Chapter 6 "Offering Her Body"

• Yuri’s Point of View
• When he dropped the truth that he was my wolf-mate, I felt like I couldn't breathe. I stared at him, his sharp features glowing in the firelight. With that strong jaw, those intense eyes, and a presence that made the little cabin feel even smaller, I had to admit he was good-looking. Maybe even more so than my ex-boyfriend, who was the so-called hottest guy in the Pack. I was definitely drawn to him.
• I was attracted at his face, his physique, and especially that scent that awakened the wolf within me.
• [“He’s yours. Your wolf-mate, Yuri,”] my wolf whispered in me. But honestly, none of that mattered right now. Instead of feeling excited, I was just angry.
• I balled my fists under the blanket, my nails digging into my skin as I tried to calm down. It felt way too soon. Way too unfair. Just a little while ago, I was ready to give up on everything after a betrayal that hit me hard. And now, fate had the nerve to throw my wolf-mate in my face?
• Regis threw me away like a garbage, all because he had had found his wolf-mate. It all made me feel like a useless doormat, left to collect dust while he pursued his future with someone else. To top it all, he had the nerve to suggest that I be his mistress!
• The humiliation he put me through burned hotter than the flames in the fireplace. My throat tightened, and for a second, I thought I might break down again. But I was done with crying. I wouldn’t let myself be weak. If fate wanted to play games with me, I’d play right back.
• “Pfft…” A laugh escaped me before I could hold it in. It started as a small chuckle and quickly turned into a full-blown laugh, pouring out of me like a waterfall. I laughed so hard my ribs hurt, my shoulders shaking as my vision blurred with unshed tears.
• It was then his voice appeared to stop me from laughing. “You think this is funny?”
• He spoke with his piercing red eyes, a look of displeased. To answer his irritated question, I wiped the corner of eyes with the back of my hand. Then I said, “Yes.”
• To be found by him after my ex-boyfriend threw me away for his mate, it was indeed funny.
• “So, the one who brought me here and patched me up is my wolf-mate,” I stated.
• But none of my words seemed to make him smile. In fact, his face grew more serious. I could see the tension in his arms, like he was really trying to keep it together. Everything about him radiated power and authority, the type of guy who demanded respect. “First off, shouldn’t you be thanking me? I brought you here and took care of your wounds,” he said. The moment he uttered those, I wiped away all smile on my face.
• He told me to be grateful. But that very idea was funny.
• I met his cold gaze, shrugged my shoulder and answered, “Why would I thank you? I didn’t ask you to rescue me.”
• As he grit his teeth, he rebuked, “Then you should at least answer my question.” He moved a little closer, and I found myself holding my breath.
• As I looked up at him, he kept going.
• “Do you know what it means to find a wolf-mate?” he asked.
• That stopped me. I had been so wrapped up in the shock, the anger, and the sheer craziness of everything that I hadn’t really thought about what he’d said before.
• I tightened my fists again, which had been tense since the moment we met.
• Of course, I knew what the wolf-bond was all about. It was the bond that had torn me apart. Finding your mate means being with the person you’re destined for, even if it means hurting others and breaking promises made under countless moonlit nights.
• All the love I had for Regis vanished the moment his wolf-mate entered the picture.
• I fought back the nausea creeping up on me. My chest felt like it was being crushed under the weight of everything.
• Wolves are ruthless, aren’t they? They go after what they want, following their instincts over love, loyalty, and everything else.
• I believed my mate was no exception. Just like the others, he’d expect me to bow down to him without a second thought. But after staring death in the face, I wasn’t that naive girl anymore.
• 'If Regis can toss me aside for someone else, why shouldn’t I do the same? If he can treat me like garbage and take another woman to his bed, then why can’t I find another man for myself?'
• I looked him in the eye and said, “We have to be together, right? And we might as well use each other’s bodies. If you want my body, then use it as much as you want. After that, KILL ME.”
• At least at that way, I can get my revenge and I’ll be of some use before dying. I was serious with this.
• I observed him, hoping he would agree, thinking my body was the reason he asked. But his expression turned dead. He didn't say anything. Instead, he just pulled aside. He withdrew into the shadows a few seconds later, and his presence and scent gradually faded from the room.
• ‘Where did he go?’
• “Wait. Did he just reject me?”
• Maybe my idea didn’t sit well with him at all.
• “Hah!” A bitter laugh slipped out.
• How pathetic am I? Even my own mate doesn’t want me. But why would he? I’m just a nameless omega, the weakest and the poorest of the bunch.
• Just when I was about to come to terms with being rejected, I caught my wolf-mate’s scent again. But this time, it wasn’t just him. I could also detect the strong, metallic odor of blood.
• I tightened up, every nerve in my body on edge. I looked up, and when I saw him, my breath caught. He stood at the doorway with a bloody, lifeless boar slung over his shoulder. Without saying anything, he dropped it on the ground with a horrible thud, splattering blood everywhere. I was stuck in place, dread flooding over me as I looked at the lifeless animal.
• What exactly was he trying to say? Was this some kind of threat? A way to demonstrate to me that he is capable of killing me in the same way as he ended that boar?
• After all, I'd told him to kill me.
• My heart raced as I tried to keep my hands steady, but my body had other plans. I thought I was over my dread of death since I had faced it before, but in that moment, it all came flooding back. I could imagine him tearing into my skin with his sharp fangs and claws, my blood streaming on the floor, just like he had done with the boar.
• Wouldn't that hurt so much?
• Just then, I noticed him raise his hand. I flinched back and closed my eyes to prepare for an onslaught. But seconds passed by and there was no pain. Only silence echoed.
• When I finally opened my eyes, he was there, pointing at the dead boar lying on the ground. He told me, “Eat up and get your strength back. Once you’re feeling more like yourself, we can chat again.”
• His red eyes locked onto mine for a brief second before he turned and walked away. This time, he didn’t come back.
• Left by myself, I let out a shaky breath. My eyes wandered back to the horrific sight of the boar, but oddly enough, it didn’t scare me like it did before.
• ** **
• Regis’ Point of View
• As the future Alpha of the Cubic Pack, I was supposed to carry on our traditions and lead with strength one day. But I ended up falling for an omega maid who worked in my home. I knew my parents wouldn’t take it well if they found out, so I kept it under wraps. Yet, even as I brought her into my life, the weight of our situation hung over us both.
• I can’t marry Yuri. Just her being an omega would make the pack turn against me. So, when I met my wolf-mate, Samantha, a Beta's daughter, I thought it was a smart move to get engaged to her. It seemed like the logical choice. Then, I planned to ask Yuri to be my secret lover, thinking she’d be on board since she was so in love with me. I figured she’d understand that this was for the greater good.
• But I was mistaken. When I suggested that she be my mistress, all I saw in her eyes was wrath, betrayal, and misery. That's when things began to go downhill. To make matters worse, my parents learned about us and threw her out of the pack. Now here I am, standing in front of my parents, sounding like a powerless child with no power, merely an heir to the Alpha title.
• "How could you just kick her out of the Pack?" I yelled at my parents, banging my hands against the table.
• My father nonchalantly uttered, "An Omega, who dared to date you, has no place here. You should be thanking me for this, my son."
• "No way!" I disagreed on thanking him. "How can I thank you when you ruined her life. In front of me, you tossed her out as if... AS IF SHE WAS NOTHING."
• It was then my mother chimed in, "SHE WAS NOTHING!" She pointed at me and continued, "Regis, you are the future alpha. It was disgraceful for you to date a lowly Omega maid!"
• I clenched my jaw and yelled, "That shouldn’t matter! I love her!"
• "You love her, yet you’re engaged to Samantha. That’s quite the joke," Dad shot back.
• I tensed up, my heart racing. "It was my duty! I couldn’t make an omega my Luna! The pack would never accept her! But that doesn’t mean I wanted to lose her. I wanted her to stay by my side!"
• "Wait, so you just wanted to keep her as your mistress?" My mom's face twisted in disgust. "You thought she'd be okay with getting the leftovers while you flaunted your destined mate in front of her?"
• "She loved me," I replied, but it felt empty now. "She would have understood."
• "No. You never truly loved her, Regis," Dad rebuked and went on. "A Luna for the pack and an omega to keep you warm at bed was only your fantasy. And that selfishness ruined everything. It wasn't us who ended it; it was you! You pushed her away, and I just helped make her disappear from your life."
• Was it really me?
• I gasped at the realization. I'd been so convinced. I was confident that Yuri would always be by my side. That she would accept whatever role I assigned her, just as she always did.
• However, she didn't. And now she was gone.
• "She was mine. And she loved me," I said, despite the fact that my voice was fading.
• Yuri can’t just vanish from my life. She needs to be with me, no matter what.
• Just as I was about to say something else to my parents, there was a loud, frantic knock at the door. My dad growled in annoyance. "What now?"
• "Sorry to interrupt, Alpha. It's Daniel. I need to share something important with Sir Regis."
• Daniel, my secretary, sounded quite worried. I had urged him to find Yuri and bring her back fast. Assuming the news was about her, I ran to the door and flung it open, only to discover Daniel looking pale.
• "Sir—" His voice shook. "I have some bad news about your girlfriend."
• "What..." I paused and continued, "... about her?"
• He paused before adding, "The taxi she was in had an accident."
• As soon as I heard that word, everything around me faded away.