- 11.
The chill in the air signaled the arrival of winter. The beastmen were busy hunting and stockpiling meat to survive the harsh months ahead.
And then, there was Nicole.
After nearly six months of confinement, she was finally allowed to leave the house–her swollen belly proof that the werewolf had achieved his goal.
But she looked terrible. Her face was pale, her steps unsteady. The time spent locked away had clearly taken a toll on her.
I was
outside, working with the other females to process the meat the hunters had brought back, when Nicole spotted me.
She hurried over, her expression hard to read,
“Lily,” she snapped, “why haven’t you come to see me even once during all this time?”
I blinked at her, feigning innocence.
“Nicole, it’s not like I didn’t want to visit you,” I said, tilting my head. “But the werewolf forbade anyone from coming near you. What could I do?”
Her face hardened, but she couldn’t refute my words.
After a moment, she gritted her teeth and hissed, “You knew, didn’t you? You knew that werewolf was no good, and you didn’t warn me!
Nicole had once believed the werewolf’s possessiveness was a sign of devotion. She thought he would cherish her, keep her safe.
But now that she was his mate, she understood the truth.
The werewolf’s obsession wasn’t about love–it was about reproduction. His relentless desire to ensure she bore his children had turned her life into a nightmare.
At first, she enjoyed the attention, basking in the illusion of being adored. But her body
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22:44 Fri, Jan 10 G.
At first, she enjoyed the attention, basking in the illusion of being adored. But her body wasn’t made of steel. When she finally resisted, the werewolf’s eyes turned red with fury, his instincts overriding any shred of reason.
If it weren’t for her dream of becoming the chieftain’s wife, she would’ve given up long
ago.
I met her gaze, my expression calm.
“Nicole, the werewolf is loyal to his mate. How is that a bad thing?” I asked evenly. “And besides, wasn’t he your choice?”
Nicole stared at me for a long moment, her face twisting with frustration.
Before she could say anything else, the werewolf appeared, rushing over to her side.
“Nicole, why are you out here? You should be resting!” he said, his voice laced with concern as he reached for her.
Her expression immediately shifted. Whatever bitterness she felt toward him vanished, replaced by a forced smile. Without another word, she allowed him to lead her away.
But I knew what she was thinking.
To Nicole, all of this suffering was worth it if it meant becoming the chieftain’s wife.
Unfortunately for her, that dream would never come true.
