hapter 7
Rhys opened his mouth but couldn’t say a word. At last, he didn’t even have the strength to kneel.
He collapsed to the ground with despair and regret, sobbing endlessly. He tore at his own fur in madness, ripping it out until he
bled, yet he seemed numb to the pain.
I had nothing more to say to him. Just as I turned to leave, I heard his stubborn voice behind me. “It doesn’t matter if you forgive me or not, Irene. You’re my only family.
“No matter what, I will always stand by your side. Even if it costs me my life, I will protect you.”
His tone was firm, just like when he once swore to protect Leah. I didn’t care anymore. I was busy attending my best friend’s marking ceremony. When everyone else was encouraged by Leah to bully me, she was the only one who reached out to help me.
Over the past few days, I had picked up scattered bits of news about Leah’s family from the pack. My father had only married my
mother to latch onto her family’s wealth.
Once my grandparents passed away, he couldn’t wait to seize everything for himself, trampling my mother underfoot and
tormenting her.
By the time Rhys was five, my mother was already gravely ill. Depression had eaten away at her so much that she could no longer
even maintain her transformation.
It was around that time that Maryanne arrived with Leah, becoming my father’s new mate. From that day on, the house was
nothing but cold, empty air.
On dangerous full–moon nights, when werewolves roamed wild, my mother, Rhys, and I would wait for my father to come home
and protect us. But he never did.
My mother endured the pain for five years for the sake of Rhys and me.
Then, on my 17th birthday, Maryanne whispered a few sharp, venomous words that struck her deepest wound. And she tore open
her own chest and ripped out her heart.
