Chapter 3

Seven years ago, Draven fell in love with me.

But our bond was never blessed by anyone—not his family, not mine, not the pack.

In the end, everything ended abruptly. I left him without giving any explanation.

The truth is… our bond could've continued. All it needed was one more step.

But I didn't take it.

I couldn't fulfill even his last, simplest wish. Not even that.

Back then, his parents had already planned out his future:

He was to attend the prestigious Werewolf University in California, far away from me.

But he didn't want to go.

He stood up to his parents, refused to obey, and tried to prove that he could become a powerful Alpha on his own terms—without following their path.

Yet the clan wouldn't give him a chance.

The moment he chose to stay with me, chaos followed.

Several pack leaders left.

Veteran warriors refused to fight.

The pack fell into disarray.

And all of that… wasn't because of him.

It was his parents—they were the ones pulling strings in the dark, manipulating the elders, applying pressure to force him into submission.

As for my family… we were struggling to survive.

We had nothing to offer him, yet we kept begging for his help.

Before his parents cut off his financial support, he had quietly been helping my family—sending money, covering costs, doing everything he could.

But once they cut him off…

He was left with nothing.

Desperate, he began taking dangerous jobs.

He even risked his life in illegal werewolf racing competitions, just to win prize money—just to help us.

However, during a high-stakes competition, he was severely injured when he tried to leap over a pit laced with silver.

His wolf was badly hurt, and from that moment on, he was never able to race again. No one could truly understand how helpless and devastated he was, lying alone in the infirmary bed.

In the end, it was his parents who finally gave in.

"Since we can't keep you two apart, then just go together—to the Werewolf University in California."

"If she goes with you… maybe she'll become someone who truly deserves to stand beside you."

His mother sent us both the acceptance documents for studying overseas.

After his mother left, the darkness that had clouded Draven's face for days finally lifted. A smile bloomed on his lips.

"Bella, did you hear what my mother said? She's accepted our bond!"

"You must come to California with me and stay for two years."

"You're not allowed to say no. I'm going to claim you as my mate. I love you too much—I have to mark you as my Luna."

That day, I was so overwhelmed I couldn't stop the tears from falling. I wrapped my arms tightly around him, heart full.

My lips trembled as I looked at him with everything I had.

"I agree. We'll go together."

When the day of our departure came, I broke my promise.

He waited for me at the airport until the final boarding call. Until the plane took off.

But I never showed up.

He called me—again and again.

I didn't answer a single one.

Then came his messages. One after another.

"You fool... If you don't want to go abroad, I won't force you. Just… pick up my call. Just once, my sweetheart."

"You promised to wait for me. I'll come back for you after I graduate."

The next morning, I was lying unconscious on a infirmary bed, my body covered in soot and the scent of burned fur.

When I finally woke up after the surgery, someone gently shook my shoulder.

"Are you okay, miss? Here's your phone. We found it in the burned area."

I stared at it… but I didn't have the courage to turn it on.

Then a werewolf firefighter stepped closer. He hesitated before speaking.

"Your mate… seems to have gone overseas."

"I saw his last message when I recovered your phone from the scene."

My body was weak, but my mind was terrifyingly clear.

I buried my face in my arms as a stabbing pain exploded behind my eyes.

Tears spilled down my cheeks—hot, uncontrollable.

Until they turned red.

The nurse beside me screamed, her voice trembling with panic.

"Her eyes…! She's bleeding from her eyes!"