I shot Grote a glare full of pure venom. "Grote, have you lost your mind? I'm leaving. Is that enough for you? I don't want anything to do with either of you ever again!"

I leaned against the wall, dragging my body toward the exit.

But Christine let out a wail and lunged forward, wrapping her arms around my legs.

Her forehead was bleeding, and she sobbed hysterically as she begged, "Ms. Bowers, please! Stay! Please stay and look after my pup! I'm going to leave after I give birth. How is my poor pup supposed to survive in this pack without protection?"

Grote's expression darkened with every word she spoke.

As she clung to my legs, begging through her tears, Grote struggled to contain his mounting rage. He threatened in a low voice, "Renata, just say yes. Is it really that hard? I'm asking you nicely."

Weren't seven years of abuse enough? They were the ones in the wrong, yet they played the victims to force my hand.

Before I could even open my mouth to refuse, Grote barked an order to his warriors to haul me away.

I kicked and bit them, but against the iron grip of those male wolves, my resistance was pathetic.

"Let me go! Grote, you bastard! I hate you!"

Their hands felt like heated pincers, and I could hear my bones groaning under the pressure.

In the chaos, someone roughly twisted my arm to pin me down. A searing pain instantly exploded in my arm.

It was broken.

The pain was so intense that my whole body trembled, and cold sweat drenched my back. They succeeded in making me stop struggling.

Grote carefully helped Christine up, wiping the blood from her forehead with his sleeve. His eyes were filled with so much tenderness that it seemed like he wanted to become her and bear her pain himself.

Meanwhile, I was on the verge of passing out from the agony. The other male wolves informed him of my condition, but he didn't even look at me.

All his concern was directed at Christine.

My heart felt numb as I let them take me away.

Grote forcefully took me back home, demanding that I care for Christine. He promised that if I agreed, I would be rewarded.

Did I have a choice?

I pretended to agree, hoping that I could escape once he was in a good mood.

Christine's belly grew rounder each day, and she became increasingly spoiled. She clung to Grote, insisting that she move into our old master bedroom.

This spacious seaside house had been carefully chosen by Grote just for me.

Knowing I loved the ocean, he had picked this place just so I could lie on the balcony in the afternoons and gaze at the blue sea and sky.

But just days after Christine moved in, she grabbed Grote's hand and said coyly, "Honey, will you sleep with me every night? If not, the pup inside me won't be happy."

Then she looked at the floor-to-ceiling window facing the sea. "This bedroom is perfect. I can see the ocean as soon as I wake up. I love it! Can you let me have it?"

I couldn't believe how easily Grote agreed. Despite my protests, he let Christine take the master bedroom.

"Renata, can you bear with it for a while? Christine's carrying my pup. We can't let her suffer."

And so, I was forced to stay in the storage room. I could only move back to the master bedroom after Christine gave birth to the pup.

I told myself to hold on and that this would pass, but things were far from as simple as I had imagined.

When Grote was busy with work, Christine had no restraint. With nothing to do, she vented her frustration on me.

"Ms. Bowers, you're so lucky to be Grote's mate and the future Luna. I really envy you!"

She wouldn't let me eat. If I couldn't wake up from hunger, she'd force me to drink swill. Every time, I'd gag until I convulsed.

If it hadn't been for an Omega—who once cared for me—secretly bringing me food, I would have likely starved to death.

Whenever I tried to resist or escape, Christine would push me to the ground and slap my face over and over again until her anger died down.

She even took my phone, so I couldn't contact Dad.

I was completely alone, forced to bury all my emotions deep inside. I obeyed Christine without question, too afraid to defy her in the slightest.

But Christine's envy only grew. She resented my background and the fact that I would become the Luna one day.

Over time, that jealousy festered into bitter hatred.

One day, she kept staring at the necklace around my neck. "That's a pretty necklace."

She lifted her chin and said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "Give it to me. Things have been a bit dull in bed with Grote lately. Those beads will add the perfect spice."

I immediately clutched the necklace. I couldn't stand this any longer. For the first time in days, I shouted at her, "This was my late mother's! I've been putting up with you two because you're carrying his pup. But if you touch my necklace, I swear, I'll kill you!"

Christine's expression darkened instantly. She rose from the couch, thrusting her pregnant belly forward as she marched up to me. She then reached out to snatch the necklace.

"It's just a stupid necklace. Don't act like it's important. It belonged to a dead wolf anyway. Keeping it is useless. Give it to me!"

This was Mom's keepsake. She had worn it when she was the Luna of the Vida pack.

Back then, Mom was revered by everyone in the Vida pack. She was gentle yet strong, and even the Alphas from other packs respected her.

How could I let this shameless she-wolf tarnish Mom's necklace?

"I said no!"

I refused to let go, but Christine only pulled harder.

"You think you can be the Luna with that rotting body of yours? Dream on!" she snarled while hitting me.

My already fragile body couldn't stay standing. With one harsh push, my stomach collided with the edge of a table.

Pain shot through my abdomen, and blood flowed down my legs. Unlike the usual discharge, this crimson tide flowed uncontrollably.

Suddenly, I realized I hadn't had my period in months. Was I…

Before I could think further, Christine yanked the necklace off my neck and laughed. "Renata, if you don't mind, how about watching Grote and me have fun when he gets home?"

Smiling, she locked me to the cold floor with a chain.

When Grote returned, he found Christine lounging on the couch, her legs spread wide for him.

His lust overtook him as he stared at her. He was oblivious to the fact that I was chained up nearby.

Christine hooked her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. "Honey, let me take care of you."

She seductively lowered herself and slowly unbuttoned his pants.

Mesmerized by her charm, Grote couldn't hold back. He pressed her head down and pushed deeper into her throat.

The scene before me was almost unbearable—Christine had Mom's necklace in her mouth while pleasing Grote.

Seeing my anguish, she pulled the necklace out and let the beads roll around her tongue.

Grote lay back on the couch, looking thoroughly satisfied.

I felt like I might throw up, but the lump in my throat choked me. I forced it down, only for it to pierce my heart with a searing pain.

I hated myself. I hated that I'd wasted seven years on him.

Grote suddenly heard my sobs, and only then did he notice me, locked in the corner. He bent down, instinctively trying to help me up. "Renata, w-what are you doing here?"

I glared at him, pushing away his fake concern. "Don't touch me!"

My voice was hoarse, and I realized I couldn't breathe through the sobs. Blood pooled on the floor beneath me.

Grote felt a pang of pity seeing how broken and helpless I looked.

Suddenly, he remembered I'd seen everything between him and Christine. He was overwhelmed by guilt.

After a moment of internal struggle, he finally spoke up to explain. "Renata, you understand me, right? I'm sorry. It's all my fault. Please, forgive me. I didn't know you were right there. I tried so hard to control myself. I promise, it won't happen again."

As he reached out to help me up, Christine's pained groan cut through the air. "M-My stomach hurts so much."

Then, her body slowly began to fall backward.

Grote immediately spun around and rushed to Christine, pulling her tightly into his arms. "Christine! What's wrong? How does it hurt? Don't scare me!"

Christine clung to his chest. Raising her tear-streaked face, she choked out, "Honey, it's all my fault. Ms. Bowers seemed low lately, so I thought a simple task would be a good distraction. I just asked her to help me with dinner.

"But… But she didn't seem too willing. She slaughtered the chicken right in front of me, and blood splattered everywhere."

As she lied, she trembled with weakness.

"I just can't stand the smell of blood. I was worried it'd harm our pup, so I asked her to clean up the mess. I didn't expect Ms. Bowers…"

Her voice cracked, and she couldn't finish the sentence.

"I know I'm not worthy of carrying your pup. If my presence makes things so difficult for you and if Ms. Bowers can't accept this pup, then… then I'll kill myself to atone for my sins!"

With that, she really broke free from Grote's embrace and threw herself against the wall.

"Christine! Are you crazy?"

Grote was terrified. He immediately pulled her back, holding her tightly in his arms.

When he turned to look at me, his gaze was filled with the utmost disgust.

"Renata!" he barked at me. "What are you waiting for? Can't you see how filthy the floor is? Clean it up!"

Christine snuggled closer to him and softly added, "Yeah, the smell of blood is so strong. It's really bad for the pup. Ms. Bowers, can you clean up everything, inside and out? Don't miss a single spot, okay?"

That didn't satisfy her. She tossed the sticky, tangled necklace onto the floor. "Oh, I almost forgot. Here's your necklace. Thanks for letting us borrow it."

The sheer humiliation left me sobbing uncontrollably. My blood ran cold, leaving me paralyzed and able to do nothing but weep in utter despair.

Upon hearing me cry, Grote felt a headache coming on.

I couldn't believe it. Any guilt he felt just moments ago vanished under Christine's manipulation.

Perhaps trying to ease his own conscience, he said, "Alright, stop crying. It's just a necklace. I'll buy you a new one."

"What?" I stared at Grote in disbelief.

He knew that was Mom's necklace, and I treasured it above all else. Yet, he allowed Christine to treat it like a tool to please him.

I dropped to the floor and gripped the necklace tightly, desperately wiping away the stains from it.

"Don't be so dramatic." Christine scoffed from the side. "It's just a cheap necklace. It should be its honor to have pleased Alpha Grote. Don't be so petty."

All the accumulated humiliation broke me at that moment.

I shot up and glared at Christine with all my hatred, wishing I could tear her apart. Without thinking, I rushed at her.

"Christine, don't push it!" I screamed, charging at her with everything I had.

But Grote caught me. I wanted to tear Christine to pieces, but he held me down with force, restraining me as if I were a helpless mad she-wolf.

All I could do was watch as Christine smirked at me, mocking my helplessness and my inability to do anything while she humiliated me.

"Get out! Kneel outside. You can only come in when Christine forgives you."

Grote unshackled me and threw me out. Without another glance at me, he turned to anxiously support Christine and checked her over and over again for any sign of injury.

I laughed—a broken, hollow laugh.

Slowly, I crawled to my feet. The pain in my body made every movement excruciating. Step by step, I made my way outside.

The sea wind cut through me like a blade.

I stared out at the vast blue ocean.

Over the past seven years, we had shared countless kisses beneath this very sky.

I remembered that year when he had promised me, "If I ever betray you, I'll jump into the sea."

I chuckled, calling him foolish. How could I let him jump into the sea when I loved him so much?

But now, staring at the endless blue, I couldn't help but think how foolish I had been.

Without a second thought, I jumped.