Chapter 4

Before I could explain anything, Loki scooped Alice into his arms and turned to leave the room, abandoning me where I stood.

Only werewolves who had committed the gravest crimes were ever exiled from the pack and reduced to lowly rogue wolves.

Had Loki really passed judgment on me like this, without even bothering to learn the truth?

Thinking of the crystal still in Alice's possession, I clenched my teeth. I chased after them into the living room, only to see Loki kneeling as he carefully applied ointment to Alice's wound.

When he noticed me, he gave a cold order.

"Alice was hurt because of you, but she still pleaded for you. You won't be expelled from the pack, but pack your things and get out now. Don't show your face in front of us again."

Alice put on a fake, gentle smile as she spoke to me.

"Melissa, I know you didn't mean it. You must've been scared, right?"

Shadow bared his teeth at the two of them.

I didn't even look at Loki. I fixed my gaze on Alice and said coldly, "Give it back."

Alice blinked innocently. "What are you talking about? Give what back? Oh, you mean… but Melissa, I love Loki, too. Please, can't you give him to me?"

As she spoke, tears pooled in her eyes.

Loki pulled her into his arms, then slapped me hard across the face.

"Get out already! I warned you not to get ideas above your station. Looks like I went too easy on you!"

I caught sight of the crystal clenched tightly in Alice's palm.

I didn't bother arguing with Loki. I reached out and tried to take it.

Alice screamed in alarm. The crystal slipped from her hand, only to be caught by Loki's quick reflexes.

"Give the crystal back to me," I said urgently, "and I'll leave right now."

Loki frowned coldly, convinced I was beyond saving. "It's just a worthless stone. Is this really worth making such a scene over? Now apologize to Alice!"

I stared at him stubbornly and repeated each word slowly. "Give. It. Back."

Loki lost the last of his patience and hurled the crystal against the marble wall with all his strength.

It shattered on impact. The wolf totem splintered into pieces.

Shadow was stunned.

I stood frozen, staring at the shards scattered across the floor. I trembled and gathered them together, feeling as though my heart was bleeding.

"Grandma… I'm sorry, Grandma…" I murmured to myself, not even noticing when the sharp fragments sliced into my palms.

Realizing something was wrong, Loki frowned and tried to pull me up from the floor.

"I didn't mean to. If you'd just apologized to Alice earlier, none of this would've happened."

I looked at him dully, my body shaking faintly. After a long time, my lips finally moved.

"Loki, that crystal was my grandmother's keepsake. She raised me. That was the last thing she left me."

Shock and regret surged through Loki's eyes.

He had lost his parents young, and his grandmother had raised him. He should've understood my pain better than anyone else.

"I…"

"Tell him to get lost!" Shadow howled.

I shoved Loki away and left, clutching the broken crystal.

Back in the storage room, I had just finished wrapping the fragments when I received a call from my father.

"I'm going to meet the envoy from the Goldlush Pack right now."

After hanging up, I grabbed my packed suitcase and stepped outside, only to run straight into Loki, who was waiting at the door. There was still a trace of guilt on his face.

"Who did you say you were meeting just now? Tomorrow is my bonding ceremony with Alice. She wants you there."

"I told a friend I'd stay with her for a couple of days. I won't bother you. I'll show up then."

I couldn't even be bothered to spare him a glance.

Only then did I truly understand what it meant to lose all hope.

Loki let out a sigh of relief. He wanted to say he would drive me, but before he could even grab his car keys, I was already gone.

At the agreed hotel, I met the envoys from the Goldlush Pack. They treated me with respect and warmth.

I got into their car. From the back seat, I blocked and deleted every way Loki could contact me, then tossed my SIM card away.

From this moment on, Loki and I had nothing to do with each other anymore.