Chapter 3
686 Words
I once tried to leave. Back then, I had turned 18 and met my fated mate, my first love. His name was Owen. He was an ordinary werewolf from the neighboring Dubios Pack. We didn't hesitate to accept each other.
He was gentle, and he didn't mind that I was an Omega. He was heartbroken when he heard how I'd been working as a personal maid for Ethan since I was ten, doing food tasting, and enduring his unpredictable temper. He would stroke my hair and encourage me to leave, saying he wanted to take me away.
With his encouragement, I gathered my courage and went to Alpha James to ask him to let me go. I told him I'd found my fated mate and wanted to leave for Dubios Pack. Kind-hearted, Alpha James agreed.
I didn't know how the news reached Ethan. He smashed half the study that night. I was dragged back to my room by his bodyguards.
Ethan gripped my chin, his fingers digging in so hard I felt like my bones might c***k.
"You're leaving? Abandoning me for your mate?"
He was smiling when he said it—but the smile was more terrifying than if he'd been furious.
Ethan seized my wrist and dragged me down to the basement.
In the dust-choked cellar, Owen lay barely breathing, beaten within an inch of his life.
Ethan forced us both to break the mate bond.
The rejection wasn't easy. Through it all, Ethan held me tight and whispered in my ear, "Was I not good enough for you? Why do you have to leave?"
When the bond was severed, he laughed softly, still holding me. "If you really want him, I'll have his hands and feet cut off and send them to you as a wedding gift. How about that?"
I pressed my lips together and said nothing. All I wanted was for him to let Owen go.
In the end, Owen was dragged out of the villa by Ethan's guards. Ethan ordered that he never set foot in Dubios Pack territory again.
After that, no one in the pack would dare go anywhere near me.
Of course, I never dared to mention leaving again.
Now, thank goodness, some reckless girl named Zoey had jumped straight into the lion's den. I was terrified that she was just all talk, or worse, that the flames would eventually turn back on me.
I walked to Ethan's bedroom, my mind racing. He was leaning against the sofa, reviewing documents. He heard the door and looked up at me. His expression was unreadable, but a chill instantly ran down my spine.
"Why are you back so late?"
"I went to the housekeeper to collect my salary, and I ran into some of the new maids on the way back. We chatted for a bit."
The bedroom went deathly silent. A layer of cold sweat broke out across my back. After a long pause, he suddenly smiled, his tone softening.
"Ah, your salary. You should certainly collect that."
He crooked a finger at me. "Come here."
I walked over slowly. He was leaning back against the sofa cushions, looking lazy and weary. I bent down, as I always did. It was how he liked it. He rested his hand on my back, stroking it gently.
"Who were you talking to outside earlier today?"
My heart tightened. "Like I said, just a few new maids. We were just making small talk."
He stared at me for two seconds before grabbing my chin. "Are they envious of you?"
"I don't know."
"Liar." Ethan chuckled. "Who wouldn't be? An Omega working as my personal maid, wearing jewelry I gifted you... that's something others would kill for."
I lowered my eyes, not daring to respond. He looked at me for a moment longer, then let go.
"I'm going to the pack border tomorrow."
I paused, stunned.
"I need to deal with some Rogues roaming there. I'll be back in three days."
My heart leaped. Three days. If Zoey approached Alpha James in the next two days, that would be the perfect window.
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