Chapter 1

Violet's POV

“P-Please let me go.”

I pleaded as I felt a pair of strong hands stroking my bare thighs. I hissed as they tried to get between my legs.

My breath hitched when he stopped. I swallowed, trying to push his hands.

I was lying in bed with the man over me.

In the darkness, I could not see the man's face. His touches were also unfamiliar, making it difficult for me to unwind.

The touches sent shivers down my spine and raised goosebumps on my skin.

When he buried his head in his neck, I assumed it was my husband, Leo Easton.

The way he ran his tongue over my skin set my whole body on fire and made me moan.

“Aahh!”

His tongue rolled across my skin before slowly moving to my ear.

“LEO!”

I moaned loudly, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him closer.

But when he heard the name I mentioned, he stopped moving.

I froze, unsure of what I had done wrong. He then moved his head and looked at me.

His flaming red eyes locked with mine. I could not see his face but only his eyes. I was astounded by the mysterious yet furious eyes.

Fear gripped me, and I shut my eyes.

He let out an angry growl and said,

“I am not your husband Leo.”

Hearing this, I gasped in shock and flung open my eyes.

My eyes widened with surprise. Because I was completely alone in my bedroom. I looked around the room, noticing the bright sunlight streaming in through the window.

I sighed, realizing it was all a nightmare.

I sat up and wiped the sweat from my forehead.

“The same nightmare again!”

Ever since Leo and I were married, I have had the same nightmare almost every night after he slept with me.

“Who was the man in my dream? An illusion of my mind?” I asked myself.

When I tried to get up on the bed, I hissed. I felt sore in my lower body. It was because of last night with my husband.

I was an Omega, an eighteen-year-old girl. Although other girls had found their mates by this age, I believed my husband Leo was my mate because he married me and chose me as his mate.

We met last year, and he proposed marriage because he said he liked me. He did something for my family that convinced me to trust him with my life, so I accepted his proposal. I was very inferior in front of his rank, yet he married me.

Our first wedding anniversary was this weekend, so it felt like a year had passed in a flash.

He was the head Alpha of our Crimson Howl Pack. He was four years older than me. I held him in high regard. He was doing an excellent job as the young Alpha.

On the other hand, I was just an ordinary omega. Even though I became Luna after marrying him, he had not marked me yet.

The pack’s members always mocked me about it. But I ignored their mockery because I could wait for him to do it when he felt like it.

Leo and I lived in "Moon Palace," the house my father gifted us after our wedding.

Someone opened the door of the room. I turned my head and saw Leo walking into the room. He looked ready to go to his company early this morning.

He was a perfect man. His grey eyes and sharp brows had always captivated me.

I waited for him to look at me while clutching the quilt to my chest.

But he moved stiffly. He walked toward the bed and grabbed his watch from the nightstand. He walked past the bed without even glancing at me.

It was as if I were merely a piece of furniture, not a person.

My smile faded, then slowly disappeared. I felt a cold, tight knot in my stomach, and the pain in my body and lower back got worse.

I stared at him, assuming he would look at me and smile back.

"Good morning, Leo," I said to him, hoping to get a response.

"You know I prefer silence in the morning, Violet," he replied with a cold tone.

The air in the room suddenly felt heavy, making it difficult to breathe.

This happened every morning after he stayed the night with me. Most of the time, he traveled abroad for business meetings. I rarely got to see him.

I got out of bed when I noticed he was holding a tie and attempting to knot it. The quilt wrapped around my body, concealing my naked body within.

I limped toward him, feeling numb in my lower body. I lifted my hand and placed it on his shoulder.

"Let me help you."

He turned around, and I helped him knot his tie. I blushed as soon as I felt his gaze on me.

When I finished, I raised my gaze to look at him. I froze when I saw him slightly wrinkling his nose.

I was stunned. Did he not like my scent?

My heart tightened inside. It had been almost a year, and I still could not win his heart.

Every day, I tried to learn how to be the ideal wife for him and waited for him to return home. I even gave up my studies for him, but he never looked at me.

'Perhaps he realized I am not perfect for him. I smell terrible! Is this why he doesn't come home often?' I thought.

My eyes welled with tears. I turned around and walked up to the bathroom.

From behind, Leo spoke up.

"You are walking like a turtle. Why are you so weak?"

The tears that shuffled in my eyes ran down my cheeks. The soreness in my body, which had been a tender reminder of our intimacy, now felt like a cruel joke.

I wiped my tears away quickly and asked,

"Will you come home for dinner today?"

I knew his answer would be no. But still I always asked.

"I will," he answered.

I was not expecting that. Then I heard the loud sound of the door closing.

He left me in a daze.

I was excited throughout the day. In the evening, I started cooking for Leo. I spent hours preparing his favorite dishes, which I was confident he would enjoy.

I set the table and waited for him.

Hour after hour passed while I waited for him. The maids laughed at me and whispered to one another. I overheard one of them saying something.

"She worked hard, but it was in vain. Clearly Alpha doesn't like her anymore."

I lowered my head, feeling the urge to cry. But the sound of a car screeching outside reached my ears.

I got up from my chair and dashed toward the main door. When I saw Leo walk into the house, a bright smile spread across my face.

"Leo, I was waiting for you with dinner," I said with a grin.

He looked at me with a frown. "What?" he asked as if he had forgotten about dinner.

"I prepared dinner for you."

He approached the table after taking a quick glance at it. I followed him with a smile.

I pulled out a chair for him to sit in. "Let me serv–"

I was interrupted by a loud crashing sound. My eyes widened when I saw Leo had thrown a dish on the floor.

"Leo!"

"Is that the best you can do?" he sneered. "You wanted me to eat this? Even the servants eat better than that!"

Tears filled my eyes as I stared at the food I had prepared for him, which was now all over the floor.

This was my life, a constant struggle as my husband's feelings for me were fading away.

"I-I am sorry, Leo. I tried my best," I replied with a low and shaky voice.

He growled, slamming his fist against the table,

"Your best is never good enough."