Chapter 2

"Heaven gently reassured me, holding my hand softly. 'Don't listen to the healers; maybe one day you can still have a pup.'

Eliel's brutal kick had caused severe internal damage, leaving me barely clinging to life, and I lost the ability to ever carry a pup. My biggest dream had been to have a pup with Eliel.

My parents were devoted warriors of the Tran Pack, often away for months or even years, committed to their pack's safety. The constant in my life was Eliel. Our families were close, and his parents treated me like their own daughter. But without my biological parents around, I was often bullied by other pups.

I'd come home covered in bruises, pretending I was just clumsy, but I would cry under the covers at night. Eliel would lift my blanket and gently tend to my wounds.

'Don't worry, I'm here,' he'd assure me, his words breaking through my defenses, and I'd flood his shoulder with tears.

I heard that the next day, usually gentle Eliel got into a fight during training, knocking a bully unconscious. From then on, he turned from a gentleman into my protector.

I became his cherished little secret, untouchable by everyone.

My parents died on my eighteenth birthday. A rogue, bribed by a rival pack, tampered with the patrol routes, causing an ambush during their watch.

Eliel was with me through those sleepless nights.

Naturally, we ended up together, and everyone joked that he was completely under my thumb, lacking dominance. He took it as a compliment, flaunting it in the pack.

Then Veronica showed up, and everything changed.

She was the sister of Eliel's dear packmate who had died heroically, leaving behind a lonely young girl. Eliel welcomed her into our pack.

Because of my parents' tragedy, I suggested Eliel discreetly check her background. In return, I received nothing but resentment.

'Lilia, you can't think ill of innocent people just because of your parents' death!'

From then on, all Eliel's affection and smiles were for her.

I kept convincing myself it was fine, that Eliel just felt sorry for a girl with no pack. Lilia, you too are an orphan now, don't be petty.

Until one day, I came home unexpectedly and found him and Veronica holding hands on the couch.

I couldn't hold back anymore, which led to Veronica's sudden heart condition acting up and the first time Eliel truly lost his temper with me.

'Lilia, I thought you, of all people, would understand the pain of losing packmates and empathize with Veronica.'

'I just wanted her to feel the warmth of the pack, and you're so selfish, it's terrifying!'

I closed my eyes, letting the tears fall.

'Enough, stop crying.'

I hadn't noticed him sitting by my bed, tossing a handkerchief onto my lap. His expression was cold, showing annoyance.

'It was just a kick; you're making this healing chamber stay a scene to disgrace me, aren't you?' The healer's diagnosis was plainly on the table, yet he refused to believe it, convinced I was faking.

'You can leave,' I said without any emotion.

Eliel was unexpectedly stirred.

'Lilia! What's with your attitude? I'm here to look after you!'

I just looked at him steadily, maybe my pale face sparked some compassion in him.

'Lilia, I don't want to fight with you. Why do you keep provoking me?'

He sighed.

'I know you're upset about the dress, but it's just a piece of clothing. Your mom left it to be worn, right? Is it really that important?'

'Here's the deal; tomorrow at the pack meeting, you publicly apologize to Veronica, and we can go ahead with our mating ceremony next week, okay?'

His words stirred up a storm in my previously calm heart.

'Eliel, are you so blinded by your loyalty to Veronica that you've lost your dignity?'

'Apologize to her? In your dreams!'

'Lilia!'

Eliel jumped up from the bed, his fists clenched, 'Don't turn down a way out.'

'Apologize, and we'll mate.'

'Otherwise, you'll never set foot in the Tran Pack territory again!'

I calmly watched Eliel's distorted face.

Perhaps this was for the best.

A slight smile formed on my lips, 'I, Lilia Moreno, reject you, Eliel Tran, Beta of the Tran Pack, as my mate.'

The room fell silent, the weight of my words hanging in the air. Eliel's face paled, and for a moment, I thought I saw regret flash in his eyes. But it was gone as quickly as it came, replaced by anger and disbelief.

'You can't be serious,' he said, his voice low and dangerous.

'I am,' I replied, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. 'Our bond is broken, Eliel. It's over.'"