Chapter 3

Ivan gave me a long look before shaking his head. "Chloe, I have to take responsibility for my pack. Iris is a kind she-wolf… She prepared these pastries for you."

A wave of nausea overwhelmed me. I put down what was left of the piece and didn't take another bite.

Ivan frowned, wanting to say something, when someone rushed in and shouted, "Ivan, Iris suddenly fainted. You should go check on her."

Ivan immediately stood up, appearing quite anxious. "What? I'll go over there now."

At the same time, a sudden pain hit my abdomen. I clenched my stomach, realizing that someone might have added something to those pastries.

"Ivan, wait…" I tried to reach for the hem of his shirt.

Ivan seemed annoyed by my reaction. "Chloe, stop it. Iris needs me. Once this is over, I'll be with you, okay?"

With that, he left decisively without sparing me another glance.

I felt desperate. I wanted to cry out for help, but my whole body was burning and weak. A wave of spasms shook me, and I couldn't even make a sound.

Luckily, someone walked in soon after.

Trembling, I grabbed the hem of their shirt and begged, "Please… save me and my pup…"

"So you're Chloe, huh?" A female voice came from above me, followed by a soft laugh. "Did you enjoy the pastries I made for you?"

My whole body went rigid. Fighting through the pain, I forced myself to lift my head and saw an elegantly poised she-wolf standing over me.

"It's you, Iris… You made those pastries? What did you put in them?"

Iris flashed me a sweet smile. "Hmm… flour, sugar, butter, and just a little Wolfsbane."

Tears of hatred rolled down my cheeks.

"Don't blame me, okay? Why would you get pregnant with Ivan's pup in the first place?" With a slight tug, she pulled her hand away and shook mine off with disdain. "I'm the one who is supposed to be with him. If anyone finds out about the bastard, I'll become a disgrace to the pack."

I asked coldly, "Aren't you afraid I'll come back for revenge?"

Iris laughed so hard she could barely stand, wiping away tears of amusement. "What could a nobody like you possibly do against me? Do you think you're the Alpha King's daughter?"

I had been so close to taking my pup safely home. I promised myself I would never let them get away with this.

I deliberately knocked the pastries off the table in the commotion, so Iris wouldn't realize that I'd only taken one bite.

Iris waved her hand in disgust. "What a crude thing to do."

Noticing that I was lying over the table, trembling nonstop, she smiled and watched me for a moment before ordering her lackeys.

"Clean up this place and lock the door. Don't let our guest wander around and cause trouble for anyone else. Also, tell the wolves stationed outside to keep a close watch on her. Tomorrow is my bonding ceremony. Nothing can go wrong."

The door shut, cutting off all the noise outside, while I curled up on the floor, writhing in agony. Bracing myself against the cold ground, I reached into the pocket near my chest and pulled out a pendant. By the moonlight, I could make out its shape.

It was a keepsake Grandmother had left me. When I was young, Mother gave me this peculiar-looking piece, telling me it had the power to heal me, calm my wolf, and even contain an emergency antidote.

As my consciousness began to fade, I smashed open the pendant and swallowed the antidote.

The warmth that filled my body slowly drained away. Just before I slipped into darkness, I heard the familiar voices of my family calling for me.