Chapter 3

Rowan turned to Yara, letting out a helpless sigh.

"You are always too kind. Chloe, Yara is right. You didn't die, so why be so petty? Let Yara have Tara. Stop causing drama over nothing."

I stared at Rowan in absolute disbelief. I was carrying his pup and was nearly poisoned to death, yet he thought I shouldn't care because I survived?! That was insane!

But back then, I was still blindly in love with him. I thought Yara was just manipulating him. I thought as his mate, I had to be forgiving.

Until one day, I overheard Rowan talking to Yara.

His eyes were full of absolute devotion.

"You need to be more careful with the wolfsbane next time. If you get caught again, I won't cover for you."

Yara hugged his arm and giggled.

"I know, I know. Thank you, Honey."

Tara stood next to them, laughing.

They looked like a perfect, happy family. I felt like I had been plunged into freezing water.

Rowan knew everything all along. He had actively encouraged it.

I was the only idiot kept in the dark.

My hatred burned deep. Seeing Tara now made my blood boil.

But my weak state just looked like a guilty conscience to Tara.

She stood up tall, looking incredibly smug.

"Chloe, the Gamma said he is busy keeping Lady Yara company. As for you, as long as you're not dead, you're fine. If you keep annoying him, he'll reject the mate bond! And he'll make your unborn pup call Lady Yara their mother!"

"The Gamma also said he never loved you. He only mated you because your pack had power to help him rise in the ranks! Now that he's the Head Guard, keeping you around is just him being merciful. If you keep acting up, you can just lie here and die!"

By the time Tara finished, the Lycan King's face was completely black with rage.

He smashed his cup onto the floor. Guards flooded the room, dropping to their knees.

But Tara was completely oblivious.

She marched up to me, baring her teeth in a mocking grin.

"Give it up, Chloe. Your little pity act won't work on the Gamma! And who is this rogue male? If you think making the Gamma jealous will work, you're dead wrong."

"If I tell the Gamma you're rolling around with a filthy rogue while carrying his pup, do you think he'll rip your throat out, or tear you limb from limb?"

Tara looked so damn proud of herself.

She actually mistook the Lycan King for a rogue lover I hired!

The Lycan King's expression was utterly lethal.

He let out a dark, booming laugh. The guards instantly tackled Tara to the floor, pinning her down.

Tara panicked. She finally realized something was horribly wrong. Before she could scream, a guard gagged her and dragged her backward.

"Tear her apart limb from limb! Throw her remains right at Rowan's feet! I want to see exactly what makes this Gamma think he can treat Chloe like trash!"

I blinked at the King's choice of words.

The Lycan King had completely separated me from Rowan in his mind. My gamble was finally paying off!