Chapter 2

What do I owe him...? What exactly do I owe him? Darius Nightbane is the Alpha of The Veilborne Pack, while I’m nothing more than a lowly wolf, disconnected from my own wolf spirit. Yet, from the moment I secretly fell for him, I’ve done everything I could to please him. I’ve tried to be as obedient as possible—changing everything I thought he disliked, striving to become the woman he might want. I’ve learned all his preferences, worked tirelessly to become someone he could cherish. All these years, I’ve never once failed Alpha Darius… And that car accident two years ago? It had nothing to do with me! I was framed. I wasn’t responsible. But Darius didn’t believe me. He had already made up his mind, convinced that I was the one who had orchestrated it all. Regret? The only regret I have now is falling for him, despite everything. Alpha Darius didn’t say another word. His voice was cold, almost indifferent as he muttered, “What a killjoy.” Without a glance in my direction, he turned and walked into the bathroom. A few moments later, he emerged, fully dressed, not sparing me even a second of attention. He slammed the door behind him. I closed my eyes, overwhelmed by despair, the sound of heavy rain and distant thunder filling the silence. My sobs came without warning, deep and uncontrollable. I don’t even remember when I fell asleep. But when I woke up, it was already the next morning. My phone buzzed twice—calls from my office, wondering why I hadn’t shown up for work. I scrambled out of bed, rubbing my eyes. “Sorry, I’ll be there soon!” I mumbled into the phone, still half-asleep. Dragging my exhausted body into the bathroom, I brushed my teeth, my reflection barely registering in the mirror. But then, a streak of bright red caught my eye. Blood—dripping, drop by drop. I froze. My heart raced as I instinctively grabbed a tissue and pressed it to my nose. The tissue soaked through quickly, and after a few more changes, the bleeding finally stopped. Staring at my pale reflection, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. My time is running out… In the last two months, all I want is to be near Alpha Darius, just a little longer. Then, I’ll leave. I’ll retreat to some quiet town and live out the rest of my life in peace. That’s the plan. I dressed quickly, slapping on a thick layer of makeup to hide the paleness that lingered on my skin. I rushed to the office, arriving well into the afternoon. As soon as I walked in, my boss immediately scolded me. “You’re late. Here.” He threw a contract at me. “It’s the deal with Helios Capital Holdings. Go and negotiate it today. If you close it, your bonus goes up by 30%.” A double bonus. The offer tempted me. The money Darius had given me had already been spent on medical bills, and I’d just run out a few days ago. I still needed more for my ongoing treatment and, of course, my retreat… I grabbed the contract and made my way to Darius’s company building. Maybe it was luck, or maybe fate, but as soon as I stepped outside, I ran straight into Alpha Darius. “Darius…” “What are you doing here?” His frown deepened as he glared at me with undisguised disdain. “I…” I hesitated, holding the contract. “I’m here to…” “Here to sell yourself?” Darius cut me off, his voice sharp, his smile cruel. “What is this? Are you broke again?” I couldn’t find the words, and before I could even respond, he grabbed my wrist and dragged me toward the backseat of his car. Before the door even closed, his hand was already under my skirt. “Please don’t…” My face flushed with embarrassment, my legs instinctively clamping together to stop him. Just then, Darius’s personal assistant approached, quickly shutting the door to block any view from the outside. “Playing innocent?” Darius’s grip tightened on my arm, his fingers digging into my skin as he pushed deeper. “You came here with that contract for one reason, didn’t you? If you want me to sign it, you’ll have to offer something in return.” “I don’t want that!” I stiffened, gripping his shirt desperately. “I’m here for business! The contract is just business…” But Darius wasn’t listening. He lifted my skirt, and before I could protest further, he was inside me—deep, relentless, trapping me in his control. “Of course, it’s business. The business of a filthy whore, right?” Darius’s glare pierced through me. “Seraphina, at least you know your place.”