Dahlia’s POV

As the pain covered my heart and I ran for my life, I prayed to the Moon Goddess above.

I wanted to be free, from all the pain and the danger that chased after me, and all these emotions I wanted to disappear.

My stamina wasn’t as great as theirs to begin with so I ended up stopping after a while. Catching my breath, I hid behind a tree.

“I’m sorry, Dahlia, I don’t think I can continue running…” Eya, my wolf, told me in my subconscious. I could feel her exhaustion. She was the one running all this time after all. Worse, we were just rejected by our mate and she received so much pain from it.

Afraid she would reach her limit and leave me forever, I told her to return. As such, I shifted back to my human form.

I braced myself and winced at the scratches down my feet. The wounds hurt but the pain inside my heart felt worse.

“It’s okay, we’ll be okay. I will protect us both,” I told myself and my wolf, Eya, repeatedly as I listened to the sound from the distance, the wolves howling, the leaves rustling, and the thundering shaking of the ground.

They were coming.

My body trembled at the thought.

I looked up, seeing the full moon glowing in its full brilliance.

“Moon Goddess,” I prayed with tears flowing down to my cheeks. “Is this really my end? I only wish to live in peace, and love and be loved… I only want a family of my own…”

As I questioned my own life the whole time, I heard familiar voices from the distance getting nearer. Before I knew it, a guard spotted me and I was taken to Alpha Theodore and his mistress.

They made me kneel before them. His mistress grabbed my hair and with an intense glare, she slapped my face hard.

“This is what stupid women like you deserve,” she exclaimed. As though it wasn’t enough, she slapped me more times until my cheeks hurt and my lips began to bleed. It stung so much that I began to feel wetness around my eyes.

“Okay, that’s enough,” Theodore said.

He pushed Roxie Jones to the side and stood before me. He pinched my cheeks and scoffed. “To think this face became my Luna. What was I thinking, huh?”

“You lied to your parents,” I said while gritting my teeth and glaring back at him. “You didn’t only betray me but you also betrayed your parents!”

His eyes turned dark and before I could cover my face, he slapped me hard, too hard that I spat out blood.

I coughed to the ground but he grabbed my hair. “You bitch, do you know what situation you’re in now? How dare you threaten me with my parents?! Huh? You think you can control me, don’t you?”

He pushed me to the ground and started kicking me.

“I rejected you because you’re weak!” He said while giving me another kick. “I gave you lots of chances but you didn’t do your best. This is your fault, not mine!”

I whimpered and tried to defend myself but his hard kicks sent me excruciating pain that I began to lose vision, my hearing following.

“You don’t deserve to be my luna!” He exclaimed before kicking more times I couldn’t count anymore.

My head spun and my body had turned numb. Horror filled me when I heard them speak again.

“That’s enough, let’s just finish her,” his mistress, Roxie Jones, said.

Theodore huffed, “Not too soon. I want to play with her first.”

“What, do you plan to f*ck her in that state? Surely you still have some self respect left with you,” Roxie said with a mocking laugh.

“I’m not going to do it,” Theodore said. “But my men will.”

My body froze, horror filling my entire being. I wanted to scream but I could barely move my body, never mind my lips.

My wolf woke up. “I will take over and we will run,” Eya said.

But my heart broke at her. I could feel it – if she did get out and run at this time, it would take all the strength and life she had left.

I shivered when I felt they were stripping me bit by bit. But I didn’t want my wolf to disappear… Not like this, not when I was going to die.

So I shut my eyes, letting all the tears flow as I accepted my defeat and end.

I could hear my wolf banging inside my system, trying to urge me to move, to allow her to take over, but I didn’t let her.

If I died, I would die with her – not without her.

I felt a pair of large hands starting to hold my body and Theodore’s voice echoed in the distance like a grazing nail on a chalkboard.

“You can satisfy yourselves with that scrap all night. Once you’re done, you know what to do. Roxie and I will return to the gala before anyone notices.”

I looked at them terrified, “P-Please don’t do this… No.. NO! Come back!” I begged and cried but Alpha Theo didn’t look back.

Roxie stood and looked at me with a wicked smile. “See? Nobody will want you, ugly weak bitch. Your life equates to a dog bone or a toy, that’s how far you’ll ever reach in this life.”

She smirked, “Enjoy yourselves, boys.”

“Thanks for the meal, Lady Roxie,” the rest of the men said.

They left and about three pairs of hands began to touch me. I whimpered and shivered, wanting to get away through my loud cries. I looked at them, finding about six men all naked surrounding me. Fear covered my entirety, thinking how wicked Theo’s orders were.

“Don’t worry, we’ll make you happy, Ex-Luna,” one of them said with thirst-filled eyes.

I cried hard, begging them to let me go but only one of them agreed and he was beaten up quickly. The rest of them proceeded to tear my remaining clothes. Every tearing sound gave me more fear and pain that made me tremble vehemently.

Long before I wanted to, I felt myself naked on the ground with no more strength to cry and beg for mercy.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I accepted my fate when suddenly, a strange cold liquid started trickling down my skin.

Trembling, I slowly opened my eyes. Surprise filled me instantly and I froze.

Through my hazy vision, I could see it – about three shadows had appeared and fought off Theodore’s guards.

One of them even had pierced through Theodore’s guard, the one hovering above me, deep in his chest. The dagger’s blade pierced through so deeply that he looked at me with wide, horrified eyes, with his own blood trickling down bit by bit to my stomach.

In a deep and dark voice, I heard one of them speak.

“Get the woman and head back to the pack.”

Dahlia’s POV

3 years later

"Lia, wake up! You're going to be late for tonight's event! Your attire is on the way, hurry!" Karen's voice from the phone’s voicemail crackled with urgency, snapping me out of my drowsiness with a start.

Yawning, I stretched and cast a sleepy gaze out the window, catching the light seep through, mirroring the verdant expanse of the forest that greeted me with its tranquil beauty. Through the window, I could hear the swaying branches and chirping birds outside.

With a sigh, I rose from the bed and made my way to the balcony. In the recesses of my mind, I reached out to Eya, my wolf, but received only silence in return.

A sad smile appeared on my face. “It’s okay, Eya. I’m not going anywhere,” I said. “You can take your time. Come back anytime you want.”

Although I whispered it to the wind, deep inside me, I knew she was listening.

Before I could dwell further on the twinge inside my heart, the sound of an approaching car pulled my attention.

I rose to my feet, hearing Karen’s voice.

“I swear you have the most beautiful view here. No wonder you don’t want to live in the city,” she said, which made me smile.

“You can join me anytime,” I offered.

“As much as that offer sounds so good, I have a family to feed.”

Her voice continued to echo through the house. She looked up, staring at me from the bottom of the stairs. “Are you coming down or not?”

“I am. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

She nodded. “Okay. I’ll prepare us a quick breakfast. Hurry up, little lady!”

I laughed and shook my head then remembered we had a special event today that I couldn’t miss. With some sense of urgency, I moved to the bathroom and prepared for the day ahead. When I stepped out, the clothes I would wear were already on the bed.

“Thanks, Karen,” I shouted from the second floor.

“You owe me a fine dinner!” she shouted back from the kitchen.

I smiled and quickly dressed up. Minutes later, we were on the road, the quiet hum of the engine punctuating the silence as we made our way to the event venue.

Memories of the past three years flooded my mind and for a second, I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of amazement and gratitude. I didn’t expect to reach where I was today. Despite the challenges I had faced, I had finally found the courage to pursue my dreams, fueled by the unwavering support of those who believed in me.

As we arrived at the venue, the setting sun casting its golden glow over the bustling city of California Bay, I felt a surge of anticipation coursing through my veins.

Dressed in a silver gown that shimmered with every step, I stepped into the venue, the air alive with the buzz of excitement and anticipation.

“I still think I should’ve worn my lab coat instead,” I said.

Karen gave me a look. “Come on, today’s a special day. A little glamor will not hurt. You should flaunt your beauty every now and then.”

I sighed and thanked her again for her help. Entering the event hall, I exchanged a few pleasantries with familiar faces I met along the way, most of them from the university I worked at, before we all gathered at the center floor. After some minutes, the announcer took the stage.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! Tonight, we gather to celebrate the groundbreaking achievements of two extraordinary individuals in the field of geology. As everyone knows, today is the day we will announce the recipients of this year's Crystal Research Grant.”

My heart pounded in my chest. Everyone wanted that grant. As a geologist, the grant was like a ticket to better labs and equipment, bigger opportunities for the entire team and institution, and an honor for the country as representative in the field of science.

“May I present to you all, Lia Bloom and Ashley Thunderfield.”

My mouth opened in disbelief upon hearing my name. Everyone turned to me and started to congratulate me.

“Congratulations, Professor Bloom!”

“Amazing job, Professor!”

“Well deserved, Bloom. Congrats!”

“Thank you,” I said before going to the stage to receive the award. After a short speech, I made my way back down to the floor and met Karen's tear-filled gaze.

"We were already informed about this but it still tears me up. I'm so proud of you, Lia," Karen said, her voice choked with emotion.

"I couldn't do it without you and our team," I replied, my own voice trembling with emotion.

“Oh, don’t be modest, you’ve earned this!” Karen said, playfulling nudging my side. “I really can’t believe it. I’m just your assistant and now I’m finally seeing my boss receive these awards. All those countless sleepless nights are so worth it! I can’t wait to tell Sheryl and Zigi about this.”

I smiled at her remarks. Indeed, this was something I had worked hard for.

The other winner, Ashley Harris, a fellow geologist in the same institution, walked up to me.

"Congratulations. I did not expect the two of us to win. To think you even almost quit a year ago," Ashley said with a sweet sarcastic smile.

Karen faced her. “Don’t dare ruin this day, Ashley.”

Ashley snickered, “Why would I? I just want to make sure Bloom isn’t going to let this get into her head. Remember, you’re not the only winner.”

“Of course. It's an honor to share this recognition with you," I said simply to which she rolled her eyes.

She left and Karen whispered, “What’s wrong with that girl? Seriously. You’re not even doing anything and she always looks like she wants to attack you.”

“Don’t mind her. She’s probably just stressed,” I mumbled.

The announcer's voice filled the air once more, speaking of future opportunities and the promise of what was to come. I had been in this ceremony for as many times as I remembered so I didn’t care to listen anymore, but that was until he started mentioning names.

"As everyone knows, this won't be possible without our main sponsors. They may not be here right now, but we're excited to tell you that they will be joining our annual symposium next week!"

The announcement sent a wave of excitement rippling through the audience. Murmurs of speculation filled the air as people exchanged curious glances.

Meanwhile, I stood rooted to the spot, a soft smile tugging at the corners of my lips.

“Oho, look at that smile. You’re excited, aren’t you?” Karen said, her voice interrupting my reverie. “You'll finally see them again. How many months has it been? Five? Six?"

"Nine," I whispered softly, my thoughts drifting back to the four men who had saved me three years ago. They were the ones who had pulled me from the depths of despair and changed my life in ways I could never have imagined.

Karen's excited giggle broke through my thoughts, snapping me back to reality. "I can't wait to see them, too. Ah, the main house must be really busy right now. Once this event is over, let's stop by there. What do you say, Lia?"

I tried to mask my excitement as I nodded in agreement, “Sure,” I said, mentally taking a note to myself to stop by the gift shop before heading there.

Excusing myself, I made my way through the crowded room, but as I rounded a corner, I collided with another woman, sending us both stumbling backward.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't looking--" I began, but my words trailed off as I looked up and met the gaze of the woman before me.

Time seemed to stand still as I quickly recognized who it was.

At the same time, another person behind called the woman. "Ms. Roxie! Wait for me!"

My entire body felt as if it had turned to ice as Roxie Jones's disdainful gaze swept over me.

She stared at me from head to toe, a cold glimmer shining through her eyes. Then she exclaimed, “What are you doing? Move your damn feet and bring those bags inside!”

Her companion scurred over to her, almost tripping with the bags she carried. “Y-Yes, Ms. Roxie—”

“You're honestly being too slow for a newly hired assistant," Roxie muttered coldly. Then she flipped her hair and strode ahead, leaving me stunned a bit.

I gulped down and stared at her back, shocked that she didn’t recognize me. I continued forward until I spotted a familiar figure in the distance that made me freeze.

Even though he was engrossed in a phone call, I could still make out the features of the man before me: tall, lean, with broad shoulders and a cocky smile adorning his lips.

Theodore Green.

A chill ran down my spine and my breath caught up to my throat as he turned to my direction and our eyes locked.

Dahlia’s POV

My heart stuttered in my chest the moment I saw him—Theodore. It was like the room had turned cold, the noise of the party muffled by the rush of blood in my ears.

I didn’t know how long I had stood there, frozen, but I felt my legs lock, the urge to escape surging through me. I turned away as quickly as I could.

I scanned the crowd, searching for Karen, my assistant. Where was she? I could use her sharp tongue and steady presence to ground me right now. I took a deep breath, willing the panic to subside as I moved towards the entrance to the ballroom.

Just as I rounded the corner, I walked straight into someone.

“Oh! I—" I began, startled.

"Oh my gosh. Lia Bloom?" a bright voice exclaimed, startling me. “You’re her, right? Professor Bloom?”

I blinked, looking up to see a young man with wide, gleaming eyes and an infectious smile. He was holding a bouquet of red roses, his enthusiasm radiating from him like sunshine. "I’ve been looking everywhere for you! You have no idea how much I admire your work. Especially that piece you did on crystal formations in Geo Sciences! It blew my mind!”

“Oh, how rude of me,” he said, extending his hand. “Charles Arnolds. Second year at RedTech Science University. I’m a big fan so um, if you don’t mind, please take these flowers.”

For a second, the tension in my body eased. I shook his hand and accepted the bouquet. “Thank you. That’s really kind of you, Charles.” His energy was so genuine, so purely enthusiastic, that I couldn’t help but smile.

Charles beamed, a bit flushed as he handed me a folded copy of the article I’d written. “Would you... um, mind signing this?” he asked, almost tripping over his words.

I chuckled at his demeanor. “Sure, let me.”

He handed me a pen and I signed the article. Just then, I noticed a figure out of the corner of my eye–Ashley.

She was standing a few feet away, her sharp eyes flickering between Charles and me, her lips curling into a tight, thin smile.

I shrugged it off and smiled at Charles. “Here.”

“Thank you so much, Professor Bloom.” Suddenly, his phone buzzed and gave me an apologetic smile, “I’m sorry, I have to take this call.”

“Sure,” I responded.

As he excused himself with some hesitation to leave, I turned to head back inside, eager to find Karen and get some distance, but before I could take a step, Ashley appeared at my side.

"Careful, Bloom," she purred, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "You wouldn’t want to trip."

The next second, I felt a shove against my back. My heart dropped as the world tilted. The cold, shocking sensation of water swallowed me whole, and the last thing I heard before plunging into the pool was the sound of gasps and splashing water.

. . .

Theodore’s POV

I’d recognized her the moment I saw her—Dahlia. But this version of her was different. Gone was the naive, small-town girl I once knew. The woman in front of me was poised, elegant, far more beautiful than I remembered. I hadn’t expected to feel... anything, really. But as I watched her brush off that young guy’s fawning compliments, there was something that stirred inside me.

I frowned, shifting my weight slightly, keeping my expression neutral. I wasn’t one to dwell on the past. What was done was done. Still, I couldn’t deny the nagging feeling that seeing her again brought to the surface. Or was it really her?

As I scanned the crowd, I noticed her discomfort. In the blink of an eye, she was shoved into the pool by the woman who walked past her.

Gasps erupted from the onlookers, but no one moved to help her. I watched, intrigued, as the tension in the air thickened, thick enough to slice through.

Beside me, Roxie elbowed me sharply. “What do you think you’re doing, Alpha?”

I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes or snap back at her. She had been particularly annoying lately, and it grated on my nerves.

“I’m not doing anything,” I replied coolly, though my gaze remained fixed on the chaos unfolding by the pool.

Roxie showed displeasure but I didn’t care. I kept my eyes on the chaos before me.

And then, the unexpected happened.

A figure moved swiftly through the crowd, and all eyes turned to him. Tall, broad-shouldered, with an air of authority that made everyone stop and stare. The whispers started almost immediately.

He didn’t hesitate. With barely a second thought, that man jumped into the pool, cutting through the water with ease, and pulled Dahlia up from the depths. The crowd was whispering, their curiosity palpable.

“Is that… Caleb Westwood?”

“The Caleb Westwood? What’s he doing with her?”

“Who is that woman? Is she his wife or what?”

“Isn’t he the owner of Royal Moon Corporation?”

“Gosh, it’s really Caleb Westwood! Let’s take a look closer, maybe he’ll spot us!”

I myself couldn’t help but raise my eyebrows. Caleb Westood. I had heard that last name before. As far as my sources were right, the Westwoods were also werewolves – and they ruled the biggest territory in California.

Was that man really a Westwood, though? It could be someone who looked like him.

The murmurs swirled around me as I watched the alleged Caleb Westwood hoist Dahlia out of the pool, holding her close like she was made of glass. He carried her away in bridal style and walked as if he didn’t care who was watching.

My eyes narrowed, tension tightening in my jaw. Just then, Rain, my beta, appeared at my side. He leaned in close, his voice low and urgent. “Alpha… I just got confirmation. The woman who received the Crystal Research Grant... It’s her.”

My heart skipped a beat. “The woman who received the Crystal Research Grant, you say…?”

My gaze flicked back to Dahlia as Caleb Westwood carried her away, her drenched figure limp in his arms. Dahlia. Is it really you?

“What do you want to do now, Alpha?” Rain asked cautiously.

A slow, mysterious smile crept across my lips. “That depends on who that woman truly is,” I answered.

I turned to Rain, my expression turning serious. “Find everything about her.”