Chapter Three

Andalia's mother had managed to find an apartment nearby, in a pack that seemed both small and widespread, almost deserted, from what Andalia had heard.

The area was rumored to be a domain for witches, but she cared little for such things. As long as no one paid attention to them, she had no reason to worry.

Andalia had never feared witches, especially not those who lingered around werewolf packs. They were likely of lower rank, given that witches and wolves had long been enemies, a history she had yet to fully understand.

Ever since recovering from the accident that left her with lasting ailments, she had longed to explore, to learn more about the world beyond her own kind.

She had read countless books on both immortals and mortals, but vampires fascinated her the most.

Unfortunately, they lived halfway across the world, far beyond her reach. Even if she tried to seek them out, she would likely be devoured before she ever laid eyes on one, an outcome she was determined to avoid.

As the van moved along the road, she gazed out the window, watching the world pass by. The people, the towering structures designed to stand out, each a reminder of the vastness of the world beyond her confined existence.

A sigh escaped her lips as Clark took a turn into a dense forest. The towering trees soon faded behind them, revealing an open, nearly deserted landscape.

But as they continued forward, the barren land gave way to a massive city teeming with life. Humans, everywhere.

Eventually, the van came to a stop in front of a modest flat. Standing on the porch, arms crossed, was her mother.

Andalia stepped out of the vehicle, slipping a small tip into Clark’s hand before making her way toward the woman who had uprooted her life once again.

Her mother opened her arms, but Andalia stepped back, ignoring the flicker of pain that crossed the older woman’s face.

"Don't be like that," her mother murmured.

Andalia’s expression hardened. "No, in fact, I should be the one upset with you. Why do you keep treating me like a child?" she demanded, her voice sharp with frustration.

Her mother’s eyes widened at the outburst. It was the first time Andalia had ever raised her voice at her.

A heavy sigh escaped the older woman’s lips, guilt settling in her features. She took the bags from Andalia’s hands and set them aside before gently guiding her toward the outdoor couches.

Andalia sat, her body tense, but she was ready to hear whatever excuse her mother had this time.

After a moment of silence, her mother spoke.

“You see, I still hate myself for this, and it hurts to repeat or even tell you, but I think it's time you know."

“After you were rejected, I made a deal with the alpha of the enemy pack. I promised to give you to him as his bride if he erased your memories of Ivan. Unfortunately, he wasn’t the man I thought he was." She paused, inhaling deeply before continuing.

"When he found out you were Ivan's mate, he was enraged. He tortured you, day after day, doing unspeakable things to you. I had no choice but to find a way to get you away from him."

Andalia’s breath caught in her throat, but she remained silent, her fingers clenching into fists.

"I made plans with one of his bodyguards to help me get you out of the cell he had locked you in," her mother continued, her voice shaking. "The plan worked. I thought you were safe… until he found out. He tried to take you back."

Her mother sniffed, tears slipping down her cheeks. "I waited for you, Andalia. But you—" She swallowed hard, as if the words pained her. "You managed to escape, but the moment you stepped onto the road… you were hit by a car. It nearly killed you."

Andalia sat frozen, the weight of her mother’s words pressing down on her chest like a stone.

"Even after that," her mother whispered, "he still sent threats. He told me I had better return his bride because he had held up his side of the deal."

Andalia stared at her mother, dumbfounded and shocked for three reasons.

One, she had made a deal with the enemy just to erase Andalia’s memories of her mate.

Two, she had allowed that same man to torture her daughter without confronting him, how cowardly.

And three, she was one of the reasons Andalia was in this state to begin with.

How could she even consider handing her over to someone who harbored enough hatred for their pack to burn down the entire territory? Or had he charmed her?

Andalia’s gaze remained locked on her mother, who sat in silence with her head lowered.

It was hard to believe, the woman she had known all her life, the strong-willed, resilient mother who had never once fallen for a man’s charm after her father’s death, had given her away so easily.

A heavy sigh escaped Andalia’s lips. She didn’t want to forgive so easily, but she understood why her mother had done what she did.

In her own twisted way, it had been for Andalia’s happiness. And when it all went wrong, she had done everything in her power to save her.

So, as much as she wanted to be furious, she couldn’t hold onto that anger forever.

Without hesitation, she threw her arms around her mother, embracing her in a warm hug.

“Don’t feel bad anymore, Mom. I’m fine, and I won’t be getting into any accidents anytime soon. So stop the overprotectiveness, I’m a big girl now. I can handle myself.”

Her mother pulled away almost immediately, crossing her arms and pouting like a child.

Andalia barely held back her laughter, pressing her lips together as she waited for the inevitable response.

“You said the same thing over the phone before you got into that accident,” her mother huffed.

“You are not a big girl. You’ll remain a kid to me until you give me grandchildren.”

‘Grandchildren, she wishes,’ Andalia thought bitterly. ‘I would never let myself fall for a man again, not after what that bastard did to me. Be it a human or an immortal, never. I’d rather drag my bare skin over burning charcoal than go through that again.’

A familiar voice echoed in her mind, laced with amusement. ‘The determination in your voice cracks me up. The moment you fall in love, I’ll nag and tease you for the rest of our life.’

Luna, her wolf, was as sarcastic as ever, and sometimes Andalia wondered how someone as gentle and reserved as herself had been paired with such a sharp-tongued, possibly gothic, counterpart.

But the Moon Goddess had her reasons, and Andalia wasn’t about to question them.

With a dramatic sigh, she whined, “Can we go in now?” Right on cue, her stomach growled loudly. “I’m hungry.”

Her mother chuckled and threw an arm around her shoulders, leading her inside.

The apartment was exquisitely decorated, white walls, sky-blue sofas, and polished silver furniture.

Andalia barely paid attention as she dropped her bags on the couch and made a beeline for the kitchen, where the scent of food had already drawn her in.

A steaming plate of sticky rice sat on the counter, alongside a bowl of sweet and spicy chicken sauce, the meat soaking up the flavors.

And beside them? A wide plate of custard pudding.

Her stomach rumbled again. She quickly tied her hair into a bun, preparing to dig in, but then her gaze landed on a small card on the table, a coupon for ice cream and cake.

Her lips curled into a grin. “Jackpot.”