Cline's brow twitched, his eyes filled with disdain as he regarded Dorian.
He strode quickly to Luana, extending his hand with an unyielding tone, "Come with me."
Before Luana could refuse, Dorian swiftly acted, his long arm encircling her shoulder and pulling her tightly into his embrace. A provocative smile played on his lips as he challenged, "On what grounds?"
Cline's vision sharpened with pain, witnessing Luana clinging to Dorian, their bodies pressed close. A surge of rage erupted within him.
"Because I love her!"
Cline's voice trembled yet rang out loud and clear, eight years of pent-up emotions bursting forth like a flood breaking its dam.
Dorian, noticing the bloodshot eyes and the fervor in Cline's gaze, felt a flicker of realization. He glanced down at Luana in his arms.
Her expression was calm, a faint smile curling her lips as if she had just heard an absurd joke, detached and indifferent.
Not only did Dorian not l
"This is Black Thorn Pack's territory. Any uninvited werewolf would be considered an intruder! You should leave!" Two werewolf guards, tall and robust, said to a woman standing at the pack's border. "I'm Gloria, from the Silver Spring Pack. I need to speak to Alpha Patrick. Please let me in." The blonde woman pleaded. She looked exceptionally delicate compared with the guards. "We don't know who you are. Leave, now!" said the guards as they had a quick look at each other. "It's about Gabrielle's death. I've got something important to tell Alpha Patrick. Please, I need to see him," Gloria begged. "Shut up! You don't get to say her name!" A sullen voice cut in from behind the guards. "Beta Damon!" The guards turned to the man and bowed their heads. Damon was the Beta of the Black Thorn Pack. "Damon, please hear me out. I have nothing to do with Gabrielle's death!" Gloria explained anxiously. With a scowl, Damon glanced at her resentfully. "Seize her. The woman
Patrick closed the door after he said so. He threw out the handkerchief he had just used before he closed the door. It fell in front of Gloria, soaking in the rain. Gloria picked it up and gripped it in her hand. The car started and drove into Alpha's villa at the Black Thorn Pack. Then, the iron gates of the villa shut in front of Gloria. Gloria's face drained of color as she stared at the shuttered gates. Gloria was in agony since her mate had just rejected her. The remaining Alpha aura still lingered, suffocating her. Patrick was her mate. However, she could feel the hatred from his aura and he would prefer Gloria to die instead of Gabrielle. Gloria's wolf screamed in her head, "We need Patrick. Go beg him, and let go of your pride. Damn you, Gloria, go beg for his forgiveness!" After a while, Gloria looked up again. She walked toward the square, determined. She stood in the middle of the square, ignoring the cold rain. She pressed her lips together stubbo
Patrick shook the wine glass in his hand. At Damon's words, he withdrew his gaze from Gloria. He gave another command, "Inform the Alpha of the Silver Spring Pack that he must choose between Gloria and his pack. If he wants his pack intact, then Gloria must leave." "Yes." "Then, tell the werewolf university to cancel Gloria's degree. So, she can't get a decent job in human society. She'll be employed with a high school diploma." "Yes." "And," Patrick said coldly, "Send her to the werewolf prison." Damon was shocked at his words. He raised his head and said, "Alpha Patrick?" "She killed our people, so I'll send her to the werewolf prison for three years. Beta Damon, do you not agree with me?" Patrick decided to send Gloria to prison for three years. Though the evidence at this point was not enough to prove Gloria guilty, Patrick believed that she was the one who killed Gabrielle. "No, Alpha Patrick, you did the right thing. Thank you." Damon's eyes suddenly turned
Patrick walked away after he finished his words. He was taking revenge on Gloria. Gloria looked pale, and she could not utter a word. Soon, the werewolf guard took her away and locked her up in the prison underground. Prison life was not easy. On the first night, Gloria was pulled up while she was asleep. "What do you want?" Gloria looked warily at the werewolves who surrounded her with malicious smiles. Gloria said in horror, "Don't get any closer, or I'll call the guards." The werewolves were not scared at all. They looked at each other and laughed. Their leader pointed at Gloria's face and said, "What did you say? Call the guards? Did I hear you right? You want to call the guards?" As she spoke, she slapped Gloria's face and roared, "Go ahead and call the guards!" Gloria lost her balance, and her ears buzzed. She pressed her hand against the wall and managed to get up. Then, she made a sudden move. She slapped the leader. For a moment, there was silence in t
Three years later, a skinny woman tottered on the street with a ragged plastic bag in her hand. She kept a few dollars and her identification card in that bag. She was pale and bruised. She also has a three-centimeter scar on her face. Three years, and everything had changed. Gloria's lips curled slightly. Yeah, after three years, things changed. It was not just about the world outside the werewolf prison. She had changed too. Where could she go? She didn't belong to any pack and lost her identity in human society. As a rogue, she was too weak to survive among other rogues. Then, a job advertisement from a shop nearby caught her eye. She stood before the job advertisement. She looked at it for a while, and her eyes finally fixed on the words "Cleaners wanted" and "Accommodation and lunch provided". Gloria gritted her teeth and walked into the club named Fittro. As soon as she entered, she shivered. The cold air from the central air conditioner made her tremble. "N
The oppression from the man's Alpha aura was strong, which made Gloria feel a little uneasy. The man noticed Gloria's gaze toward him, and he kissed the woman in his arms even more passionately. His golden eyes seemed brighter than stars, and his playful gaze rested on Gloria. Gloria quickly lowered her head. She stepped forward and turned to leave the elevator. "Stop!" Gloria heard the voice coming from behind. She did not want to cause trouble, especially not to bother the powerful Alpha and his human companion. She couldn't guess what the werewolf was here for. Gloria thought for a second and slightly bowed to the man. She said in a respectful tone, "Please forgive me, sir. I'm just a cleaner here and was on my way to clean the private room. I didn't mean to disturb you, and I hope you will forgive me." Gloria's voice was rough and hoarse, yet the man was not surprised. He looked at Gloria curiously and asked, "A cleaner? So young?" Gloria nodded and did not spe
Gloria arrived in the private room. She felt the air was strange in the room as she entered. In the dim light, a few guests sat on the sofa with several call girls. Only Lillian stood in the middle of the room. When Lillian saw Gloria, she immediately shouted, "Gloria, help me!" The guests sitting on the sofa suddenly focused on Gloria, who became nervous in an instant. Some of the guests were werewolves. Gloria was startled, and her body tensed up for a moment. "I'm here to clean." As she spoke, her unpleasant voice was exposed. With that hoarse voice, the guests lost interest in her and turned back to Lillian. Gloria had been working at Fittro Club for a few months, and she knew how to keep her job. So, she learned not to poke into other people's business. Therefore, she ignored Lillian's pleading look toward her. Gloria was just a cleaner and could barely support herself. How could she help others? Moreover, Lillian was only a human and she had parents to
Gloria raised her head. She looked at the powerful man sitting on the sofa... What did he just say? He was her mate. Years ago, she didn't accept his rejection. Therefore, she was still his mate. How could he ask her to kiss another man? Gloria stared at Patrick and her eyes were filled with desperation. Patrick enjoyed the look in Gloria's eyes and believed that she would reject his request. Any woman would choose to drink rather than kiss a strange man. "Can you ask me to do something else?" Gloria begged. Patrick sneered, "You don't get to negotiate with me." Gloria crawled on the ground. She reached out her hand to touch the ugly scar on the left side of her waist. That was the only time she shifted at the werewolf prison because she couldn't bear the torment anymore. Then, other werewolves also shifted and bit her on her waist. Later, they treated her wound with wolf poison. After Gloria turned back to her human form, she became very weak and her wounds wouldn
Cline's brow twitched, his eyes filled with disdain as he regarded Dorian.He strode quickly to Luana, extending his hand with an unyielding tone, "Come with me."Before Luana could refuse, Dorian swiftly acted, his long arm encircling her shoulder and pulling her tightly into his embrace. A provocative smile played on his lips as he challenged, "On what grounds?"Cline's vision sharpened with pain, witnessing Luana clinging to Dorian, their bodies pressed close. A surge of rage erupted within him."Because I love her!"Cline's voice trembled yet rang out loud and clear, eight years of pent-up emotions bursting forth like a flood breaking its dam.Dorian, noticing the bloodshot eyes and the fervor in Cline's gaze, felt a flicker of realization. He glanced down at Luana in his arms.Her expression was calm, a faint smile curling her lips as if she had just heard an absurd joke, detached and indifferent.Not only did Dorian not l
Dorian rolled his eyes at the scene and impatiently pushed open the car door, stepping out to approach the Bugatti.He bent down and knocked on the window, "Dorothy, get out now."Luana, upon hearing Dorian's voice, froze for a moment before pushing away from Cline, who was still kissing her.Her breathing was slightly labored as she coldly instructed, "Open the door. My husband's here!"Cline's body stiffened. He averted his gaze from Luana and slowly looked at the man outside.Dorian, dressed in a gray suit, was impeccably neat. His handsome face and aristocratic demeanor made him look distinguished and aloof. Cline didn't care about Dorian's appearance, but he was annoyed that Dorian had called her Dorothy, not Luana.Cline swiftly fastened Luana's seatbelt and started the car, speeding out of the parking lot without another word.Dorian watched the Bugatti speed away, a look of frustration crossing his face.He muttered tha
Cline turned on the air conditioning, leaned sideways, and drew closer to Luana.His long, thick lashes lowered as he gazed at the petite Luana, his eyes revealing a longing he had never shown before."Luana..."He uttered her name as if it had taken all his strength.Luana opened her mouth to retort, but Cline suddenly gripped the back of her head with one hand, pressing her into his embrace.He whispered into her ear, "I... miss you so much."For three years, he had thought of her obsessively, to the point of madness, sleeplessness, and even hallucinations from medication.Now that he had found her alive and well, how could he let her go so easily?A flicker of disbelief crossed Luana's previously calm face, followed by a cold sneer in her heart.Would Cline truly miss her? He had never cared before. How could he miss her now?Was it because she was gone, and he couldn't find anyone to replace Runa, that he reme
For the past three years, his heart had felt hollow, a persistent ache that never truly subsided.Now, in this moment of holding Luana close, his restless heart finally found its resting place.To Cline, having someone he longed for still alive was like reclaiming what had been lost.He held Luana tightly, his throat constricting with emotion, unable to utter a word, wishing only to merge her into his very being and feel her presence undeniably.Luana, however, was perplexed by Cline's behavior.It was uncharacteristic of him—cold and distant at their airport encounter, avoiding even a glance, yet now he was uncharacteristically intimate.She wondered if the three years apart had taken a toll on his mental state.Frowning, she struggled to push him away, but Cline easily restrained her wrist with one hand.He spun her around, pinning her against the car door.Before she could speak, Cline captured her lips in a kis
Luana stood outside the door, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes as she contemplated Clarissa's changes over the years.Suddenly, the door creaked open from the inside.Angela, holding a child of about three years old, came into view.The little kid clutched a toy car, its round eyes wide with curiosity as it stared at Luana.Luana's gaze shifted between Angela and the child, a fleeting thought crossing her mind that Angela might be staying with Clarissa and Albert.Suppressing her doubts, she asked, "I'm a friend of Clarissa's. Is she home?"Angela froze, sizing up Luana from head to toe, unable to recognize the elegantly dressed woman with delicate makeup before her.It wasn't until Luana spoke that Angela's pupils contracted sharply, her face draining of color, her lips trembling as she stammered, "Y-y-y-o-u..."Then, as if she had seen a ghost, Angela retreated backward with the child, screaming at th
Dorian had just retrieved his suitcase from the baggage carousel when he spotted Luana approaching.He frowned slightly, his tone laced with displeasure, "Didn't I tell you to wait over there?"Luana rolled her eyes at him. "I was afraid you might grab the wrong luggage."With that, she slipped her phone into her small bag, took the suitcase from Dorian's hand, and began to wheel it away.Dorian, with his long legs, effortlessly kicked another large suitcase toward Luana. "This one's yours too," he said.Luana, though inwardly exasperated, shot a glare at Dorian's retreating figure and pushed both suitcases out of the airport behind him.Once outside, Luana handed the suitcase back to Dorian. "I'm going to meet a friend. Let's part ways here."Dorian tilted his head slightly, regarding her with an expression that seemed to question her intelligence. "You think I came all this way just to see you off?"Luana was speechless again
This meant he was giving her only one chance. If she refused, she would never be able to return home.Luana felt as if a heavy stone had settled in her heart, making it hard to breathe and preventing her from making a decision quickly.Dorian maintained his domineering posture, observing the shifting expressions on her face with a smug confidence, waiting leisurely for her response.Five minutes passed, and Luana took a deep breath before nodding. "Alright, I agree, but it's only a marriage in name."Dorian let out another faint sneer. "What else did you expect?"He picked up the diamond ring, nodded his chin, and gestured for Luana to extend her hand.Reluctantly, she stretched out her hand, and Dorian casually placed the ring on her right ring finger.After slipping the ring onto her finger, Dorian released her hand and looked into her eyes with his deep, dark gaze. "We go to the church tomorrow," he said.With that, he pocketed Dorothy's passport and turned to leave.Luana raised he
Luana stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her resemblance to Dorothy grew day by day, and fear began to gnaw at her heart.She had already been a stand-in once. How could she bear to become one again, especially for her sister?Accompanied by a caregiver, Luana visited a hair salon and had her hair extended to waist-length, styled in the familiar waves she once wore.Dorian said nothing when he saw her like this, but after she fell asleep, he took a pair of scissors and cut off her hair.Luana was terrified, nearly fainting from the shock.Dorian, however, propped his chin on his hand with a nonchalant expression and said, “Who said you can do that?”Luana gaped at him, unable to contain her frustration. "Dorian, are you crazy…?"Dorian let out a soft chuckle. "Only now figuring that out?"Speechless, Luana took a deep breath and tried to reason with him."I'm not Dorothy. I'm Luana. Can you stop d
Luana had long harbored such suspicions in her heart.If her mother had not passed away, Dorothy would not have had to flee with her across different places.Her mother and sister must have experienced some terrifying events back then.Thinking of how George had not mentioned her father once, Luana couldn't help but ask again, "And my father...?"Before she could finish, George spread his hands helplessly, "Sorry, that's all I know."Luana stopped pressing George for more information, but her gaze took on a more inquisitive hue.George, an internationally renowned cardiologist, had gone to such lengths for her sister—what exactly was their relationship?George placed the photo frame on the bedside table and, noticing Luana's scrutinizing look, guessed her thoughts."Dorothy and Dorian have been close friends of mine for many years..." he offered a brief explanation, yet said nothing of the conflict between Dorian and Doro