Chapter 3
Chapter 3 The Debt He Used Against Me
SASHA MOORE
I stared at him, trying to understand how the man I had loved for years could speak about humiliating me as if he were discussing a simple pack arrangement. His words dragged me back to a time when I had believed Adrian was the kindest man I had ever known.
Three Years Earlier, my mother, Natasha, was lying in a hospital bed at the Silver Moon Pack Healing Center, her face pale and her breathing weak. The healers had told my father that she needed an emergency operation, but the cost was more than our family could ever afford.
“Dad, what are we going to do?” I asked, fighting tears as I stood beside him in the hallway. “The healer said Mom needs the surgery immediately.”
My father lowered his head. “I don't know, Sasha. I've already used everything we have.”
“Then I'll leave college,” I said quickly. “I'll find work and help you pay for it.”
“No,” my father replied firmly. “You worked too hard to get there.”
“How can I continue studying while Mom is lying in there?”
A familiar voice suddenly came from behind us. “You won't have to choose.”
I turned around and saw Adrian standing there.
“Adrian?”
He walked toward us and handed my father a document. “I spoke with the head healer. Your wife's surgery will be paid for.”
My father stared at the paper. “By whom?”
“By me.”
I immediately shook my head. “No, Adrian. We can't accept that.”
“You can,” he replied.
“I don't want you spending that much money on my family.”
Adrian looked directly into my eyes. “You're my fated mate, Sasha.”
“But we're not even bonded yet.”
“That doesn't matter.”
My father looked between us before saying, “Adrian, this is too much.”
“Mr. Moore, let me help.”
My eyes filled with tears. “Thank you so much!” I whispered, looking at Adrian with a mixture of relief and gratitude. He gave me a small smile and gently placed his hand on my shoulder. “You don't have to thank me, Sasha. Your mother needs you, and I won't let money stand between her and the treatment she deserves.”
“I promise I won't forget this,” I said, wiping my tears. “I swear I'll repay you someday.”
Adrian shook his head. “You don't owe me anything. Just focus on your family and your studies.”
I looked into his golden eyes and felt my heart warm. At that moment, I silently promised myself that I would always be loyal to Adrian, especially because he was my fated mate and the future Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack. I believed his kindness proved that he truly loved me, and I secretly promised that no matter what happened, I would never betray him.
The surgery was successful, and my mother eventually recovered. Adrian also helped me remain in college when my family struggled financially. Every time I thanked him, he would simply smile and say, “You don't owe me anything.”
I believed him.
I believed every word.
Now, I looked at Adrian now and realized how foolish I had been.
“You know everything I did for your family,” he said, breaking the silence. “Your mother's surgery, your college expenses, your father's treatment. I was there when you needed me.”
“Yes,” I replied quietly. “I remember.”
“Then why are you acting like I have done nothing for you?”
I stared at him. “Because helping my family doesn't give you the right to destroy me.”
Adrian's golden eyes narrowed. “I'm not destroying you.”
“You brought Vivian into a hotel room.”
“It was a mistake.”
“A mistake?” I repeated bitterly. “You call what happened between you and Vivian a mistake?”
“Nothing happened.”
“I saw the video.”
“You saw a few seconds of footage.”
“I saw enough.”
Adrian sighed. “Vivian was drugged. I was helping her.”
“Then why was she wearing only a towel?”
His expression hardened. “Don't start this again.”
“No, Adrian. You started it when you chose her over me. You're going to announce Vivian as your public mate at tomorrow's ceremony. And wants me to be her shadow.”
He remained silent.
I felt my heart breaking all over again. “You want the entire pack to believe she's your mate while I stay hidden until you're ready to claim me.”
“It's to protect her.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because she needs protection.”
“And I don't?” I stared at him in disbelief. “You humiliate me for her?”
“That isn't what I mean.” Adrian's voice became colder. “Sasha, you need to understand my position. I'm the successor Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack. My father, Alpha Joe, expects me to protect the pack's reputation.”
I reached for my phone and held it tightly. “If you don't end this foolishness, I'll tell everyone what happened at the hotel.”
Adrian's eyes immediately focused on my phone, “You wouldn't!”
“Try me.”
“Sasha, don't do something you'll regret.”
“I already regret trusting you.”
I unlocked my phone and opened the pack's social network. “One post is all it takes. Everyone will see the video.”
Adrian stepped closer. “Put the phone down!”
“No, I'm standing up for myself.”
“If you expose Vivian, the scandal will spread throughout the pack.”
“So what?”
His expression darkened. “You would destroy her reputation?”
“She destroyed mine first.”
Adrian's voice became dangerously calm. “Sasha, think carefully.”
“I have thought carefully.”
“You're still my fated mate.”
“Then accept that I'm ending this.”
His jaw tightened. “No.”
“I don't need your permission to leave.”
“You do if you want your father to continue receiving treatment.”
My hand froze around the phone.
I stared at him. “Don't bring my father into this.”
“Then don't force me to.”
“You once helped my mother when she was dying,” I whispered. “I will always be grateful. You helped me finish college, and I will never forget that. But I won't spend the rest of my life paying for those things by allowing you to control me.”
Adrian's expression remained cold. “I'm not asking you to pay me back.” He stepped closer, his Alpha aura filling the room. “You're willing to risk your father's life?”
My heart stopped.
“Adrian...”
His golden eyes turned cold.
“If you refuse to step aside for Vivian and keep insisting on breaking up, then your dad's treatment stops here.”