第4章

Three years ago, I was kidnapped by one of Alexander's admirers.

By the time he found me, his own head bloodied and bruised, I had been mauled until there wasn't an inch of unbroken skin left on me.

He held me close, sobbing so hard it sounded like his heart was being ripped apart.

He went after my attackers to avenge me and ended up locked away for two years.

Before they took him, he gripped my hand and said,

"Vicky, wait for me. When I get out, I'll be right by your side!"

Those words kept me alive, even in the darkest moments when I hated myself, when I pressed a blade to my wrist more times than I could count.

Every time, I would slap myself across the face to snap out of it.

In my heart, Alexander had been the bravest warrior in the pack.

But now I knew the truth.

Every ounce of suffering I had endured was orchestrated by Alexander.

While I was struggling to survive, he had been traveling the world with Savannah.

I felt as though I had forgotten what heartbreak was supposed to feel like. My whole body was trembling.

Numbly, I pushed open the door.

When Alexander saw me, panic flashed across his face for a split second.

Then it twisted into annoyance.

"Vicky, it's bad enough that you threatened to end things with me, and now you're stalking me?!"

I didn't have the energy to explain why I was there.

I just stared at him blankly.

"Alexander, everything you just said in there, was it true?"

His expression kept shifting.

Finally, it settled into resignation.

"Vicky, you only have yourself to blame. You were so stubborn about switching your makeup."

"That was your punishment."

Tears blurred my vision.

All of this, everything, just because I had wanted better skincare.

He sighed.

"I have something important today. Go home."

"If you behave, I'll let the money you spent today slide."

He reached up to gently tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

I flinched away. His hand hovered for half a second, then dropped.

He gestured for the others to take me out.

In the hallway, I ran into Savannah, dolled up to perfection.

She was wearing a custom gown Alexander had commissioned just for her, looking like a little princess.

That one dress cost more than everything I had saved in the past year.

When she saw the state I was in, a satisfied smile spread across her face.

She threw herself into Alexander's arms. "Congratulations, you passed the test! I agree to be your mate!"

Then came Alexander's gentle, cooing voice.

I couldn't make out the words anymore.

I was tossed outside, left to watch through the glass as they melted into each other.

Alexander didn't spare me a single glance.

Savannah clung to him, staring at me with triumph in her eyes.

I walked home in the rain. It took over an hour.

Lying in bed with my head spinning, I suddenly got a message from Savannah.

It was a photo of her and Alexander lying naked in bed together.

The room around them was a mess.

It was obvious what they had just been doing.

Below the photo was a voice message.

I pressed play. Savannah's breathy moans filled my ears, along with Alexander's heavy panting.

In the recording, Savannah asked Alexander whether she was better in bed or his ex.

Alexander's voice was thick with desire.

"You, obviously. She's like a dead fish in bed. No fun at all."

The room spun around me.

I staggered into the bathroom and threw up everywhere.

My skull felt like someone was splitting it open with a hammer.

The next second, I collapsed onto the cold floor.