Chapter 2

Ariella's POV

I was instantly stunned.

"Isn't my mate Damien?" I murmured to Lia.

Lia replied, "Ella, I don't know what's going on either, but I can feel a strong bond with his wolf. It's something that only mates have..."

The next second, the man's scent enveloped me once more. I felt an unprecedented comfort and security, as if a warm current had flowed through my body, leaving me utterly powerless.

I was completely unable to resist his attraction to me, and could only comply with his kisses and touches as Lia was taking over.

That night, we made love until I fell into a deep sleep from exhaustion.

The next morning.

Sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtains onto the quilt. I opened my eyes, feeling warm and comfortable, as if the disaster of the previous night had never happened.

I rubbed my head against the pillow, ready to go back to sleep, when I felt a hard arm beside me.

I instantly woke up, realizing it was a man's arm.

His muscles were large and firm, his skin tanned from the sun, like someone who often engaged in outdoor activities.

Looking inside the quilt, I realized we were both naked!

Oh my god! What have I done?

"What's going on, Lia? Did we sleep with a call boy?!" I shouted to my wolf, but got nothing.

Panicked, I didn't know what to do, but fortunately, he was still asleep, which allowed me to breathe a sigh of relief.

Biting my lip, I frantically thought about what to do, until I subconsciously stuck my legs out from under the quilt and lightly jumped to the floor. On tiptoes, I picked up my clothes and shoes.

I took a few steps towards the door when I suddenly seemed to remember something. 

I turned over to look at the call boy in bed, then fished out ten dollars from the pocket of my jeans and left it on the bedside table before rushing out as quickly as I could.

Luckily, it wasn't too far from the cabin. I transformed into wolf form and ran back.

Twenty minutes later, I finally arrived the cabin.

I was about to go in after dressing when the door suddenly opened.

My aunt said anxiously, "Ella, you're finally back! I called you hundreds of times last night, and tried to connect with you through mind link, but you didn't reply!"

Only then did I remember that my phone had been crushed by Damien.

I asked her urgently, "Auntie, what happened? Tell me slowly, don't worry."

"Your mother has fallen into a coma again!"

She covered her face, sat on the porch, and began to cry.

I was panicked, too stunned to comfort my aunt, and rushed into the house to see my mother's condition.

As soon as I entered, I knew why my aunt was crying, because my mother was lying on the bed, her face pale and looking near death.

"Mom!" Tears flowed from my eyes like a broken dam.

The next second, I remembered my aunt was outside, so I rushed out.

"Auntie, do you have any friends who can help us?"

"There are none... none..."

My aunt muttered, looking haggard.

I felt utterly desperate. Was I really going to just watch my mother die?

Suddenly, I thought of someone.

Damien.

I bit my lip, tightly clenched my fist. My nails dug into my flesh, almost drawing blood, but I felt nothing.

I really had no choice but to turn to him for help. In the face of life and death, my dignity was worth nothing, especially since I was no longer the daughter of an Alpha.

I was just a rogue, the lowest status of werewolf in the pack.

"Auntie, wait for me at the cabin. I just thought of someone who might be able to help us. Please take care of my mom for me."

My aunt wiped her tears with some joy and nodded. "Ella, be careful. Tell me if anything happens."

"Okay."

I turned and left, running into the forest.

Soon, I arrived at Damien's house.

This was not the house where he and Kiley had their affair the night before, but the grand mansion of their Frost Pack. The majestic entrance with gold trim looked extremely valuable.

I hesitated for a moment before finally ringing the doorbell.

The servant rolled her eyes when she saw it was me, but still called Damien out.

Damien came out soon after. He looked at me with some surprise.

"Ariella? Why are you here?"

"My mother is in a coma, Damien. I wanted to ask if one of your doctors could come back with me to treat her. Please, I'm begging you."

Damien frowned. "But... alright, come in first."

Seeing hope, I followed him into the living room. The marble floor was spotless, and the room was bright and spacious, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a great view and light.

His mother was sitting on the sofa in the living room, having tea and talking to a man.

As soon as she saw me, she frowned her eyebrows in disgust and walked towards me.

"Damien, are you crazy? How could you bring this vile woman back? Her father's Starmoon pack has been disbanded! She's no longer the daughter of an Alpha! Ariella, you rogue, get out of my house!"

I was stunned for a few seconds, not because I didn't know how to refute her, but because I saw the face of the man behind her.

He slowly stood up, and in the moment he turned around, I remembered everything that happened last night.

He was the stranger I had slept with!

I could feel Lia inside me become excited as well, because she could feel this man's wolf right beside her.

The next second, I heard Damien's voice, "Uncle Matthew, are you leaving?"

The man nodded slightly, confirming it.

I was completely stunned.

This man was Damien's uncle!

I had slept with my ex-fiancé's uncle!

However, the man seemed calm as ever, as if he didn't remember anything that happened between us last night.

I took a deep breath, about to speak, when I heard Kiley's voice from upstairs.

"Ariella? My god, what are you doing here? Your father died last night, right? How pathetic. You should go back and collect his body instead of trying to win Damien back! Oh, I forgot to tell you, Damien and I are engaged!"

She looked down on me from the expensive marble staircase, as if I were the vilest dust.

I scoffed, "Kiley, don't think you've won. I'll tell you, things that aren't yours will never be yours. Your hard times are still ahead of you!"

She dismissed my words with a winner's smile, "No matter what, I've won."

At that moment, a pleasant male voice spoke beside me.

"You're Kiley, right? I think under no circumstances should you insult this young lady with her father's death. Don't you think that's going too far?"

He stood with his hands in his suit pants, looking directly at Kiley with an imposing presence.

Kiley obviously feared him and said no more, turning around and heading back upstairs.

I was stunned for a few seconds, not expecting him to help me.

Realizing that my purpose here was likely in vain, I suppressed my inner sadness and unease, looking up at Damien without fear.

"Damien, if you think I came here to beg you to get back together with me, you're wrong. I tell you, I will never regret rejecting you. And I will never come to find you again."

I turned and ran out, and Damien did not chase after me.

The pain of heartbreak and betrayal spread through my body again. But this time, I managed to hold back the tears.

I walked down the avenue, lined with lush trees. Watching the shadows of the trees fall on the ground, I felt a moment of peace.

Suddenly, my aunt spoke to me through mind link.

"Ella, your mother has woken up. I met a kind werewolf doctor in the forest. He's been living in seclusion here. He diagnosed your mother and gave us some herbs. But..."

"But what?" I asked eagerly, excited.

"But he said if your mother wants to recover fully, she'll need a very rare herb called Crystalroot Leaf."

"Crystalroot Leaf?"

I frowned. As a medical student, I knew about this herb. It greatly enhances a werewolf's healing abilities, but it's also extremely expensive because of its rarity.

After hanging up, my heart sank, knowing I didn't have enough money to buy Crystalroot Leaf.

Suddenly, the sound of a car braking occurred beside me. I came to my senses, not realizing I still had tears in my eyes.

The car window slowly descended, and I finally saw the man's face clearly.

It was Damien's uncle, Matthew.

"If I didn't hear wrong, you need Crystalroot Leaf, right? Get in the car." 

I hesitated for a moment, bit my lip, and finally got in the car.