Chapter 4

Bram’s POV

I couldn’t bear to look at her innocent and pain-filled eyes when I rejected her. But I needed to make a drastic decision for the good of my future.

I watched Swara sleep. She had passed out on me when I said those words to her. “Don’t do that, Swara. This is not you. Don’t make me lose my respect for you.”

I must have hurt her badly. But I hope she looks past the hurt and understand why I did what I did.

If I had not rejected her, she would always be the envy of her sister and father. And my pack will make life a living hell for her.

With her weak wolf, it’s hardly she will survive conception. It’s either she survives the child or she dies at childbirth.

I didn’t want any of those for her.

I remembered how we first met. It was during her shifting ceremony. I was happy to have met my fated mate. But I didn’t approach her then. I waited and stalked her movement.

I deliberately bumped into her at the shopping mall one fateful evening in a bid to talk to her.

Her shopping items were scattered on the floor. I was the perfect gentleman and promised to make up for it with a date.

She felt the connection between us and could not resist going out with me.

She told me that was her first date with her man ever. I felt proud to be her mate.

Not only was she prim and proper, but she was beautiful to me and had the warmest heart even to a hardened criminal.

I knew it hurt like ice on a raw injury to reject her this way. Wish I could have spared her the blue film of seeing Saloni and me in the bathroom. I felt awful for getting caught. Not cheating.

I’m an adopted son. I was bullied and rejected when I was younger. I got more confident as I learned martial arts and became popular among the girls for my handsome appearance.

I love Swara but I need Saloni to give me the kind of support I need as Alpha Bram. She is her father’s favourite daughter.

Her father is my father’s close friend in the pack.

I’d be getting on Alpha Miles’ worst side to pick Swara as a mate.

I have no idea why he hated her like shit but whatever the reason could be, Swara didn’t deserve what she received.

Unlike spoilt Saloni. Her father could pluck out Swara’s heart and give it to Saloni if she asked for it.

He loves her so much to do anything for her.

If I bond with her, I’m in good hands.

But with Swara, the future will only hold much trouble for us both.

I couldn’t help but peck her lightly on the forehead. She stifled in her sleep.

“I hope you will forgive me one day, Swara. I hope you will understand why I had to reject you.” I planted another kiss – this time, on her cheek.

I needed to leave the room before she woke up and saw me staring. That’d start another drama.

“Allow me to be with your twin. She will strengthen my wolf and I will keep protecting you from a distance even though you will never speak to me again. When Saloni is sure to have my whole heart, she will stop being mean to you. Right now, she only hates you because you want me. Don’t want me anymore, Swara. Then it’d be easier to not feel the pain.”

She ruffled the pillow in her sleep.

That was my cue to leave. Before she opened those eyes.

I realized it was time to say goodbye. I scribbled something on a note and left.

I hesitated to leave.

But when I did, I left to find Alpha Miles to inform him that she was sleeping and I would be leaving the house. But he was nowhere in sight.

I opted to check around for Saloni but she was nowhere in sight either. I decided to look through the inner corridor when I heard voices coming from the guest room.

I pried in and saw Saloni having a serious conversation with her father.

They were facing a backend corner and couldn’t see me. I wanted to interrupt them but I got curious to listen in on their conversation.

“I must commend your efforts, Saloni. You took after me in wits and wisdom. Even better than me.”

“Dad thank you for encouraging me. I’ve always had eyes for Bram since I was a kid. And I won’t allow anyone to get in my way of what’s mine. Not Swara.”

“Did you slip her the drug today?” Alpha Miles asked his daughter and I raised an eyebrow.

”No father. She made breakfast and ate our remnants soon after. Plus we left hurriedly this morning. I couldn’t slip it in.”

“That’s reckless of you Saloni,” he rebuked her sternly. “What you did was risky. Are you about to make our efforts be in vain?”

“I’m sorry Dad. I felt since we give her the drug every day – missing a day won’t make any significant difference.

“Are you kidding me? Her wolf could have gained power from the amount of pain she was in. Don’t you know when a human form faces pain and hardship, it only strengthens the core and vital energy of the wolf form? She could have transformed into a full-blown powerful wolf without her drug. Didn’t you hear the pack doctor when he said we needed to keep giving her the drug until her wolf starts feeling excruciating pain and is forced to leave her? And that will be in 6 months from now – that is if we don’t miss any dosage.”

“I’m sorry Dad. I will do better tomorrow and beyond.”

“Don’t you know if I had not shot a dart at her, what was meant for evil will turn to her advantage?”

I was flabbergasted. I recalled how she had passed out on me. I found it weird but then I waved it aside. I felt it was my words that caused her to faint. Looking back, I recall her stance and painful cries were similar to mine when my wolf was shifting to a more powerful dimension on my 20^th birthday. The wolf undergoes puberty just like the human form.

Except that, puberty for a wolf means the wolf is reaching maturity and getting stronger.

But then I got confused.

Why were they weakening her wolf with Valerian?

That must be the drug they were inducing into her immune system so her wolf could get weak.

I had finished the packed university as a medical student. So I knew better.

If anything, I thought they were worried about Swara having a weak wolf. Never knew they hated her this much.

How could he even think of doing this to his child?

Swara needed to know what was going on. I needed to warn her to run away from her own family.

I can only imagine the triple hurt she would feel after breaking the news to her. It had already been a miserable day for her. I hated the fact that I was breaking her heart twice in a row.

I withdrew quietly to Swara’s room – prepared for the worst.