"Ethan, let me say a few more words to Aria, okay? Maybe I can talk some sense into her. I'm a bit worried about her being alone in there."

Ethan's steps paused. He glanced at me coldly.

As if waiting for me to soften and beg for mercy.

But I just stood straight in the center of the dim warehouse, silently meeting his gaze.

My silence and stubbornness completely enraged him.

"Whatever! If you want to talk to her, go ahead. Look at her attitude—she doesn't know what's good for her!"

With that, he irritably shook off his hand and strode away to deal with the aftermath outside.

But then Ethan's guards returned. "Sorry, Miss Aria. Alpha said that in order to prevent you from hurting Miss Selene again, we need to tie you up with silver chains."

The silver seared into my skin instantly, the burning pain making me cry out.

I felt my wolf being suppressed, pushed down, rendered completely powerless.

The silver burned deeper, leaving angry red marks across my wrists and arms.

All my werewolf strength drained away. I was left as weak as a human, unable to fight, unable to escape.

The others and enforcers gradually dispersed. Soon, only Selene and I remained at the warehouse entrance.

Almost the instant other people's footsteps faded, the fragile expression on Selene's face vanished completely.

She turned and walked toward me step by step, her face showing only triumph.

"SLAP! SLAP!"

She used all her strength to viciously slap me twice across the face.

Burning pain instantly spread across my cheeks.

"That's for the ones you gave me earlier today!"

"Aria Greenwood, you have this day too?"

She pressed closer, her lowered voice filled with twisted pleasure.

"See? Ethan will always believe me! In his eyes, you're just a jealous, vicious madwoman! You and your dead mother are both worthless! You deserve to be abandoned by men! No one will ever love you. Everything you have is mine!"

After pouring all her smugness and humiliation onto me, she finally snorted with satisfaction.

Like a victorious peacock, she turned and swayed away.

The heavy iron door was pulled shut from outside again, the sound of the lock clicking into place clearly audible.

Not long after, the door suddenly showed a crack of light.

Instinctively, I looked up, only to discover in horror that several rogue wolves had pried the door open and slipped inside.

Seeing me, their eyes lit up immediately.

"Well, well, she really is a fine catch!"

My heart panicked terribly. I had no intention of exploring what they meant.

"Stay back! I'm the fiancée of Caspian Shore, Alpha of Shore pack!"

Those rogue wolves laughed heartily.

"You? Then I'm the President of the Alpha Council!"

They closed in on me bit by bit, completely ignoring my shouts and warnings.

The silver chains held me fast. I couldn't shift, couldn't fight back.

I tried to call for help, but there was no signal here.

Just as I was about to despair.

"CRASH!"

A massive collision suddenly rang out!

That impossibly heavy iron door was forcibly smashed open from outside with tremendous force!

Blinding headlights suddenly flooded in, instantly dispersing the darkness inside the warehouse. The brightness made me instinctively close my eyes.

A tall figure against the light rushed in anxiously, his voice carrying unprecedented panic and concern.

"Aria! I'm sorry, I'm late!"

Almost simultaneously, my phone, which had been silent all night in my pocket, finally caught a sliver of signal. A text notification from Ethan appeared on the screen.

I looked down instinctively.

"After being locked up all night, have you learned your lesson?"

Looking at this condescending message, then raising my head to see the man whose face was full of anxiety for me in the backlight.

I suddenly smiled.

I sent Ethan one final message.

"Let's break up. I hope you and she are perfect for each other. May you have a wonderful life together."

Then I decisively blocked and deleted him with one click, completely erasing that name I'd once treasured from my world.

After finishing all this, I lifted my head and looked calmly at the man at the door who had come for me.

Slowly and firmly, I extended my hand and placed it in his warm, strong palm.

"Let's go."

From now on, Ethan and I would have nothing more to do with each other.

Caspian held me tightly in his arms, looking coldly at the thugs who'd collapsed to the ground nearby, bloodlust flashing in his eyes.

"Don't be afraid. I won't let a single person who hurt you get away with it!"