Chapter 15


    ke carried me back to my room in his arms and pressed me onto the bed. After covering me with a


    nket, he left.


    I watched him stationing two maids at my door before he left. It was as though he was worried that I


    might run away.


    I turned and tossed in the bed but could not fall asleep. ke''s words echoed in my head and


    disturbed me greatly.


    "If your motivation for creating the antidote is so that you can leave me soon, I would rather never have


    the antidote."


    I casted my eyes down. I did not mind being misunderstood by anyone else. But ke was my mate. I


    truly wanted to save him. It was not true that I was only motivated by the thought of leaving him.


    Did he not understand my wish to keep him safe?


    I flipped to the other side of the bed. Tears finally streamed down my face and stained the pillow.


    I sniffled and called out to Aurora in a croaky voice.


    Perhaps the link between Aurora and me was too weak. She finally replied to me feebly after a few


    attempts, "I''m sorry for beingte, Chloe."


    "That''s okay." I wiped away my tears and took a deep breath. "I just wanted to talk to you… I feel so


    terrible right now,” I murmured.


    Aurora went quiet for a moment. Then, she asked, "Is it because of ke?"


    I nodded as I continued. "ke thought I wanted to save him so I could leave him soon. But I wasn''t


    thinking about that at all! I really don''t want to see him die."


    "Why don''t you be frank with him?" Aurora asked after listening to me.


    I closed my mouth, feelingplicated. I knew that I could resolve my heartache by simply being


    honest with ke. But whenever I thought about that, my mouth would turn dry before I taste a bitter


    feeling in my tongue.


    "But he lied to me. I… I just can''t let that go," I stammered, feeling my brain turn to mush.


    I heard Aurora sighing gently. "So, once ke is cured, will you really leave him?" she asked again a


    few secondster.


    I stared at the floor, my body trembling lightly. After a long pause, I sobbed, "I don''t know. My mind is


    telling me to leave... to protect myself and no longer trust someone who betrayed me. But… But my


    heart tells me not to leave."


    Aurora let out a heavy sigh, seemingly troubled by my hesitation, and could not find the right reply.


    Aurora’s speechlessness made me feel rather embarrassed. I sniffled and I intentionally changed the


    topic.


    "By the way, I recall my father being the only one who could create an antidote to ke''s poison. Do


    you have other ideas?" I asked Aurora.


    After a few moments, I still did not receive any reply from her. It was as if I was simply talking to myself


    in my mind. I tried calling for Aurora a few times, but she did not respond. Finally, I realized that she


    must have fought to stay awake but fell asleep in the end.


    "Aurora… What should I do?" I mumbled to myself. "Do I really have to beg father?"


    Even if I did, I wondered if my heartless father would help me.


    It was a no-brainer. My father would not help me. Instead of curing ke, he might even try to hasten


    up the effects of the poison just to punish me.


    When I racked my brains for a solution, only to run into a familiar voice. "Chloe, are you there?"


    I sat up straight and felt a chill down my spine. That was… Father''s voice!


    He was looking for me, but why?


    "Aren’t he busy because of the preparation for Vanessa''s Alpha inauguration ceremony?" I wondered.


    "Chloe, answer me," he called again, but this time with a hint of impatience.


    I hugged my knees tight and debated on whether to respond. I felt so conflicted and confused. I did not


    know what to do, just like when I learned that my father decided to hand over the Alpha role to Vanessa


    right after my disappearance.


    He really did not care about me. So...it wouldn''t matter if I replied to him or not.


    Despite this thought, a conflict started to brew within me. After all, he was my father. Could I really force


    myself to ignore his calls?


    "If you''re still alive, answer me now." My father suddenly gave me a stern warning as I was hesitating.


    More urately, he was bellowing at me like an Alpha.


    I started to tremble incessantly as cold sweat broke out. Memories from the past resurfaced and almost


    suffocated me.


    Every time… Every time he put on such a disciplinarian tone and attitude, he was definitely doing it to


    defend Vanessa, be it forcing me to give her blood or sacrifice in other ways. For him, I was never a


    daughter!


    I bit my lips hard, forcing myself to stay quiet.


    “It’s okay... He can’t reach me here...” I thought, trying to convince myself.


    “I will make him think that I''m dead. That''s the best ending to our father-daughter rtionship,” I


    thought.


    After a while, my father’s voice disappeared. My body slumped on the bed as I let out a sigh of relief.


    Still, I was feeling conflicted. Until the very end, my father never shown me any kindness.


    I bit my lower lip before shaking my head. Since his preferred heir had been treated and recovered, I


    owed my father nothing more. I should just focus on ke''s antidote than worrying over these family


    matters.


    Putting aside his motive for contacting me, because of my father’s action, a bold idea suddenly came


    into my mind. If I could treat Vanessa''s illness with my blood, perhaps I could also use it as an antidote


    for ke!


    -


    After another night of tossing and turning and being forced to finish the entire sandwich under the


    watchful eyes of the maid, I was finally allowed back into theb.


    I took a bowl and poured the herbal medicine I concocted inside. Next, I found a knife that had been


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    sanitized.


    I rolled up my sleeve and cut my wrist without hesitation. Fresh blood trickled down my hand and into


    the bowl. It was an action I had performed countless times. Before, the piercing pain would always cut


    deep into my soul. Oddly, I did not feel much pain this time. Maybe this was the feeling of willing


    sacrifice.


    I smiled bitterly at the realization. Noticing that the bowl was almost filled to the brink, I hurriedly


    grabbed some gauze and started bandaging my wound.


    Wolves were born to have strong healing powers. A small wound like this would heal in no time. Still,


    my wolf''s presence was weakpared to others, which meant that my cut would heal slower.


    I pulled down my sleeve to carefully cover my wrist before going to see ke, the bowl filled with my


    blood in my hands. The maid told me he was in a discussion with the Beta at the study.


    When I reached the door of the study, I overheard ke’s merciless voice from within. "Kill them all if


    necessary."


    Although that was a horrifying statement to hear from him, it did not bother me. In fact, I was not


    interested in the details of their discussion. With the bowl in hand, I merely leaned against the wall,


    waiting for them to wrap up the conversation.


    Soon, the door opened. The Beta was surprised to see me, and he greeted me with respect, "Luna."


    I frowned slightly at the unfamiliar title. True, I was never the Luna of the pack, but it was also


    unnecessary for me to nitpick a title. I nodded without a word.


    After the Beta left, I walked up to ke and handed him the bowl.


    ke looked at the bowl and I started to feel nervous. His nose twitched at the scent and his brows


    furrowed.


    "What is this?"


    "Medicine," I replied curtly, trying to act normal.


    "Medicine? Or your blood?" He shot up from the chair, and his eyes were redder than the blood in the


    bowl.


    "N-No," I denied right away and instead insisted, "Drink it now."


    ke suddenly grabbed the bowl from me and threw it onto the floor, spilling the blood all over.


    Shocked, I stumbled backward and stared speechlessly at the mess on the floor.


    Slowly, tears started to stream down my cheeks. The feeling of rejection filled my heart. Oddly, I also


    felt the pain from the wound on my wrist was painful earlier.


    Time seemed to freeze between us. ke looked at me without a word—the silence was deafening.


    He massaged his forehead, as if he was trying to keep his temper under control.


    "Which arm?" He finally asked, sounding exasperated. I stood there silently, but a nerve on my left arm


    twitched.


    Just when I thought he wouldn''t catch the tiny movement, ke proceeded to lift my left arm and


    slowly rolled up my sleeve.


    When ke saw the blood-stained bandage, he fell into prolonged silence, but the nerves on his


    temples were clearly bulging. I could only imagine the scary look on his face.


    "Is this how you hurt yourself?" There was anger and helplessness in his hoarse voice.


    I reflexively withdrew my hand and pulled down the sleeves to hide away my wound. ke looked at


    me before sighing. Then, he put his hand on my back and led me to take a seat. He lifted my chin and


    forced me to look into his eyes. He warned me sternly, "Do not move. Listen."


    Despite his words, ke did not sound that stern, but I was unintentionally captivated by his dark eyes


    and regal aura. I stayed still.


    "What I will mention next is important. Whether you will believe me or not, I hope you keep my words in


    mind." ke had a grave expression as he stared into my eyes.


    I pursed my lips and nodded.


    ke looked relieved, but his words sounded heavy. "First, I will never drink your blood nor allow you


    to hurt yourself. Second…" He paused, and the look in his eyes deepened. "I want you to be healthy


    and safe. I want you to live a good life and be with me forever."


    "I…"


    "Listen to me until the end," he cut me off stubbornly. "If I have to use your blood as an antidote, I


    would rather have the poison take effect and die instantly."


    My heart started pumping wildly. Tears started to fill my eyes. Sniffling, I mumbled, "I just wanted you to


    live."


    "I will not die!" He was firm. " I have to protect you. I will never die as long as I''m by your side."


    I looked at him nkly.


    ke smiled at the sight of my face. "So now, can you be my Luna and stay with me?"