Chapter 1

When the accident occurred, my mate instinctively shielded his Delta.

I was impaled by a steel rod through my right arm, bleeding heavily. As the car threatened to explode, Brantley Hayes, the Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, was busy rescuing Ella Nguyen, his secretary, who only had minor injuries. Fortunately, the rescue team arrived in time to save me before the vehicle went up in flames.

While recovering in the hospital, I checked Instagram and saw Ella’s post. "Huge thanks to Alpha Hayes for risking his life to save me. Now, we’re bonded forever."

Brantley stayed at her bedside, tenderly tending to the scrape on her hand. The comments section overflowed with "sending love." I liked her post and added a "sending love" myself.

I wished them lasting happiness, hoping our paths wouldn’t cross again.

***

A whole week passed before Brantley remembered me.

I was packing my belongings, waiting for the pack healer to prescribe my post-hospital medications, when Brantley arrived. He frowned at the bandages on my arm.

"Is it bad?"

"It went through muscle and tendons; it’ll have lasting effects."

Brantley appeared irritated, blurting out, "Can you still play the piano?"

I watched him steadily, though my heart ached. He never cared about me as a person.

I shook my head, placing the last item into my bag.

Brantley shifted his stance, speaking dismissively, "What a waste of my money for your lessons."

Playing the piano was something he forced me to learn, just to impress his pack members. It cost about a million dollars in total. The piano itself was over half of that. I had no talent, struggled through each lesson, and the tutoring fees were steep.

I tested the weight of the bag to see if I could carry it with one hand. Then I said, "I’ll pay you back."

"Pay me back?" Brantley laughed as if amused, his laughter bubbling up, "Isn’t your money from me too?"

He snatched the bag from me, "I’ll take you home, so no one thinks I mistreated you."

The bag was genuinely heavy. I didn’t argue, following him out. He listened impatiently while the healer gave me instructions.

As we left, he sneered, "I told you not to tag along with us, now look at you, seriously injured. Serves you right."

Originally, he was supposed to take me shopping for Thanksgiving dinner ingredients.

But halfway there, Ella, his Delta and secretary, called, saying she was stranded in the countryside, unable to get a cab. Without asking what I thought, Brantley sped off to pick her up.

On the way back, Ella kept distracting Brantley, leading to the accident.

To protect both Ella and himself, Brantley put all the risk on me.

I had two chances to avoid this fiasco. In the past, I would’ve argued with him until I was red in the face.

But now, I had nothing left to say, enduring his criticism in silence during the drive.

Halfway through, Ella called again.

Brantley connected the call through the car’s Bluetooth.

"Alpha Hayes, the healer said I need a follow-up and I forgot my meds. It’s the weekend tomorrow; can you go with me now?" Her voice was saccharine sweet, and Brantley agreed without any hesitation.

The next junction straight ahead led to Ella’s place; the turn led back to our home.

Brantley glanced at me, "Your hand’s just a bit hurt, stop being so dramatic."

I quietly accepted being left out of the car.

He took the back road, far from the bustling city. I waited for over twenty minutes in the scorching sun with no cab in sight.

Bearing the weight, I trudged home for an hour, by which time my bandages were soaked with sweat and blood.

Brantley messaged me, asking for some spiced honey cake to be prepared.

I tore the cloth stuck to my wound, finally confronting the reality of my situation.