Chapter 2

On the night of my birthday party, Kaelen and Lily arrived fashionably late.

His collar was disheveled and smudged with a trace of pink lipstick, while her face was flushed, and her eyes were heavy with a lingering heat.

To top it off, they stole my spotlight by taking the center of the dance floor together.

Every werewolf in attendance could see exactly what had just happened between them.

In my last life, I would have thrown a massive tantrum, rushing over to demand answers.

I would have asked how my fiance and my sister could be so cruel. Why did they have to do this to me at my birthday party?

But now, I simply glanced away, maintaining an elegant smile as I chatted with the noble shewolves around me.

Kaelen noticed that my gaze only lingered on their suspicious marks for a brief second before moving on as if nothing had happened.

He instinctively shielded Lily behind him, bracing for the scene he expected me to cause.

But though he waited and waited, I didn't even look his way again.

Feeling uneasy, Kaelen let out a scoff. "Kristin, are you suppressing your jealous nature just to make sure I go through with the bonding?

"Smart move. After all, I'm the future Alpha. I can't be tied down to just one shewolf. Since you've been so well-behaved today, I suppose I can reward you."

Everyone in the room turned to watch.

They were all waiting to see what humiliating gift Kaelen would offer me this time.

Instead, Kaelen stepped close, his breath brushing against my neck as he gave a low chuckle. "You really want it, don't you? How about I reward you with a night in my bed?"

I took a deep breath and looked at his smug face. The irritation inside me was boiling up. But just as I opened my mouth to reply, Lily cut me off.

She buried herself in Kaelen's chest, her eyes welling with tears as she whimpered, "Kaelen, how could you say that? Is my body not better than hers?"

Kaelen wrapped his arms around her and gently stroked her back while keeping his eyes locked onto mine.

"Don't cry, babe, I was just joking. Even if she stood stark naked in front of me, I wouldn't give her a second glance."

The crowd erupted into crude laughter, whistling and trading dirty jokes at my expense.

As the malicious whispers washed over me, memories of my last life flashed in my mind.

Back then, Kaelen loved humiliating me like this.

The more embarrassed and outraged I became, the happier he was.

He used to say this was my penance for what I owed Lily, that I brought it on myself.

And if anyone dared to speak up for me, he would tilt his chin up and claim I was just a masochist who enjoyed the degradation.

How utterly boring.

I turned to leave, but Kaelen grabbed my wrist. "Can't keep the act up anymore? I knew a malicious shewolf like you could never be this forgiving."

I forcefully yanked my wrist from his grip and said coldly, "Mind your boundaries, Mr. Olson."

Looking at the red mark on my wrist, Kaelen let out a furious laugh. "Aren't you the one who's so desperate for my love that you'd crawl into my bed? Huh? What's with the sudden modesty?"

Staring at his distorted expression, I felt nothing but pure disgust. "Who said I was going to bond with you?"

The room went dead silent for a few seconds.

Then, the crowd erupted into hysterical laughter.

Kaelen laughed so hard he bent double, tears pricking the corners of his eyes. "You're so obsessed with me. If not me, who else could you possibly bond with?

"The only other available male in my family is my uncle. He's lost five brides in a row, got crippled by bounty hunters, and is completely impotent. Tell me, Kristin. Are you planning to live like a widow for the rest of your life?"