A Regret in Red

Three years ago, my father sent me to Damian’s side. Every day is a battle of wits with that cold, ruthless Alpha. Every night, I lose myself in his arms. I think… I've finally found the love I am destined for. I was so happy, so sure of our future, that I started planning our bonding ceremony. Until Clara showed up. By then, I realized just how naive I had been. For Clara, Damian locked me away in the isolation cell to teach me a lesson. He spent millions on her without a second thought, but left me alone in a hospital ward unconscious for seven hours. When it came down to life and death, he never hesitated to choose Clara, leaving me bleeding on the ground. The most ironic part? When I finally gave up and walked away, he lost his mind. He started insisting that I am his mate, his one true love. Damian, you're too late. Chapter 1 "One more time." I tried to steady myself from shaking, reaching out to touch Damian's sweat-soaked chest. His Alpha scent still hung in the air, a blend of cedarwood that captivated me and something untamed that I couldn't quite name. "Aurora." His voice was low and rough as he pulled me into his arms. "You're different today..." "Different how?" I pressed even closer, letting my lips brush along his jawline. "Passionate," he said. I didn't answer. I simply let him draw me back into that intoxicating darkness. When everything was over, I slipped from his embrace, about to walk barefoot into the bathroom. Just then, my phone rang. My father's voice came through. "Aurora, have you thought about the engagement?" I glanced at Damian, who was still asleep—the Alpha of the Blackmoon Pack, CEO of the most powerful pack group in Northland. The moonlight carved out the sharp lines of his face. His breathing was still uneven from all the excitement. My fingers brushed over the fresh scratches on his chest. Three years. It had been three years since my father sent me to Damian "for discipline" when I turned twenty-one. We had been maintaining a hard-to-define relationship since then. "I agree," I replied quietly. "Good. About the Risingdawn Pack…" My father's voice barely hid his excitement. "But I have one condition," I cut him off. "Whatever it is, just say it. I'll make it happen," he said. "I'll tell you when I get back." After hanging up, I quietly got out of bed and slipped into a silk robe. Damian turned over behind me, murmuring my name with the lazy contentment of someone who had just been satisfied. I didn't turn around. As I reached the door, my gaze landed on a freshly opened envelope on the cabinet. It was titled Clara's Health Assessment Report. My fingers trembled as I opened the envelope. It was a detailed medical record with notes on old injuries dating back five years. Everything was laid out, even her preferred painkillers. 'Why did Damian have Clara's health report? Who's Clara?' I thought to myself. The questions gnawed at me. The next evening, Damian left work early for a business meeting. I followed the trace of his Alpha scent to a nearby cafe. From a distance, I saw something that made my heart stop. Damian was pulling a girl in a white dress into his arms, gentler than I had ever seen him. "Does it still hurt? Why don't you wear something warmer when it's cold at night?" he asked. The girl rested her head on his chest. He stroked her hair, like she was made of something fragile. I clenched my fists so tightly, my knuckles turned white. Three years of memories flooded back. I was a young, up-and-coming designer in the world of Werewolves, bold and outspoken. Damian was the most powerful Alpha in the Blackmoon Pack, taking the group to third place among all the packs in just two years. Three years ago, my father forced me to work at Damian's company, threatening not to let my mother be buried in the Pack's ancestral grounds unless I agreed. Officially, I was there so Damian could "discipline" me. Back then, I already had a reputation in the design world and hated being controlled. But for my mother's last wish, I had no choice. I was a rebellious young wolf back in those days, always challenging his authority—spilling his coffee, questioning his decisions in meetings, and shredding his confidential files. I remembered how fiercely I resisted at first, and how he used his overwhelming Alpha presence to make me surrender, leaving me utterly lost in him. No one else knew about our relationship. Nobody would've guessed two people with such different personalities would end up together like this. On stormy nights, when thunder woke me, he would hold me close and soothe me quietly. After my mother died, nobody had ever been this gentle with me. I started to believe in him. I thought maybe this was fate. After all, I had talent as a designer, and he was the strongest Alpha. I thought he cared about me. So, I started to change. I tucked away my thorns, tried to be gentler. I thought that was love. I even secretly prepared for a bonding ceremony. A white dress, a delicate floral crown, and a silver ring studded with a gemstone I had designed myself to symbolize eternity. On his birthday, I waited to tell him the news excitedly. But he never showed up. Not even by midnight. Then, I saw the news. The Pack's Alpha personally welcomed his old flame home. In the photos, he was gently carrying the luggage of a girl in a white dress and guiding her into his car. The comments all said how perfect they looked together, that they should have been mates from the start. My phone slipped from my hand and fell on the floor. I couldn't believe my eyes. If Damian already had a destined mate, what was I? Just a secret lover he could call whenever he pleased? My hands were shaking as I tried to call Damian for an explanation, but he never picked up. After the last call failed, I put down my phone. Then I stormed into his study, a room he had never let me enter. The walls were covered in Clara's photos. From childhood to adulthood, Damian had preserved every stage of her life. A waltz under the moonlight, a graduation photo from the Pack Academy... All it took for one's heart to wither was an instant. Tears poured down my face as I smashed all the birthday decorations I had prepared. I tore the white dress meant for the bonding ceremony to shreds. The next day, when Damian returned, he simply told the staff to clean up—as if all I had done was nothing out of the ordinary for me. I watched as the white dress I had poured my heart into was thrown out like trash. Maybe Damian would never know what it was. He would never know I had once wanted to spend my life with him as bonded mates. Suddenly, the driver's voice brought me back to reality. "Miss Aurora, where would you like to go?" "Home." My voice was icy as I opened my eyes, a new resolve forming in my heart. "Take me back to my father's place." Two hours later, I arrived at my family's estate. Mr. Thorne, my father, sat in his leather chair while my stepmother, Elena, stood gracefully by his side. "Aurora? Why are you back?" Elena frowned. "It's late. Is something wrong?" I looked straight into my father's eyes. "I'll marry the Alpha of the Risingdawn Pack, but I have one condition." My father's eyes sparkled with joy. "So you're finally willing to become the Alpha's mate? What's your condition?" "From this day forward, I sever all ties with the Snowfang Pack." My voice was cold. "Including our blood ties." My father sucked in a deep breath. "Aurora! Do you know what you're saying?" My stepmother put on her sweetest voice. "Aurora, you're your father's daughter. How can you say something like that?" I turned to her, my lips curling into a cold smile. "Elena, you know exactly what you did to marry my father. No point pretending to be a loving stepmother now, right?" "You…" Elena's face went pale. "And you, Father." I looked sharply at him. "You drove my mother to her death for the sake of the company. Now, you're selling your daughter for profit. You know the Alpha of Risingdawn Pack is gravely ill because of a deadly poison, but you're still sending me to him. What a great show of familial love!" Mr. Thorne shot up from his seat. "Aurora, you…" "What? Did I say something wrong?" I smiled even brighter. "It doesn't matter. I won't be your daughter much longer. There's nothing left to hide." Before I finished, the door quietly swung open. A familiar figure appeared at the doorway. Clara, standing there in a white dress, so fragile she looked like she might collapse at the slightest breeze. Chapter 2 "Clara? What are you doing here?" My voice trembled slightly. She managed a weak smile. "Aurora, I'm Elena's daughter. I was sick and getting treatment overseas in the past. I'm finally home." What? I stared at my stepmother, Elena. She looked unsettled, her gaze shaky. Fate really had a twisted sense of humor. Damian's so-called ex-girlfriend turned out to be my stepmother's daughter. "Aurora, Clara isn't well. She needs a quiet place to recover." My father stood up, his tone allowing no argument. "Give her your design studio." That studio was my favorite place in the east wing of the estate. It had the best views with perfect lighting. "Give it to her?" I let out a cold laugh. "And why should I?" "Because she needs to be cared for," my father said sternly. "You're her older sister. You should know better and be more mature." I looked at Clara's face and thought of what I'd seen at the park. Anger flared in my chest. "Sorry, but I'm not obligated to take care of the homewrecker's daughter." My voice was ice-cold. Elena's face changed. "Aurora! How can you say that?" "Say what?" I shot a mocking look at the two of them. "I haven't even left yet, and you're already so eager to help your daughter take my place?" My father roared furiously, "Aurora! That's enough!" I ignored him and went upstairs to pack. While I was at it, I booked a ticket to the Risingdawn Pack's territory, leaving in two weeks. Fifteen minutes later, I dragged my suitcase downstairs. "Aurora, where are you going?" Elena asked, her concern clearly faked. "I don't want to spend another second in this disgusting place," I said without looking back. "Stop!" my father yelled. "What are you doing now? Don't forget what you promised!" I stopped and slowly turned, giving him a mocking smile. "Don't worry. I'll become mates with the Alpha of Risingdawn Pack, no question." I left that suffocating place I called home without another word. That night, I anonymously leaked my father's business scandals to the media—illegal mining, tax evasion, and threatening pack members. By the next day, his company's stock price had plunged thirty percent. That was my way of getting back at him. Afterward, I checked into a luxury hotel. My father was livid, calling just to roar at me. "Aurora! Have you lost your mind? Are you trying to get me removed as Alpha?" His voice became hoarse from the yelling. "Not enough," I replied coolly, sipping champagne by the window. "After all, you're planning to trade me for a whole pack's loyalty and resources. A little scandal is the least you deserve." Outwardly, I was calm, but inside, I was plotting for more. I wanted the Risingdawn Pack to invest their resources in me personally and make sure that my father's company could never receive a single cent. The alliance he wanted? He could keep dreaming. "Come back now!" he shouted, practically shaking with anger. "And live where? The basement?" I sneered. "Or are you planning to kick out your precious Clara for me?" I hung up. Three days later, my father used every connection he had to freeze my accounts and got me blacklisted by nearly every design supplier in the industry. He didn't waste any time. At an industry gala the next week, a vindictive rival humiliated me in front of everyone. "Well, if it isn't Aurora! I heard your own father cut you off," he sneered. "You used to be so high and mighty, but look at you now. The so-called design prodigy was just backed by her own family's influence." Snickers rippled around the room. "The so-called prodigy can't even afford materials for her project, right?" "I heard she's blacklisted from the entire industry's supply chain. Hahaha…!" I wanted to retort, but nearly everyone there had a grudge against me. There was no way I could win. Just as I was backed to the corner, a powerful and suffocating Alpha's presence swept over the room. The rival Alpha fell silent, his face going pale. I didn't need to turn around to know who it was. That familiar cedarwood scent, mixed with the scent of something primal and dangerous. "Out." It was one cold and commanding word, and the werewolves immediately scattered. Before I could react, strong arms pulled me out of the banquet hall. I still didn't look at him. I didn't want him to see me like this. "Let go of me!" I struggled, but my strength was nothing compared to his. Damian gripped my wrist. "What are you up to again?" His voice was low and tight with anger. "Why didn't you come to me after you've been blacklisted by the whole industry?" Chapter 3 Damian's words brought back all my memories from the past three years. Every time I fought with my father, Damian would always be there like some silent guardian, shielding me from everything. Those gentle hugs in the middle of the night, the quiet words during thunderstorms, the way he took care of me when I was sick… After I joined his company, my design projects had his backing. My reputation in the industry only grew. At parties in the past, I was known as a prodigious designer. Everyone seemed to shower me with praise. But now, looking back, how much of that protection was ever genuine? All this time, I was just his secret lover, while his room was covered in photos of Clara. "Why should I come to you?" I laughed coldly, forcing my voice to sound like I didn't care. Damian's grip on my wrist tightened slightly. I could feel the shift in his mood. "Aurora." His voice was soft, tinged with the helplessness I knew too well. "Don't call my name." Anger and hurt exploded out of me as I stomped hard on his foot. "Aurora!" Damian grunted, but he didn't loosen his grip around my wrist. "Are you done?" He looked at me, his eyes full of emotions I couldn't read. I turned my head, refusing to let him see the tears in my eyes. Half an hour later, the familiar estate came into view. When I first arrived here three years ago, I had naively thought this would be my home. That this aloof man would become my whole world. Now, I saw it for what it really was. It was just a temporary shelter. "I'm only staying for another half a month," I said, trying to sound calm. "I'll pay rent. I'll reference the hotel rates." Damian frowned. "You can stay as long as you want. You don't need to pay." I cut him off, flashing a mocking smile. "Don't worry. I won't be a bother after that." His face darkened, jaw set tight. "Clara's family once gave up everything to save me. I owe her," he said softly, like he was trying to explain something. "Aurora, don't target Clara because of Elena," he finally said, his tone threatening. "She's not well. She needs to be looked after. The past is more complicated than you think, and I doubt you'll understand." Needs to be looked after. Those words cut into me repeatedly. And what about me? Didn't I deserve it too? Was my pain, my heartbreak, my tears really so worthless in his eyes? "Fine." I kept my tone flat, forcing myself to look unconcerned. "I won't bother her. After all, I'm just an outsider here." The next few days passed quietly, and we didn't step on each other's toes. Damian was busy handling business while I wandered around the estate alone, just like when I first arrived three years ago. But this time, everything felt different. Three nights later, Damian suddenly asked if I wanted to go to a party. "Why do you want to take me so suddenly?" I asked. "You've been cooped up in here for too long. You should get out for a bit." His explanation sounded reasonable enough. I changed into a black silk dress, added some simple jewelry, and followed him to the most luxurious hotel downtown. The moment I stepped into the ballroom, a giant banner caught my eye. "Congratulations to Miss Clara on Her Recovery and the Launch of the Art Foundation." I froze, feeling like the whole world was laughing at me. So this party was meant for Clara? Then, why did he bring me here? Was I supposed to stand by and watch him show everyone how important she was to him? The ballroom was bright with light as every important figure in the pack was there, all with flattering smiles on their faces. And me? I felt like an outsider who never should have come. I turned, ready to leave this suffocating place. "Aurora! I'm so glad you made it!" Clara rushed over and blocked my way, her face lighting up with excitement. "We have nothing to do with each other," I snapped, yanking my hand away when she tried to hold my arm. "Drop the act." I shook her off and walked straight to the dessert table. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Clara's eyes fill with tears as she went to find Damian. He gently stroked her hair and said something to her. Clara wiped away her tears as Damian comforted her and shyly leaned against his arm. And I stood there, nothing but an extra, a spectator with no place here. Pain stabbed through my chest. I looked down and knocked back a shot of whiskey, letting the burning alcohol numb my throat. Chapter 4 The party was in full swing as I sat alone in a corner. Damian moved effortlessly through the crowd, blocking drinks for Clara while bringing her food. He was so considerate that it made me burn with jealousy. I had never enjoyed that kind of consideration and tenderness from him. I raised my glass and drank it all in one gulp, letting the alcohol sear my nerves. Suddenly, someone suggested a traditional Werewolf game. "Let's play Fate's Choice!" The host waved an ancient crystal ball overhead. "Let the crystal show us the way!" The rules were simple. The crystal ball would randomly show someone's image and ask a question. Whoever was chosen had to answer honestly. It was an old tradition among werewolves, and no one could refuse. In the first round, an image of Damian appeared in the crystal ball. His face was as clear as day. "Respected Alpha Damian, if you found yourself in danger, who would you want by your side?" the host asked in an expectant tone. Clara and another girl's image appeared on the crystal's surface. My heart started to race, my palms sweaty. The whole room went quiet, waiting. Damian glanced at the crystal, then at the crowd. "Clara," he said, without hesitation. The room erupted in cheers and applause. Clara blushed, looking down shyly. I gripped my glass so tightly my knuckles turned white. In the second round, the crystal picked Damian again. "If you could choose one person to spend your life with, who would it be?" "Clara." Still no hesitation. In the third round, the question cut even deeper. "If you could only save one person's life, who would you choose?" This time, it was my photo and Clara's together. Damian hesitated for a few seconds. I saw his brows draw together, like he was genuinely thinking about the question. But in the end, he still said, "Clara." My heart crashed. It felt like the whole world was laughing at my foolishness. The game continued, and for three more rounds, the crystal picked Damian. "Who do you trust most?" "Who do you most want to protect?" "Who is most important to you?" Each time, he picked Clara without a hint of doubt. Each answer was like a slap across my face. Meanwhile, I was completely ignored like I was invisible. It was as if I didn't even exist to him. "I need to go to the washroom," I said as I stood up, my voice trembling as I clung to the last shreds of dignity. The hallway was quiet, only distant music and laughter reaching me. I leaned against the wall, trying to steady myself. I kept telling myself to stay calm. "Well, well, what's a pretty thing like you doing here alone?" A few unfamiliar male voices echoed from around the corner. I looked up to see a group of Betas from a rival Pack. Their eyes were hostile, and they reeked of alcohol. "Stay away," I warned coldly, my hand instinctively reaching for the silver dagger strapped to my thigh. "Don't be so ferocious. Aren't you that famous designer? How about you come see my new art collection?" A tall man reached for me. I backed away quickly and drew my dagger. "Last warning. Back off, or you'll regret it." At that moment, I glanced toward the entrance, silently wishing for someone to help. Damian was right at the ballroom doors, turning just in time to see what was happening. Our eyes met. Mine were full of silent pleading, certain he would come to my rescue, just like before. He noticed immediately, his body leaning forward as if he was about to come to me. But then, behind him, Clara's panicked voice rang out. "Damian! My injury hurts again! It really hurts!" Without a second thought, Damian turned and hurried to Clara, his eyes filled with worry. Before leaving, he turned to his Beta, Marcus, and said, "Don't worry about her. She can handle herself." At that moment, it felt like my whole world crumbled. Fury and despair exploded in my chest. I lunged and stabbed the arm of the nearest man with my silver blade. "Ah!" He howled as the dagger's poison took effect, dropping him to the ground in agony. The others scattered, and I took the chance to escape. Afterward, I sat alone on the terrace, drinking in silence. My mood was completely ruined. The wind at night was cold, stinging my face. "Don't drink so quickly or you'll end up drunk," Clara's voice drifted over as she approached, carrying a glass of fruit juice. "I was out of line just now, Sister. Don't get mad, okay?" "It's fine," I replied icily. "Don't. We're family," Clara said, putting on a show of concern as she stepped closer. "Besides, I wanted to tell you something." I looked at her coldly. "Don't call me sister. I've never been family to you." She snapped, unable to keep up the act, "Don't think you've won anything! In the end, you're the one who's been abandoned—by Dad and by Damian." Her words hurt me deep, but I had no energy left to argue. Just as I was about to leave, I heard a sharp crack overhead. I looked up. One of the heavy metal racks above the terrace was coming loose. It was about to fall! In that split second, Damian burst out of the ballroom. Without hesitation, he threw himself over Clara, shielding her with his body. And I was standing directly beneath the rack as it crashed down. There was a loud bang, and I was pinned right under the edge of the rack. Chapter 5 My senses were slowly disappearing as I lay in a pool of blood and pain. Memories of Damian and me flashed through my mind like scenes from a movie. The first time we met, I charged at him like an angry little pup, and he easily subdued me. The first time I was overwhelmed by his Alpha scent, I was lost in him completely. The shy morning after we first spent the night together. The gentle way he held me during stormy nights. The nights he stayed up taking care of me when I was sick. How I secretly prepared for the bonding ceremony, filled with hope and excitement… Every memory was so clear, every detail carved deep into my memory. But in the end, all those beautiful moments were shattered by reality. My last memory froze on that final scene. He shielded Clara without hesitation, while I was left pinned beneath the falling rack. So that was how things were. When it truly mattered, his instincts would always drive him to protect her, not me. Through the haze, I heard the wail of an ambulance, Clara's sobbing, and Damian's panicked shouting. But none of it seemed to matter anymore. Then, everything faded to black. When I woke, it was already noon the next day. The hospital ward was quiet except for the steady beeping of machines. "You're finally awake!" The nurse let out a sigh of relief. "You took a blow to the head, but luckily, your life isn't in danger." I tried to sit up, but pain shot through my whole body. My left shoulder was especially painful. Slowly, everything came back. It felt like last night's events had just happened. Then, I heard familiar voices through a thin curtain. "It's all my fault. If only I'd reacted faster..." Clara's voice was thick with tears and guilt as she sobbed. "It's not your fault. Don't blame yourself," Damian said, his voice gentler than I had ever heard. "You've always had a weak constitution. If I had to do it all over again, I'd still save you first." That sentence was like a blade, cutting deep into my heart. Even if he had to choose again, he would still choose her. He was so clear about it. So certain. No hesitation. "But Aurora got hurt..." Clara sounded even more upset. "She'll be fine. The doctor said it's just some external injuries," Damian reassured her. "But you're different. You can't afford any accidents." I bit down hard on my lip, trying to stay silent. Tears slid down my cheeks, soaking the pillow. So this was my place in his heart. I could be sacrificed, because I would be "fine." "It's okay. Don't cry anymore," Damian continued softly. "Go rest, don't wear yourself out." Footsteps came closer, and the curtain slid open. Damian appeared at my bedside, still looking worried, but the moment he saw I was awake, that worry turned into something more complicated. "You're awake?" He sat beside the bed, reaching out to check my forehead. "How do you feel?" I avoided his hand, meeting his eyes calmly. "Thank you for saving me. I'll pay you back for the hospital bill in two weeks." Damian's hand froze midair, and he frowned. "What are you talking about?" He seemed thrown off by my strange calm, a flicker of confusion and concern in his eyes. Why did I keep saying "two weeks"? "Aurora, you…" He looked completely at a loss, unsettled by how I was acting. In the past, I would have cried, demanded answers, and become hysterical. Now, I didn't want to do anything at all. Loving someone...was really exhausting. "I'll stay here and look after you," he said, sitting down. But just then, his phone rang. "Alpha, Clara's foundation website is under attack. Sensitive data could be leaked," his personal assistant said anxiously through the receiver. Damian's expression changed instantly as he stood up at once. "I have an urgent matter to take care of," he said, glancing at me. "I'll come see you later." He left quickly, not even looking back. Clara again. It was always Clara. I stared at the closed door, my heart a mess of complicated emotions. I shut my eyes and let the tears fall. Chapter 6 "Miss Aurora? Are you alright?" The nurse's voice snapped me out of my daze. I opened my eyes to see blood backing up in the IV line. A stark, dark red blood was backing up against the tubing, and it was quite scary. "How long has it been like this?" My voice was hoarse. "About seven hours." The nurse replaced the IV carefully, her tone cautious. "Why wasn't anyone watching you? Your arm is already swollen. Luckily, there's no infection." "Where's your Alpha mate?" "He's not my mate," I answered flatly. Seven hours. I closed my eyes, a bitter, almost mocking smile tugging at my lips. "Thank you, I can manage myself." I pulled out the IV and walked out of my ward, ignoring the nurse's protests. The hallway was busy with people coming and going. "Did you hear? The Blackmoon Group's Alpha pulled out all the stops for Miss Clara last night. He called in every tech team. It was all over the news." "They mobilized their best legal and PR teams, just to protect one foundation?" "It's for Clara, though. She's the Alpha's favorite, you know." The gossip at the nurse's station made me stop in my tracks. So, during those seven hours after he left, Damian had been busy working for Clara. I drifted toward the elevators, numb, desperate to leave this place that smelled of disinfectant. Somehow, I ended up outside Blackmoon Group's headquarters. It was just a short walk from the hospital. Through the glass of the main lobby, I saw a scene that made my chest ache. Damian was gently handing Clara a cup of coffee. My father sat next to her, chatting warmly with Clara, a softness in his eyes I'd never seen directed at me. The three of them sat together on the couch, sunlight streaming through the tall windows, wrapping them in a golden glow. The sight stung so much I had to turn away. I couldn't bear to see that a second time. Tears rolled down freely. "Aurora," I told myself quietly as I walked away, "Who are you crying for? No one cares about you. Don't cry!" Damian didn't show up after that. I finished my treatment alone in silence. Once I had fully recovered, I was planning to leave the hospital. At the front entrance, I ran into Damian. He looked tired, but his mood seemed good. Clara was clearly doing fine now. "Get in the car." His tone left no room for argument and was filled with threat. I didn't budge. "I'm going home." "Home?" He gave a cold laugh, grabbing my wrist. "Or do you want them to target you again?" After being shoved into the car, he handed me a tablet as he started the car. "A catalog for one of the top art galleries. Lots of masterpieces. I'm taking you out for a walk to clear your head. You've been holed up in there for too long." I flipped through the catalog absently, barely paying attention. Suddenly, on page seventeen, a familiar painting caught my eye. It was one of my mother's last works. My mother had been an artist, and that painting was her favorite. After Elena married into our family, she claimed that "the deceased's belongings will bring misfortune" and forced my father to get rid of everything my mother left behind. I thought that painting was destroyed. I never imagined it would show up at an auction. "How much is this?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly. Damian glanced over. "The starting bid is five hundred thousand. The estimated selling bid is around two million." Two million… Even if I sold all my jewelry, I could barely scrape together one million and five hundred thousand. At the auction, I unexpectedly ran into Clara. She wore an elegant white outfit, laughing and mingling with a group of art collectors. As soon as she saw us come in, she made a beeline for us. "Aurora! I told Damian I wanted to apologize, and I can't believe he brought you here. I know I was wrong that day. Will you forgive me?" I looked at Damian, but he just kept flipping through the auction catalog in silence. So that was the real reason for this trip. So Clara could apologize. The whole “clearing my head” excuse had just been a cover. I felt empty inside, as if something inside me had been hollowed out, but I didn't even have any tears left to cry. Clara reached for my hand, her eyes full of regret. "I really didn't mean to hurt you. I was just so excited. After being away so long, it's nice seeing everyone again, and I can't help but feel happy about it." I pulled my hand away. "Are you done apologizing?" Clara bit her lip, her voice trembling, almost about to cry. "I really do want to be your friend. We're family, aren't we?" "Friend? Family?" I let out a cold laugh. "You think you deserve that?" The auction was about to begin. I found a seat in the corner as I clutched my bidding paddle tightly. This was my last chance. Chapter 7 The auction began. Famous painting after famous painting appearing on stage. I barely paid attention until my mother's painting was brought out. "The next piece is 'Prayer Under the Moonlight.' Starting bid, five hundred thousand!" The auctioneer's gavel rang out. I immediately raised my paddle. "Six hundred thousand." "Eight hundred thousand." Clara's voice rang out from the VIP section, as casual as if she were just making small talk about the weather. "One million." I pushed on, gritting my teeth, sweat in my palms. "One million and five hundred thousand." Clara was still perfectly at ease, even giving me a little smile. My hand trembled. That amount was already past my limit. People around us started to whisper, all drawn in by the bidding war. Some were guessing at our identities, others were discussing the painting's origins. "This bidding war is quite exciting! Both of them must really want this piece." "I heard it's from an old, prominent werewolf family." "Two million." Clara raised her paddle with elegance, turning and smiling at me. "Why don't you give up, Aurora? It's just a dead woman's junk. Is it really worth it?" I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood. This wasn't junk. It was my mother's most treasured painting. The auctioneer began to count down, "Two million, going once… Going twice…" "Wait!" I shot to my feet, turning toward Damian, sitting in the back row. Only then did his gaze finally fall on me. Swallowing my pride, I stumbled over and grabbed his sleeve with trembling hands. "Lend me money," I said quietly, almost pleading. "Please, I'm begging you." Those words drained everything from me. I had never begged anyone for anything in my entire life. I was Aurora. I had never bowed my head to anyone. Yet, I was willing to give up all my dignity for my mother's keepsake. Damian looked at me, mixed feelings in his eyes. He slowly reached for his black card. "Damian!" Clara burst over, tears in her eyes as she grabbed his hand. "You can't help her go against me!" She started crying instantly. "I really love this painting, Damian, please." Damian's hand froze in midair. I watched him, desperately waiting for his choice. For a second, I almost believed that maybe this time, he would choose me. Maybe, just once, he would stand by my side. After a long silence, he slowly pulled his hand back. He didn't even look at me, and said quietly, "Let her have it." In that instant, my entire world collapsed. "Two million, third and final call! Sold!" The auctioneer's gavel slammed down, every strike pounding into my chest. I watched as Clara claimed the painting, despair almost spilling out of my eyes. After the auction ended, I blocked Clara's path. "What do you want for the painting?" My voice was hoarse. "I'll pay you three times the price. Six million." Clara tilted her head, pretending to think. "I don't want money. Money means nothing to me." "Then what do you want?" "Alright, then. I want you to admit in front of everyone that your talent in design is fake," Clara said. People nearby started to whisper among themselves. She didn't stop there. "And I want you to grovel at my feet and apologize. Admit that you've bullied me your whole life," she added, her smile sickly sweet. Everyone stopped to watch. Several people pulled out their phones, eager to record. I closed my eyes. My knees started to buckle. For my mother's only keepsake, I was willing to give up even my last shred of pride. Just as I was about to kneel, Clara suddenly started laughing. "Oh, I forgot to mention! I already shredded the painting. Why would I ever keep something like that? What a shame! It was such a beautiful painting, too, but it belonged to a dead woman. You'll never get it back." Time seemed to freeze. All sound disappeared, except for the sound of my own heart shattering. My mother's last work, destroyed by this cruel woman. Her pale face flashed through my mind. That painting was her favorite. But now… Before I even realized it, I grabbed a heavy silver trophy from the table and smashed it down onto Clara's arm. "Ah!" Clara's scream echoed through the auction hall. Chapter 8 Blood instantly soaked Clara's white dress. Her right arm was broken, and she curled up on the ground in pain. I looked at her calmly as she lay in a pool of blood. "I prefer to have my revenge on the spot. That's just who I am." My voice was eerily calm. "You always have to pay the price if you destroy something that someone treasures." Guests around us gasped, stepping back in shock. Some people shrieked while others started recording on their phones, and a growing crowd whispered anxiously. "Oh my god, she actually hit her!" "That was a silver trophy… Do you know how bad that is for werewolves?" "Clara's arm is ruined!" I ignored all of it and left that suffocating room. Then, heavy footsteps pounded behind me. "Aurora!" Damian's voice thundered with a rage I had never heard from him before. I stopped and turned around slowly. He was marching toward me from the crowd. A small, expensive vial of healing potion in his hand. It was clearly meant for Clara. There was fire in his eyes—a fury I had never seen before. "Why did you hurt her?!" He grabbed my wrist, squeezing so hard it felt like he would break my bones. I looked at him, a bitter smile forming inside. I forced my voice to stay steady. "She destroyed my mother's painting." "Even if she did, you can't hurt her!" Damian snapped at me. "She's always been so fragile! Do you even know what silver can do to her?" That was the final straw. The thing that broke me completely. So, it didn't matter what she did, or how much she had hurt me. In his heart, Clara would always be the one who couldn't be touched, the precious treasure. And I? I was always the troublemaker who never matured. Damian let go of me and rushed to Clara, immediately checking on her injury. "Does it hurt?" His voice was full of concern. "Don't be scared. I'll fix it." Clara leaned weakly against him, tears streaming down her face. "It hurts, Damian. Is my hand ruined?" "It won't be. I won't let anything happen to you." Damian carefully poured the potion on her wound. I stood there, watching it all, feeling everything inside me turn to ice. "Get security," Damian ordered his men, not even looking back at me. "Lock Aurora up in the isolation cell for attacking a pack member." The isolation cell. It was where the Pack punished criminals who broke laws. The walls were made of pure silver. It could bring great harm to the werewolves inside. If one were lucky, one would get away with rotting skin. If not, one might end up with neurological damage. "Damian…" I tried to speak, but his cold eyes silenced me. "That's enough," he said, his voice cold. "You have to face the consequences this time." Two Pack Guards came over and locked silver cuffs around my wrists. The instant the cold metal touched my skin, the searing pain made me shudder. As I was dragged away, I looked back one last time. Damian was still holding Clara, taking her for medical help—he never once looked at me. As if I had never mattered at all. The heavy silver door into the isolation cell clanged shut. Silver walls glared under the lights, and even the air itself felt full of something that made every werewolf's skin crawl. Those three days in the cell were the worst days I had ever known. I slid down the freezing wall, letting the silver cuffs bite deep into my wrists, leaving bloody marks. I lost all sense of time, until I heard footsteps from outside. A group of unfamiliar Pack Guards burst in, eyes full of malice. "So this is the one who hurt Miss Clara?" "She doesn't look like much." I got to my feet, staying wary, but the silver cell had sapped my strength. "Who sent you?" I asked weakly. "Alpha Damian, of course. He said you needed some punishment," the leader replied. I couldn't believe it. Even if he wanted to punish me, I never thought he'd go this far. But I couldn't think anymore as the pain overcame my senses. The first punch slammed into my stomach, making me bend over. Then came the second, the third… I gritted my teeth, refusing to make a sound. "Still trying to act tough?" one of them sneered. "Let's see how long you last." I lost track of how many blows I took. Eventually, I collapsed on the floor, blood dripping from my lips and staining the silver floor. Three days later, Damian finally came to let me out. "Did you learn your lesson this time?" That familiar voice echoed through the door. I looked up, and saw Damian standing there with vision blurred, his voice colder than ever. Chapter 9 After I left the isolation cell, my injuries were so severe that I fainted on the spot. When I woke up, Damian was sitting beside my hospital bed. He looked tired. "How are you feeling?" His tone was calm, as if nothing had happened at all. I stared at him in silence, refusing to answer. The silver had ravaged my body. My throat was so painful I could barely make a sound. And honestly, I didn't want to speak at all. "Aurora, I want to ask you a question." Damian frowned, clearly irritated by my silence. Still, I said nothing, just gazing out the window. The tension in the room grew thick. Just then, I heard a healer call out in the hallway. "Alpha Damian! Clara is screaming she's in pain again!" Damian got up right away, not even looking at me. "Think about what you've done," he said before rushing out of the room. Clara sent me messages every day about how Damian was taking care of her. I ignored them all. Three days later, the doctor told me I could be discharged. As I was packing, the door was slowly pushed open. Clara stepped in, wearing a hospital gown and thick bandages on her right arm, looking as delicate and pitiful as ever. "Aurora, you're leaving already?" Her voice was just as sweet as always. I ignored her, focusing on packing my things. "Did you know?" Clara came over, voice full of pride. "Damian spent three million hiring the best healer for me. He said he wouldn't leave even a single scar on my hand. Not even a little." My hands paused for a second, then kept moving. "Oh, I forgot. You were locked up in the isolation cell thanks to his personal orders. That must have been rough, huh?" Clara said with fake concern. "Getting beaten up isn't fun, is it? All I had to do was mention that I wanted you to suffer a little." She crouched down in front of me, staring me straight in the eyes. "Want to know why? Why does Damian never hesitate to believe me over you?" I stopped whatever I was doing and coldly gazed back at her. "That's because…" Clara's smile turned even brighter. "Damian and I have known each other since we were kids. We understand each other better than anyone. "When I was fifteen, right before we almost got together, I was attacked while protecting him. After that, I had to go abroad for treatment. That's the only reason we were apart. He has always been concerned about me, and he'd personally come to check on my status every year." Her smile turned cruel as she continued, "Do you really think you mattered? You are just a replacement." I clenched my fists, barely holding myself together. "Now that I'm back, it won't be long before I become the official Luna of the Blackmoon Pack," Clara said smugly. "And you? You were destined to only be a guest in all of this." Then she slipped right back into her sweet, innocent act. "But in all honesty, I should thank you." "Thank me?" My voice was rough and hoarse. "Yes. If you hadn't always been stirring up trouble, Damian wouldn't have realized who he really cared about." Clara smiled sweetly. "Every time you caused something, he just pitied me even more. Poor, innocent me. And did you know? I was the one who suggested Damian talk to your father about disciplining you." My blood ran cold. "I told Damian that my stepfather's daughter was bullying me, and maybe he could help teach you a lesson." Clara's grin stretched even wider. "He agreed right away. Imagine that." "He disciplined you so well… Dragging you into his bed and making you fall for him without even trying. I was angry at first, but then I found this." Clara pulled a small camera from her bag. "Turns out, to discipline you better, Damian installed this in your room. All the footage goes straight to his private computer. I'm sure he has already saved every intimate video of you two locked away somewhere safe." She kept gloating. "He was sleeping with you so he could hand me all those recordings if I ever needed leverage to strike back." I could feel the world spinning and my ears ringing. "After all, you're so proud. If I'm holding your private videos, would you ever dare go against me?" With that, Clara stood up and straightened her gown. "Well, I should get going. Damian's waiting for me to have lunch." She smiled, then left, quietly closing the door behind her. My hands shook as I called for a car to the manor. An hour later, I stood in front of Damian's study on the second floor. The room he had never allowed me to enter. I pushed open the door and walked to the only computer inside. My hands trembled as I turned it on. When I clicked on the folder marked with a date on the desktop, my legs gave out, and I collapsed to my knees. The screen was filled with videos of me and Damian. Moments I thought belonged to just the two of us in memories, now all captured and stored. Different angles, different times, like a carefully edited documentary. So… Everything had been a lie from the very beginning. Chapter 10 I picked up my phone and called my father, my hands still shaking. "Aurora? I thought you said you were cutting all ties with us," he answered coldly. "Remember, you promised to go to the Risingdawn Pack. Don't forget your words." "I want to ask you something." I tried to keep my voice steady. "Back then, was it Damian who came to you first about disciplining me?" There was a brief silence. "Yes," my father finally admitted. "He said Clara mentioned you were always bullying her and asked if he could step in. He traded for you with valuable territory. To be honest, I thought it was a good deal. You were always going against me, so I figured I'd let him handle the trouble." My phone slipped from my hand, hitting the floor with a sharp crack. So, it was all true. I wasn't some fated mate. We weren't destined for each other. I was just a nuisance that was despised, traded away like some merchandise. And Damian took me in only to help the woman he really loved. I looked around at all the photos of Clara, then at the shameful footage on the computer screen, and I finally couldn't hold it in. I started laughing. Laughter echoed through the room, sharp and empty. I laughed until tears streamed down my cheeks. I laughed as it mixed with my tears. Aurora, you really were a joke. Sold off by your father, played with by Damian like a toy, and then used as a stepping stone by Clara. You were just a pitiful little fool from the beginning to the end. The laughter finally faded. I wiped my tears and dragged out the suitcase I had packed long ago. Before leaving, I grabbed a box of matches from the kitchen. I was going to burn all my designs and all those shameful scenes. Watching the flames devour those fake happy memories, I felt a rare, almost fierce sense of relief. Since it was all a lie, let it all turn to ash. At the door, I saw the silver dagger Damian had once given me. He had said it was meant for our bonding ceremony someday. What a laughable promise! I suddenly laughed, picked up the knife, and stabbed my arm without hesitation. Blood gushed out, splattering across the white marble floor. The pain brought everything into focus. Consider this the ending ritual for our so-called relationship. Then, I heard the sounds of a car engine outside. Damian was back. I heard his hurried footsteps, the door slamming open, his panicked shout as he saw the flames. "Aurora! Where are you? Aurora!" He rushed to the entryway, then saw the blood and the knife in my hand, and his face instantly turned pale. "What are you doing?!" He tried to grab me, but I stepped back. "It's nothing." I looked at him calmly. "Are you crazy?!" Damian's eyes were full of anger and worry. "Put the knife down, now!" I shook my head, a strange smile on my lips. For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, finally, just one line came from him. "Happy now? You burned the house down. Do you feel any better?" I looked up at him. Those eyes that had once been full of love were now cold and empty. I looked at Damian as if he were a stranger, not saying a single word. Just then, his Beta, Marcus, hurried in. "Alpha, the Pack Council's emergency meeting is starting soon. You need to leave immediately! The private jet is ready." I looked at Damian. After a moment's hesitation, he said to Marcus, "Have someone take her to Blue Mountain Villa. Twenty-four-hour supervision." "I'm not going." My voice was steady. "I'm going home." "You're not going anywhere…" "I'm going to where I belong," I whispered, barely loud enough for myself to hear. "We're done, Damian." With that, I walked out the door. Damian wanted to follow, but his assistant urged him again, "Alpha, we really can't delay this anymore!" In the end, he made his choice and got in the car. I didn't look back as I left the estate I had once thought was home. In the cover of the night, I went to the airport. Two planes took off at the same time, flying in opposite directions. One headed north to the business center. The other south, to the Risingdawn Pack's territory. Our paths would never cross again.