Chapter 7

“Save me, Chloe…”

Blake lay in blood and bound by cold iron chains all around him. He reached out to me, begging me to pull him out of the abyss.

I wanted to save him...

I didn’t want him to die!

But there were countless hands pulled my clothes, and my hair…They wouldn’t leave me alone and kept pulling me backward.

“Blake!” I screamed, unable to get close to him.

Tears streamed down my face, and anxiety filled my heart.

Suddenly, the iron chains around Blake tugged him down into the bottomless abyss.

“Blake!” I yelled and opened my eyes.

I breathed heavily, sweat soaking through the sheets. My heart beat faster and my body get tense. I snapped back to my senses and realized that it was a nightmare.

Five days have passed since Blake was banished and I was forced to give Vanessa my blood.

I had spent most of my time lying in bed. I refused to eat anything nor speak with anyone. My father tried summoning me to see him, but I ignored everything he said.

I no longer wanted to please anyone, nor did I care about the punishments.

It would be great if they punished me. Only then would I be able to die and escape from misery.

To me, every living moment was riddled with pain.

The air here was stifling.

I disliked this world, repugnant periphery all people, including my father.

I would probably be doing something completely different now if not for him.

All of a sudden there was a terrific bang. Someone had kicked the door open.

“This is so fucking annoying!” A sharp female voice rang in my ear. “Why do I have to bring you meals every day?”

It was the maid my father had sent to look after me. She slammed the food tray onto the table,  and the hot soup splashed on my face.

However, I did not feel any pain. I had slumped into a state of torpor from which nothing could rouse me.

“Sending you food is just wasteful.” The maid muttered angrily as she proceeded to take the previously untouched meal out.

She glared at me with disdain. “If you really want to die, just jump out the window. That’ll spare me from running this tedious errand.”

With that, she left in a huff.

I rolled my eyes, feeling numb. Looking into the mirror, I was met with the image of a pale woman lying in bed.

Her eyes were hollow, and her lips were dry. Her skinny figure resembled a skeleton, making her look as if she was on the brink of death.

I let out a self-deprecating laugh and rolled over, fixing my gaze on the ceiling.

It was said that people who would lose the perception for the world when they were dying.

I was in that state.

It was pity that I wasn’t able to wait for Blake to pick me up.

I hoped that he would live a full life.

I shut my eyes once more. Soon after, the door was pushed open again, but the one seemed more polite than before.

There was a delicious scent of cake…

I wrinkled my nose and opened my eyes. My gaze met with my father’s stern eyes.

He sat by my bed, holding a blueberry cake.

I glanced over at him curiously, unable to comprehend the reason behind his sudden visit.

It was a rude awakening to learn his purpose when I caught a glimpse of the calendar.

Tuesday... so he was here to get my blood for Vanessa.

“What happened to your face?” Father asked in a lukewarm voice.

I knew he was referring to the scald from the hot soup, but I was too exhausted to talk with him.

I remained silent and he did not try to pry. He mumbled, “The maid I sent didn't take good care of you.”

I discerned a hint of stern anger in his flat tone. It sounded like he would kill that neglectful maid for me.

I sneered inwardly, reminding myself not to overestimate my place in his heart. The reason he came to me was for my blood.

My father was a man who valued efficiency. Even though I was his daughter, he would not waste time dawdling.

He signaled a guard to bring him a knife and a bowl.

Father looked at me for a moment before saying, “You know your duty.”

I had always done everything he asked without any complain. I would cut myself voluntarily to fill up the bowl. However, I felt the sudden urge to rasped his nerves.

“Father.” It took me a lot of effort to sit up on the bed. The white sheets fell off as I panted heavily. “I don’t feel well today.”

He squinted his eyes, and his expression turning cold as he said, “You refuse to give blood?”

“No.” I forced out a laugh. “I just meant that I was too weak. I hope you could cut me yourself to get the blood.”

I stretched my arm out, rolling up the sleeves to reveal my pale wrist.

Father fixed his gaze on my arm. His eyes widened, and he seemed to stop breathing for a second.

I smiled. “Sorry, it’s so ugly, isn’t it?”

I had given Vanessa my blood over several years, my wrist was littered with scars. Each one was incredibly ugly.

Father averted his gaze and instructed the guard, “You! Do it.”

“I want you to do it, father,” I said again firmly. “Or are you too disgusted by me to even lay a hand on me? But don’t forget that...half of my blood was from you.

I am your daughter.”

I had never spoken to my father in such a tone. To him, I was nothing but a dog that did not bark. I would always be regarded as a stray, begging for scraps.

A thrill ran through me as I noticed how troubled he looked at the thought of cutting my wrist.

“Do it. Take my blood, father,” I said obediently, passing the knife to him.

He hesitated for a moment and did not cut me right away.

All I could do was wait. Just when I thought he would give up, I suddenly felt the pain from the knife pierce through my skin.

I sucked in a huge breath.

No matter how used to the procedure I was, it still hurt.

But the pain was a lot more unbearable than before.

My father placed the bowl under my wound and waited quietly as it filled with my blood.

While we waited, I looked up at his stern face and asked, “I’ve always been curious about something. Could you give me the answer?”

“What?” Father asked, avoiding my gaze.

“Why you treated me so cruelly. I’m your daughter too, am I not?”

My father remained silent for a long moment. His knuckles turned white from tightening his grip on the bowl. “As an Alpha, I need a strong, capable heir to lead the pack. I have to ensure that the next Alpha lives well.”

Permitting myself a wry smile, I asked , “Aside from the fact that I am not a worthy heir, did you ever love me?”

The heavy, brooding silence descended on us.

I waited for father’s answer a long while, but he did not say any word. His hand that was holding the bowl trembled slightly.

I suddenly didn't care so much about his answer.

It wouldn’t change anything.

I was still nothing but a disease-treating machine. Who would have any feelings for an inanimate object?

It’d be ridiculous!

Once the bowl was filled, my father spoke up.

“I remember you loved blueberry cake when you were younger. I brought you some today,” he said while bandaging my arm.

I stayed quiet for a moment, then replied with a bitter smile, “I don’t like it anymore...”

He paused wrapping the bandage around my arm. His face, which had always been unfathomable, seemed to have aged ten years in a moment. Indiscernible emotions stirred behind his eyes.

I withdrew my hand, my lips trembling with blood loss. I managed to make my voice sound firm as I said, “I can tend to the wound myself. You should get the blood to Vanessa now.”

I shut my eyes and turned to look away. I did not want to spare him another look.

It took a long while for the sound of my door closing to echo through the room. I took a deep breath and felt coolness on my face. I touched my cheek and found myself in tears.

‘That's it, I've had enough!’

I had given up on my hope of receiving even a hint of compassion from my father.

I passed out while crying. It was late at night when I opened my eyes again.

I looked out the window and made a decision.

If I had to die, I refused to die here.

I was sick of everyone here, and I wanna seek Blake out.

I kept holding out hope that someone would come and save me, but this time, I had to save myself.

I eyed the slice of blueberry cake left on the table, along with the porridge that had been brought by the maid.

Without hesitation, I picked up the porridge and gulped it down.

I was no longer the girl who had set my heart on blueberry cake, on my father, and on this fucking family.

Now all I wanted

was free.

Even if I failed, I would accept the consequence.

Nothing could weaken my resolve to leave!

With conviction, I got up on the bed and walked to the door...