Chapter 3

The other day, Granny woke up, her mind surprisingly clear for a while. She gently placed her hand over mine and called me with joy, “Sweetheart, my precious.”

I turned my face away, wiping at the tears silently rolling down my cheek.

“Granny, please stay safe and sound. Once you’re better, we can sit under the sunset together again.”

She smiled faintly, said nothing—and soon slipped back into a deep coma. She hadn’t woken since.

Later, I fell asleep in my room, drained and exhausted. A noise in the hallway stirred me.

When I stepped out, I saw a couple standing with their backs to me.

“Chase, where’s Taryn?” the she-wolf asked.

Chase turned his head slightly. The woman followed his gaze—and saw me.

“Taryn?” She approached quickly, grabbing my hand. “It’s really you! But you look so pale... so weak.”

I looked down. Around her wrist was the moonstone bracelet—an heirloom from Chase’s clan.

She must be Wynette.

“What’s wrong with you?” Chase snapped, stepping forward. “She’s going to be my Luna. You should be showing respect, not ignoring her like this.”

He glared at me as if Wynette had suffered some deep humiliation just because I didn’t bow and scrape.

I offered Wynette a polite smile and said softly, “Are you here to visit Granny? She’s upstairs.”

“Yes,” she said, glancing up the staircase. “It’s been a long time since I last saw her. Wait for me here, okay? We’ve already reserved dinner.”

She went up.

Chase remained in the hall, eyes still fixed on me. I turned away, avoiding his stare—but my mouth moved before I could stop it.

“Congratulations on finding your Luna... and on the bonding ceremony.”

He scoffed.

“You care too much about my bonding ceremony. Still want to deny you’re here to scheme something?” His eyes sharpened. “Taryn, if you so much as touch Wynette or harm any member of this pack again, I won’t let you leave here alive.”

A hollow ache spread through my chest, making it hard to breathe.

I responded numbly, “You’re overthinking. My wolf is already too broken to fight even an Omega.”

But he didn’t hear me—or he simply chose not to.

I didn’t go to dinner with them. I told Gwen I had some personal matters to attend to. In truth, I was broke and still bound to the rogue wolves’ control. They hadn’t allowed me to return alone.

I was still their slave.

I bartended at night to make money for them. Every cent I earned was taken by the werewolf assigned to shadow me.

“Leave me some for transport,” I begged, grabbing his sleeve.

He kicked me hard in the stomach. “What the hell do you expect with that pitiful amount?”

I curled on the ground, pain exploding through my body.

“Don’t forget why you’re here,” he sneered. “You’re here to borrow money from the Lycan King—for your freedom. You know what happens if you fail.”

Another brutal kick hit my face.

I lay there, half-conscious, praying for death to come quickly.

When I finally returned to the old chateau, it was past 3 a.m.

Gwen opened the door and gasped. “Miss Taryn! What happened?!”

I covered my face. “Don’t worry. I fell... on the way back.”

I was too tired to lie well—too exhausted to care. All I wanted was sleep.

Someone came down the stairs—tall, broad-shouldered. I knew who it was before I looked up.

Chase.

He hadn’t stayed here last night. Why was he back now?

“Stand still.”

I stepped into the shadows, avoiding the light. “What is it?”

He narrowed his eyes and marched over, gripping my shoulders firmly.

“What happened to your face?”

His aura—too powerful, too close—made it hard to breathe.

“I—I fell.”

“You fell?” His voice was sharp. “Where were you? It's almost dawn!”

He tightened his grip. His presence was suffocating—his black silk pajama doing nothing to soften the menace in his eyes.

I struggled weakly, but he wouldn’t let go.

Pain burned through me again—fresh and sharp. I couldn’t take it.

So I tilted my face up and stepped closer, drawing in the scent of his breath. I stared into those piercing dark blue eyes.

“Are you worried about me?”

His eyes flickered. Doubt cracked his expression. He turned away.

I was about to say more—something reckless—when he abruptly shoved me back.

“Shut up,” he snapped. “No one would care about a two-faced liar like you.”

My back slammed into the wall. My wolf howled inside me from the pain.

I slumped in the shadows, watching him walk away.

My heart didn’t hurt anymore.

It was just... tired. So tired.