Chapter 1

My Alpha mate, Sebastian Cole's stepsister, murdered my mother in cold blood, but he still chose to protect her.

The day I caught the two of them in bed together, all illusions I'd ever had were shattered completely.

From that moment on, I swore they would both pay for what they'd done.

A few days later, Sebastian finally let me out of the basement.

"Vivian, have you made up your mind about dropping the charges?" he asked.

That was the first thing out of his mouth, as if the agony I'd suffered underground didn't matter at all. All he cared about was pleading for his precious stepsister.

A sharp, familiar ache pierced my chest, but I forced myself to stand tall.

"I will never drop the case. Cassandra has to face the consequences for what she did," I said with a sneer.

His gaze turned cold. "You know it was an accident. That day was her mother's death anniversary. She was already devastated, and then those Rogues attacked her. She tried to save your mother, Vivian. But the Rogues never gave her a chance."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a sapphire necklace. "This was crafted with the purest primal energy. The entire mine only produced this one piece. You could..."

I stared at him in disbelief, feeling my anger boil over. I slapped the necklace out of his hand, sending it clattering across the stone floor.

"Are you trying to buy me off, Sebastian? Do you really think a gemstone can make up for my mother's life?" I demanded, my voice rising with grief and fury.

"If you'd bother to investigate, you'd see she had every chance to get help or run anywhere else! But she chose my mother's house! That wasn't an accident! It was intentional!"

Sebastian's patience snapped. He tossed a folder at my feet.

"Fine. If you won't cooperate, then the Golden Wheatfield project goes to someone else."

My hands shook as I picked up the file and feel my blood run cold. The Golden Wheatfield was my father's life's work before he fell into a coma.

During a brutal battle years ago, while everyone else fled, my father—an Omega—took the fatal blow to save Sebastian.

Sebastian once swore to take care of me and always put me first. He kept that promise for five years—until Cassandra came back, and everything changed.

"How... How could you?" My tears finally spilled over as my voice trembled. My chest tightened, and it was hard to breathe. "Did you forget? This was my father's dream! You wouldn't even be standing here if he hadn't protected you!"

For just a second, Sebastian froze. I saw something flicker in his eyes. Was it guilt, or perhaps hesitation? But it vanished instantly, replaced by a hardened look.

"That's exactly why you need to listen to me, Vivian. Cassandra's already been punished. She knows she was wrong."

I knew all too well what he meant by "punishment". At worst, he'd ground her or freeze her credit cards for a few days.

Ever since Cassandra returned, she couldn't stand seeing Sebastian with me for even a minute. She'd throw fits, cause accidents, humiliate me—anything to drive a wedge between us.

Sebastian would scold her, but he never actually punished her.

Anyone else in the pack would have been exiled or even faced something worse for doing the same.

His excuse was always the same.

"Vivian, just forgive Cassandra. She grew up wandering with her mother. She has deep trust issues. I promised her mother I'd always take care of her."

I used to tell myself they were nothing more than siblings. But now, I wasn't so sure.

I closed my eyes and finally gave in. "Fine, Sebastian. I agree. I'll drop the case."

As I signed the papers, all the tears I'd been holding back for days finally spilled over.

I'd always thought of myself as strong and never let him see me cry before.

Sebastian seemed almost flustered. "I knew you'd make the right choice, Vivian," he murmured, a look of relief flickering over his face. "Don't worry. In seven days, we'll have an even grander marking ceremony than before."

He pulled me into a tight hug, but before I could even feel the warmth of his embrace, he had already turned and walked away without looking back.

Not long after, I saw Cassandra's latest post on social media. She was holding Sebastian's hand, showing off that sapphire necklace.

The caption read, "My brother has always been my rock."

In the photo, Sebastian looked at her with a softness I'd never seen before. It cut deeper than any wound.

My mother had just died because of Cassandra, yet he was celebrating with her just because I dropped the charges.

A grander marking ceremony? I almost laughed.

I pulled out my phone and called the clinic. "Hi, I'd like to schedule an abortion."

My hand rested on my stomach, feeling the little life growing inside me. I had once planned to surprise Sebastian with the news on our marking ceremony.

But now, there was no need for such pointless hopes.

That marking ceremony was never going to happen.