Chapter 4

Elizabeth’s POV

[“Hi Elizabeth. It’s me, Max. I messaged you because there’s something you need to know. The truth is Elaina lied to me today. She took that video out of a joke. I felt so guilty for you, Elizabeth. And I want to make you feel better. Can you come and meet me tonight?”]

Hope.

At some point, I stopped believing that there would be hope for me. Because the moment I do, Elaina will appear and steal everything.

But this time, I wanted to believe Max.

The wolf inside me suggested calling the number to confirm that it was Max, not Elaina. I didn’t know calling someone would take much courage because my hands right now were trembling as I dialed his number.

Kring! Kring!

After three rings, the person from the other line answered.

[“Elizabeth?”]

‘This voice! I know it is Max!’

 I felt so happy to hear his voice as I began to hope that things will turn out better.

“M-Max. It’s you.”

[“Yes, it’s me. Elizabeth, I am so sorry for hurting you. Right now, I don’t know how to face you, but I know I must. Elaina tricked me. She told me to say those words and took a video of me without my consent.”]

My lower lip quivered and I bit it in order to stop the tremor.

‘I wanted to believe him. My mate was apologizing and he was willing to fix our relationship.’

I prayed inwardly that he was telling the truth.

“I see. So, those words aren’t true?” I asked while holding my breath.

[“Of course! How can I reject my mate just like that? But Elizabeth, I was really hurt by you. I had a hard time after you rejected me. It was so painful.”]

“M-Max, I am so sorry. I did not want to hurt you.”

[“Really? Then, can we meet?”]

Max wanted to meet me? Is this for real?

“We can meet for real?”

[“What’s wrong with that? Even if you rejected me, I can still be your mate. Let’s fix this, Elizabeth. Meet me here in WestWood.”]

‘Can I really trust the words of the man whom I saw hugging my stepsister?’

My wolf said to be wary. But my foolish heart was stubborn.

“Alright, Max. I will meet you. Wait for me.”

[“I’ll be waiting for you, my lovely Elizabeth.”]

I hung up the call with a joyous heart.

‘Finally!  Things will get better!’

Elated, I looked at myself in front of the mirror. There are bruises and wounds on my body but that’s alright. I can just wear extra clothes.

After hiding the wounds and bruises, I carefully opened the door to check if my stepsister and stepmother were still waiting.

‘They are not in the living room.’

I didn’t waste any time and walked out.

‘Be careful, Elizabeth. You don’t know what was waiting for you there.’

My wolf was so eager to warn me, but I kept on defending Max. There’s no way my mate would hurt me. After all, he came first to apologize and offered to fix our misunderstanding.

Minutes later I arrived at WestWood. The moon was shining so bright, shimmering down to the place near the border line of the Black Lake territory. Under the light, I saw Max waiting for me.

His blonde hair looks gold. Max’s gray eyes looked at me with excitement as if there were refined jewels. He looks quite happy to see me. I and my wolf felt that too.

“Thank goodness, Elizabeth,” Max said as he stood before me. “I was really nervous. I thought you would not come.”

My Alpha was happy to see me. I couldn’t believe this! I am so elated that my body would float and dance on the clouds.

“I am really sorry for saying those words, Elizabeth,” he said.

I nodded my head and gave him a reply. “It’s okay. It was all Elaina’s fault. I can forgive you, Max.”

“Great! You are so kind, Elizabeth! As expected of my dear mate!”

Max walked closer and hugged me tightly. His arms were wrapped around mine.

He’s warm.

As I was about to raise my hands to hug him back, I felt his hands fondling my waist. It didn’t take long before his other hand went inside my skirt and… and… he touched the center of my thighs.

‘Danger.’

My wolf sent the red and blue signal. I felt scared at his touch, which was so weird because I believed that we were fated by the Goddess of the moon. The werewolves in the pack said that it is natural for mates to make a bond by touching each other but when Max was rubbing his hand on my sensitive area, I was so uncomfortable!

“M-Max, stop!”

I tried to push him away. But he isn’t an Alpha of Blue Lake for no reason.

When I placed my hands between our bodies and did my best to get away from his clutch, Max pulled me even closer as his hand kept on attacking the sensitive area between my thighs.

“Ahhh,” a moan escaped.

Nonetheless, the pleasure was nothing compared to the dreadful feeling that engulfed my system.

“No…”

“It’s okay, Elizabeth. I am your mate.”

His finger became lewder as he slid into my undergarment and tried to shove it in. Quickly, I moved my waist away from him and asked him again, “P-Please stop! I don’t want this, Max!”

He growled behind his clenched teeth. Max seemed mad and I thought he would stop. But instead of letting me go, he ripped the hemline of my clothes.

Rip!

I felt so scared.

My hands instinctively pushed him away and shouted, “I said let me go!”

His grip loosened. I hurried and tried to run but…

“Ack!”

He slapped my face real hard and I stumbled on the ground.

During this time, the world became a maze. My eyes were swirling. Disappointment, hatred, and guilt. I was trembling on the ground while holding my cheek which was knocked out by him.

Slowly, my blurry eyes went upwards only to meet his sneer.

“A lowly woman like you isn’t worthy to be my Luna,” Max uttered lies.

No.

They aren’t lies. If there’s one person who was lying right now, then it’s me. I fooled myself and clung around to hope that never existed.

“M-Max,” I sobbed his name.

He wasn’t merciful to understand my pain as he looked down at me as if gawking at a pest.

“Look at you. I only slapped your face and you’re already crawling like that? You are so weak, Elizabeth. You should be thankful that I have a slight interest fucking you, but now, I lost it. You are DISGUSTING.”

His evil words brought a pang into my heart.

How come… how come, my mate, is this evil?

I couldn’t believe I waited years imagining a happy life with my mate.

“You know what’s funny? Despite your position, you dared to reject an Alpha like me? Huh!”

Max kicked my thighs, which had already been hit by Elaina before. The throbbing pain sent shivers down my body.

‘I need to get out of here.’

‘Someone help me, please!’

I looked around the woods and started to shout.

“Help me! Someone please hel…!”

There was a sudden pain in my neck which made me dizzy.

It was too fast. The next thing I knew was that something was injected through my body.

‘I can’t move. Argh. What should I do?’

Bit by bit, I was fading from reality. But before I passed out, an annoying voice reached my ears.

“Hurry up, Max. The Blood Moon Pack people are here. We need to send this bitch as soon as possible.”

It was Elaina’s voice.

The person who always steals the last strand of my hope.

 I clenched my fists hard until everything disappeared.