Chapter 3

Once Marcus left, I immediately went to get an abortion.

Before getting on the surgical table, I received a message from him. A sliver of hope rose in me.

Perhaps he would be different compared to our past life. Perhaps our relationship could still be salvaged.

[I had spoken out of anger, Lorelei. Please don't take it to heart. I will surely marry you. I'll be back before Christmas dinner. Wait for me.]

[But Sienna… she’s so vulnerable. She really needs someone to look after her. I hope you'll be more forgiving with her, please? This is the last time I'll say this to you.]

The final trace of hope faded into nothing. And deep within, my wolf murmured, “It’s over.”

I shut my screen and lay on the surgical table. A weakness I had never felt before washed over me.

The surgeon asked me, "Ma'am, are you alright? Why are you crying?"

I wiped away my tears and shut my eyes in pain. I did not have the energy to face all this.

"I'm fine. Please continue. Don't mind me."

Before slipping into unconsciousness, I thought about the past six months and how Marcus got less enthusiastic about the marriage—the times he asked to delay the marriage increased.

I knew all the unsettling changes started with Sienna. Marcus still loved me, but now… I wasn’t the only one in his eyes anymore.

I could not take this. Initially, I wanted to leave the Shadowhowl pack to let Sienna and him be together, but right before I left, Marcus came looking for me.

He hugged me tightly, crying and asking me not to leave.

I felt loved in his arms. It was that night that our passions turned into a raging fire. We spent a night together, and I got pregnant with this pup.

I was unaware that there was a shelf life on our love. Marcus's one was extremely short.

'My baby pup, I'm sorry. I fell in love with the wrong man. Getting pregnant with you was also a mistake.'

When I came around, my abdomen was flat.

Sienna sent me many messages, showing off with her and Marcus together.

Photos of them choosing matching floaties, of Marcus teaching Sienna to swim, of her rubbing sunscreen onto his back…

[Lorelei, Marcus said that you love the sea too? It's too fun here! It's such a pity you're not here.]

[By the way, he bought me a Christmas tree. It has been sent to your home.]

[You old woman. I really don't know how you have the audacity to still be with Marcus. Don't you think you should move aside for me? You keep clinging to him. Don't you know how cheap you are?]

I gazed at the messages in a daze, then replied as if every word had been carved out of my heart,

[Since you like Marcus so much, he's all yours.]

I did not know if Sienna truly loved Marcus or just his power as a future Alpha.

Would she still love him if Marcus was no longer the Alpha?

After sending the text, I felt extremely feeble. I tried going to sleep, but I received a call from Marcus. He sounded mad.

"I don't get it, Lorelei! Why do you keep bullying Sienna? Sienna said that you berated her again! This isn't the first time!

"I just want to bring her out to feel what it's like to have someone spending Christmas with her. Why do you have to upset her? Apologize to her at once! If not, you won't want to know what I'll say about you during the Christmas dinner!"

I numbly moved the phone away from my ear and hung up on him. I looked at my phone. The name I set for him was "One and Only." I looked at it a long time before blocking his number.

The day I was discharged from the hospital after the abortion was Christmas day. I returned home and cleared out everything that belonged to Marcus.

I bought the place with my money. Keeping Marcus's belongings here would only upset me.

Before attending the dinner, a gorgeous Christmas tree arrived. The star on top of the tree had both names—Marcus and Sienna. I guessed this was the Christmas gift Marcus had prepared for Sienna.

Sienna's text soon came.

[Hey, old woman, did you see the tree Marcus bought for me? The tree is full of Marcus’s gifts and blessings for me — they’re expensive, so I’d suggest you don’t even think about taking any. Wouldn’t want to upset him, right?]

[I suddenly feel that it doesn't matter even if you two got married. Anyway, anyone could see who Marcus cares more about.]

I was just about to block this latest number, which I didn’t even know was the fifth one Sienna had changed, when my phone pinged with a message from my 'betrothed.'

As I read the message, a painful, almost relieved smile spread across my face.

'Marcus, go ahead and enjoy yourself with Sienna. After tonight, maybe you won’t be so happy anymore…'

That night, the two packs gathered together for dinner to discuss the marriage of convenience, yet Marcus, who was the main character, was extremely late.

Marcus's father, Richard, was crossed.

"Why is Marcus still not here yet? Today is such an important day, and he's late! How could I ever trust him to manage the Shadowhowl pack in the future? This is all your fault! You've spoiled him rotten!" He yelled at Marcus's mother, Victoria.

She was so aggrieved that she lowered her head, upset.

The guests who attended the dinner were unhappy about Marcus's tardiness, but I know that Marcus was most likely by the venue entrance waiting for me to go there to apologize to Sienna.

He was trying to teach me a lesson by being late.

Of course, I was also waiting for someone, and it was not Marcus.

I politely consoled everyone there while ignoring the constant bombardment of messages on my phone.

Half an hour later, my phone finally quieted down. Marcus finally entered with a sullen expression.

"I never knew you were such a werewolf, Lorelei! Why wouldn't you apologize to Sienna? This is your last chance. If you still don't apologize to her, we'll call off the marriage!"

The entire venue was in pin-drop silence.

Richard stood up and yelled at Marcus, "Hold up. What are you talking about? You're not only late, but you also dare to yell at Lorelei in public. You should be the one apologizing to her!"

My father, Jefferson, was equally infuriated. He sneered. "So this is how Marcus shows his love for my daughter? He'd dare to threaten to call off the marriage in front of so many people? Who knows how he humiliates her in private! So you think the Moonfang pack is not good enough for you, Marcus?"

The marriage was an exchange of benefits between both packs. Richard would not dare to offend the Moonfang pack. He forced Marcus to apologize to me.

Marcus insisted that he was not at fault and refused to apologize.

Soon, Sienna ran in crying.

"Everyone, I'm sorry! It's all my fault!

"Lorelei, you don't have to apologize to me. It's okay if you bully me. I'm used to all the bullying since I was young!

"Lorelei being in the mix… It won't affect me!"

Everyone looked at Sienna contemptuously. This was my marriage dinner with Marcus; Sienna should not be there.

Alas, Marcus once again bought Sienna's pitiful act. He went in closer to my ear and said gently yet ruthlessly, "We won't be getting married if you refuse to apologize, Lorelei. What would other people say when you have a child before marriage?

"By then, everyone would think you shamelessly tried to cling to me. I love you. I don't wish to see you end up so tragically."

I looked up at him in disbelief.

Marcus smiled confidently. "Lorelei, all you need to say is sorry. Everyone should apologize for their mistakes. Be a good girl. As long as you apologize to Sienna, we'll fix a date for our marriage. You know what to do."

I always admitted my mistakes, but I refused to accept when one falsely accused me of doing something I did not do.

Marcus waited for me to apologize. My father was still angry, but he did not ask to call off the marriage.

Marcus knew how important this marriage was. Besides, he was still under the impression that I loved him very much and that I would not call off the marriage, so he was brazen about it.

I held my breath. My chest constricted tightly. What should I do? Was apologizing to Sienna my only option?

The next moment, the doors to the venue opened, and a tall werewolf entered.

The one that I had been waiting for was finally here!