Chapter 6

I buried my face in my hands, my shoulders shaking.

Through the gaps in my fingers, I secretly watched Lucas's reaction.

The suffocating Alpha aura in the air suddenly vanished. The killing intent in his eyes receded, replaced by a deep self-loathing.

His wolf howled in his mind, its voice filled with regret.

"Look at her, Lucas. She's trembling. We scared her. It's not just that damn Jason; it's us... we failed to teach her the correct values of love."

Lucas sighed heavily and dropped to one knee in front of me.

"Damn it, Emma," his voice was hoarse, laced with suppressed frustration. "I failed you. You are free. But I have to confirm..."

"That bastard... did you accept his Mark? If you did, I have to take you to a witch immediately to sever the bond, do you understand?"

Damn, that was a death-trap question.

I chose tactical silence.

I pretended to cry so hard I couldn't catch my breath, even letting out whimpers like a wounded pup.

Sure enough, Lucas was heartbroken.

He frantically wiped away my tears, no longer pressing the lethal question. Instead, he switched to a tone that was almost pleading.

"Okay, okay, calm down. Just promise me you'll Reject him right now. Cut off all ties with that loser, okay?"

That was an easy one to answer. I’ve read enough novels!

I looked up, my eyes red and swollen, and shouted, "Reject my true love for you? No way! I want to be with him! This is called Forbidden Love!"

The veins on Lucas's temples pulsed violently, looking like they were about to burst.

"True love? That playboy who has slept with every she-wolf in school? What exactly do you see in him?!"

I sobbed, speaking with stubborn resolve.

"He said from now on, he'll only be good to me!"

Bang—!

Lucas smashed his fist into the granite fireplace next to him.

He suppressed the apocalyptic rage burning in his chest over and over again until he finally spoke.

"Emma, get the hell back to your room! You are not to take a single step out that door without my permission! Stay there until you come to your senses!"

Seeing him filled with such rage, I finally relaxed. It looked like his wolf wouldn't be trying to commit suicide anytime soon.

However, I needed to add one final spark to the fire.

I cried and screamed at him, "I hate you, Lucas! Why don't you just die! If you die, I can bring Jason back here to inherit your territory!"

Lucas froze, then laughed out of sheer anger.

"In your dreams! Emma, listen to me clearly. I am going to outlive that Jason! As long as I have breath in my body, that kid won't step one foot on my land!"

I was ecstatic inside.

Bingo! That was exactly the effect I wanted!

I pretended to have a breakdown, covered my ears, and stormed up to my bedroom on the second floor.

Staring at the ceiling, I let out a long sigh of relief.

For now, Lucas shouldn't be seeking death.

I knew this whole "falling for a playboy" drama would work on him.

Why? Because when I was twelve, I became obsessed with a novel about a Pack Princess who fell in love with a poor playboy.

In the book, the playboy was dirt poor, and the only gift he gave the heroine was a dead rabbit he picked out of a trash heap.

I was young and naive, lying on the sofa reading it with gusto, foolishly giggling about how good the playboy was to her.

That day, Lucas came back from patrolling the territory.

He found me reading that trashy novel and heard my admiration. His face turned black as a skillet.

The next second, he snatched the book and tore it to shreds.

I cried out in fear.

But he just crouched down, wiped my tears, and said seriously, "Emma, don't cry. I'm just helping you take out the trash."

The next day, Lucas canceled all the Elder council meetings and even ignored provocations from a neighboring territory.

He shifted into his massive silver wolf form, put me on his back, and ran three hundred kilometers straight to the frozen lands of the North.

Under the gaze of everyone, he single-handedly broke into the territory of the snow bears. After a life-and-death struggle, he brought back a massive ice gem.

He personally hung that priceless gem around my neck.

I still remember that day...

The aurora filled the sky, and the entire Pack cheered.

He was covered in wounds, yet as proud as a god.

He used his bloodstained fingers to gently lift my chin, his eyes filled with arrogance and doting affection.

He said:

"Emma, remember this. In the future, if a male wolf wants to pursue you, unless he can present a trophy more precious than this, unless he can conquer a territory vaster than this for you... he isn't even fit to smell your scent."

I nodded, half-understanding.

Lucas smiled. That year, Lucas was twenty-one and hadn't yet met the Mate who would break his heart.

He was the youngest, strongest Alpha, and the entire forest trembled beneath his feet.

I pulled myself out of the memory and back to reality, clenching my jaw.

Since I was little, this Alpha had raised me too well. He had raised my standards higher than the sky.

I would never let him die such a pathetic death.

With the matter finally settled, I passed out peacefully.

I don't know how much time passed, but groggily, I felt something wet nuzzling against my cheek.

Not a hand, but a wolf's nose.

Then, my body went airborne.

I wasn't panicked because the familiar cedar scent told me it was him.

Lucas had Shifted into that massive silver wolf.

He carefully nudged me onto his broad back with his nose.

He sprinted through the forest like a bolt of silver lightning, heading straight for the Dark Forest at the edge of the territory.

I had to keep playing dead, lying in his soft fur, listening to him and his wolf torturing each other in the Mindlink.

His wolf's voice was low, filled with broken despair.

"Slow down, Lucas, slow down. Don't jostle her."

Lucas didn't respond; he just ran even more steadily on the rugged mountain path.

Minutes later, we stopped in front of a witch's hut.

Lucas shook his body gently, letting me slide onto a pile of soft hay, then instantly shifted back to human form.

"Margot! Get your ass out here! Now!"

The wrinkled old witch walked out holding an oil lamp, startled by the violent Alpha aura.

Lucas grabbed me and dangled me in front of her, pointing at the messy mark on my neck, his voice trembling badly.

"Check it. Tell me, has that Mark... taken hold? Is there any hope? If we sever the bond, will it damage her soul?"