The wedding night is supposed to be the most sacred rite

A wedding night is supposed to be the most sacred moment of union between two partners.

Yet when I awoke from my stupor, I saw neither Alexander’s tender face nor felt the gentle touch of his wolf spirit, Rex.

I felt cold all over and was unable to move.

Looking down, I was horrified to discover that I was naked, bound by several thick silver ropes to a huge, long dining table.

The silver ropes unsettled the wolf spirit within me.

I struggled violently, trying to summon the strength within me to break free from my bonds.

“Don’t waste your energy, Serena.”

A cold, sharp voice rang out from above. I looked up and saw Alexander.

He was dressed in a crisp black suit, staring at me expressionlessly; there was no warmth in his eyes, only cold detachment.

“Alexander, let me go! What is this?”

I shouted, my throat hoarse, as the wolf’s spirit within me roared with fury in my mind, trying to break through the drug’s barrier.

Alexander gave no reply, merely reaching out to adjust the tension of the ropes, as though fiddling with an object.

“Miss Isabella is hosting important partners from the northern tribes this evening. As a member of the Silver Moon Pack, you must demonstrate the appropriate level of sincerity.”

His voice was calm. “This is to repay a debt, Serena. Rest assured, although you are being presented as a ‘dish’, I have already instructed them not to actually take your life.”

Repaying a debt of gratitude?

Those two words felt like a blunt knife, savagely sawing at my heart.

Alexander and I were both orphans adopted by the Silver Moon Pack.

In this strictly hierarchical world of werewolves, we were like two weeds struggling to survive in the cracks.

Fifteen years ago, Alpha Silver had originally intended to adopt only promising male wolves as future warriors. It was only because Alexander knelt at the Alpha’s gate for a full day and night, his forehead bruised and bleeding, swearing lifelong loyalty to the Silver Moon family, that I was granted the chance to stay.

That day, the young Alexander took my hand, his eyes shining brighter than the starlight:

“Serena, I will protect you from now on. We will always be together.”

And from that day on, I entrusted my wolf spirit and my very being to him.

Yet now he dares to ‘repay’ me in this manner?

“I won’t… I won’t…” I clutched his wrist so tightly my nails nearly dug into his flesh. “Alexander, I’m your mate! How could you do this?”

Before I could finish speaking, Alexander’s expression changed abruptly.

He yanked my hand away so violently that he nearly sprained my wrist.

“Do you wish to be an ungrateful wolf?”

He scolded me, towering over me. “If it weren’t for Miss Isabella’s father, we’d have died on the streets long ago! Now, I’m merely asking you to lie on the table; even if it means sacrificing a little dignity, it’s for the good of the pack!”

Just then, the door to the private room swung open.

A wave of fragrance swept in as Isabella stepped through the doorway in her high heels.

She was Alpha Silver’s pride and joy, the future heir to the tribe, with a rare mane of silver hair, regarded as the Moon Goddess’s favourite.

Her gaze swept over my naked body, a satisfied smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

“Alex, I really like your gift,” Isabella said with a soft laugh, a teasing glint in her eyes. “I never expected Serena’s skin to be so well-preserved. It should make for quite a striking image as a platter for raw sashimi.”

When Alexander turned to face Isabella, the cold detachment on his face instantly melted into adoration.

That look in his eyes used to belong to me.

“As long as Miss Isabella is pleased,” Alexander said, bowing slightly, his tone humble.

The pain was excruciating; it felt as though my soul had been torn in two.

My wolf’s spirit howled within my mind, letting out wails of anguish; the agony was a hundred times more intense than any physical torment.

I closed my eyes numbly, two clear tears sliding down the corners of my eyes.

In our youth, we had made a pact: no matter what happened, we would give each other ten chances to make amends.

Now, on our very wedding night, he had squandered that final chance in the cruelest of ways.

……

The chopsticks did not touch my skin directly, but the raw sashimi clamped between them carried a chill that pierced straight into my lower abdomen.

“Miss Isabella, where on earth did you find such a gem?”

An obese werewolf merchant chewed on the raw meat whilst his lecherous gaze roamed over my body. “That sense of shame is truly thrilling.”

Under the bright lights, Alexander gazed at Isabella with every fibre of his being, as though she were the bride of the evening.

I clenched my fists tightly, a sharp pang of pain gripping my heart. That telepathic connection between partners now allowed me to feel, all too clearly, his admiration for another woman.

This sensation felt like slow torture.

Isabella shot me a contemptuous glance, her tone haughty:

“This is the wife of my assistant, Alexander. Gentlemen, if you wish to engage in a little interaction, do ask Alexander for permission. I’m sure he won’t refuse, for the sake of this collaboration.”