Chapter 3

A silver-gray Porsche stood out in the dark, its body slightly trembling. I walked up and knocked on the window. Victor’s eyes, filled with animalistic desire, slowly appeared. From below, Grace Miller’s breathless moan echoed, "Mmm… Victor… don’t stop." For a moment, my mind blurred. This scene felt eerily familiar. It was the same one when I had helped a drunken Victor and his girlfriend into the hotel. I had even kindly asked him if he needed condoms and offered to go buy some. Victor’s turquoise eyes held a mocking glint, and his hand, now in its wolf’s form, lightly patted my cheek. "Still my thoughtful Seraphina. Good girl, go close the door for me." I obediently stepped out, closed the door, and leaned against the wall. Soon, the same sounds I was hearing now echoed from the room. The feeling washed over me, as if time had bent back on itself. First came the slight ache in my heart, followed by tears I couldn’t control, then the familiar tender words and caresses that slowly filled my chest, pulling me deeper into the emotion. Victor’s eyes were full of anger. "Seraphina, this is the price you pay for being careless." My body began to tremble uncontrollably. Despite everything, even though I no longer liked Victor, I couldn’t stop feeling heartbroken. After what felt like an eternity, Alpha Alexander’s face suddenly appeared in my mind. I snapped back to reality and extended my hand. "Give me the necklace back." "If you want it, come take it." Victor straightened up and ran his hand over his powerful chest muscles. The necklace hung there, resting against his bare skin. I reached out, but he grabbed my wrist, holding it firmly against his chest. "You little bitch. Do you want me to fuck you, or do you just want the necklace?" My face burned with embarrassment, and I struggled to pull away but couldn’t break free. Victor pulled me even closer. "Don’t you remember how you begged me to wear it? You wanted me to have it." More memories flooded my mind. "Victor, Alexander and I went to the shrine to pray for this. It’s really powerful. If you wear it, it will keep you safe." I had held the pendant in front of him, kneeling beside his hospital bed. He had been in a car accident, his leg in a cast, unable to move. I’d taken out the necklace I’d worn for years, wanting to put it around his neck, but he had shoved me away. "Don’t make me wear your charms. It weakens me." "Just try it. It really works," I had begged. When we first moved to the small town, my health was frail, and I was always sick. Alpha Alexander had heard from his mother about the peace talisman at the shrine, and how it could protect someone. So, he went to pray there. He had knelt before the statue for five long hours, before he brought the pendant back and placed it around my neck. After that, my health had mysteriously improved. Victor had given in, eventually slipping the pendant under his pillow. "Alright, stop making noise. I need to rest. You’re giving me a headache." "Then sleep, and I’ll cook dinner for you." I had watched Victor take the necklace, then left, feeling satisfied. It wasn’t until later that Alexander found out about this and ignored me for two whole days. My heart ached again. Was I hurting for Victor or for Alexander? Grace Miller’s annoyed voice interrupted my thoughts. "Mr. Hale, focus. Don’t let these lowlifes distract you." "Give it back to me. You don’t deserve to wear it." I didn’t want to stay any longer. I just wanted to take the necklace and leave. "I don’t deserve it? And you do?" Victor casually pulled the necklace off, hanging it around Grace’s neck. He leaned down and kissed her. "It’s yours now." Grace scrunched her nose in distaste. "This broken stone... What’s so great about it?" "It is pretty broken," Victor sneered. "Next week’s your birthday, right? How about we celebrate at that fancy hotel?" "Yes, yes, I’d love that." Grace wiggled her exposed chest and moved closer to him. Victor smirked and added, "Come here and be our waitress. If you do a good job, I’ll return it to you." Those words were directed at me. I clenched my fists. Victor was just trying to reassert his dominance over me, now that I wasn’t obedient anymore. He wanted to remind me who was in charge. The necklace wasn’t the most important thing to me, not after seeing that video of him throwing it away. If it hadn’t been for that, I wouldn’t have come here. "You’d better keep your word." I turned and disappeared into the night, my revived memories reminding me that I had truly liked Victor before. But now, all I wanted was to apologize to the boy who had always been by my side.