Chapter 5

"A chance to live again!"

Kyle's promise was a bomb that destroyed everyone's sanity.

In an instant, they were all on his side.

The family lawyer immediately scurried over to Kyle, fawning. "Alpha, since everyone supports you, there's no need to waste a precious pearl on a dying old man. I can forge the inheritance documents for you right now..."

"However," he continued, sizing me up like livestock, "we do need to verify this… resurrection claim."

The lawyer smiled. "My pet dog just died yesterday. Why don't we have her bring my dog back first, as proof?"

A dog?

It was absurd.

I looked at Kyle, pleading with my eyes.

He would refuse, right?

Even if he didn't love me, I was his mate. How could he let me perform the ritual with a dead dog?

I watched him, waiting. I hoped he would at least protect the last shred of my dignity as his mate.

Kyle hesitated. His gaze swept over his new, fanatical followers, then landed on me.

The moment our eyes met, I knew his answer.

Faced with such immense temptation, my dignity was worthless.

He agreed.

"Go on, Althea. This is for our future," he commanded coldly. "It's just one pearl. I'll make it up to you later."

In that moment, my heart finally died.

They shoved me toward the stiff corpse of the pet dog.

A faint smell of rot was already coming from it.

Everyone crowded around, watching me like I was some bizarre spectacle.

I looked at their greedy, crazed faces, then at Kyle, who stood by in silence.

And I started to laugh.

I laughed so hard that tears streamed down my face.

Slowly, I stood up straight, and with all the strength I had left, I announced clearly for everyone to hear:

"You're all going to be disappointed."

The crowd stirred. Kyle's face changed.

I met his disbelieving gaze, pulled up my sleeve to show him my bare arm, and revealed the truth, one word at a time.

"My nine Mermaid's Pearls are all gone. The last one was used three days ago… to save your great Alpha."

"My healing power is gone forever."

The entire estate fell into a deathly silence.

"Liar!"

"It's a scam!"

Suspicion and rage replaced their fanaticism.

Kyle stared at my arm. He knew there used to be a shimmering fishtail mark there. He had even told me once it was mysterious and beautiful.

But now, it was gone.

His face turned a furious, mottled red.

He refused to believe it. He rushed at me, grabbing my shoulders and shaking me violently.

"You're lying! You can't be out!"

His men immediately surrounded me, holding me in place.

I looked at his face, twisted with fury, and felt nothing but peace.

It was all over.

"My life is my own now," I said softly, but loud enough for everyone to hear. "I will never sacrifice it for you again."

With those words, I used my last ounce of strength to break free. With a final, desperate sob, I threw myself toward the hard stone wall of the estate.

If I couldn't escape him, death was my only freedom.

Just as I was about to hit the wall—

A pair of powerful arms suddenly wrapped around me from behind, holding me tight.

A man's voice, unfamiliar but full of power, rang out next to my ear with unquestionable authority.

"That's enough."