Chapter 3：Trust Me

Corie POV:

I returned to my rented cottage, not sleeping a wink all night.

When I got up early the next morning, my head throbbed with a dizzy ache.

I touched my forehead; I was burning with fever.

The wounds on the soles of my feet were swollen and hot with pain.

I stuffed a few pieces of clothing into a duffel bag, then swept the remaining items into trash bags and piled them by the door to throw away.

The door swung open, and Kent rushed inside.

"Corie, why didn't you answer my calls?"

A jolt went through me, and the glass in my grip slipped, shattering into a pile of shards across the floor.

I cast a cold glance at him, brought over a trash can, and began picking up the broken glass piece by piece.

He walked over and crouched beside me.

"Let me do that."

"No need, noble Alpha."

His outstretched hand froze midair.

"Corie, hear me out."

"Don't waste your time, Alpha."

I had zero appetite for whatever sugarcoated version of last night's betrayal he had prepared.

"I had no choice."

He reached out and snatched my wrist.

"Ah—"

A sharp sting bit into my fingertip as a bead of bright red blood welled up.

"What do you think you're doing!" I yanked my hand back with all my force.

His jaw tightened, his voice dropping low.

"I didn't mean to."

As an Alpha, apologies almost never crossed his lips.

And of course, someone like me didn't deserve one anyway.

I grabbed a few tissues and wrapped them around my finger, the white paper soaking through instantly.

I went back to packing.

He watched me in heavy silence.

Only when I stuffed the bag to the brim and pulled the zipper shut did realization seem to hit him.

"Where are you going?"

"Leaving this place."

"Why?"

"None of your business."

Silence fell over the room.

Only his heavy breathing echoed in the air.

"Corie, last night was a move I was forced to make."

"Is that so? Did I force you to fuck me like crazy two nights ago, or did Sarah force you into her bed?"

He dropped his head, cutting off eye contact.

"Don't say that, Corie. I can't let you go. The one I truly love is you."

"So in your fucked-up world, even the deepest love can be traded away."

He flinched, his jaw locking tight.

"We're looking at this from completely different places," he raised his voice.

"I'm the Alpha. I just took over, my grip isn't stable yet, and I have a responsibility to Silvercrest."

"And so what?" I yelled back. "You could have warned me. You could have rejected me before any of this. But you chose to turn me into everyone's punchline."

I didn't want to break down, but the tears burst through anyway.

He went quiet for a moment.

"I know this is hell for you, but do you think it was easy for me?"

His voice was raspy.

"I fought the Elders until the final hour... I'm sorry, Corie. I'm so damn sorry."

Exhaustion weighed down his tone.

"But I had to use this move to cement Sarah's standing."

My tears spilled out like a broken dam.

"So I'm just collateral damage to you?"

His throat worked as he swallowed hard.

"I know you're hurting. Just give me time. I'll figure a way out."

"She's already the Luna! What the hell else can you do?"

He locked his eyes onto mine, dead set.

"Don't leave. Stay by my side. Once my power is solid, I'll make you the true Luna."

I froze.

A few seconds passed before I burst into laughter.

"In what capacity am I supposed to stay by your side? Your maid? Or your mistress?"

He hesitated for a second.

"We'll figure something out. You have to trust me."

"Sorry, but I will never trust you again."

I picked up my duffel bag from the floor and headed for the door.

"Get back here—"

He grabbed my bag, tossed it aside, and dragged me into his arms.

"Let go!"

I shook with rage, struggling with everything I had.

"Corie, don't leave me." He tightened his grip.

"You bastard, let go!"

Suddenly, he loosened his arms and cupped my face.

"You're burning up—are you sick?"

Tension flickered in his eyes, softened by a sudden spike of concern.

Just like before.

I almost... slipped back under his spell.

But reality snapped me awake immediately; I backed away a few steps and snatched my bag.

"None of your business."

"Corie," he cut off my path, "I forbid you to leave."

I sucked in sharp breaths, trying desperately to push back the tears filling my eyes.

"Sorry, but I have zero interest in being the third person in someone else's relationship."

The light in his eyes dimmed for a fraction of a second, his chest rising and falling.

Then, the warmth in his gaze cooled into ice, degree by degree.

"In that case, Corie, I order you as your Alpha: you are not to leave."

Something shattered inside me, just like the glass on the floor earlier.

I wiped the tears from my face and stared straight into the coldness of his eyes.

"My noble Alpha, what if I insist on leaving?

“Are you going to throw me in a cell, or have me executed?"

His lips pressed into a tight, hard line.

I slung the duffel bag onto my shoulder, taking one step back toward the door at a time.

"If you try to stop me, I'll report your infidelity to the Elders."

With tears spilling down my face, I offered him one last smile.

"I will actually do it. You need to trust me on that."

I stepped out of the cottage.

Just as I expected, he didn't follow me out.

Every drop of my strength had been completely drained.

I shoved my luggage into a cab and left behind the place that used to hold all my happiness, now poisoned by nothing but pain.

I peeled the bloody tissue off my finger and tossed it into the cab's trash bag.

The wound had stopped bleeding.

Mia asked softly, "Are you really that set on this?"

"I don't play around when it comes to love."

I pulled out my phone and dialed the number.

"Linda, I'm coming to your place."