I followed Gideon Shaw back to his pack’s territory, my steps heavy with reluctance. Given the expectations of our families and the fact that I’d been accepted to the same university as him, he had reluctantly allowed me to move into his territory. His apartment was within the pack’s residential complex, a place I once thought of as a sanctuary. Now, it felt more like a prison.

Gideon didn’t have his keys, but the door swung open anyway.

“Gideon, you’re back!” Salem Carter’s voice greeted us, her tone dripping with sweetness. She stepped into view, her presence as commanding as ever. Salem was the Delta of her pack, known for her beauty and cunning. Compared to my quiet determination, her charm and manipulation seemed to draw Gideon in like a moth to a flame.

That evening, I dragged Gideon out for a walk, hoping to clear the tension between us. We stumbled upon Salem being harassed by a group of rogues. Without hesitation, Gideon lunged into action. As the Beta of his pack, his combat skills were unmatched, and even though the rogues outnumbered him, they were no match for his strength and precision.

In the chaos, I was captured. Gideon saved Salem first, leaving me at the mercy of the rogues.

“You’re Elliana, right?” Salem’s voice cut through the air, her tone laced with mockery. She covered her nose and mouth, stepping back as if repulsed by my presence. “How did you end up like this? Even if Gideon didn’t save you, that doesn’t mean you should’ve just run away from home.”

Suddenly, everything was my fault.

“Don’t concern yourself with her,” Gideon said, his voice cold and dismissive. He switched to his loafers and handed his jacket to Salem. She hung it up with practiced ease, their movements smooth and natural, as if they’d done it a thousand times before.

I silently made my way to the bathroom to shower. Stripping off my clothes, I stared at my scarred reflection, my emotions numb. Some marks were from the rogues’ abuse; others were self-inflicted. They delighted in watching me harm myself, rewarding me with food when they were pleased.

After cleaning up, I found all my belongings shoved into a storeroom. Like their owner, they’d been tossed into a corner, forgotten by everyone.

I deliberately chose long sleeves and pants, an outfit I would never have worn before. When I arrived in the living room, Gideon and Salem were already seated for dinner.

“Always putting on a show,” Gideon remarked, his face full of irritation. He assumed I was always trying to capture his attention.

“Oh, don’t be like that. Elliana might just be dressed for comfort,” Salem said, her voice sweet but insincere. She placed a piece of spiced honey cake on Gideon’s plate, her bracelet glinting under the light. It was a gift from Gideon, meant for me, now adorning another woman’s wrist.

“Let’s eat,” Salem said, her tone inviting but her eyes sharp. I looked at the simple meal of three dishes and a stew, my stomach growling with hunger. For the past half-month, I’d been scavenging through trash for food. Occasionally, a rogue would tempt me with a hamburger, making me crawl and beg like a dog at their feet. Yes, I was their dog.

I picked up my fork and knife, devouring the pulled pork ravenously.

“You’re so uncouth,” Gideon commented, his face full of disdain.

“Sorry!” I mumbled, still chewing, and ended up choking and coughing.

Gideon frowned and ladled some stew into a bowl for me. “Drink it.”

I didn’t take it, instead feeling a wave of nausea and bending over to vomit. My body suddenly rebelled with discomfort.

Gideon slammed his fork down hard. “Can’t you let people eat in peace?”

“Please, don’t hit me, I’m sorry, I won’t resist,” I crouched down again, hugging my head and begging, my sobbing uncontrollable.

For the first time, confusion flickered across Gideon’s face. “Those rogues bullied you?”

His question hung in the air, unanswered, as I curled into myself, the weight of his indifference pressing down on me like a lead blanket.

I don’t understand.

Back then, those rogues threatened Gideon, promising to use me as their pawn for revenge. Yet, he walked away without a second thought. Why is he bringing this up now? Does he seriously think I could have escaped unscathed from their claws?

In some way, I kind of did. Eventually, I was so battered and bruised from the alley that even the rogues didn’t want to touch me, and instead, I became their punching bag. Remembering that all this was because of Gideon makes my stomach churn with disgust. My wolf whined softly in the back of my mind, a faint echo of the pain I’d buried deep.

I didn’t linger in the living room. The air felt heavy, suffocating, like the weight of the pack’s hierarchy pressing down on me. Instead, I retreated to the study, a small sanctuary away from the suffocating dominance of the Alpha’s presence. I called my mother, the Luna of our pack. The call connected quickly.

“Mom, it’s me,” I said, my voice trembling.

“Ellie? What’s got you calling today, run out of money?” she asked, her tone light but laced with the usual distance. Still, it was comforting to hear her voice.

“No, I just wanted to talk to you,” I replied, biting my lip hard. “Mom, I don’t want to love Gideon anymore.”

There was a pause on the other end, and I could almost feel her stiffen, her Luna instincts kicking in. “What happened?” she asked, her voice softer now, the maternal warmth breaking through her usual aloofness.

“I’ve loved him for a full decade, clung to him for ten years,” I confessed, my voice cracking. “But in all those years, all I’ve received is pain, only humiliation. And in the end, he shoved me into hell with his own hands. The cost of loving him was too high.”

My mother’s sigh was heavy, carrying the weight of years of unspoken words. “Ellie, you’ve always been strong, even when you didn’t feel it. If Gideon can’t see your worth, then he doesn’t deserve you. You’re my daughter, the daughter of an Alpha. Don’t let anyone make you feel less than you are.”

Her words, though rare, were a balm to my wounded soul. For a moment, I felt the faintest flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, I could let go of the boy who had once been my everything and find my own strength again. My wolf stirred within me, a quiet but resolute presence, urging me forward.

"Is there something wrong?" my mother, the Luna, asked, her voice soft but laced with concern.

"No, it’s just... I don’t want to be interested in him anymore," I replied, though my wolf stirred uneasily in the back of my mind, a quiet reminder of the fear I still carried for Gideon.

"Then don’t be," she said firmly, her tone carrying the authority of her rank. "My little Elliana can be interested in whoever she chooses. As long as you’re safe and happy, that’s all that matters."

"Yeah, thanks, Mom," I murmured, my voice trembling slightly.

Her words were simple, yet they carried the weight of unconditional love. I fought to hold back my tears, grateful for her unwavering support.

After a long chat with her, I finally hung up and stepped out of the dim storage room, my heart still heavy.

Gideon Shaw, the Beta of his pack and my former childhood friend, looked up at me, his expression unreadable. "You’ll be sleeping on the couch for now. Salem wants to stay in your bedroom."

"I’ll just move out," I said, my voice steady despite the knot forming in my stomach.

His eyes narrowed, and he grabbed my arm, his grip firm but not yet painful. "Stop being difficult. Can’t you see reason? Salem’s a guest; what’s the harm in her using your room?"

He was much stronger than I was, his Alpha aura pressing down on me, making it hard to breathe.

"Don’t touch me! Please, don’t hurt me!" I screamed frantically, desperately trying to free myself from his grip.

Panic overtook me, and I stumbled to the ground, my wolf whimpering in fear.

"Don’t touch me, stay away!" I yelled, kicking my legs as I scrambled backward, trying to find a way to escape.

Gideon tried to approach me, his voice tinged with frustration. "Elliana, what is wrong with you? If this is some attempt to get my attention, you’re misguided. This has got to stop!"

"No, stay back," I said, shaking my head wildly, retreating as quickly as I could.

But Gideon caught hold of my ankle, his grip tightening just like those rogues had once done.

"Please, let me go," I pleaded, my voice breaking.

The more I struggled, the tighter his grip became.

"I’m begging you, Gideon, no—Mr. Shaw, I won’t trouble you anymore."

He crouched down, a flicker of emotion crossing his usually impassive features. "I don’t mean anything by it. You’re just too..."

Gideon gently touched my head, his touch eerily reminiscent of the way he had comforted me when I’d fallen out of a tree as a child in the pack’s territory.

At that moment, Salem Carter, the Delta of his pack and the one who had orchestrated so much of my torment, appeared from the bedroom, her presence like a dark cloud.