- 4 weeks ago
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00:00On the day of my mating ceremony, I caught my Alpha sleeping with my own sister.
00:05Only then did I finally understand why Cain had always been so cold towards me.
00:09It wasn't because of who he was.
00:11It was because he never loved me.
00:13I didn't confront them on the spot.
00:15Instead, during the ceremony, I used a memory crystal to project everything they'd done for everyone to see.
00:22The entire hall erupted in shock.
00:25Guests stared at them with ridicule and amusement.
00:28My Alpha.
00:30My sister.
00:32Why don't you explain to everyone exactly what you were doing a few minutes ago?
00:36Sarah!
00:37I know you've always hated me, but you can't ruin your own mating ceremony just to frame me!
00:47Sarah!
00:49Didn't you save me from the black market because of my status in the first test place?
00:52I've already promised to mark you as my mate!
00:56What more do you want?
00:58My parents would immediately comfort Lydia, and my father turned to look at me, his face full of anger.
01:04You're so vicious that you'd create fake footage just to slander Lydia!
01:09And even now, she's worried about your ceremony.
01:13That's why you'll never be half the woman she is!
01:16The night Sarah signed the mating contract, she disappeared and didn't come home until the next morning.
01:22I personally saw her returning in disheveled clothes.
01:26We had originally planned to go through with the ceremony.
01:29Then Kane would quietly dissolve the bond afterward to protect Sarah's reputation.
01:34But we never expected her to be this malicious, because she can't behave herself.
01:40She wants to drag Lydia's name through the mud, too.
01:43I didn't even get a chance to defend myself.
01:46They had already convicted me.
01:48Once again, my parents chose to protect Lydia at my expense, just like they always had.
01:54I didn't even get a chance to defend myself.
01:56They had already convicted me.
01:58When your own parents expose you in front of everyone, no explanation matters.
02:03Nobody was going to believe me.
02:05A crushing sense of helplessness swallowed me whole.
02:08I wanted to run, but my feet wouldn't move.
02:12Then a deep, commanding voice spoke from behind me.
02:15That night Sarah was with me.
02:17It's him.
02:19The crowd immediately parted.
02:22A man stepped forward.
02:24He was taller than Kane.
02:25His perfectly tailored black royal robe stretched over a powerful frame.
02:30Darian wailed.
02:31Leader of the Silvermoon Pack.
02:33Kane's uncle.
02:34He stopped in front of me.
02:36There wasn't a trace of warmth in his icy blue eyes.
02:40Sarah went out that night to gather herbs.
02:42She was attacked by wild wolves.
02:45I rescued her and brought her home.
02:47Nothing else happened.
02:51Isn't that right, Sarah?
02:53I froze for a moment.
02:55Then I realized this was my only chance to clear my name.
02:59So I nodded.
03:00My father didn't dare challenge Darian.
03:03And instead, he forced out an awkward laugh.
03:06Well, it seems Sarah was simply frightened and made a foolish accusation against her sister.
03:12My apologies.
03:14Everyone, Sarah isn't in the best mental state today, so we'll end the ceremony here.
03:18No.
03:22The ceremony will continue.
03:26After saving you that night, I realized you'd make an excellent Luna Queen.
03:30Sarah Clemont.
03:32Will you become my mate?
03:33The words sounded romantic, but his eyes remained completely emotionless.
03:38My mind went blank.
03:40Who I married.
03:42Did it even matter anymore?
03:44As long as I could escape this humiliation, anything was better than staying here.
03:49Numbly, I extended my hand.
03:52Sarah!
03:53Kane's expression changed.
03:55His eyes practically begged me not to agree.
03:58How ridiculous.
03:59Did he really think I'd still choose him after everything he'd done?
04:02I placed my hand in Darian's.
04:04He slid the silver ring originally meant for Kane and Mai onto my finger.
04:08The ceremony ended hastily.
04:11Soon afterward, I was escorted to the bridal suite, sitting alone on the edge of the bed,
04:16as I waited for whatever came next.
04:19The door opened.
04:21Darian walked in.
04:22He removed his royal robe and poured two glasses of wine.
04:26Then he handed one to me.
04:28Drink.
04:29It'll help.
04:30I accepted it without a word and drained the glass.
04:33A complicate emotion flashed through his eyes.
04:36Then he got straight to the point.
04:38I carry a curse.
04:40A very old blood cursed.
04:42The only way to break it is for my mate to complete the bond and mark.
04:46Then draw blood from her heart three times.
04:49He paused, watching my reaction.
04:52As compensation, once the curse is broken,
04:55I'll give you more wealth than you could spend in a lifetime.
04:58You'll remain Lady Wolf,
05:00with status, freedom,
05:02and every privilege imaginable.
05:04My heart sank.
05:05So that was the truth.
05:07This marriage was another transaction.
05:09A colder one than before.
05:12I'll help you draw the blood.
05:15Consider it repayment for helping me today.
05:17But I won't agree to the mark.
05:19I only want to share that kind of intimacy with someone I love.
05:23Something dangerous flashed across his face.
05:27He stepped closer.
05:28His towering frame completely enveloped me.
05:31Don't reject me so quickly.
05:37No, let me go.
05:45Sarah,
05:46I have all the time in the world
05:48to make you fall in love with me.
05:50For some reason,
05:51staring into those blue eyes,
05:53I stopped fighting.
05:54That night,
05:55he marked me.
05:56I became Lady Wolf,
05:58the cursed mate.
05:59A wife in name more than reality.
06:01To his credit,
06:02Darian kept part of his promise.
06:04He gave me a life
06:05beyond anything I'd ever imagined.
06:08Everyone in the manor
06:09treated me with absolute respect,
06:10but he also shattered every boundary I had.
06:13Every night,
06:14he returned to our red room.
06:15Every night,
06:16he claimed me in the most primal way possible.
06:19His possessiveness was over-quelming.
06:21And little by little,
06:22I found myself sinking into it.
06:25Then came the first blood extraction.
06:27It was torture.
06:30Darian personally drove the dagger into my chest.
06:33The pain was cold,
06:34sharp.
06:35It pierced straight into my soul.
06:37I could actually feel my life
06:38draining away with the blood.
06:40After the first extraction,
06:41I was bedridden for an entire week.
06:44Darian watched over me
06:45with an expression I couldn't understand.
06:47He never explained,
06:49never apologized.
06:50Yet beneath that icy exterior,
06:53something seemed to be changing.
06:55He abandoned all pack affairs
06:57and cared for me personally.
06:58He fed me medicine,
07:00used cold cloths to lower my fever.
07:03When I refused to drink
07:04a particularly bitter herbal brew,
07:06he surprised me.
07:07He took a sip himself,
07:09then pressed his lips to mine
07:11and fed it to me mouth to mouth.
07:13The bitter medicine
07:14mixed with his clean scent.
07:17My heartbeat skipped.
07:18Once I recovered,
07:19he seemed to become the cold alpha again.
07:22But subtle things changed.
07:23My favorite foods appeared at meals.
07:26Ancient herbology books
07:27started showing up in his study.
07:29He even built a private herb garden for me
07:31inside the greenhouse behind the manor.
07:34Sometimes near sunset,
07:35he'd quietly join me there
07:37and watched me care for the plants.
07:39One day,
07:40I accidentally cut my finger
07:41on a poisonous thorn.
07:43He appeared at my side
07:44almost instantly
07:45and carefully sucked the poison
07:47from the wound.
07:48Be more careful.
07:49His tone remained cold,
07:51but for a brief second,
07:52I saw concern in those blue eyes.
07:55My heart surrendered little by little,
07:57not through grand gestures,
07:58but through those tiny moments
08:00of kindness.
08:01Soon,
08:02I found myself
08:03looking forward to his return
08:04every night.
08:05I even began convincing myself
08:07that the curse
08:08didn't matter anymore.
08:09Neither did the transaction
08:10that started our marriage.
08:12Maybe,
08:13just maybe,
08:14I had become special to him.
08:16The second extraction
08:17happened during a stormy night.
08:19He held me in his arms
08:20as he plunged the dagger
08:22into my chest.
08:23Strangely,
08:24he looked more nervous
08:25than I was.
08:26His forehead rested against mine.
08:29Again and again,
08:30he whispered my name.
08:32Sarah,
08:34look at me.
08:35The pain was unbearable,
08:37yet inside his dark blue eyes,
08:39I saw something
08:40that looked remarkably
08:40like suffering.
08:42Something he was desperately
08:43trying to hide.
08:44In that moment,
08:45I thought it was love.
08:46I was wrong.
08:47That day,
08:48I found the secret
08:49that completely broke me down.
08:52Three months passed
08:53after the second extraction.
08:55My recovery took much longer
08:56than before.
08:57Darian never mentioned
08:58the third extraction.
09:00Naively,
09:01I assumed he was worried about me.
09:02One afternoon,
09:04I went upstairs
09:05looking for an herbal encyclopedia.
09:07As I passed the guest lounge
09:08on the second floor,
09:09I heard Lydia's voice.
09:11What are you waiting for,
09:12Darian?
09:13Why haven't you taken
09:14the third drop yet?
09:15I've waited long enough!
09:16I stopped dead in my tracks.
09:18Every drop of blood
09:19in my body frozen.
09:21Silently,
09:21I moved closer.
09:22My heart pounded so hard
09:24it felt ready to burst
09:25from my chest.
09:26Her body hasn't recovered yet.
09:28You're worried about her?
09:30Don't tell me
09:31you've actually fallen
09:32in love with her.
09:34Darian,
09:35have you forgotten our plan?
09:37Plan?
09:38What plan?
09:39When the elders told us
09:41about the curse,
09:42you said my health
09:43was too fragile.
09:44That's why they suggested
09:45using Sarah instead.
09:47Since she's my blood sister,
09:49she could become
09:50your mate first.
09:51She could break
09:52the curse for you.
09:53My entire world tilted.
09:55Then after the curse is gone,
09:57you'll remove the mark
09:58and bond with me instead.
10:01Unless you've become
10:02attached to her?
10:04What about me?
10:05A loud ringing
10:06filled my ears.
10:07I could barely breathe.
10:08So,
10:09this was the truth.
10:11From the very beginning,
10:13I was nothing but a tool.
10:15A sacrifice.
10:16A substitute.
10:17And like a fool,
10:18I'd mistaken
10:19his occasional kindness
10:21for love.
10:21I covered my mouth
10:22to stop myself
10:23from making a sound.
10:25Tears streamed
10:26down my face.
10:26I haven't forgotten.
10:29But the third extraction
10:30is dangerous.
10:31She could die.
10:33Wasn't that always
10:34part of the plan?
10:35Once Sarah dies,
10:37your curse is broken
10:38and you can mark Lydia.
10:40That's what you've
10:41always wanted,
10:42isn't it?
10:43Lydia saved you
10:44from a trap
10:45when she was little,
10:46Mr. Wolf.
10:47You owe her
10:48a trap.
10:49Blue eyes.
10:50The pieces
10:51slammed together.
10:52My heart felt like
10:53it was being carved apart
10:54with a dull blade.
10:56Lydia,
10:56my wonderful little sister.
10:59With our parents' help,
11:00she'd stolen something
11:01from me once again.
11:02A bitter laugh
11:03escaped my lips.
11:05When I was little,
11:06I'd accidentally saved
11:07a young werewolf boy
11:08with brilliant blue eyes.
11:10Those eyes had become
11:11the curse of my life.
11:14That's why,
11:15years later,
11:16when I saw Kane's blue eyes
11:18in the black market,
11:19I rescued him
11:20without hesitation.
11:21And because of those eyes,
11:24I fell in love with him,
11:25only to be betrayed.
11:27Now I discovered
11:28that Darian had been
11:29that boy all along,
11:30and he had deceived me too.
11:32The absurdity of it all
11:33swallowed me whole.
11:35I couldn't listen anymore.
11:36I turned and walked
11:38back to my room.
11:39Maybe growing up
11:40surrounded by favoritism
11:41had prepared me for this.
11:43I recovered from the shock
11:45reprisingly quickly.
11:47I wiped away my tears.
11:49When I looked up again,
11:50my eyes were filled
11:52to determination.
11:53I packed everything
11:54that belonged to me.
11:55The priceless jewelry
11:57Darian had given me.
11:58The expensive gowns.
12:00The little gifts
12:00I'd once mistaken
12:01for signs of love.
12:03I left every single one behind.
12:05I arranged them neatly
12:06on the table,
12:07alongside the mating ring.
12:09Then I left.
12:10I left so quickly
12:11that I never saw
12:12what happened afterward.
12:13I never saw Darian Wolf
12:15lose his mind
12:16searching for me
12:17after he discovered
12:18I was gone.
12:19Sarah.
12:20You're never gonna leave me.
12:23The moment I turned
12:24and walked away,
12:25the conversation
12:26in the reception room
12:27continued.
12:28Enough.
12:28Darian's voice
12:29suddenly went ice cold.
12:30I don't need any of you
12:31to teach me how to do my job.
12:33Once her body recovers,
12:34I'll take it myself.
12:35Now, get out.
12:36Lydia and her parents
12:38were stunned
12:39by the coldness
12:40in his tone.
12:41They bit their lips
12:41unwillingly,
12:42but eventually
12:43turned and left.
12:44Darian stood alone
12:45by the window,
12:46staring at the manor gate,
12:47his eyes unreadable.
12:49Just moments ago,
12:51his heart had clenched
12:52with a sharp pain
12:53that was the mate bond
12:55sending out an alarm.
12:56She was going through
12:57intense emotional turmoil.
13:00Time to speed things up.
13:01He was sick
13:02of this game.
13:04Sick of himself too.
13:05Sick of the way
13:06he kept putting off his plan
13:07just because of how pale
13:09that woman looked.
13:10He crushed the wine glass
13:11in his hand
13:12in frustration.
13:13When Darian left
13:14the reception room,
13:15a strange silence
13:17greeted him.
13:17Her scent was fading
13:18from the air,
13:19fast.
13:20Sarah?
13:21No answer.
13:22He hurried upstairs
13:23and pushed open
13:24the bedroom door.
13:25The room was
13:26unnaturally tidy.
13:27On the vanity,
13:28all the jewelry
13:29he'd ordered for her
13:30sat untouched,
13:31gleaming coldly
13:32in the setting sun.
13:34His mate ring
13:34lay right in the middle
13:35of the mall,
13:36a panic he'd never felt before,
13:39wrapped around his heart
13:40like vines.
13:40Someone!
13:42A servant ran up
13:43the stairs in a panic.
13:44Where is my wife?
13:46The servant was trembling
13:48at the sight of his face.
13:50Miss Clayman,
13:50I mean,
13:51Madam,
13:51she packed up
13:52all her own things
13:53and left this afternoon.
13:54She told me to return
13:55everything you gave her,
13:57but anything related to you,
13:58she got rid of it all.
14:00Not a single thing left.
14:01Darian's pupils
14:02contracted sharply.
14:04With a savage wave
14:04of his hand,
14:05an invisible force
14:06swept the jewelry
14:07off the vanity.
14:08Priceless gems
14:09scattered across the floor
14:11like his shattered pride.
14:12Bring me everything
14:13she threw away.
14:15Every lost piece.
14:16Then he turned
14:17and ordered his men.
14:19Find her.
14:20I don't care what it takes.
14:21Bring my wife back.
14:22The men rushed out
14:23of the villa.
14:24A moment later,
14:25a servant returned
14:26with a brown paper bag.
14:28Darian took it.
14:29Inside were some
14:30cheap little trinkets,
14:31a dried lavender sachet,
14:33a few smooth pebbles,
14:34some pressed plant specimens
14:36he couldn't name,
14:37and an old,
14:38locked diary.
14:38He broke the tiny lock
14:40easily.
14:41Inside was Sarah's
14:42neat handwriting,
14:43some records about herbs,
14:44and her diary entries.
14:46As he flipped through,
14:47a few lines caught his eye
14:48and drained every ounce
14:50of strength from his body.
14:51Today I passed by the study
14:53and saw Darian dealing
14:54with business.
14:55The sunlight was on his face.
14:57His eyes are so blue,
14:59just like those of the
15:00little wolf cub
15:00I saved when I was little.
15:02I wonder
15:02if the scar by his eye
15:04has healed.
15:05I hope it didn't leave a mark.
15:06My hands were too slippery
15:07back then,
15:08and I accidentally
15:09let go of him.
15:10He fell and cut his eye corner.
15:12I hope when he grows up,
15:14his eyes are still
15:15as pretty as Darian's.
15:17The scar by his eye.
15:18Darian instinctively
15:20raised a hand
15:21to the corner
15:22of his right eye.
15:23The scar that
15:24magical medicine had erased
15:26seemed to throb faintly.
15:27Only he and that little girl
15:29knew about that injury.
15:31The savior he'd been
15:31trying to repay.
15:33The person he thought
15:34he owed everything to.
15:35The guilt that Lydia
15:36had used to trap him.
15:38It was all wrong.
15:40It had been Sarah
15:41all along.
15:42The woman he'd hurt,
15:43lied to,
15:44and driven away.
15:46Lock down the whole city!
15:48His voice barely
15:49containing his rage
15:50and fear.
15:52Send everyone out.
15:53Dig up every inch
15:54of ground if you have to.
15:56Find Sarah.
15:57But three days later,
15:58the news he got
15:59wasn't about Sarah.
16:01It was news
16:01that stopped his heart cold.
16:03We found Madam's carriage
16:05on the edge
16:06of the dark moon forest.
16:08She was attacked
16:08by a pack of shadow wolves.
16:11There was
16:12a lot of blood
16:13and pieces of Madam's clothing.
16:15We've confirmed
16:16Madam dead.
16:18What?
16:19Those three words
16:20burned into Darian's heart
16:21like three red-hot brands.
16:23His tall frame swayed.
16:25Bitter copper
16:25flooded his throat.
16:27That night,
16:27blood flowed like a river
16:28at the border
16:29of werewolf territory.
16:31Darian Wolf alone
16:32stormed the shadow wolves' lair.
16:34No one knows
16:35exactly what happened
16:35in that fight.
16:36They only know
16:37that by dawn,
16:38the name Shadow Wolves
16:39had been wiped
16:40off the continent entirely.
16:41Darian came back
16:42covered in blood.
16:44Those blue eyes
16:44no longer held
16:45any coldness,
16:46only a burning,
16:47crazed despair.
16:48He called off
16:49the bonding ceremony
16:50with Lydia.
16:51Lydia stormed
16:51into his study.
16:53Darian!
16:54Dario!
16:54How are you
16:55a perfect god
16:56who saved your life?
16:57You owe me!
16:58You owe me forever!
17:00His eyes were
17:00like a frozen abyss,
17:02staring at her
17:03without a trace of warmth.
17:04Lydia,
17:05back when you
17:06supposedly saved me,
17:07I accidentally
17:08hurt my forehead.
17:09His voice
17:10was very soft.
17:11Tell me,
17:13was it the left side
17:15or the right?
17:17Lydia was frozen
17:18by his gaze,
17:19her mind blank.
17:20Left,
17:21left.
17:22Before she finished,
17:23an iron hand
17:24clamped around her throat
17:25and lifted her
17:26off the ground.
17:28Darian's face
17:29loomed close,
17:30every word
17:31like shards of ice.
17:32The injury I got
17:33was on my eye.
17:35My eye corner,
17:38cut by a stone.
17:40As for your family,
17:42you dared to lie to me
17:44to make my mate
17:46take your place
17:46and suffer the curse?
17:48Then you'd better be ready
17:50to face the consequences.
17:52The next day,
17:53all of the Clemon family's
17:54assets were uprooted.
17:55The Duke,
17:57Duchess,
17:58and Lydia
17:58were thrown
17:59into the dungeons.
18:01Only then
18:02did they realize
18:03exactly what kind
18:04of monster
18:04they'd messed with.
18:06After doing all that,
18:07Darian
18:08went back to that
18:09empty room,
18:10clutching the diary.
18:11He sat in the dark,
18:13motionless,
18:14like a frozen
18:15statue of sorrow.
18:16He hadn't had time
18:17to apologize,
18:19to make things right,
18:20to tell her
18:21that the gentleness
18:22he'd shown her.
18:23During that time,
18:25it had never really been
18:26about some stupid curse.
18:28He had fallen in love
18:29with her,
18:30and it was too late.
18:32A desperate,
18:33low howl,
18:34escaped him,
18:36echoing through
18:37the empty manor.
18:38The sound of a lone wolf,
18:39mourning its lost mate.
18:41But what he didn't know,
18:42was that somewhere
18:43he couldn't see,
18:44the story,
18:45was just beginning.
18:46I,
18:47Sarah,
18:48was not dead.
18:49Ironically,
18:50my own kindness,
18:50became the one thread,
18:52that saved my life.
18:53I'd helped more,
18:54than just those two
18:55blue-eyed wolf boys,
18:56Darian,
18:57and Cain.
18:58There was also,
18:59the injured tree spirit,
19:00in the forest.
19:01The elf,
19:02caught in a hunter's trap.
19:03Even the flower fairy,
19:05crying over a dying
19:06moon grass plant.
19:07After Cain abandoned me,
19:09and Darian made me
19:10his sacrifice,
19:11I'd been so hopeless.
19:12But when the shadow wolves,
19:14attacked my carriage,
19:14a soft light,
19:16wrapped around me,
19:17it was Elwyn,
19:18an elf whose life,
19:19I'd saved with rare herbs.
19:21He used ancient elven magic,
19:23to reshape my face,
19:24changed my hair,
19:26and eye color,
19:27even slightly adjusted,
19:28my bone structure.
19:29Sarah Wolfe,
19:30daughter of the Clemen family,
19:32died in that attack.
19:34You're free now.
19:35You can live the life you want,
19:36with a new identity.
19:38I looked at my reflection,
19:39in the pond,
19:40completely different.
19:41My black hair,
19:42had turned dark brown.
19:43My lacustrine blue eyes,
19:45a warm green.
19:46My face,
19:47softer.
19:48A totally different woman.
19:50I chose to become a medical researcher.
19:52I wanted to use my knowledge,
19:53to heal as many wounded creatures,
19:55as I could.
19:56I no longer believed in love.
19:58I only believed in my own two hands.
20:00I took the name,
20:01Ella Knight,
20:01and opened a small clinic,
20:03in a neutral town,
20:04far from werewolf territory,
20:06offering medical care,
20:07to all races.
20:08Two years passed.
20:09I thought time had been enough,
20:11to forget the scent of cedar and leather,
20:13on that man.
20:14The way his blue eyes,
20:15could be so cold one moment,
20:17and so burning the next.
20:19Until tonight,
20:20I was invited to a party,
20:22hosted by a noble woman,
20:23I'd cured.
20:24Mrs. Winster.
20:25She was one of the most prominent,
20:26human nobles in the area.
20:28A passionate philanthropist,
20:30and my clinic's main sponsor.
20:32Ella,
20:32darling,
20:33you must come.
20:34I want to introduce you,
20:35to a very important new sponsor.
20:37He's very interested in your research.
20:40Winster's invitation had been so warm.
20:42The party was incredibly luxurious.
20:44I wore a simple dark blue dress,
20:47holding a glass of wine,
20:48trying to blend into the background.
20:50Two years of peaceful life,
20:51hadn't completely erased my weariness.
20:54I still instinctively avoided,
20:55the center of the crowd,
20:56especially any non-human,
20:58with a strong presence.
20:59Mrs.
21:00Winster beamed.
21:01Ella.
21:01As she walked toward me.
21:03Come,
21:03let me introduce you.
21:05The moment I looked up,
21:06and saw him,
21:07my blood froze.
21:08Darian Wolf.
21:09He hadn't changed much.
21:11No,
21:12he had.
21:13The coldness was gone,
21:14from his blue eyes.
21:15Replaced by something deeper,
21:17more dead.
21:18The hand holding my wine glass,
21:20went white-knuckled.
21:22Mr. Woyle,
21:23this is the Dr. Knight I told you about.
21:25A true angel.
21:27Ella.
21:27This is Mr. Wolf,
21:29head of Wolf Industries.
21:31He's very interested in your research,
21:33on cross-species pathology,
21:35and wants to provide a large research grant.
21:38Darian's gaze,
21:39landed on me,
21:40like a cold scanner.
21:41It swept over my face,
21:43my hair,
21:43then stopped at my eyes for a few seconds.
21:46My heart nearly jumped out of my throat.
21:48No,
21:48he can't recognize me.
21:50I've completely changed my face.
21:51He's a powerful werewolf alpha.
21:53Why would he remember the eyes of a woman he used to death?
21:56I forced myself to stay calm,
21:58gave a polite smile,
21:59and raised my glass.
22:01Mr. Woyle,
22:02nice to meet you.
22:03Thank you for your generosities.
22:05His face was expressionless.
22:06He raised his glass,
22:08and clinked it gently against mine.
22:10Nice to meet you,
22:11Dr. Knight.
22:11His voice was still deep,
22:13but it seemed to have lost some of its old intensity.
22:15There was a raspy tiredness to it.
22:17Throughout the party,
22:19I tried my best to avoid him,
22:20but his gaze followed me,
22:22like it had a physical weight.
22:23I felt my heart racing,
22:25and said an early goodbye to Mrs.
22:27Darling,
22:28it's so late,
22:28it's not safe for a young woman to go home alone.
22:32I've already prepared a guest room for you.
22:34Stay the night,
22:35Mrs.
22:36Winster said considerately.
22:37I wanted to refuse,
22:39but looking out at the dark night,
22:40I hesitated,
22:41then agreed.
22:42The guest room was on the third floor,
22:44cozy and comfortable.
22:45I locked the door,
22:47leaned against it,
22:47and let out a long sigh.
22:49It's fine,
22:50Ella.
22:50Just a chance encounter.
22:52Tomorrow morning,
22:52you'll go back to your little clinic,
22:54and everything will return to normal.
22:56I went into the bathroom,
22:57took off my makeup,
22:58and changed into my pajamas.
23:00I turned off the light,
23:01and got ready for bed.
23:02Then,
23:03moonlight streamed through the French window,
23:05illuminating a dark figure,
23:07sitting on the sofa.
23:08My breath stopped.
23:10Darian sat there,
23:11his long legs crossed,
23:12watching me.
23:13In the dark,
23:14his eyes glowed like two burning sapphires,
23:16locked onto me.
23:17How did you get in?
23:18My voice was shaking.
23:19He slowly stood up,
23:21and walked toward me.
23:22That familiar pressure fell over me like a giant net.
23:25A door can't stop me,
23:26doctor.
23:26He stopped right in front of me,
23:28looking down.
23:29He raised a hand,
23:30and I flinched back,
23:32my spine hitting the cold wall.
23:33He didn't touch my face.
23:35Instead,
23:35he gently picked up a strand of hair by my ear.
23:38Your hair changed,
23:39he said softly,
23:40like he was stating a fact,
23:42or talking to himself.
23:43Your face changed too.
23:45My heart was pounding so hard,
23:47I thought it would burst out of my throat.
23:48But Dr. Knight...
23:50He suddenly leaned in,
23:51one hand braced on the wall beside my head,
23:53trapping me between him and the wall.
23:55His hot breath fanned over my face.
23:57No matter how much you change your appearance,
24:00the unique scent your mate bond
24:02left in your soul after I marked you.
24:06He lowered his head,
24:08until his nose almost touched mine.
24:10Those blue eyes swirled with terrifying,
24:12unreadable emotions.
24:13I can't be changed.
24:15And then,
24:16he bit down on my neck,
24:17hard,
24:18like he was punishing me,
24:19and confirming something at the same time.
24:21Tell me, Sarah.
24:23He pulled back,
24:24his eyes wild,
24:25and almost demonic in the moonlight.
24:27Why did you run?
24:29The walls I'd built over two years
24:31crumbled in that instant.
24:32A flood of emotions hit me.
24:34Tears burst out.
24:35My whole body shook uncontrollably,
24:38not from fear,
24:39but from pure,
24:40burning anger.
24:41What,
24:41do I have to play along with you
24:43in Lydia's little love game?
24:45Fine,
24:45I can't fight you anyway.
24:46Go ahead,
24:47take the third drop of blood
24:49and break the curse.
24:50I wish you happiness.
24:52After you take it,
24:54don't ever come near me again.
24:55You disgust me.
24:57I pulled open my collar,
24:59revealing the scar on my chest,
25:01the one from the dagger.
25:02The scar that would never fade.
25:04Darian froze.
25:05The madness in his eyes vanished,
25:07replaced by a painful,
25:09shattered look,
25:09like he'd been hit in the chest.
25:11He stared at the ugly scar on my chest,
25:13as if it were carved into his own heart.
25:15He stepped back,
25:16as if he couldn't bear the sight.
25:18No.
25:19His voice was so hoarse.
25:21Sarah,
25:22no.
25:22He grabbed his head,
25:24his tall body,
25:25hunching over,
25:26like a wounded beast,
25:27trapped in a snare.
25:28I'm not here to take your blood.
25:31That's not why I was looking for you.
25:33And his eyes were actually glistening with tears.
25:35I'm sorry,
25:36Sarah.
25:37I'm so sorry.
25:39Stop pretending.
25:40I heard you and Lydia talking that afternoon.
25:43I know.
25:44I'm just a tool to break your curse.
25:46He grabbed my shoulders.
25:48Not a tool!
25:49But then immediately let go in terror.
25:51She lied to me.
25:53Lydia stole your identity.
25:56The little girl who saved me in the trap.
25:58It was you, wasn't it?
25:59I saw your diary.
26:00I stared at him blankly.
26:02So what?
26:03Because you realized you were looking for the wrong person?
26:06Because you found out I'm the real savior,
26:07so now you regret it?
26:09You feel guilty?
26:10You want to take me back,
26:12make up for your mistake,
26:14and ease your own conscience?
26:17It's not like that.
26:18Then what is it?
26:19Darian Wolfe,
26:20tell me,
26:21if you'd never found out the truth,
26:22what would you have done?
26:23Once my body recovered,
26:25would you have taken the third drop of heart's blood without hesitation?
26:28After I died,
26:28would you have broken our bond and happily married my sister?
26:31Answer me!
26:32He opened his mouth,
26:33but no words came out,
26:34because it was the truth.
26:36Before he saw that diary,
26:37that was exactly what he'd planned.
26:39He had no defense.
26:41His silence hurt more than any words.
26:43Just go.
26:44I don't want to see you anymore.
26:47Sarah.
26:48Get out!
26:49He saw the raw disgust in my eyes,
26:51and finally understood that some wounds couldn't be healed just by the truth coming out.
26:56He left like a wolf,
26:58driven out of its territory.
27:00His back looked so lonely,
27:02but I didn't feel any satisfaction.
27:03I just felt exhausted and irritated.
27:06I knew someone like him would never give up that easily.
27:09And I was right.
27:10My nightmare had only just begun.
27:12I was right.
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