Chapter 2

I tumbled into a puddle of mud, ice-cold rain soaking my hair and clothes.

This was the edge of the city. Further ahead was rogue territory, the air thick with dangerous bloodscent.

And Cian just stood quietly at the doorway.

"Elara, see? Without me, you can't even stand up in the rain. If you really divorce me, where will you go? Which pack would take in an Omega abandoned by two top-tier Alphas?"

Before I could answer, the door slammed shut with a bang.

I supported myself against a broken wall, slowly getting up. Before I could steady myself, three large, ragged rogues emerged from the alley.

They circled around me, their murky eyes filled with greedy lust:

"Well, well, isn't this the noble Luna? What are you doing here alone? Where's your Alpha?"

"So pretty. More beautiful than any Omega we've seen. Come with us. We'll take good care of you."

One rogue reached out to touch my face.

Terrified, I retreated, grabbing a stone from the ground and hurling it at them:

"Get away! Don't touch me!"

But my resistance meant nothing to them.

The lead rogue grabbed my wrist and twisted hard. I screamed in pain, the stone dropping to the ground.

"Feisty. But I like that." He sneered, reaching to tear my clothes.

Just then, a gunshot pierced the rainy night.

"Let her go!"

A gray-haired old werewolf rushed out from a nearby grocery store with a hunting rifle, pointing the barrel at the three rogues:

"Touch her again and I'll blow your heads off!"

The three rogues exchanged glances, cursed reluctantly, and finally slunk away.

The old werewolf lowered his rifle and handed me a dry towel:

"Child, are you alright? This place is too dangerous. What are you doing here alone?"

I took the towel, wiping the rain and mud from my face, my voice hoarse:

"Thank you. I'm fine."

"Let me drive you home. It's too dangerous for an Omega alone in this rain."

The old werewolf started toward his small truck.

I shook my head, speaking softly:

"No need, thank you. I can walk."

The old werewolf sighed and stuffed an umbrella and a pack of crackers into my hands:

"Then be careful on the road. If you run into rogues again, run to my shop. I'm Old Jack. They're all afraid of me."

I took the umbrella and crackers, bowing deeply to the old werewolf.

Then I opened the umbrella and walked step by step toward the villa over ten miles away.

Ice-cold rain dripped from the umbrella's edge, soaking my pant legs.

I trudged through the muddy road, each step unbearably heavy.

I pulled out my phone to call a ride, only to discover Cian had frozen all my payment accounts. I couldn't pay even a single cent.

Not only that, he'd also cut off all my medication supply.

Those were my anti-anxiety medications for controlling my depression. Without them, I could break down at any moment.

Rain blurred my vision. I couldn't tell if my face was wet from rain or tears.

I remembered five years ago, on a rainy night just like this, I lost my child.

And today, once again, the person I loved deeply had abandoned me in the rain.

I don't know how long I walked. The sky had turned completely dark.

When I finally saw that familiar villa, I'd exhausted all my strength.

I pushed open the door, my mind going blank instantly.

The moment I opened the door, the motion-sensor light in the entryway turned on, illuminating the shameful scene in the living room.

On the leather sofa in the center of the living room, Cian and Lila were tangled together.

Cian's hand wandered freely along her waistline as Lila arched her neck, releasing seductive moans.

They didn't even stop when I walked in.

Lila opened her eyes and saw me, deliberately tightening her arms around Cian's neck. Cian chuckled low, his palm squeezing her waist hard.

"Cian..." Lila deliberately drew out her tone. "Stop it, someone's watching."

"So what?" Cian turned his head, his eyes coldly sweeping over me. "It's not like she hasn't seen this before."

I stood frozen, rainwater dripping from my hair, pooling in a small puddle at my feet.

I was soaked through, utterly wretched, while they did the filthiest things in the home I'd carefully decorated.

A broken whimper escaped me involuntarily, my legs weakening until I nearly collapsed.

Only then did Cian slowly push Lila away, standing up to straighten his wrinkled shirt.

He walked toward me step by step, still carrying Lila's perfume scent.

"What? Stunned?" His tone was full of disdain.

"It's just this. You experienced it five years ago. Why make such a fuss?"

Lila also walked over, leaning into Cian's embrace, flipping her hair, looking at me triumphantly:

"Elara, I'm really sorry. We were too into it and didn't notice you came back. But honestly, Cian is so much better than Kael."

She deliberately stood on tiptoes and kissed Cian's lips. "Right, Cian?"

"Mm." Cian pinched her chin, his eyes doting. "You understand me best."

Cian walked toward me, that sickeningly sweet perfume smell growing stronger.

I looked at that face I'd once relied on so completely, feeling my stomach churning.

Just as his hand was about to touch my arm, I suddenly turned around, supporting myself against the wall as I retched violently.

The laughter behind me stopped abruptly.

After a moment of silence, I heard Cian's sinister voice by my ear, carrying an incredulous fury:

"Elara, you—an Omega—find me disgusting?"