Chapter 2

Blood seeped from my arm at once as the pup bit me. My back started to sweat.

I had no room to think about anything else. So, I grabbed and lifted him before pushing him away.

I did not use much force, but he was still a six-year-old pup. He fell to the floor, went blank for a moment, then burst into tears.

I was about to step forward and check on him when the door was pushed open.

Lawson and a she-wolf stood in the doorway.

I recognized her. She was Lawson's old flame, Judy.

When Judy saw the pup on the floor with blood all over his mouth. She rushed over, picked him up, and kept patting his back. "Where does it hurt?! Why are you bleeding?!"

Lawson's eyes darkened, and displeasure radiated from him as he also checked the pup's injury.

"What happened?" His tone was as gentle as ever.

The pup cried and said, "Dad, it was her! She bullied me and hit me!"

Judy glared at me with hatred and wiped the blood from the corner of the pup's mouth with her fingertips.

"I didn't," I said calmly.

But my heart would not stop trembling. Lawson had clearly texted that he was in a meeting. But now he had shown up with Judy instead.

Lawson looked at me with dark eyes. Then the pup's way of addressing him made his expression falter. Soon, he smelled blood and noticed the wound on my arm.

Just as he was about to speak, Judy lunged at me in a burst of fury. She slammed me to the floor, hatred in her eyes.

I was about to fight back, but Lawson pulled us apart.

Judy questioned him. "She hurt our pup!"

"I'll handle it. Take Samson out and entertain him first. I'll come find you soon." He patted Judy's shoulder to comfort her.

At that moment, I stood beside them like the home wrecker who had interfered with their family time instead.

"Then you have to expel this servant from the pack." Judy's emotions settled, and her tone turned flirtatious.

Lawson nodded without comment.

Watching them, I felt as if I had been struck dumb. It hurt more than the wound on my arm. It hurt so much I could barely breathe.

Samson made a face at me.

After they left, the bleeding on my arm had already stopped, but deep bite marks remained, and they throbbed with pain. My wolf was feeling the same as it suffered the same torment as I was.

"What is with that pup?" I finally asked, my voice turned into a sob.

Lawson glanced at me, calm as ever. "He's mine and Judy's pup."

My heart ached. I did not need to question him about the rest as I already had the answers.

He continued, "I didn't lie to you. I settled Judy and Samson in the mountains and never let them enter our pack. Judy is pitiful enough. She can't even have a proper status. But you can be the pack's Luna, and your pup can become the heir. Her pup will be an ordinary werewolf for life. You already have so much, so be grateful."

My wrist trembled, and my soul felt hollowed out. I raised my hand to slap him, but he caught my wrist in one grip.

There was no more patience in his eyes as he said, "Monica, don't cross the line. I haven't even questioned you about why you would hurt a pup!"

He shoved me away. I staggered and almost fell. I was also completely disappointed in the werewolf before me.

He and I had grown up together in the orphanage. When we left, we were both rogues, with no pack and no home. We were always driven away by other werewolves.

Later on, he found a pack to rely on because of his outstanding ability. He did missions by day and worked part-time jobs at night to pay for my academy courses. Because of him, I was able to enter the most powerful werewolf pack.

At that time, my wolf soul had not fully awakened. Everyone believed I might never become a truly powerful werewolf. I felt so bad for him and that I even wanted to give up my own training.

Lawson lost his temper with me for the first time. "Monica, I can give up anything! But you can't give up on yourself! I can't live without you!"

That night, we sat in a small house that belonged to ordinary werewolves, listening to the howls outside the window. We swore that we would never leave each other before the Moon Goddess.

After my wolf soul awakened, I supported him as he rose step by step. I willingly gave up my own growth to stay with Lawson while he became Alpha. I also began hiding my abilities, so he could become stronger.

But only ten years had passed, and he had already become an Alpha. And everything had changed.

I pushed myself against the desk. My wolf soul was convulsing from the pain, and I could barely stand.

Lawson glanced at the wound on my arm and said, "If you hadn't touched him, he wouldn't have bitten you. Samson has always had a good temper."

He went to get the herbs wanting to treat my wound. Then, he sighed. "Our bonding ceremony is next month. Don't show up with a mark like that."

I turned away and steadied my breathing. Then, I walked toward the door.

Lawson had not lied to me. Other than not giving Judy the status of Luna and pack resources, he had given her everything else.

Including his love.

So there was no point in holding the ceremony anymore.

I replied to the invitation emailed by another werewolf pack and agreed to take over as Beta of the powerful Southern Pack.