cares. Despite technically being under my authority, James never liked me. Probably because before I came along, Aaron was supposed to marry his sister, Jessica. I’m pretty sure Aaron still loves her. The two are always together, and she hangs on his arm constantly. If I wasn’t around, he would already be mated to her by now. It’s one more pain in a list of so many. She would make the perfect Luna. Sweet and pleasing, obedient and submissive, and absolutely beautiful. Everything I am not. She has a big, strong wolf. She isn’t an enemy, a human…dying. The entire drive is quiet. But I can feel James’ glances next to me while I stare blankly ahead, replaying Doctor Henley’s words in my head… “Unfortunately, even if you do get proper treatment… That might only buy you a few extra months…” A few extra months… Ninety days, maybe even less. Before I came of age, I spent years dreaming of growing up. Getting my wolf, becoming Aaron’s mate, and making him love me. Tears silently streamed down my face. All those years, wasted on hopeless dreams. And now my days are numbered. Eventually we’re back in the packlands, and James drives us to Aaron’s private mansion, the guards waving him through the main gate. The security is meant to keep humans out. But it’s also to keep me in. Even if he didn’t love me, Aaron couldn’t risk losing me. I was his bargaining chip over my father’s pack. That’s all I ever was to him. I wipe the tears from my cheeks as James pulls the car to the front of the mansion. He stares at me curiously, and he looks like he’s about to say something. But he doesn’t. His usual indifference shouldn’t sting after all this time. But it does… My family was all to eager to barter me for peace, and even in making that sacrifice, I’ve gained no friends. I may be Luna, but this pack hates me. Even after all these years. When I die, they’ll probably throw a party. I get out and stare up at the massive house. Four stories of stone and ornate architecture. A grand estate fit for an Alpha’s home. “Was there something wrong with your phone today, Leah?” a dark, familiar voice asks. “Or are you just deaf?” The Alpha. My husband. Aaron. He storms through the front door and grabs my arm, dragging me inside the house into his private study. I twist my arm free from his hand, and his eyes flash gold. A warning. “Well?” he growls. I fish my phone out of my back pocket and hold it up for him to see. “My phone died.” He stalks toward me, and I instinctively step backwards. This Alpha is strong. This Alpha is merciless. This Alpha is angry. “Where the f*ck were you?” A day ago, I would’ve cowered. But now… “What does it matter?” I ask quietly. He stiffens. Aaron has seen all sides of me—stubborn, argumentative, happy, sad. Most times, I think I amuse him. But he’s never seen me so low. So utterly defeated. “Answer me, Leah. Now.” I look around the study, eying the rows of books on his wall-to-wall shelves. I spent a lot of time here as a kid, reading quietly while Aaron worked. I sniffle. And again, a flicker of shock crosses his face. I try my best to will my tears from falling. I wouldn’t cry for this man, who had taken me from my home. Who made me his wife, when he didn’t even love me. He snarls. “I said answer me!” Everything with this male speaks of extremes. Peace and quiet. Yelling and fighting. Being ignored–or ravished. Through his rage, I think back to the days and nights we spent in this room together, when life was simpler. When he was still somewhat good to me, out of kindness, or pity, or whatever reason. Many, many things had changed since then… He slams his hands against the wall on both sides of my head, and I’m like a prey, cornered and trapped beneath this predator. I crane my head to look up at him, and his scent wraps around me—rich and warm and enticing. He growls, and lowers his head to mine, his breath hot against my face, his chest against mine… His hardness against my belly. We’ve done this dance many times before. I fight or run. He hunts me down. Then he claims me. The gold returns to his eyes, his body heating up with desire. I suck in a breath. This man might hate me, but he can’t deny… He wants me.

His shoulders are wide and strong. His hair is dark, a bit long and disheveled. I’ve run my fingers through it countless times. He leans down and bites the curve of my neck. I tremble, and he growls approvingly. His mouth scorches a path from my throat to my ear. Then his other hand grabs a fistful of my hair and pulls my head back. “You still didn’t answer my question…” His eyes are golden and wild, barely containing the wolf inside him. His wolf is at the surface and his emotions are every bit as wild as the beast inside him.  More extremes, I realize… Passion and rage.  Pleasure and pain.  Hate and love.  Well, not love. At least not for him.   “What will you do, Aaron?” I keep my gaze level on his. “F**k me against this wall?” His glaze flickers for a moment as if he’s eyeing the bookshelf for how sturdy it will be. “Torture me until you get what you want?” I shake my head even as it pulls out strands because he still has one hand gripped tight in my hair. “I’m done. I won’t live like this. I won’t love you anymore.” He jerks back, like I slapped him. I can see his arms flexing, his hands balled into knuckle-white fists. He’s furious now. Suddenly, Jessica walks in, pretending like she’s completely innocent and unaware. She’s holding a feather duster and wearing an obscenely short skirt… I roll my eyes. “What is this, your little French Maid fantasy?” Then I turn my gaze back to Aaron. I don’t bother hiding the jealousy—the hurt—in my eyes. Not this time. “She’s the one you really want, right? Then have her.” I shove past him and rush by Jessica out the door. I can hear her huff not-so-quietly, “Wh*re…” Aaron roars, “Don’t f*cking walk away from me!” But I won’t play weak and submissive like Jessica. I’m not his mate. I was never officially made a member of his pack. His Alpha powers have no hold on me. I only stop to look back at her. “You win, Jessica. You wanted him all these years. You snuck into his room to seduce him away from me, his wife… Well now he’s yours.” Tears finally slip and roll down my face. Aaron’s eyes widen. “I hope you’re happy together,” I whisper. Then I run, climbing the stairs to my room, and slam the door behind me.   * * * * * * * * * AARON   “What the hell is going on?!” I growl. Jessica stands beside me. She’s been mine since we were young. We know everything about each other. But even she can’t appease my anger now. “Get your brother,” I bark to her. “Tell him to meet me in the training ward. And the guards too. He’ll know what I mean.” “Y-Yes, Alpha,” she bows meekly, obviously sensing my rage. She hurries from the room and I’m alone, a strange, cold feeling spreading through my body. It sort of feels like the moment right before a battle, when the entire world stands still. The calm before the storm. The last few months have been stressful, with threats against the pack and careful plans I’d prepared that would change everything. And now, this outburst from Leah… I stare up the stairwell she’d run. I’ve never been rejected by a woman. And Leah has never once denied me in the five years we were married. She would always come to my bed unbidden, and stayed even after I was satisfied. She would cling to me in the afterglow, and press her naked body against mine… I rub my chest, trying to make that unsettling feeling go away. But it stays. I hear a door slam from somewhere in the house, where my little wife went to hide away. I can still smell her lingering scent—light and floral, and beneath that, the headier smell of her arousal. She might claim to hate me—but I know better. I can feel my canines sharpen and my claws extend all on their own. An Alpha isn’t supposed to be out of control like this. But I don’t f*cking care. ‘My silly little wife thinks she can disrespect me…? That she can run away from me…?’ My wolf howls… I climb the stairs three at a time to her bedroom. She caught me off guard in the study and got away. But she won’t get away so easily this time. The day she was pledged to me, I gave Leah only two rules: Don’t ever lie. And don’t ever run from me. She’s just broken both.

I bust through her door, breaking it off the hinges. “You don’t run from me,” I growl softly. “I own you.” She jumps but stands firm in the middle of the bedroom. The room looks the same as it did since she first moved in, just as I ordered. Pink walls. A pile of her stuffed animals in the corner. No photos or mementos from her old pack. She didn’t decorate any part of the room herself. But still… parts of her invade the space. Her hair ties on the vanity, a couple scattered on the floor. She picks and plays nervously with the one around her wrist. A habit she never outgrew. Her books are around the room. On the bed, the nightstand. Stacked in high piles. On the floor. Worn clothes are piled in her hamper. Her damned scent is everywhere. “There’s nowhere to run now, Leah.” She straightens her back, squaring off with me. This is far from our first fight. Stubborn fucking woman, sometimes I wonder if she does it on purpose, provoking me. Poking and prodding at the wolf until it bites. Part of me wonders if she likes that side of me—the feral one, that is all passion and need. For certain, she is the only female I’ve come across that can get under my skin so completely. I grab her waist and lift her off her feet, and she gasps. I inhale deep through my nose. I don’t smell another male on her. If I did, there’s no telling what I’d do. She continues glaring at me. It would be so easy, to wrap her legs around my waist, grind her hot little c*nt against my d*ck… But then, her eyes glisten, and I hesitate. “If you’re going to force me, Aaron…” she says, “just do it already.” I search her face. There’s usually fire in her eyes during our intimate moments. She usually fights, resists, then yields to me and gives in to the pleasure I give her. That’s our M.O. And it plays out almost every day of the week. I don’t even mind that she challenges me. Something about it makes the victory that much more sweet. But her eyes are cold now. Her body is aroused, I can smell the way she reacts between her thighs… But there’s no fire, and suddenly… It doesn’t feel right to play the same game we always do. Now, I want to do something different… I lower her to the floor gently and draw her close. “What…” She blinks rapidly. “What’re you doing?” I push the hair away from her face and kiss her forehead. Her eyes. Her cheeks. Then finally, her soft, plush mouth that haunts my dreams. Slowly. Lovingly. I never go this slow when we have sex. It’s usually rough and hard. I’ve never actually made love to my wife before. But I intend to right now. Leah can sense the change in my actions, softer and gentler than ever before, and she shudders. “Aaron, wait—” I catch her lips, my tongue softly caressing hers. My arms are next to her head, holding me above her as I cover her with my body. I break our lips apart for just a moment to quickly peel off my shirt and throw it across the room, then return to her. I kiss her face, brushing my lips across her freckles, then trail my lips down her neck, to the freckle on her shoulder. She has them all over her body. I know where each one is. Behind her right knee. On her left hip. Under her breasts. Inside her thigh, right next to her weeping center… I note to myself to kiss every single one, thoroughly exploring her body. Worship every inch of her skin with my hands and lips, tearing an orgasm or two or three from her body and listening to her cry out my name in ecstasy. I always love the way she sounds, moaning my name. Only then would I unzip my pants, and inch by inch push my c*ck inside her warmth. I’ve probably f*cked her on every surface of this room. But tonight, I want to have her in bed. Like husbands and wives do. I carry her to the bed, and when she looks up at me, her eyes are wide and glossy in the most alluring way. The same way they always are when she’s ready. But she still looks deep in thought. Not upset like before, but not quite happy or turned on either. I kiss her again, stealing the breath from her lungs, determined to push away her pressing thoughts and get her to let go… “The door…?” she whispers, eyes flitting to her broken doorway. I chuckle against her mouth, quickly peeling her clothes off her body. “You should’ve thought about that before you ran, sweetheart.” She gulps. There’s no room for conversation now. I capture her lips once more, then drag my teeth and tongue all over her body. I take my time at her most sensitive spots. The curve of her neck, where I bite and suck, making sure to leave marks. Her taut, dusty colored nipples, I tease and lick while my fingers rub her over her damp panties. Her back arches when I finally pull her panties aside, and gift her sad, wet p*ssy with my mouth, pushing my tongue deep inside and licking faster when I feel she’s close, then pulling away right as she’s about to fall over the edge. I don’t let her come until she begs me, and give her two of my fingers inside while I suck hard on her swollen little cl*t. She comes two more times on my tongue, before I finally push my aching c*ck inside and thrust into her, slowly at first because I wanted to be tenderbwith her. But her wet heat feels too f*cking good around me, and my movements turn faster and harder. Her arms and legs wrap around me like a vice, and I growl as her nails scratch down my back, drawing blood. She screams as I wring another intense orgasm out of her overstimulated body, loud enough for the whole house to hear, and I grin. I’d fuck her in front of the whole pack if I could. To make sure everyone knows exactly who she belongs to. As she clenches and pulses around me, I feel myself edging closer, and with a few more thrusts I groan into her neck and spill my seed deep inside her. My orgasm brings her over the edge one last time, her body shaking as I fill her to the brim with my come. When I draw back, her eyes are glazed over and she’s breathing fast. I sigh softly. I lost control, and went back to taking her roughly, like an animal. I cup her cheek softly. “Tell me where you went,” I whisper. Her heart is still hammering, but she slowly comes back to reality. “No.” She moves her cheek away from my hand and laughs darkly. “Oh, and, Aaron? I want a divorce…”

Rage spreads through me like a wildfire, and it’s a miracle I don’t shift right now. “Think about what you’re saying, Leah,” I warn. “Our marriage is the only thing keeping the peace. You leave, and I’ll have no choice but to take action.” “Come on, Aaron, be reasonable. Our packs have thrived in the ceasefire. Fighting would make zero sense.” I shake my head in disbelief at the sheer hubris of this woman. She wasn’t around for the horrors of her father’s reign as Alpha. She has no idea of the slaughter and horror that shattered my world. She didn’t have to bury the bloody remains of a sibling… I stare into her eyes, stubborn defiance swirling within. She’s already shown me she can’t be trusted, with her sneaking away, doing Goddess knows what… “You’re forcing my hand, Leah. You’ll regret it.” Her face hardens, and any affection or warmth that she held for me moments before is gone. “It’s my life, Aaron.” I tear myself from her arms and shoot up from the bed, pulling my pants back up. She sounds like a bratty child, not the wife of the most powerful Alpha in the region. She doesn’t get to run off and do what she wants. “Where did you go?” I ask her sternly. “What are you hiding?” Her lips are pressed into a thin line. A voice in the back of my head tells me to calm down, to not do something I’ll regret. But I’ve had enough. I grab her wrist and drag her out of bed and through her broken door. Then I push her into a spare bedroom and lock the door and her inside. My heart is pounding in my ears as I walk away. She’ll stay inside that room until she’s ready to talk. Guards will stand outside to make sure she doesn’t run off again. This is a punishment, I tell myself. This is what she deserves. So why is that cold, aching feeling in my chest back again? I storm outside through the back gardens to the elevator that will take me to the estate’s underground training facility. “Clear the field!” I shout as soon as the elevator doors open. There are at least a dozen wolves training. They all stop what they’re doing and immediately obey. James comes out from the elevator behind me, just as all the trainees file in anxiously. I ask. “Where was she?” “I don’t know.” He shoves his hands into his pockets. “And the guards on patrol?” “On their way here.” They’ll be lucky if I let them live. We had an attack on our pack recently, and several wolves were killed. No evidence. No scent trail to follow. Then today, barely a week later, my wife manages to evade a whole contingent of guards and my Beta to go gods knows where. The rain would’ve wiped out her scent too. Mighty convenient if you asked me. “How did she get off packlands without anyone knowing?!” I snarl. “You found her and brought her back?” James shakes his head. “I found her walking back our way. She got into the car willingly. She didn’t say where she’d been.” “Didn’t say? Or you didn’t ask?” His face is stone cold. “Neither.” I narrow my eyes. “What the f*ck are you Beta for, if you can’t complete one simple task?” He bristles, clearly furious. But he doesn’t argue. He knows better. “The Luna of this pack—my wife—was gone and unaccounted for for several hours. So, I’ll ask you again…” I stalk towards him. “Where. Was. She?” James’ wolf is at the surface now. He spits, “Ask her yourself.” It’s the closest he’s come to mouthing off at me. But it’s just enough to set my wolf off. I lunge. My wolf tears at his skin, my teeth and claws sinking into his flesh…   * * * * * * * * * * * LEAH It’s been a few days since Aaron locked me in this room. Every morning, he asks the same question. “Are you ready to tell me the truth?” Every morning, I ask the same question. “Are you ready to give me a divorce?” Then he doesn’t say a word, and I hear his heavy steps walk away. There’s no food. I drink water from the bathroom tap. My stomach aches and twists with hunger so much, I’m dizzy. I don’t know if the pain I feel is from being starved… or if it’s the cancer. When I’m too tired to move, I cry. And when I can’t cry anymore, I sleep. The minutes start feeling like hours… Stay positive, I repeat to myself. Just stay positive. You’ll be alright. I keep thinking if I say it enough times, I’ll believe it. I don’t dream when I sleep. I wish I did. It would make the waking moments more bearable. Because when I wake, I just feel sorry for myself. For the time I had in this life that I never appreciated. For all the things I’ve longed for and wished for that will never be. Sometimes I think Aaron’s outside, listening, thinking of letting me out. But that’s just wishful thinking. To him, I’m just a warm body. A pawn in his game, and occasionally someone to fuck. Not family. Not his love… After the fifth day, I don’t feel hunger pangs anymore. Just pain. Everywhere. On day six. He greets me at the door, carrying a platter of fresh fruit and meats. “Your phone died so we can’t trace where you went. You ready to tell me? And who you were with?” Maybe the starvation drove me mad. Because I still choose to be defiant. “I’m not telling you anything. I’m done, Aaron. If you want peace, I’ll make sure my father keeps it. But I’m tired of living like this. I wanted a real marriage. A real love. But I’m done loving you.” My words don’t faze him. Instead, he laughs. “Oh, so you’re telling me you want to keep staying here and reflect on how to be a better wife? No problem…” He yells down the hall, “Jessica!” She comes running in obediently, holding a phlebotomy kit. “It’s time to take Leah’s blood debt. Be a dear and draw it from her,” he tells her. “You son of a b*tch,” I sneer. I scramble backward on the bed. But there’s nowhere to go. I’m a wounded animal in their trap. “Leave me alone!” She makes a show of it all. Slowly putting on gloves, flicking the needle. She’s enjoying this… I flinch when she grabs my arm. “Stop!” “You owe us,” she utters, her blue eyes filled with pure hate. She jams the needle into my arm, and I bite my lip from crying out. My blood instantly spills through the needle and into the tube, filling the blood bag. Aaron stands there watching, indifferent to my pain. “It’s the anniversary of the slaughter. Draw a second offering.” My vision dims as Jessica forces the blood from my body. I’m too weak to fight. I fall back, my eyes flickering open and closed. Through the darkness I hear his voice. “Come on. The chef prepared breakfast for us.” I open my eyes, and they’re strolling out of the room, Jessica holding bags of my blood in one hand, the other through Aaron’s arm. I scream, “I hate you!” I think maybe he pauses for just the briefest second. But then he’s gone, shutting the door, and locking it behind him…

I don’t know what day it is now. All I know is the fever. The chills. The pain. I haven’t left the bed in a while. The air is thick. My eyes feel heavy. So heavy… Suddenly, the door slams open. I try to lift my head, but I can hardly move. There’s screaming, and the guards are struggling with a tall male. Then there’s Aaron, cursing with fury… And a familiar voice, shouting, “What the hell did you do to her?!” “Adam…?” I croak. Aaron slams him against the wall. I push myself up on shaky arms. Adam is my best friend from home. “Is this who you snuck away with? Went to feed more info to your bastard father!” My head spins, from the sudden movement, and from Aaron’s words… The two men are screaming and growling at one another, uncontrollably shifting into their lycan forms, barely being held back from tearing each other apart. Something compels me to get between them. But as I stand, my legs crumple beneath me, and I fall to the floor. Everything starts to go dark. I can hear a man shouting my name, and strong arms lifting me. But my eyes won’t open, and I think… maybe this is death.  Then, I feel nothing. When I open my eyes again, I’m in Aaron’s room. The huge suite has dark blue walls and a giant bed. The white sheets are silk and soft and smell like him. I sit up slowly. There’s a tray of food beside me. I should be hungry, but I’m not. After going so long without food, I’ve lost my appetite. Maybe that’s a good thing. I read somewhere that fasting can help cleanse the body of defective cells. Maybe Aaron did me a favor. Adam’s sitting on a chair. He’s a few years older than me. A couple of inches over six feet tall, with light brown hair and light green eyes. He’s good looking. Nice. Calm. Even as a child, he was an intellectual, where the rest of my pack was singularly focused on war. “This isn’t my room,” I say. Adam shrugs. “Your husband insisted.” “How are you here?” “Why the hell didn’t you call me?” he says. I reach for the glass of orange juice. It’s probably going to burn my stomach, but the sweet, fresh juice has me salivating. I take a careful sip and try to gather my thoughts. I was locked in a room, so weak I fainted. Now I’m in Aaron’s room and my childhood friend is here. And he’s angry I haven’t called him!? “Adam.” I hold the glass in both hands. “We haven’t talked in years. Why would I call in the first place? If you missed me so much, you could’ve called me.” I get to see my family a few times a year. There are even escorted visits back to my packlands. Only home doesn’t feel like home anymore. Everyone there…they’ve moved on. So when I come back, it’s always awkward. Like seeing me is a reminder of what they did to secure their way of life. Adam stands and then leans over the bed, one arm on either side of me, caging me in in a move I’d expect from Aaron, not my old childhood friend. He starts examining my eyes. Prying open my mouth to look down my throat. “Dude… stop.” “No. You came to my pack hospital, Leah. I run that facility. Did you seriously think that Dr. Henley wouldn’t share your bloodwork? I gasp. That explains why he came. Because he knows I’m sick. He shoves away from the bed and paces the room. “Does your piece-of-shit husband know?” I cringe. “Lower your voice,” I tell him. Aaron has fought over lesser insults. He freezes. “Then he doesn’t know.” I shake my head. “You need to tell him.” “Why?” Adam’s mouth drops open. “Seriously. Explain to me why I should tell him anything.” Adam’s pensive. Finally, he says, “Fine. Leave the bastard in the dark. But then come home.” With my days numbered… I’m not sure I want to spend them there either. “Leah, you need to come home.” Do I? I’m not so sure. “Let me spell some things out for you. I was barely thirteen years old when my mother died, and my father dragged our pack into even more brutal battles with the Rathborns. My mom was killed by the very bastards I’ve been forced to live with all these years. Not a day goes by that I am not reminded of her, that I don’t miss her.” He frowns. “I wanted to stay with my family. I needed them. I was devastated and grieving. But instead, my father pledged me, like some piece of chattel or a pawn, to an Alpha who has hated me and every one of my bloodline since before I was born.” Adam crosses his arms. “I was taken away from my family and everyone I’ve ever known. I was imprisoned here. I’ve never been respected or made to feel welcome. I’m not treated with kindness. Not even by my husband–and I’m ten times the fool, because I loved that brute, and actually wanted to become his bride.” “Leah, you have–” “Let me finish. My love has been one-sided for far too long.” I think about that for a moment. As a teen, I latched onto Aaron because he was nice to me. Some twisted form of Stockholm Syndrome surely. Or just the desperation of a too-young, too-dumb girl. Too lonely girl. But I’m not that girl anymore. “Leah, I’ve read the reports… You’re terminal. You are going to die.” “Yes. We all die, Adam. Some sooner than others.” “Your husband is an Alpha. He can mate you. Maybe he can force your wolf to rise.” Does he think I haven’t already thought of all these things? “There are risks,” he goes on, “but you have a chance.” I eat a few bites of bread and my stomach knots around them. Biting a human to ‘turn’ them is a rite that requires approval from the Council and even when it is sanctioned, very few humans survive the transition. I might get a pass given my lineage, and we could forego the formality of petitioning them since I am already Aaron’s wife, but that still doesn’t mean it would work. And if he mates me… “What then, Adam? At best I’m stuck, forever bound to a man that hates me. At worst, my sickness kills him through our bond, and then we’re right back to war.” He clasps my hands. “There are treatments, Leah. I graduated from NYU. I did my residency at MD Anderson. I’ll pull together a treatment plan. You can fight this.” Yes, I suppose I can. But do I want to? Adam’s hands are smooth and tapered. The hands of a surgeon. Not a warrior. He wears a suit and an expensive watch. He’s a powerful, wealthy, high-ranking member of my father’s pack. Most females would fawn over him. His bright green eyes search mine. “I can take care of you, Leah…” I’m still thinking about his offer when there’s a growl at the door.

The door slams open a moment later. Aaron’s eyes take me in. On the bed. Adam sitting beside me and his hands holding mine. He growls again. “Stop!” I yell. “This is my friend, Aaron. One of the only ones I have. And just where the hell do you get off acting jealous, when you’ve got Jessica trying to hump you every time you turn down the hall?” He scoffs. Then he turns to Adam. “Your visit is over. Get out.” Aaron comes within inches of Adam and his nostrils flare. He’s looking for evidence. “I’m not lying! Will you stop already!” Adam rocks back on his heels. His smile is confident, taunting. “It’s been incredible seeing you, Leah. And I’ll be sure to get things ready for when you come home.” He means with my treatments. Aaron snarls. “My wife isn’t going anywhere.” Adam glances at me. “You need to tell him.” “Tell me what!” Aaron shouts. I press my lips together. Adam sighs. He sidesteps Aaron and walks out. His men surround him. “Your boy looks awful smug, but he won’t be laughing for long,” Aaron says. “What does that mean?” I ask. He shrugs. “Let’s just say, big changes are coming. And they’re coming soon…”   * * * * * * * * AARON   Leah is nervous. She’s doing that thing with her hair and eyeing me like I’m a predator who hasn’t eaten in a week. Speaking of… she looks terrible. Too skinny and weak. Her scent is off too. “What’s wrong with you?” I ask. She blanches. “Nothing.” “I’ve warned you about lying to me, princess.” She twists another curl. “I haven’t eaten in days, Aaron. What the hell did you think would happen?” Fair. But I never expected her to hold out this long. There were nights when I wanted to break down the door and force her to answer me. But her will is strong. Too strong. And though I’ve done many things I’m not proud of, I’ve never beaten my wife. But that’s not to say I won’t. Always, pack comes first. Always. If she is a threat to them, she’ll find I won’t be as patient as I have been. I push the platter of food toward her. It’s filled with meat and vegetables. “Eat,” I command her. She gradually picks up a roasted vegetable. But I don’t think she does it to obey me, or even because she needs the sustenance, her whole demeanor is just bored. While she was locked away these last days, I structured the plans to ensure our pack’s safety. Her father’s pack won’t survive. It’ll all come out at the Regional Council meeting. Once the Collective sees what Alpha Roberts has done, they’ll seize his lands, accounts, and corporations. The Council will order his execution. It’s a ruthless strategy, even for me. But I’ll do it. For my pack… I’ll do anything. “What have you done, Aaron?” Leah whispers, watching me carefully. She knows me well, this woman. “Aaron, answer me.” Now it’s my turn to be smug. “No.” Besides, she’ll see soon enough, and the fallout of what’s about to transpire will ripple through these packs for years to come.

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On the day my cousin, Roselle, gave birth, I was having a meal with her husband, Lawrence. He was about to leave, but I stopped him and said, “Lawrence, wait. I have a surprise gift for her.” A lavish gift for her after she sent my mother to the deathbed.

On Christmas Eve, my uncle and aunt knelt before me. They begged me to give up my five-year-old daughter so their son could adopt her. I thought it was absurd. But as I checked my cousin’s phone, I was furious.