Chapter 4
“I’m fine.”
I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth. I didn’t blame him. I decided to treat that slap as the end of our childhood bond. From How on, we were even Nothing owed, nothing left between us.
But Lucas blocked my way. “Stop. Apologize to Maxie!”
His glare was sharp, cruel, nothing like the boy who once trailed after me with childish grins.
I glanced at Maxie’s smug little smile and pressed down the waves in my chest.
“I did nothing wrong. I won’t apologize to her.”
I had nothing left to fear. Even if they didn’t force me out, I was already leaving.
Lucas was still seething, but Xander, guilty beneath the surface, stepped in to hold him back. His voice softened.
“Forget it. I lost my temper. Don’t take it to heart. How about this? Tomorrow after training, I’ll take you out for Mexican food.”
Then he added, “But you have to promise me, stop picking on Maxie
A slap followed by a sweet date. That was always his way.
But he forgot, I couldn’t even stomach Mexican food.
Once upon a time, he and Lucas had worked tirelessly with pack doctors and witches to nurse my fragile health, even taking turns supervising my diet. Now, they seemed to have forgotten all of it
A cold gust of wind swept by, and a sudden shiver ran through my body,
Only then did I remember I was still in drenched clothes. A tever was inevitable.
As the weakness dragged me down, Lucas shouldered past me roughly.
“Still pretending,” he sneered.
The blow sent me stumbling, collapsing onto the floor.
Xander hesitated, just for a moment, then turned his back, walking away with Lucas, shielding Maxie between them.
I struggled for a long while before I could stand and call for the pack doctor
It was the same doctor who had treated me since childhood. When he saw my condition, his fury burst out.
“Do you have any idea how fragile your body is? And you dare to walk around in wet clothes in this weather?”
I said nothing, only obeyed. He kept me under observation for several days
After my fever finally broke, I was allowed to leave.
I had lost too much time already, My plans needed to move faster.
I went to Alpha Victor’s office to file my official request to leave the pack
I waited outside for hours, but neither Xander nor Lucas appeared.
Only later did I learn they had taken Maxie to an Alpha ball in another pack.
They went to Ravenport, my favorite city, and to Starlake, a place I had long dreamed of visiting but never could.
A bitter smile tugged at my lips as I handed over my signed departure papers.
I had been torn for so long about whether to stay or go.
Chapter 4
But now, it was obvious. No one cared if I left.
All that remained was to say goodbye to my mom, so I could leave with nothing left to tie me down.
Alpha Victor and Glinda had even canceled an important pack meeting just to wait for me.
When I entered, my mother looked me up and down, worry written on her face.
“You’ve lost weight again, haven’t you?”
Alpha Victor nodded. “Yes, too thin. But since you’ve already agreed to the arranged mate bond with the royals‘ Alpha, I won’t say much more. From now on, you’re my daughter. If anyone dares to mistreat you elsewhere, don’t be afraid, your mother and I will always stand behind you.”
I smiled faintly and placed a bank card into his hand.
“I’ll come visit you and Mom often. Thank you for permitting my mom to take me back the Bloodstone Pack when I had nowhere else to
있다.
Alpha Victor let out a small laugh.
I once hoped to keep you as my son’s mate. That dream is gone, but you’re still my daughter. And don’t talk to me about money. Since when does a father’expect his daughter to pay him back? You’ll represent our pack in your mate bond with the royals‘ Alpha. It’s me who should prepare your bonding gifts.”
My mother sighed softly. “Keep your money, Willow, Just live happily. That’s all I ask ”
1 bowed deeply, fighting the sting of tears.
I knew Alpha Victor’s stern face masked a warm heart. He had treated me like family all these ye
years.
Matters of love couldn’t be forced.
He understood. So did I.
Just as I was preparing to leave, Xander and Lucas returned.
The moment they saw me in the house, their faces hardened.
Xander demanded, “You’ve been tattling, haven’t you?”
Lucas rushed to speak over me, planting himself in front of Alpha Victor.
“Don’t believe a word she says. She bullied Maxie again today!”
Alpha Victor silenced him with a raised hand, a cold laugh escaping his lips.
But Lucas pressed on, whining like a spoiled child.
“Dad, don’t listen to her lies. My brother and I proposed to Maxie. We’re serious. We’re not playing games.”
He gestured proudly at the omega behind him.
“Maxie might be an omega, but she works hard to support herself. She didn’t agree to marry us when we proposed to her. She said she wouldn’t accept just for our pack’s fortune or the Luna’s seat.”
“She’s nothing like Willow. Maxie is thoughtful, Independent, and the most special omega I’ve ever met.”
Behind him, Maxie’s face flushed pink. She batted her lashes upward, shy and coy, looking at Lucas with shining admiration.
Xander, cooler, added his piece.
“Yes, she’s an omega, but she has real ideas about building the pack. She spares no effort in training. Willow, on the other hand, is Luna’s daughter but weak, spoiled, and a bully. I only wanted to teach her a lesson.”
“She came here to tattle, didn’t she? I knew it. Dad, stay out of this.
Alpha Victor’s hand came crashing down, shattering the glass on his desk. His voice thundered.
“I knew it! Now I see exactly why Willow chose the royals. You two, get out! This house doesn’t welcome liars and ingrates!”
It took me a long time to calm Alpha Victor after they left.
Glinda didn’t try to keep me either. She only pressed a bank card into my hand.
“Take it. It’s your bonding gift, the one I’ve saved for you.”
Laccepted it, clutching onto the last threads of kindness.
But on my way downstairs, a hand yanked me so hard I fell forward onto the ground. Pain shot through me, but I lifted my head and found Lucas towering above me,
He dragged me in front of Maxie, his tone vicious.
Willow, apologize to Maxie!”
Even now, when I was already leaving, they still wouldn’t let me go.
I had swallowed my pride again and again
But this time, I couldn’t
“I did nothing wrong” I shouted.
