Chapter 2

Under the glaring white lights, Nina slapped me twice, hard. Her long, sharp nails scratched bloody lines across my face.

I couldn't help crying out in pain, but it only acted like gasoline, fueling her arrogance.

"Filthy bitch! How dare you use your looks to seduce my Alpha? You think I didn't notice how you deliberately left your scent in my infirmary? Also, you have the nerve to spend his money so brazenly?" Nina's voice was shrill, and her meticulously made-up face was twisted like a demon's.

Her hands hurt from slapping me, so she turned and ordered the two guards, "Sterilize her properly with the disinfectant! Wash that stench off her! When she pays up, you'll get a share too!"

Upon hearing that, the two guards wasted no time and immediately brought over several buckets of disinfectant, pouring them over me.

The moment the disinfectant touched my skin, a sizzling sound erupted as my skin felt like it was being corroded. There was definitely silver in it! An intense burning sensation instantly swept through my entire body. My skin visibly reddened, swelled, blistered, and broke out in large patches of terrifying rashes.

If my wolf were awake, I would have healed before the first blister appeared. But she was asleep, so every drop felt like molten lava, searing the bone.

The pungent smell of festering skin filled the air, and the excruciating pain made my vision blacken in waves.

Nina continued to shout, "Who do you think you are, trying to climb into the Alpha's bed? Your scent makes me sick!"

"I told you, I'm his cousin! If you're really Xander's girlfriend, just mind-link him!" I forced these words through gritted teeth, but Nina either didn't hear me or she simply didn't care at all.

Only when my consciousness began to fade did Nina raise a hand to signal them to stop. She crouched down, grabbed my hair, and forced my head up. "Does it feel good? This is what happens when you dare to be a mistress!

"Be smart. Pay up now and never show your face in front of him again. Killing you would be as easy as crushing an ant for me. The Alpha would only praise me for upholding the pack's honor."

Gritting my teeth, I argued, "I really am his cousin… you lunatic…"

Nina's expression turned cold in an instant, and she kicked me.

The two guards understood the cue, and their fists began mercilessly raining down on me again.

Reasoning with this mad she-wolf was completely useless. If this continued, I might really die in this waste room.

I spat out a mouthful of blood and used the last of my strength to pant out, "Stop… I'll pay."

Seeing me yield, Nina nodded with satisfaction. She signaled the two guards to step back, then patted my swollen cheek with a slight sneer. "Now, wasn't that easy? Why did you insist on suffering before learning your lesson? The price has gone up now. One million dollars. Not a cent less."

I lay sprawled on the cold floor, feeling every inch of my skin burning as if it were on fire. I ignored her mockery and, using the phone she handed me, dialed Braden's number.

"Bring two million dollars to the central pack infirmary of the Lighthall pack. Now," I ordered.

On the other end of the line, Braden paused for a second, keenly sensing something was wrong. "Alpha Female? Why does your voice sound so weak—"

"Stop talking. Hurry," I cut him off directly before ending the call.

When Nina heard "two million dollars", her eyes lit up instantly, the greed in them completely undisguised. She was convinced that I had fully given in and that I was even willing to raise the price just to save my life.

She laughed smugly. "Hmph! At least you still have some sense."