WITCH’S EYES

06

Desperately, I grasped onto the edge of the table, fighting to steady myself. My vision blurred, the lines merging into a hazy amalgamation, and I could feel my body faltering, weakened by the toll of chronic malnutrition.

This was not a new experience for me; it had become a haunting companion, an unwelcome reminder of the insidious effects of my inadequate diet.

The battle against malnutrition had not only robbed me of a healthy physique but had also unleashed its wrath in the form of chronic anemia and hypoglycemia. The absence of proper nourishment had left my body bereft of essential nutrients.

The delicate balance of my body teetered precariously on the edge, my overall health hanging in the balance. The toll taken by this silent affliction threatened not only my immediate comfort but also held the potential for dire consequences if left unaddressed.

The scene in front of me slowly returned to normal, while the next moment I saw the last person I wanted to see.

"I saw you slacking off as soon as I walked in, no shame in being a bitch." Victoria walked up to me with her loud voice.

"Dare you not work hard?" She raised her hand and punched me in the face.

Having just woken up from a brief coma, I really did not have the strength to retort, or dodge her slap. I had to say this fierce she-wolf was really strong. And I got a solid slap to the face from her. Then I lost my balance and the moment I fell I saw the corner of the table in front of me.

Oh no, my head was definitely going to get bumped. But the expected pain had not come yet, and instead I was pulled into a warm embrace. The smell of this embrace was familiar to me, which was a mix of ebony and cedar, deep and cold.

Why him? Dominic held me so tightly in his arms that all I could do was lean on his chest. Apparently, I was not the only one shocked. Victoria's pretty face was contorted with jealousy when she saw Dominic holding me in his arms.

She questioned Dominic, "Why are you helping her?"

Dominic pushed me away and I was surprised that I lost thought because of his action. He told Victoria, "Amo has a keen sense of smell and he hates the smell of women's blood."

Victoria was not quite convinced by Dominic's explanation, still, she wrapped her arms around him like she was showing off. To say "wrapped around" might be a bit of an understatement, as she pressed her breasts against Dominic's arm and whispered petulantly in Dominic's ear. "Let's go watch the game." Then Victoria dragged Dominic out of the way.

Dominic's POV

I could hear Victoria shouting from a distance on my way to the kitchen.

The funny thing was that she always looked meek in my presence. I knew exactly what kind of person she was as we grew up together, but all those years of friendship made me always indulge her. Listening to the noise in the room, it must have been Victoria abusing the maid.

I was so surprised to panic when I saw the traitor girl's head was about to hit the corner of the table. Due to panic, my mind went blank and my body reacted subconsciously.

As soon as the opportunity presented itself, I gently gathered the girl into my arms, a surge of concern washing over me.

The instant her weight settled against my embrace, my heart sank, heavy with the realization of her frailty. Her delicate form leaned heavily onto my arms. In that poignant moment, it became painfully apparent just how thin and weakened she truly was.

Every contour of her body, every delicate bone beneath her skin, seemed to cry out for nourishment and care. The weight of her fragility pressed upon me, evoking a profound sense of compassion and an urgent need to shield her from further harm.

The stark reality of her condition etched itself upon my senses, as if the weight of her vulnerability imprinted itself upon my very being. It was a somber reminder of the harshness she had endured.

Clearly, she was just a slave, a traitor's daughter. Why did I feel pity for her?

Victoria's questioning snapped me out of my thoughts. I hurriedly pushed her away, to be seen with the son of an Alpha hugging the traitor's daughter. The majesty of my father and I would be nonexistent.

Besides, I looked at Victoria in front of me, and she was so angry. It was as if the veins on her forehead were bursting out. All the girls who had pursued me from before had been cleaned up badly by her. All I could do was cajole Victoria into trying to make less trouble for the traitor's daughter. But my wordplay caused Amo's displeasure.

"Will you stop using me as an excuse when it's obvious you do not want to see the girl get hurt?"

"It's none of my business if she is hurt or not, I am just born an athlete and subconsciously pick up people who were about to fall."

"I did not see you pick up Alex when he broke his leg in front of you earlier."

"That is what he deserved." Alex had always been so stupid, and he'd broken his leg only after jumping from a tree to please Victoria.

"So this girl still means a lot to you."

"See, it's like when you see a cup that is about to roll off the table and onto the floor, you are going to catch it too, right?" Amo looked like he was used to it and was not going to continue arguing with me.

I was arguing with my wolf in my head so much that I completely ignored Victoria, who was too immersed in her own world, hugging my hand and complaining about the minutiae of her life all the time.

Victoria, revered as the epitome of beauty within our pack, held a position of prominence that seemed to overshadow her individuality.

Yet, it was not her inner qualities or personal merits that fueled the desire for our union — it was the weight of her familial lineage, specifically her father's esteemed position as our Beta, that cast a looming shadow over our potential match.

The pressure to marry Victoria seemed to seep through every crevice of our community, a persistent expectation fueled by the calculations of hierarchy and social standing. It was as if my worth as a potential mate was measured solely by my proximity to the Beta's bloodline.

For the stability of the pack, there was indeed a real possibility that I would marry Victoria, so every time she got close to me, I prayed to the Moon Goddess for me to meet my mate as soon as possible.