Chapter 4

The mating ceremony for Isla and Kaden was fast approaching.

Theo suddenly came looking for me, his expression dark and frightening. He grabbed my arm tightly.

"What did you do to Isla? She's been miserable all day. Her mating ceremony is almost here. It must be because of you. I knew you wouldn't give up, so I went to see Kaden just now and told him everything you did before.

"I told him how you spent money to find out where he would be and followed him around. I told him how you planned those chance encounters with him, and how you tried so hard to curry favor with his mom, all so you could become the Luna of the future Alpha of the Glorymoon pack. So, stop dreaming."

His words struck me like a bolt of lightning. The humiliation I had suffered in my previous life came flooding back, bit by bit.

Trembling with rage, I raised my head and glared at him with hatred.

So, it was him!

"What? Do you have a problem with that?" Theo stroked my face, smiling brightly. "I'm simply making you understand where you stand. Kaden already despises you. Even if you somehow become his Luna in the future, he'll never truly care about you. So, stop going after things that belong to Isla, and just obediently wait to bond with that useless Rowan."

I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face.

"Theo, you disgust me. I wish you weren't my brother."

Theo locked me up. He refused to give me food, only giving me a little water each day.

Ever since Dad died and Theo became Alpha of the pack, everything had to be done according to his orders.

Mom was completely occupied with preparing for Isla's mating ceremony and had no time for me. When she heard about what had happened, she merely hurried over to see me.

"How could you hit your brother? He's in charge of everything in the pack now. There's nothing I can do to help you. Reflect on what you've done. Once he's forgiven you, he'll let you out."

By the third day, starvation had given me stomach cramps. Isla secretly sent me some food.

I hadn't even had the chance to eat when one of Bridget's subordinates arrived to interrupt me. He said someone wanted to see me.

Before I left, Theo grabbed me coldly and threatened me. "When you see Bridget, don't even dare to tell her what happened."

I was brought to the moon palace, only to discover that the one who wanted to see me wasn't Bridget. It was Rowan.

He had clearly been waiting for me for a long time. When he stood, the firelight from the fireplace happened to outline his figure. His high brow bone cast a faint shadow over his casually indifferent eyes.

I was dazed for a moment before murmuring, "Mr. Rowan."

Rowan looked at me lazily, a hint of amusement in his eyes, before getting straight to the point. "I don't want you to be my mate," he said.

I hadn't expected him to be so blunt, and I froze.

He continued leisurely, "But since Mom has already made the decision, I won't go against her wishes. It's just that I've never been interested in fighting for power or status, and I have no grand ambitions. I'm afraid I won't be able to live up to your expectations.

"Ms. Hawthorne, after we bond, you live your life, and I'll live mine. Neither of us bothers the other. We can simply be mates in name. How does that sound?"

I was silent for a moment before answering, "As you wish, Mr. Rowan."

As I was leaving, his lazy voice sounded behind me.

"Of course, if you have any objections, you can always ask Mom to call off our engagement. I'll be more than happy to cooperate."