Chapter 3

That very afternoon, Lukas publicly announced, "Isabella will be the future Luna of the Northera Pack. Her orders are my orders."

Just like that, the entire pack’s attitude shifted.

To curry favor with the future Luna, the maids began openly tormenting me.

Sand was mixed into my meals from the kitchen. My blankets were soaked with water three nights in a row until they were impossible to sleep in.

"Cecilia, are your sheets wet again? Looks like people really don't like you."

Isabella stood at the doorway with her arms crossed and a fake smile on her face.

I ignored her and silently hung the soaked blankets along the drying poles outside the stone corridor.

I knew she wanted to force me to leave the pack on my own, so I had no intention of wasting energy arguing with her.

On my way back to my room, I ran into Lukas.

He shoved me against the stone wall and grabbed me by the throat.

"Would it kill you to go one day without a werewolf?" His eyes were full of familiar mockery.

I couldn't break free, so I simply turned my face away in silence.

"Wretch," he cursed through clenched jaws. "Why are you so cheap? If you really wanted a werewolf that badly, you should've come to me."

When I still said nothing, he suddenly pinched my chin so hard that even my cheeks went numb.

"What? Is it because you know you can't have me, so you got into another werewolf's bed instead? Cecilia, since you love me this much, I'll allow you to be my mistress. But only Isabella can be my mate and future Luna. If you're fine with that, then I'll–"

I slapped his hand away. "Are you insane? I don't like you, and I definitely don't want to be your mistress. And stop talking to me like that."

He suddenly loosened his grip and gently brushed my cheek instead.

"Don't be angry. I know you like me." His tone turned affectionate. "I can't marry you, but I can spoil you. I can give you whatever you want."

I frowned. "I don't need anything from you."

His expression instantly darkened with rage. He shoved me violently to the floor.

"Drop the act! Didn't you work here as a housekeeper to seduce me? Now that you see Isabella being close to me, you're jealous and sleeping with other werewolves? Cecilia, a loose woman like you should feel honored that I even looked your way. I'll give you one last chance. Either become my mistress, or get out of this pack."

I wiped at the scrape near my mouth where I'd hit the wall. I slowly stood up and looked at him calmly. "Fine. I'll leave."

That very night, I packed my bags and prepared to leave the Northera Pack. I would return home and wait for Cain to come back.

But as I carried my luggage out of the room, Isabella suddenly appeared at the staircase and blocked my way.

"Cecilia, why do you insist on stealing my mate?"

I couldn't even be bothered to respond and turned around immediately.

Suddenly, she screamed. "Cecilia, don't!"

I turned around just in time to see her shove open the corridor window and leap from the second floor without hesitation.

The maids downstairs screamed and ran out into the courtyard. I soon heard Lukas' footsteps.

"Isabella!"

He ran over and scooped her off the ground while shouting for someone to call a healer.

Lying in his arms, Isabella spoke tearfully. "It was my fault for not being careful. Cecilia didn't push me.

"She's probably just jealous of me, Lukas. Don't blame her."

"Cecilia!" Lukas looked up at me. His voice turned cold. "Kneel!"

Two werewolf warriors in black uniforms immediately grabbed my arms and dragged me downstairs. They forced me onto my knees.

My knees slammed against the stone slabs as pain shot through them.

Lukas stared down at me coldly. "How dare you hurt my woman?"

I clenched my jaw. "It wasn't me. The entire villa has surveillance cameras. Check them and you'll know the truth."

Isabella tugged at his sleeve and said gently, "Don't blame her. She didn't mean to do it."

"Isabella, why are you still defending her? You're too kind." The anger in Lukas's eyes only intensified as he held her tighter. "But don't worry. You have me. I'll make her pay for this."

I pursed my lips bitterly.

He only believed what Isabella said. He never listened to a single explanation from me.

"Cut her face," he ordered coldly.

My head snapped up, and my pupils became constricted.

"No!" I shouted. "I didn't do anything wrong! You can't do this to me!"

Lukas sneered. "Now you're scared? It's too late."

He waved his hand. "Bring me the silver blade."

Isabella looked at me with a smile.

My entire body trembled with rage. She was the one who jumped off the building and pinned the blame on me.

Lukas picked up the silver blade and slashed it across my face.

The icy blade sliced through my skin. My body trembled from the intense pain.

Warm blood streamed down my cheek and stained the stone steps red.

"This is the price for hurting my mate." He looked down at me and spoke in a deep, cruel voice.

"Cecilia, I'm warning you. If there's a next time, you'll pay with your life."

My blood slowly turned cold, but my heart burned with hatred.

This was the same cold man from my previous life. He let other pack members ridicule us for eight long years.

He raised the knife again. "Still refusing to admit your mistake? Apologize, and I'll let you off."

I stared at him and said each word slowly, "I did nothing wrong. I will never apologize. Lukas, I hate you. I wish you were dead!"

There was a dangerous glimmer in his eyes as he raised the blade.

At that moment, footsteps echoed through the corridor, followed by a deep voice filled with undeniable authority.

"What are you doing?"

It was Cain.

He was back.