Chapter 6

The scattered ashes blended into the soil almost instantly.

Staring at the murky puddle, Rosa felt as if all the blood in her body had frozen. Just like that, Henry's ashes were gone?

"I'm so sorry! It wasn't on purpose!"

Ivy covered her mouth. "The ground was slippery…"

Unable to tolerate Ivy's act any longer, Rosa snapped, slapping her across the face. "Shut your mouth! You absolutely did it on purpose!"

Ivy clutched her face, and her voice broke with sobs. "I already apologized and explained it wasn't intentional! Why are you…"

Rosa swung her hand again, but someone grabbed her wrist.

Kyle had appeared out of nowhere. His face was twisted in anger. "Have you lost your mind, Rosa? How dare you hit Ivy? Apologize to her!"

Rosa stared at him in disbelief. She pointed at the ground. "You want me to apologize to the one who disturbed my father's peace?"

Kyle shielded Ivy in his arms. "Apologize! Don't make me say it again!"

"And if I don't?"

Rosa raised her head. Whether it was rain or tears running down her face, it was hard to tell.

"Forget it, Alpha Kyle. My face is just swollen now. It's nothing serious."

Only then did Kyle notice that Ivy's cheek was puffed up.

He turned to Rosa. His eyes were dangerously sharp. "Since you won't apologize, then an eye for an eye it is!"

In the next second, Kyle swung his hand down hard.

Rosa was knocked backward. The moment her lower back slammed into the steps, pain shot through her.

That strike was at least ten times harder than the one she had just given Ivy.

She lay in the mud, unable to get up. Even so, Kyle didn't even look her way, simply bending down and gently wiping the tears from Ivy's face.

"Feel better now?" he asked.

Ivy nodded. "Yeah… I don't blame Luna Rosa anymore."

Kyle scooped Ivy into his arms. "Let's head back to the pack. I wouldn't want you to catch a cold."

As she lay in the rain, Rosa watched their figures fade into the distance.

"Father…"

Burying her face in the mud, Rosa muttered in a choked voice, "Father… I was wrong. I shouldn't have ignored your advice and insisted on being with him…"

By the time she returned to the fortress, her body had gone stiff from the cold. She collapsed onto the bed, drifting into a daze-filled dream.

She dreamt of the day she turned 20, when Kyle swore at Henry's sickbed, "Alpha Henry, don't worry. Luna Rosa will suffer no harm for as long as I live. Anyone who wants to lay a hand on her will have to do it over my dead body."

Henry had placed Rosa's and Kyle's hands together. "I hope you won't go back on your word."

In the middle of the night, Rosa ran a high fever, which turned the sweet dream into a nightmare.

The gentle young man from the dream was gone. All she saw now was Kyle turning his back on her.

"Rosa… Rosa…"

Someone seemed to be calling her. Rosa forced her heavy eyelids apart, only to find herself lying on top of a giant wolf.

Its scent was all too familiar to Rosa. It was Kyle.

Whenever she didn't feel like walking in the past and acted willfully, Kyle would shift into a wolf to carry her.

Rosa croaked, "Kyle… Where are you taking me?"

Kyle's reply came fast. "That bastard, John, attacked the pack and abducted Ivy."

John? The moment Rosa heard the name, she immediately became fully alert.

John Dunham grew up convinced Rosa was his fated mate, but in the end, she chose to be with Kyle.

Heartbroken, John had taken the followers who were willing to go with him and promised never to return.

"And?" Rosa asked.

"John specifically demanded to see you," Kyle said evenly. "He said he'll only negotiate when he sees you."

Rosa finally caught on. "So, you're trading me for Ivy?"

"John liked you in the past. He won't hurt you. Ivy, on the other hand, won't survive in his hands."

Rosa couldn't help but laugh, and as she laughed, tears started to fall. "So, you do know that was the past."

"Enough complaining!" Kyle growled. "Once I get Ivy out, I'll come back for you right away. I promise."

Leaping from a high ledge, he landed in front of an abandoned mine in the wasteland.

John and a group of werewolves were already waiting.

"I brought her," Kyle said, pushing Rosa forward. "Release Ivy."

John wolf-whistled the moment his gaze fell on Rosa.

"Long time no see, my dear Rosa. Back then, you were even willing to sacrifice your life for him. It hasn't even been more than ten years, and you're already reduced to this?"

He glanced at Kyle. "You seriously have no idea how to cherish a beauty, Kyle."

"Enough talk. Swap them now!" Kyle exclaimed, fixing his gaze on John.

"You really care for your little lover, huh?"

John kicked Ivy aside, and two of his men immediately dragged Rosa over.

Tears streamed down Ivy's face. "Kyle, I'm scared."

"You're safe now. There's nothing to be afraid of. I'm here," Kyle said, holding Ivy close. He seemed to completely forget Rosa's existence.

Kneeling on the ground, Rosa watched the two disappear. Her heart filled with desolation. "So, this is what you meant by 'she's just a plaything,' Kyle…"

John grabbed Rosa by the chin. "Still moping over that punk? Take a good look, Rosa. That is the person you insisted on being with, even if it meant defying the previous Alpha."

He buried his face in Rosa's neck. "Tonight, you're going to realize just how foolish your past choice really was!"

With that, John hoisted Rosa over his shoulder and strode toward the depths of the mine.

The werewolves behind him howled in excitement. "That's right, boss! Teach her a hard lesson!"