Chapter 3

After returning home, Vera helped me tend to my wounds with red-rimmed eyes.

"Mommy, doesn't Daddy want me anymore?"

She looked up, her voice barely audible.

My heart felt like someone was squeezing it mercilessly.

I pulled her into my arms, gently patting her back.

"It's okay, baby."

I heard my own voice but found it hollow.

"It's just too dangerous here. We need to leave and find Grandpa."

"Grandpa?" she looked up.

"Yes, he's very good. He'll protect us."

I tried to smile, but my fingertips trembled.

"What about Daddy?"

My breath caught, my throat feeling blocked.

"Daddy has his own things to deal with."

She lowered her head, hugging me tightly.

"But he promised to take me to the amusement park in two days."

Her tone carried careful, tentative hope.

In that moment, I almost wanted to lie and say he would definitely come.

But I only held her tighter.

"Baby, once we get to Grandpa's place, everything will be better."

"Mommy." She gripped my hand, eyes misty. "Can we... wait for Daddy to take me to the amusement park? After we go, then we'll leave."

I was silent for three seconds, my heart feeling pierced by needles.

"Okay."

Her eyes immediately brightened a little, managing a weak smile.

Two days later, Clark still hadn't appeared.

Vera sat in the entryway on the shoe-changing stool, her gaze fixed on the door.

"Mommy, did he forget?"

Her voice trembled.

My heart ached.

"Let me ask him."

I took out my phone, my fingertip hovering over the screen.

[Vera is waiting for you.]

Soon, a reply came back.

Just an address.

It was the soon-to-be-abandoned amusement park on the outskirts.

I looked at that address, then at Vera, who was disappointedly scribbling.

She had filled the paper with "Daddy" and "amusement park"—it was her last hope.

I took her hand.

"Come on, baby. Daddy is waiting for us at the amusement park."

"Will Daddy really be there?" she asked.

I nodded.

"He will."

But my heart felt hollow and cold.

The main gate of the abandoned amusement park was covered in rust.

I pushed open the iron gate with a harsh screech.

Broken neon lights hung crooked from the beams, wailing in the wind.

The carousel spun empty, its painted eyes peeling like tears.

Vera tilted her head up, following those swaying colored lights.

"Mommy, this place is so old."

"It's different from what Daddy said."

Her voice carried disappointment.

"Maybe Daddy wanted to give you a place with fewer people," I lied.

"So you could have it all to yourself."

"Really?"

"Mm-hmm."

She smiled a little, but the smile was thin as paper.

Paper rustled underfoot in the wind.

I looked down to see a newspaper.

The front-page color photo was glaring.

[Fiorea Pack Heir Clark to Hold Marking Ceremony with Caroline Philemon.]

[Pure Bloodline, Promising Future.]

My heart felt like it was being cleaved in two.

More newspapers flew in the wind, the same photo scattered everywhere.

Clark stood beside Caroline, his gaze tender and expectant.

Vera bent down to pick one up, her finger hovering over the headline.

"Mommy, what's this?"

I immediately snatched it away, crumpling it into a nearby trash bin.

"Nothing."

Whispers arose around us.

"I heard this Caroline is the daughter of the Luminas lycan alpha. If Clark marries her, our pack will be better off."

"Didn't Clark have a mistress before? I heard she even had his daughter. How could Caroline be interested in him?"

"Who knows?"

Their words chilled my heart. Caroline was the daughter of the Luminas lycan alpha.

But the Luminas lycan alpha had told me I was his only biological daughter.

Suddenly I didn't dare think further, afraid that returning to the Luminas Pack would lead to something even more terrible.

I pulled Vera to the roadside, crouching down to speak to her gently.

"Baby, Daddy won't come. He has a new partner."

Vera's eyes immediately reddened. Just as I was about to comfort her, a group of strangers suddenly surrounded us.

Seven or eight people with cold, menacing gazes.

"So this is where you're hiding."

Vera instinctively hid behind me.

"Who are you looking for?" I protected Vera.

"You, of course."

They grinned maliciously, slowly closing in.

The air suddenly became tense.

They all lunged at once.

I pushed Vera toward the wall corner and rushed to meet them.

Fists and feet clashed, joints aching.

My shoulder took a hit, burning with pain.

"Mommy!"

Vera cried out and rushed toward me.

"Don't be afraid!" I gritted my teeth, protecting her in my arms.

Claws slashed across my arm, blood flowing immediately.

Before I could steady myself, an iron rod swung toward my head.

Just then, a deep wolf howl split the night sky.

The air itself seemed to tear.

Dark shadows pounced like blades.

"Miss Esther! We're from the Luminas Pack—we'll escort you back to Luminas."

Several strong beta warriors suddenly appeared.

They quickly formed a defensive line in front of Vera and me.

Screams merged into one continuous sound—those people couldn't withstand more than a few moves before scattering.

The leader still tried to flee but was kicked down.

"Take Miss Esther away!" the guard commanded.

I held Vera tightly, my entire body shaking.

"Mommy, I'm scared..."

"Don't be afraid."

I pressed my forehead against hers, my voice trembling but firm.

"I'm here."

With things having come this far, even though I was filled with questions and wariness about the Luminas Pack, I had no choice but to go with them.

They protected us as we broke out of the ruins.

Behind us, the decrepit amusement park grew more distant.

The wind blew newspapers around, Clark and Caroline's smiling faces swaying in the night.

I closed my eyes.

This had been a trap.

And it had shown me Clark's true nature completely.

The convoy sped away, driving into the deepest part of the night.

Vera curled up in my arms, sobbing quietly.

I stroked her hair.

"It's over now."

But my heart felt cold as a deep well.

I hoped returning to the Luminas Pack wouldn't prove to be an even worse decision.