Chapter 5

I looked at Blake in bewilderment. My mind came up blank, and I thought  that I had misheard him.

But Blake's stern expression and earnest tone told me that it was all true.

"Don’t kid me." I lowered my head and crooked my fingers nervously. "I know you marked me just to pay my father and thank me for saving you... I won't force you to stay with me. Once you meet someone you like, we can break our bond.  I..."

"Break our mate bond?" Blake interrupted and shot an angry glance at me.

"Yes…" I lowered my voice unconsciously and said while trembling, "I won’t interfere in your pursuit of love."

I fixed my eyes on my shoes as I awaited Blake's answer.

But I did not get any response for a long while. I looked up at him with a puzzled frown and met his icy gaze.

"You want to break our bond?"

After being silent for a long while, he repeated his words once more. His tone was as cold as ice and I was shaken.

"No! I’m not the one who wants to break it." I shook my head anxiously.

Did this man have trouble hearing or something?

"I meant that if you want to sever our bond, I’ll agree to it…"

"Well, I don’t want to do it." he replied instantaneously.

"What?" I looked at him in a shock.

"I said I don’t want to break our mate bond."

I was stunned and opened my mouth in confusion, "But we’ve only just met. I don’t even know your full name or how old you are! You don’t know me at all. How could we possibly be together? We’re…"

"Blake Hayes, and I’m 25. We’ve known each other for two months. Do you have any other questions, Miss Chloe?" he answered unhurriedly with a calm expression.

My eyes widened in surprise. I merely blinked at him, not knowing what to say.

"No...no questions." I replied and felt embarrassed.

"Then what about you?" he asked.

"What?"

"You said I didn’t know anything about you," he said with a serious look, as if he was completing a task. But his attitude and expression made me indescribably pleased.

I smiled at ease and moved to sit with Blake under the tree.

The night breeze caressed my cheeks, and I was shrouded in Blake’s scent. I leaned against the trunk and looked up at the starry sky, feeling the pain ease up gradually.

"My name’s Chloe Baker." I introduced myself before letting out a giggle. "Well, I suppose you already knew that. I really need to work on my opening, don’t I?"

Blake nodded along without commenting on my blunder. He listened quietly as I retold my life experiences...

"That’s all. Even Alan abandoned me." I lowered my head, getting upset.

"The wrong person is not worth your emotions," Blake said suddenly.

"Huh?" I turned to look at him and teased him, "So are you implying you’re the right one for me?"

Blake nodded in silent agreement. The smile on my face froze. I felt my cheeks heat up as my heartbeat quickened.

I stared at him intently. My eyes roaming from his thick eyebrows to his eyes, from his tall nose to his thin lips.

I hadn't noticed it before... he was so handsome!

"What are you staring at?" Blake tilted his head.

"What? Nothing!" I hurriedly turned my gaze and tried changing the subject. "I’m just curious why you would be a Rogue?"

I rubbed my fingers to hide my noisy heart.

Blake kept silent for a short moment, and replied, "I made a mistake, so I was shunned and kicked out of my pack."

It seem like he didn’t want to talk about it, so I did not ask him to elaborate. I knew that everyone had secrets.

Perhaps it was too upsetting for him to talk about.

"Well, we’ll live together from now on. Even though the life might not be easy, at least you won’t go on your wandering way." I looked at him and said encouragingly, "I’m sure things will get better."

Though I said those words, I did not believe them myself. My life was not much better than Blake’s.

I had even planned to end my own life before.

Blake seemed to know that I was lying. But he did not say anything about it. He nodded slightly in agreement.

I rubbed my ears, feeling slightly awkward. I did not know what else I could say.

Blake did not say anything. His words were few and his tone had grown harsher and colder.

"I’m pretty insipid, aren’t I?" I said self-deprecatingly.

Blake looked over at me with a questioning gaze.

"Compared to Vanessa, who was supposed to be your mate, you must think I’m really boring." I shrugged. "Well, Alan had said that I’m not as sexy, bold, or capable as Vanessa is. I’m a prude."

A soft chuckle echoed in my ear. "He must be blind. Don’t take his words to heart," Blake said quietly.

I was stunned and felt my heart fill up with warmth. I could not help asking, "So how do you feel about Vanessa? Didn’t you feel bad when she rejected you?"

"No. I didn’t feel anything," Blake said  in a quiet voice.

I was shocked. The scene that had taken place in the conference room flashed in my mind. Blake did not feel pain when he was rejected by Vanessa.

"But why?" I asked, a doubt niggled at me.

Blake looked at me with helplessness in his eyes. It was the first time I had ever seen an expression that wasn’t plain coldness on his face.

"She isn’t my true mate. You’re." he said firmly.

I was shocked at his words. "I’m your true mate? So you mean that you’re my second mate?"

"I might not like that words ‘second mate’, but you can put it that way," he said expressionlessly.

"But if that’s the case, why did Vanessa mistake you as her mate? And I couldn’t even feel our mate bond!"

"I didn’t know at first," Blake answered calmly. "But after hearing your story, I think I might know the reason."

"You think it might have something to do with our blood, don’t you?" I was suddenly hit with the realization.

"Yes. You regularly supply Vanessa with your blood. It’s what causes both your scents to be so similar, which interfered with your wolves’ judgement. That’s probably why Vanessa mistook me for her mate. As for the reason why you couldn’t feel our mate bond, it is because your wolf was mischievous."

He squinted his eyes slightly. I saw the image of a black wolf flashed in his pupils, trembling in every limb.

He withdrew the look that frightened me quickly.

"I have never considered Vanessa as my mate. I accepted her rejection because I don’t want to explain anything." Blake’s tone was filled with disdain. It seemed like he hated having anything to do with Vanessa.

It dawned on me that Blake and I were mates from the very beginning, which shocked to me, yet it was also a relief.

At least I wouldn’t have to feel guilty for my father forcing Blake into marking me.

We were meant to be mates!

I heaved a deep sigh and felt that life was still hopeful. I decided to give myself a chance to continue living.

If I lost... then I resign myself.

The sky was turning bright, I stood up and stretched.

"We really need to get back now. Look, the sun’s coming up," I said, looking up at the rays of sunlight.

"Alright," he replied in a deep tone and followed me.

Before stepping into the pack house, I held Blake back. I had to admit that pain from my past were starting to creep up on me, but I had to make sure one thing.

"Blake, I won’t ask anything of you. But if possible, please promise me...you will never lie to me. I’ve been tired of too many lies. So I won’t forgive you if you lie to me."

Blake stared at me in silence. His lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something.

Before he said anything, Vanessa’s voice suddenly rang out from behind me.

"Chloe, you’re finally back!"

I turned to see Vanessa who was rushing up to me with a bright smile. She grabbed my hand and said, "Where did you go? Do you know we’re all worried about you?"

I had a bad feeling about her words. Every time Vanessa talked to me like that, it meant something bad was going on.

I tried to pull my hand back, refusing to talk with her.

As I broke free from her grab, Vanessa staggered backward, acting as if I had pushed her with all my might.

Alan came out and managed to catch Vanessa before she fell over.

What a coincidence!

"Are you okay?" Alan asked her anxiously.

"I’m fine." Vanessa choked up, "Please don’t blame Chloe. I understand why she can’t forgive me. She was sore about that I took you from her."

Vanessa was trying to imply that I had pushed her out of jealousy.

I had long since gotten used to her tricks, so I was calm. I tugged Blake’s sleeve, "Let’s go."

"Wait! Stop!" Alan yelled out from behind me. "Aren’t you going to apologize for pushing her?"

I clenched my fist in exasperation.

"Chloe, I didn’t expect you were such a horrible person. It seems that I made the right choice by rejecting you!"

I chuckled softly and suddenly relieved by Alan’s betrayal.

Vanessa and him were truly a match made in heaven.

I did not want to stir up unnecessary trouble. I had been accused of many things throughout my entire life, so it wasn’t anything new. I didn’t care about my end if this incident got to my father, but I could not drag Blake down with me.

I took a deep breath and turned around. Before I apologized, Blake had moved to stand in front of me.

"Stay away from my mate!" Blake warned, glaring coldly at Alan and Vanessa.

"You’re nothing but a rogue! How dare you say that?" Alan roared loudly.

His eyes were filled with fury. If he hadn’t pulled Vanessa in his arms, I would even think that he was jealous.

I was tired of arguing with them and tried to get Blake to leave with me.

Vanessa noticed my movements and she tried to make things worse.

"Chloe, Alan wasn’t able to sleep the entire night after he rejected you out of guilt! But what about you? Have you already been cheating on Alan with this man long?"

Guilt? Cheating?

I burst out in sarcastic laughter.

Should I have been grateful for Alan’s guilt?

Weren’t they the ones who forced Blake to mark me?

"You’re so heartless! Someone as horrible as you are deserving of a lowly Rogue as your mate!" Vanessa insulted me in her self-righteous tone, implying that I was the cheater.

All the maids looked at me strangely, insulting me with harsh words.

Vanessa still looked pathetic, but her eyes glowed with the excitement of humiliating me.

I was almost throwing up. I needed to leave as soon as possible.

It wasn’t the first time they insulted me so it didn’t matter to me.

"Shut up!"

As I was about to drag Blake along with me, he suddenly let out a loud roar, exuding a strong and formidable aura. Everyone present fell silent, and some had even started to tremble.

Even Alan and Vanessa’s legs had gone weak.

"How can this be possible… You...You’re nothing but a rogue…" Vanessa was trembling with fright. She looked slightly pained.

I knew what she was implying. I was also as shocked but I was more worried about things getting worse.

"Blake! Calm down, I’m fine," I whispered, tugging on Blake’s sleeve to hold him back.

Blake glanced at me and regained his usual composure. Everyone let out a sigh of relief.

I hurriedly took Blake away from the scene. Otherwise, Alan and Vanessa would just make things worse out of anger.

Arrogant people like them would not stand the fact that a rogue had stood up to them.

Furthermore...

The way Alan looked at Blake was strange. It was obvious that he suspected Blake of something.

He might suspect Blake’s true identity.

I believed in Blake, but that didn't mean everyone was able to accept that such a powerful person was just a rogue.

They might suspect Blake for being a spy from another pack.

I knew it very well that my father would end up killing Blake if word got out. He would never let him go easily.

I couldn't keep letting the trouble grow!

I kept worrying for a week, but my father still didn't seem to know anything. Nothing happened this week.

Everything went well, especially my relationship with Blake.

"Alright, let’s meet tonight." I happily cut the mind link with Blake.

We had found more and more things to talk about. Even though I was usually the one talking, with him listening, we got along very well. I felt comfortable with him.

I was starting to get used to have him around me.

I changed into my work clothes and headed to the kitchen.

I had a date with Blake tonight and I decided to make some delicious food for him.

My father treated him like a slave so he had to work hard all day. I needed to make something to supplement his nutrition.

Two hours had passed before I was done cooking.

I checked the time and found that it was time for my date with Blake.

I changed into clean clothes and packed the food into containers, planning to see Blake.

As I passed the corridor, I could hear two maids gossiping among themselves. When they saw me coming, they shot me looks of disdain.

"Heartless bitch..." One of the maids mocked, "Her mate’s about to get kicked out of the pack, yet she still has the mood to dress up."

I paused, looking at them in confusion.

"What did you say?" I asked, their words disturbed me.

"Don’t you know that? Your new mate, the slave, is being questioned by the Alpha right now. Everyone’s saying that he’s going to be drove out of the pack soon," the other maid replied.

Drove out... of the Pack?!