Chapter 2: A Dying Daughter Last Wish

Valentina POV 

Pain.

Hell, that was the first thing I felt when I opened my eyes.

A sharp ache throbbed in my head, my body felt unusually heavy, and a strange soreness made me freeze for a moment before I even understood where I was.

For a few seconds, I simply stared into the darkness above me.

What the hell happened to me ? Where the hell was I ?

A soft groan escaped my lips as I slowly pushed myself upright. My muscles protested, forcing me to pause before looking around.

I was in a dark room, almost completely covered in shadows. The only indication that morning had arrived was a thin stream of sunlight slipping through a small opening in the wall.

I rubbed my throbbing temple and squeezed my eyes shut, desperately trying to remember how I'd ended up there.

Then everything came rushing back.

My father telling me I was going to marry the Beast King. Me running out of the house in tears. Stumbling into a celebration where someone offered me free wine.

I remembered drinking... a lot.

Then came the strange noises that had led me into a dark room, where I'd encountered a man wearing a silver mask.

And...

I'd asked him to...

No.

No, no, no!

Don't tell me I actually...

My breathing caught as I slowly looked down, almost afraid of what I would find.

I was completely naked.

My stomach dropped.

"Oh, God..."

My fingers tightened around the blanket as the realization hit me.

What had I done?

I'd spent the night with a complete stranger when I was supposed to marry the Beast King!

Panic immediately surged through me. My father would be furious, and the entire pack would probably turn my mistake into another reason to mock me.

But beneath the panic, something else stirred.

Satisfaction as more memories of the previous night returned.

I remembered the way the stranger had held me so carefully, almost as though he were afraid of hurting me. Despite whatever aphrodisiac had affected him, he'd been surprisingly gentle. He hadn't been rough with me once.

A small smile almost tugged at my lips.

If I was being honest, that night had been the best of my life.

Which left me with one question.

Who was he?

Just at that moment a soft rustling sound suddenly came from beside me, making me freeze.

Slowly, I turned my head and spotted the silhouette of a man lying on the bed.

My heart nearly leapt out of my chest, but when I noticed the familiar silver mask, I immediately recognized him.

The stranger.

I couldn't make out his features in the darkness, but the mask caught the faint morning light, giving him an almost mysterious glow.

For a moment, I simply stared at him before curiosity got the better of me.

I wonder what he looks like.

Come to think of it, he'd given me one beautiful memory, something I could carry with me for the rest of my life. Didn't I at least deserve to see his face?

With that thought, I carefully leaned closer, my heartbeat quickening as I reached toward his mask.

But before my fingers could touch it, a low growl suddenly rumbled from his chest.

I jerked backward immediately, my heart nearly stopping.

The sound was deep and primal, and suddenly, whatever courage the alcohol had given me the previous night disappeared.

Without the alcohol clouding my judgment, I finally understood how foolish I'd been.

Whoever this man was, he clearly wasn't ordinary, and every instinct inside me screamed that I needed to leave.

Immediately, I climbed off the bed as quietly as possible and searched the floor until I spotted my scattered clothes.

With trembling hands, I hurriedly pulled them on, fumbling several times because my fingers wouldn't stop shaking.

The room suddenly felt colder, or perhaps it was just the fear settling beneath my skin.

Once dressed, I glanced at him one last time.

He hadn't moved, and the silver mask still concealed his face.

For some reason, disappointment flickered inside me. I'd probably never discover who he was, but my safety mattered more.

I bit my lower lip and quietly slipped out before he could wake, making sure not to look back.

---

By the time I got home, the entire pack was in turmoil because everyone had been searching for me.

Wolves moved in and out of the pack house, while voices echoed through the compound as they called my name. The moment I stepped through the gates, every eye turned toward me.

"Esmeralda!"

As expected, my father's furious face was the first thing I saw. Sofia stood quietly behind him, watching with her usual unreadable expression.

"Where have you been?" Father demanded, his voice sharp enough to silence everyone around us.

Normally, that tone alone would've sent fear racing through my body. I would've lowered my head, apologized repeatedly, and accepted whatever punishment he decided I deserved.

But today...

Today, as I stood looking at him, I realized I wasn't afraid anymore.

All I felt was numbness, the same numbness I'd experienced when he'd offered me to the Alpha King.

After what he'd done, I honestly couldn't imagine what else he could do to hurt me.

With that thought, I ignored his question and continued walking, intending to pass him as though he wasn't there.

But before I could, his hand shot out and clamped around my wrist.

"You..." His grip tightened as he glared at me. "I'm talking to you! And you dare walk out on me? The nerve..."

He suddenly stopped.

I watched his brows furrow as his nose twitched, almost as though he'd picked up an unfamiliar scent.

His eyes travelled over my face before narrowing suspiciously.

"What's that smell around you?" he asked. Confusion slowly gave way to suspicion. "Have you... been with a man?"

Behind him, Sofia gasped, but I remained silent.

There was no point denying it.

"Oh, yes, she definitely has," Sofia chimed in, stepping closer. Her gaze travelled over my body before settling on my neck, where a knowing smile spread across her lips. "Just look at those love bites and scratches. She clearly spent the night with a man."

Father's expression darkened.

"You little slut!" he growled, raising his hand.

My body immediately tensed, instinctively preparing for the familiar sting of his slap.

But it never came.

I stared at his hand in confusion. It had stopped just inches from my face, his fingers trembling slightly as his jaw clenched.

He was furious, that much was obvious, but for some reason, he couldn't bring himself to strike me.

I frowned.

That had never happened before. My father had never hesitated to hit me, not once.

So why had he stopped now?

Then it hit me.

A small smile tugged at my lips.

"What is it, Father?" I asked quietly, stepping closer instead of backing away. "Why did you stop? Go on... hit me."

He remained still.

"Oh, I understand now."

A short laugh escaped me, and his jaw tightened.

"You're scared."

Something dangerous flashed across his face, but I continued.

"You know you can't damage the merchandise before delivering it, don't you?" I emphasized the last word, watching his expression change. "You can't hit me because you're afraid the Alpha King won't accept damaged goods if he sees even a scratch on me. Isn't that it?"

His face twisted with rage.

"You insolent bitch!" he roared, pointing a finger at me. "Now tell me who touched you! I said tell me his name!"

I simply looked at him and smiled.

"Forget it, Father. I'm not telling you."

"You stubborn..."

He stepped toward me, clearly intending to strike again, but Sofia quickly grabbed his arm.

"No, Gale." She shook her head. "Don't fall for it. Can't you see she's deliberately trying to provoke you? Whatever happens, we must make sure she's in perfect condition for the Beast King."

Perfect condition.

The words echoed through my head like a broken record.

I couldn't help letting out a quiet laugh.

Not healthy. Not safe.

Just... perfect condition.

As though I weren't a person. As though I were nothing more than an item waiting to be delivered.

"Fine."

Father took a slow breath before lowering his hand, although his cold gaze remained fixed on me.

"You're right, Sofia. We can't hurt her, but we've got a lot of things to do."

He paused before continuing.

"Take her and make sure she undergoes the cleansing ritual. Hide her scent so the bastard who touched her can't trace her. Do everything possible to ensure the King never discovers she's been with another man. And if possible..."

He stopped briefly, and what he said next made my blood run cold.

"Wipe her memories of the previous night, too."

My eyes widened.

For a moment, I thought I'd heard him wrong.

Wipe my memories?

The words echoed through my head, and I instinctively took a step backward.

No.

They couldn't do that.

They couldn't take away the only good memory I had.

"No!"

The shout escaped before I could stop myself, making everyone in the courtyard turn toward me.

Even Father looked stunned.

Well, he should be.

This was the first time in my life I'd openly defied his orders. My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears, but I refused to back down.

I lifted my chin and met his gaze.

"Look, I accept the cleansing ritual," I said, forcing my voice to remain steady despite my trembling hands. "Hide my scent if you have to. Do whatever else you think is necessary, but I won't let you wipe away my memories."

Father stared at me as though I'd suddenly lost my mind.

"Have you completely lost your senses?" he snapped.

I ignored him because I already knew he wouldn't understand.

How could he?

He'd spent years making sure my life was filled with pain. How could someone like him understand what it meant to finally have one memory that didn't hurt?

"You see..." I began quietly.

Despite everything, a small smile found its way onto my lips as memories of the previous night flooded my mind.

"That night was the best night of my life."

Silence fell over the courtyard.

I took a deep breath before continuing.

"And since you're sending me to die anyway, I want to die holding on to one happy memory."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, forcing another small smile.

"It's the least you can do for me, right, Father? Take it as your dying daughter's last wish."

For a long moment, nobody spoke.

Everyone, including Sofia, turned toward him, waiting for his response.

Even I waited.

Honestly, I expected him to refuse. I wasn't Clara, his precious daughter, so why would he grant me something as simple as this?

But to my surprise, something flickered across his face.

It disappeared almost immediately, but I noticed it.

His shoulders relaxed slightly as he lowered his head. And for the first time in a long while, he wasn't looking at me with anger alone.

There was something else in his expression.

Something almost gentle.

The silence stretched between us until he finally released a slow breath.

"...Fine," he muttered, his voice considerably quieter. "If that's what you want..."

He paused before lifting his eyes to meet mine.

"You can keep your memories."