Chapter 1

I had been the mate to Leonard, the Alpha of Mooncrown Pack, for five years, but he had never marked me. Every time I touched him, he would lock me up in the water dungeon, make me take off all my clothes, and whip me hard.

One day, I finally mustered the courage to touch the bite mark on his shoulder. This time, he did not throw me in the water dungeon. Instead, he simply turned and walked away.

I felt hopeful, thinking he might finally be ready to accept me.

However, the next day, he attempted to sell me to another pack's Alpha as a private sex slave. The deal was set for two days later.

I watched him repeatedly wipe the shoulders I had touched and felt a chill in my heart.

"How dare she lay a finger on the mark Serina left on me?" Leonard grumbled, taking a sip of his whiskey, his disgust palpable. "Just touching Lydia makes me feel unclean, let alone her touching the same spot."

Suddenly, a voice nearby added, "Thanks to Ms. Serina's little reminder, we found out Lydia's sordid past. She was involved with a bunch of Rogues five years back."

"Tsk, look at how slutty she looks. It must have long been rotten down there."

Leonard laughed harshly and ruthlessly. "If I hadn't locked her up at home these five years, she would have gone out to hook up with male wolves long ago. You have no idea how desperate she was to lure me in, but just one look from her hurts my eyes."

His friend commented maliciously, "Aren’t you holding the sale in a couple of days? Sell her to those old lecherous wolves who fancy her; you'll fetch a good price. It'll also save her from her pent up desires; letting her serve others will satisfy her. It's killing two birds with one stone."

These remarks pierced my heart like knives. The pain almost made me lose my footing. It turned out Leonard thought I was worthless.

I had never slept with any other male wolf. I secretly went to the most authoritative healer at the pack's healing center for a checkup. When the healer, wearing gloves, approached me with the instruments, I trembled all over. It felt like my shame was slowly torturing me. The moment the cold instruments entered my body, I almost cried.

The healer said I had no problems, but I still refused to believe it, always feeling like I was not good enough.

Later, I developed severe depression and an obsession with cleanliness. Every time I showered, I felt like I wanted to scrape off a layer of my skin.

Five years had passed, and old and new scars covered my body. Sometimes, even a gentle touch of my clothing would cause the wounds to reopen and bleed. I had no complaints. I was willing to change anything as long as Leonard would accept me.

Since we became mates, Leonard had never touched me, let alone marked me. He said he loved me and only me back then. Why was he a completely different person now?

Countless nights, I broke down mentally, frantically demanding answers from him. He told me he had a severe obsession with cleanliness and an embarrassing hereditary disease, needing time to adjust.

I believed him.

Only today did I realize that his so-called obsession with cleanliness and hereditary disease was all lies.

Just because of a remark from his first love, Serina, he assumed I had been sleeping around with other male wolves and was a promiscuous she-wolf. That was why he had scorned me and tormented me for five years straight.

It was ridiculous. What about all my willing sacrifices over the past five years?

Leonard chose me also because my father saw his potential and ambition, helping him become the Alpha of Mooncrown Pack. Later, when my father fell ill, he entrusted me to Leonard, giving Leonard all his resources so I could live a peaceful life.

Everyone knew Leonard adored Serina, but as a mere low-ranking wolf, he was deemed unworthy of the Beta Serina.

Leonard had no choice but to accept my father's offer.

I asked him nervously, "If my father forces you, you don't have to force yourself."

He held my hand, repeatedly telling me, "Lydia, I've long since let go of the past. I've fallen in love with you. You're my only destined mate."

I believed him.

My father was happy too, but fearing I would be mistreated, he provided a final layer of protection for my lifelong happiness. "If Leonard mistreats you in the future, just go back to the pack. There will always be a place for you in Silvermoon Pack."

The night my father died, he became a different person. He frequently disappeared, leaving me all alone.

I thought he just had not fully accepted me yet and needed time. I was willing to wait just because he said we were "destined" to be together, but my five years of waiting and understanding were met with him finding fault with me, locking me in a water dungeon, and subjecting me to humiliation and beatings at the slightest provocation.

The truth was out today. I was heartbroken; even my last shred of hope was crushed. I made a decisive decision to contact my former confidant in Silvermoon Pack and leave.

"Zackrie, I want to go back to Silvermoon Pack."