Amalthea’s POV

"Little girl, how far do you think you can hide them? You think of me as a different person, but you and I are the same," someone cooed in my ear, making me jump from my bed.

I looked around frantically, trying to find the source of the voice.

"Who is it?" I asked, pulling the dagger from under my pillow.

"Who am I? You should be worried about why I am here. You have been having dreams, no? Little visions of something you feel familiar with. And you still ignored them?" The voice asked.

"Look, whoever it is, if you think this is funny, then it isn't," I said, feeling a weird creepiness settle in my bones as I pointed the dagger in random directions.

"Funny? Do you think I am trying to be funny? Well, I wonder what you'll have to say about what you will go through starting this moment," the girl chuckled coldly.

"Miss Jade? Miss Jade? Are you okay?" I suddenly heard a voice around me, making me open my eyes as I looked at the girl who was doing my makeup.

"I will take it from here," I heard another voice.

Ignored them?" The voice asked.

"Look, whoever it is, if you think this is funny, then it isn't," I said, feeling a weird creepiness settle in my bones as I pointed the dagger in random directions.

"Funny? Do you think I am trying to be funny? Well, I wonder what you'll have to say about what you will go through starting this moment," the girl chuckled coldly.

"Miss Jade? Miss Jade? Are you okay?" I suddenly heard a voice around me, making me open my eyes as I looked at the girl who was doing my makeup.

"I will take it from here," I heard"Hey, don't be so nervous. Everything is going to be alright," Sophia, my best friend, said for the umpteenth time.

Everything is going to be okay. I just need to calm down. I have waited for this day for my whole life. Whatever I am feeling was just my nerves working up because of the wedding. I repeated the words in my head.

"I know, Sophia. It's just I feel like something wrong is going to happen," I said helplessly, hiding the truth about my dreams as I looked at my reflection in the mirror.

Sitting in front of me was an elegant lady, dressed in a peach-colored bridal gown for her wedding. Her hair was in a loose bun with light makeup to highlight her features.

Her brown eyes were especially enchanting today with the excitement they held. Though it was an auspicious day for the girl, why do I see hints of terror in her eyes? I thought as I touched my face.

"Don’t touch your face. It will spoil the makeup," Sophia said, pretending to be angry.

'Maybe Sophia is right. I am thinking too much about things,' I thought before standing.

Retouching my lip gloss one last time, I looked into the mirror before smiling politely.

"Miss Jade, are you ready to go? Everyone is waiting downstairs," the maid said respectfully, making Sophia nod.

“She’ll come down soon. You can leave,”

Looking at Sophia's suspicious face, I smiled sheepishly as we walked toward the exit of the dressing room.

I am sure if I said one more negative thing, then she is going to show me her claws.

It was still a twenty-minute journey to the wedding place, and I smiled thinking about how I met Blake and how we have come so far.

Blake and I aren't mates by fate. We were chosen mates. We fell in love over time and decided to spend the rest of our eternity together.

When Blake's pack went under attack, they had to flee the area to save their lives. To say our pack and my parents were like a boon to them would be an understatement. They had nowhere to go, and they were barely holding it in with the resources they had.

Since their pack was destroyed, Blake's father decided to join our pack, The Callisto pack, and my father was more than ecstatic to have his best friend over.

Over the years, the friendship between Blake and me turned into love. We went to the same school and used to spend most of our time together. When we talked to our parents about the feelings we have for each other, they made us sign an agreement to be each other's chosen mates so that none of us betray each other when we find our fated mates.

It was a collateral decision, and everyone was okay with it.

I am the only child of my parents, Alpha and Luna Jade.

Though I am strong and independent because of the alpha blood running in my veins, my father was more than ecstatic when he learned that Blake and I have chosen each other.

My father has always thought the pack would be more prone to attacks if a female ruled it, and thus, he announced Blake will take over the pack after marrying me.

It was obviously a gender-biased decision, but I never questioned it because I loved Blake. What's mine is also his eventually.

A pack under the supervision of two alphas is bound to bloom, and we proved our capabilities over the years.

We both would've married long ago, but my father wanted me to graduate and turn twenty before marriage.

He didn't want to burden me with the Luna duties, and thus, even after his death, I respected his decision, making us wait for two more years for this day to arrive.

After 5 years of secret dating and 2 years of the agreement, I can’t help but smile as the day of our wedding was finally here.

Of course, marriage isn’t our destination but the beginning of a new journey, and I guess I was ready for it.

"You relax, okay? I will tell you when we'll reach there," Sophia said.

"Is Blake’s father already there?" I asked, and Sophia hummed in reply.

My mom and dad both died in rogue attacks at different times, and since I didn't have anyone else to walk me down the aisle, Blake's father volunteered to do so.

As we reached the venue, I looked at Blake's father, smiling slightly when I saw tears in his eyes that he was trying his best to hide from me.

"Dad," I whispered from behind him, and he turned to look at me.

"You are an alpha, Dad. Will it look good if people see you crying like this? We are going to continue my father's and your lineage and take care of this pack under your guidance," I consoled him, and he smiled.

"I know, sweetheart. I know you will be a better alpha, or should I say, Luna? I just miss your parents. They would've been so happy today," Dad said, and I smiled weakly at him.

Of course, they would've been happy. They used to always talk about it.

"Alpha Cane, I don't think you should make her sad like this," Sophia reprimanded him, and I chuckled at her angry look.

"Okay, I am sorry, mom," Dad joked with her, and she huffed before walking toward me, making me laugh.

After Sophia's parents got killed in a rogue attack, my dad took her and made her our family. However, who would've thought that my father would also die like this, making both of us orphans?

I grabbed Blake's father's hand as Sophia walked behind me and held my long veil.

Walking towards the altar, I looked in front of me, my eyes meeting Blake's eyes, making me blush a bit.

Once I reached the stairs, Blake's father gave my hand to Blake, and he smiled.

"Don't worry, Mr. Cohl. I will take care of your friend's daughter, and she will always be my priority," Blake said, and I smiled shyly.

Once on the stage, I stood in front of him, and we said our vows to each other before the priest marked us as husband and wife.

"Since you are chosen mates and not mates by fate, you can seal the bond by marking each other. It will be a representation of your unending love," the priest said, and I don't know if I was being paranoid, but I saw some hesitancy in Blake's eyes when the priest mentioned marking.

"Hey, if you are not comfortable doing it in front of everyone, we can skip it for now," I suggested, not wanting to push it, and he shook his head.

Taking my hand in his, he tilted my head, making me hold his neck to a perfect angle as we sank our teeth into each other's flesh, making everyone around us howl in joy.

"You have a beautiful mark," Blake complimented after he cleaned my wound, and I smiled.

"It's given to me by my love. Of course, it will be beautiful," I said before taking the mirror from Sophia's hand to look at my mark.

"It's beautiful, no?" Sophia asked, but I looked at the mark on my neck, feeling weird.

The rare white wolf is mine, but why does it look like the black wolf isn't looking toward my wolf? What does this mean? I thought as I felt the same weirdness in my heart rising again.

Stop being paranoid, Amalthea. I told myself before smiling again.

"Hey, Amalthea? What are you thinking?" Blake asked me as he circled his hand around my waist, and I shook my head.

"Nothing, I just can't wait to share a room with you," I winked at him, and he chuckled awkwardly, making me squint my brows even more.

"Why? You are not excited?" I asked, and he shook his head.

"Don't think like that. Let's attend to the guests," Blake said, not giving me a direct answer, and before I could ask anything else, he left my side, making me look at his back.

"Amalthea? What are you thinking about? Let's get you in an evening gown. We need to attend the after-party. This gown is too heavy, and you need to save your energy for later, no?" Sophia winked at me, and I slapped her shoulder, feeling shy.

"You are such a naughty girl, Sophia," I said.

"I am naughty? Well, the marks on Blake's body tomorrow morning will tell me who is more naughty," she said, and I blushed even more.

AMALTHEA'S POV

"Are you nervous?" Sophia asked me again, and I glared at her.

"What? Don't give me that look. Even a nun can tell what naughty thoughts are going inside your head," Sophia said, and I sighed.

"Sophia Turner, if you didn't get out of your friend's room this second, then I am going to make sure you are not able to walk for a week," I heard Caleb, Sophia's mate's voice, and I looked at Sophia, who was blushing profusely.

"You! I am sure you called him," Sophia accused me, and I shrugged.

"Well, you didn't leave me any choice either," I said.

I sighed loudly as soon as Sophia left, and I couldn't help but notice something weird now that I was alone.

Blake didn't come with me. The whole evening, he had acted more distant to me than our whole life.

'Hey, crystal. What happened to you? You have been awfully quiet today,' I asked, but rather than her reply, I just heard her small whimper.

'At least talk to me, Crystal. How am I supposed to know what is wrong when you won't speak?' I asked again, and she sighed.

'I felt something weird during the wedding, Amalthea. I can't feel his wolf anymore. I tried to look for Blake's wolf, but it felt like he wasn't there. They had blocked us,' Crystal said, and I looked out of the balcony thoughtfully.

Is something really wrong with Blake and his wolf?

"Come in," I said when I heard a knock, not moving from the balcony.

I was hoping for Blake to come and hug me from behind like he always does. However, when I didn't feel his arms around me, I squinted my brows before turning around.

Seeing a girl standing in front of me, along with Blake, I sighed.

So that's the reason. He didn't want to look inappropriate in front of the stranger.

Wait. A stranger?

"Who are you? I am sure you don't work in the mansion. Even if you are new, why did you enter our room in the middle of the night? Who hired you?" I asked, confused.

"Why are you looking at him? Let me call the head maid. How can she hire someone and allow her to roam without proper instructions? It's not good for her. What if someone bullies her -"

"She is not a maid," Blake cut me off.

He didn’t look too pleasant at the moment.

What was going on here?

"If she isn't a maid, then what is she doing here? You have brought her to meet me? Is she a friend? Or distant sister?" I asked, looking between the girl and Blake.

As I took a step forward, I noticed how the girl in front of me winced slightly, and Blake held her hand, making me squint my brows.

"Why is she acting afraid of me?" I asked, looking at Blake now.

"She is not a friend, and neither a distant sister," Blake said, and I looked at the hesitancy in his eyes.

It was the same hesitancy he had shown when the priest asked to mark me and seal the bond. Why is he acting like this today, after our wedding? I thought before I tried to put two and two together.

Blake was hesitant to mark me. He was hesitant when I talked about our wedding night. Then he brought a girl to our room. The girl doesn't belong to our pack and is neither a friend nor a sister.

I don't want to think of things like that. I don’t want to think negatively and ruin my mood, but why do I feel like this girl was -

"She is my mate," Blake completed my thoughts, and I looked at them in shock and horror, feeling the ground under my feet shaking as my legs trembled.

His words pierced right through my heart like wooden arrows.

"She is what?" I asked again.

"Haha, Blake. Maybe my paranoia has gotten to my head. You are calling her your maid, and I am hearing a mate. We will discuss her salary later. Send her away. We have waited for seven years for this day," I said and was about to walk towards him when the girl beside him whimpered, and he brought her close to his chest, making my heart skip a beat.

"Your mind is not tricking you, Amalthea. You heard it right. She is my mate. My fated mate," He said, and Crystal growled inside me.

"Wh-what are you talking about, Blake? You found your mate and now what?" I whispered, my eyes brimming with tears, and I clenched my fists to control my raging emotions.

"Calm down, Amalthea. We can talk this through," Blake's tone was still as calm as ever, but how can he expect me to call down in situation like this?

For seven years. I waited for this day for seven years, and now that it is here, he brought his mate here and told me everything was useless? How can he do this to me and expect me to calm down?

Was my love for so long a joke to him?

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes to control the hurt I was feeling before opening them again.

"Even if she is your fated mate, what is the use of bringing her to our wedding room? We have signed an agreement. You know what you need to do. What is this all ruckus for?" I asked, and he looked at me cautiously.

"I can't reject her, Amalthea," Blake gritted his teeth, and I looked at him, my heart beating at a fast pace now.

"What the hell are you talking about? We signed a contract! Reject her this instant!" I growled at him.

"Amalthea Jade! Don't you dare raise your voice at me. I am still your husband and the rightful alpha of the pack," Blake growled back at me and my heart sank into the pit of my stomach.

"Darling, don't be mean to her. She is just being emotional," That girl placed her hand on Blake's chest in a provoking manner, and a few tears rolled down my eyes.

"Do you look at her, Amalthea? This is how a mate should act. She calms and soothes my anger. Something that you can't ever do because you are incapable," Blake scoffed, and every word he spoke was like a slap to my face for loving him.

"You will never understand what I am feeling right now. You don't have a mate after all," Blake scoffed, pulling that girl closer to himself and kissing her forehead, shattering my heart into tiny pieces.

"Y-you. How could you do this to me, Blake? Why now after all these days? Why now?" I broke down before turning away.

This man who has given me this pain doesn't deserve to see my tears.

"Everyone should be in the pack's hall in five minutes," I growled through the mind link, and noticed Blake wincing a bit before he looked at me with a hard gaze.

"Amalthea, this is a matter between us. You don't need to bring everyone into this," Blake said, and I can't believe that he still has the audacity to defend this matter.

"Everyone definitely needs to be a part of it. It has always been the rule of this pack. Besides, you are the alpha of the pack now, Blake. Don't think impulsively," I said before walking towards the hall.

Seeing the commotion in the hall, I gulped a bit.

Though I acted strong inside the room, I wasn't sure about it anymore. My legs felt like giving up as my body shook with pain. I don't know if this was what rejection felt like, but in my heart, it felt like someone was stabbing me again and again.

Wiping the rogue tears that flew from my eyes, I took a deep breath before walking ahead in the hall.

I don't know how humiliating this matter is going to become for the pack.

Their late Alpha's daughter just got married today, and they met a new alpha, and on the same night, they were about to hear such a piece of news about their wedding.

"Amalthea? Why did you call everyone in such a hurry? Are we under some kind of emergency? Is something wrong?" Blake's father asked me with a knowing look, and for some reason, it felt like he already knew about it.

"Your new alpha, Alpha Blake, has something to say. Alpha Blake," I said, and he looked at me with dark eyes as he gripped the girl's hand in a tighter protective grip.

"I am sorry. I know I should've informed everyone regarding this matter before the wedding, but I have no intention of leaving Luna Jade, thus I didn't tell her beforehand. I didn't want to spoil our day. I thought she would understand the matter, but it looks like she is more interested in creating a fuss than having a peaceful night," Blake said.I looked towards the ceiling, trying my best to control my tears that were wanting to fall.

Wow, according to him, I am fussing? He brings his mate that he can't reject, and I am fussing?

"What is the matter, Alpha Blake?" Caleb, who was also my Gama, said, and everyone nodded their heads.

"I found my mate. My fated mate," Blake sighed, and everyone gasped before looking at me as if waiting for some kind of reaction from me.

"I don't see why there is a problem with that. According to the agreement, ‌reject your mate.

 That’s what both of you had signed and vowed to each other. Why are you extending this thing and making it harder for yourself and the poor girl?" Sophia asked, and Blake glared at her.

"I can't reject her," Blake said, and once again, everyone looked at me.

"Can I know the reason why you can't reject her? You didn't hesitate to sign the agreement. And it was signed in front of the pack, my late parents, and your parents. And before that, I want to know when you came to know she is your mate?" I asked, and he looked away.

"It's been a week since I found her. I met her when I went to the southern areas. I can't reject her because she has already suffered so much in her previous pack. You guys won't believe how pitiful she was when I found her,” Blake brought that girl closer to him.

“She had wounds all over her body. She was barely holding herself alive. I can't reject her and have her suffer the mate-rejection pain too. Her wolf won't be able to take it. She will die, and I don't want that. I am sure you are not too inhumane to want that either," Blake said, and I looked at him, a feeling of self-mockery settling in me.

"Her wolf would die because of the rejection. What about me? Were my seven years of love a joke to you? Why don't you think about my wolf?" I asked, feeling sad, and Blake looked away, not answering me.

"So, now what? You guys took your oaths today only. Are you going to reject our luna?" Caleb asked, and it brought tears to my eyes.

"There is nothing like that. Luna Jade will still be my rightful wife. What I am trying to say is, I can't reject my mate. My wolf wants her. If I reject my mate after meeting her, then he is going to be heartbroken and will never be as powerful as he is. Do you think an alpha with a broken wolf will be able to rule the pack?" Blake reasoned, and the more he was speaking, the more tears dropped on the floor as I looked down to hide my pain.

"Why? Why did you hide it from me? We could've stopped the wedding if you had mentioned this earlier! Why!" I screamed in pain, my wolf howling along with me.

"I am sorry, Amalthea. I know I wronged you," Blake said, and I snarled at him when he tried to walk toward me, making him step back.

"Luna Jade, I know I have become a hindrance in your love life, but believe my mate, I mean Alpha Blake. We really can't leave each other.

I can't live without him. Without him, I will die. I love him so much. I know you are a chosen mate, but can you give him the same love as a fated mate?" The omega said to me in her overly sweet voice, and I got on my knees, closing my eyes.

"So all your love and woles pleasure and power is worthy, but it doesn't matter when it comes to me?" I asked no one in particular.

"Thea," Sophia said, looking at me with sympathy, and I growled at her, a warning to maintain her distance from me.

"If you can't reject her because you don't want to make your wolf weak, I guess we have nothing to talk about," I stood from my place, looking Blake in the eyes.

"Since you can't reject your mate and be loyal to me like the contract says, I guess there is no reason for me to follow the contract and let you have the Alpha's position, right?" I looked at him, and Blake widened his eyes.

"You wouldn't dare," Blake growled at me.

"Do you want to test me?" I snarled back at him.

"Stop it. You don't need to fight my mate for it. I thought Luna Jade was a sensible person, but I can see that you can't let a weakling like me have happiness," the girl suddenly said, and I raised my brows at her.

However, what shocked me was that her words were changing the expression of my pack members too. Were they also blaming me? After everything I have done for them?

"I can't let it happen. I don't want my mate to be stripped of his position. My love for him is not the selfish kind. I won’t let him suffer for my love. If my mate rejected me, I am going to die anyway, but I don't want to die as a rejected wolf. It's better if I take my life myself. It will be much better," That girl said and before anyone could react, she took out a dagger from her dress and sliced her wrist, making everyone widen their eyes.

"Linda!!" Blake growled in anguish before picking her in his arms and running out of the pack mansion.

AMALTHEA'S POV

Pain. Humiliation. Betrayal. Hatred. Helplessness. Anguish.

All these feelings combined can't even describe how I am feeling at the moment.

Looking ahead, I kept running, changing back into my human form.

I don't know how long it has been since I've been running. Was it an hour? Two hours? I don't know. All I know is that I had never felt so helpless in my whole life. They took away the only hope of my happiness from me without a care.

Can I still be the luna? What is the use of this title if I can’t have the love of the person I loved the most?

"Why did this happen to me, moon goddess? You took away my mom from me, then you took away my dad. Blake was my only hope for survival, and now you took him too? What did I ever do to you?" I cried in anguish as I fell to the ground, realizing I was in front of my parent’s graves.

"Dad, you only wanted Blake to take over the alpha position because you thought everyone would challenge an alpha female, and it would weaken the pack.

Are you happy now? If I would've been the alpha right now, I would've ordered him to reject his mate. But I was never enough because I was a female, no? Are you happy seeing me shattered like this?" I asked while looking at the sky.

Closing my eyes, I bit my lips as I felt like my heart was slowly breaking into pieces I will never be able to collect. I was bleeding without any wounds.

My throat felt clogged, and my heart dropped into the pit of my stomach, making it hard for me to breathe. I was becoming anxious.

All the possibilities about the future felt like they were erased by someone. "Amalthea, where are you? It's been more than an hour since you left. Linda has finally gained consciousness," I heard Sophia's worried voice through the mind link.

Running straight towards the hospital, I felt contemplated when I didn't see Blake there.

However, I didn’t have to think for long as Linda turned to me and smiled.

"Look, who's here? The almighty Luna Jade. But, are you really a Luna anymore? I mean, as far as I remember, Blake is the alpha now, and he has chosen me. So I am Luna here, right?" Linda scoffed, her gaze not wavering from me even for a second.

Blake said she was an omega, but judging from her energy, she was definitely not an omega.

"Why are you doing all this? Would you be really happy being called a second woman all her life? Blake has married me. So no matter what you do or are, I will always be his first one," I tried to reason with her.

It was a sick move. Honestly, the Amalthea when her parents were alive would've never done that. I am sure of it. Begging and reasoning with the person who took away my happiness?

I know I was stooping low now, but I didn’t have any choice. I was at my wit's end right now. I wanted to do anything I could to save my relationship.

"Why are you acting like this, Luna Jade? I know you think‌ I came between you and Blake, but don't you think you are wrong? I am his fated mate. He is supposed to be with me for eternity. You were the one who has come between us. You are the third person between us, the second woman, and in local language, the names slut, and a house wrecker," She said, and crystal growled inside me, her words feeling like a slap on my face.

"How dare you provoke me like this!" I growled at her, and she whimpered at my voice.

"Please don't act like this, Luna Jade. You are scaring me now. I am sure my mate, the alpha of this pack won't like it. I don't want you to get humiliated in front of your pack again," She said in her lotus voice, and before I could understand what was happening, she suddenly tore off the bandages on her wrists, making me widen my eyes.

What is she doing?

"Luna Jade, please don't do this to me. I am sorry. I wanted to die myself, but I failed. Please, for the sake of the alpha of the pack, don't do this. It's hurting. If you want to kill me, just do it. Don’t torture me like this," Linda fell to her knees before hiting her head on the ground and scratching her arms, making me look at her in horror.

Why was she doing all this? What was this all about? Is she mad or -

My thoughts were interrupted when Blake opened the door with a loud bang, and before I could do anything, she tugged my hair, making me swat her away, the pressure being a bit too intense as she fell a few feet away from me.

"Linda!" He shouted before looking at me accusingly. "You crossed your limits, Amalthea Jade!" Blake growled at me as his eyes glowered, representing his wolf.

This can’t be a coincidence. She framed me!

"Blake, I didn't do anything. She is nothing like you think she is. It’s all her plans. She isn’t even an omega. I bet she is tricking you by acting pitiful. Believe me, she did it -"

"Oh, cut it out! I knew you were competitive, but I didn't know you could be this cruel, Amalthea," Blake seethed at me.

Taking my hand in his, he pulled me all over to the hall where everyone had been since earlier, and he threw me in the center, making me snarl as people took a step away from me.

"Your Luna Jade today crossed her limits and attacked a member of the pack without any physical provocation from the member. I am sure everyone knows what the punishment is for it," Blake said, and I froze.

"Guards! Circle her so that she doesn't run away. I am the alpha of the pack, and I don't want people to think that people close to me can get away even after breaking rules," Blake said, his voice devoid of any emotions.

Punishment. How hard his heart has gotten against me ‌for him to mention punishment so easily?"I just didn't reject my mate, and I don't see why there is such a fuss about it. Luna Jade here tried to kill the alpha's mate today. I am still willing to let her go with this if she apologizes to my mate. And if she isn't willing to apologize, then as per the rules of the pack, she will be whipped 20 times," Blake said, and I looked at him in mere amazement.

Is he the same guy who used to tell me he would never let someone even touch me? Is he the same guy to whom I gave my seven years of youth?

"Does anyone have any objections?" Blake asked everyone, and to my utmost horror, all the pack members that I thought were my family, took a step back, not saying anything.

This was my pack, but they have accepted Blake just like that? Have they forgotten who I am? Just because I am a female, I am being ridiculed like this?

"You must be out of your mind, Blake! Amalthea is your wife. You broke the agreement by not rejecting your mate, yet you expect her to accept your mate and respect her?

Didn't you know about these things earlier? Or is it because you were eyeing the position of the alpha of the pack that you waited till the wedding before showing your true colors?" Sophia growled, and I froze when I realized how accurate her words sounded.

"Sophia Turner! Whether I waited or I conspired, I am still your alpha. I won't think twice about snapping your neck if you talked to me like that again," Blake said, and I looked at him, feeling more and more shocked.

"Sophia, stay out of this," I said to Sophia.

The man I loved is against me. The pack that belonged to me is against me, so what do I even have to fight for?

Sophia is pregnant. I don't want her to stress and harm her baby because of me.

I noticed how everyone was looking at me as if waiting for my answer, and I smiled.

'What do you think, crystal?' I asked her, and she sighed weakly.

'You know my answer. It's the same as yours,’ She said, and I nodded.

"I, Amalthea Jade, the daughter of Thea and Matthew Jade, have never bowed down in front of anyone, and I will not apologize for a mistake I didn't even commit. Make it 50, the whips. However, neither Alpha Blake nor any of his people should touch me,” I said, looking at all the pack members, who bowed their heads in shame.

"Amalthea, don't be so hard on yourself," Sophia cried as she hugged me, and I shook my head.

"Caleb! Do it!" I said, and he whimpered before pleading with me with his eyes, my hard stare, making him nod dejectedly.

"Caleb! No! You can't do that to my sister! Caleb! I will forever hate you if that stick even touched her skin," Sophia cried as she held his legs, and I looked at her, feeling pity taking over me.

I looked into Blake's eyes, his quivering eyes, making me smile.

I and my wolf have never bowed to anyone, but I was ready to make an exception today to save our relationship, but judging from the look in Blake's eyes, this relationship isn't worth saving."Start! One!" I growled, and as soon as I said that, I felt a piercing pain in my back when the stick hit me, making me take a sharp breath.

"Again! Two!" I growled as he hit me again.

"No!" Sophia shouted as she struggled against Sasha and Maria.

Ten.

Nineteen.

"Amalthea, don't be so hard on yourself. Just apologize to Linda, and we are even," Blake said, and I scoffed as I touched my back, my wolf whimpering when I saw a little blood on my hand.

‘It’s just a little blood, crystal. I can bear it,’ I told her before closing my eyes as I tried my hardest to control my tears from falling.

"What are you waiting for? Continue! Twenty!" I growled at Caleb.

"Caleb, I will forever hate you!" Sophia growled, and I sighed before closing my eyes as I opened them again and looked at Blake.Thirty-one.

Forty.

Forty-nine.

Fifty!

Growling in pain, I fell forward before supporting myself on my hands and panting heavily.

"Leave me!" Sophia growled threateningly, and I looked at Sasha and Maria before nodding as Sophia rushed and slid in front of me, hugging me as she cried, making my eyes brim with tears as I felt pain all over my body.

My body was aching all over, but more than that, my heart was in pain.

"If Uncle Matthew and Luna Thea would've been here, you would've never felt this justice," Sophia said as she looked at Blake's father, who fisted his hands, and I shook my head at her.

He probably knew everything and chose to make an exception. It was useless talking about it now. The damage was done.

"Stop it," I said to her before smiling, feeling less hateful toward myself now.