Marked in Shadows

From then on, our relationship changed.

I worked for Matteo by day and became his lover in bed by night. We were entangled together every day, and he stopped calling out another woman's name.

The moonflowers that appeared by the bedside and the sweet desserts became catalysts for our relationship.

The way Matteo looked at me grew more heated over time until last night, when I spent the night alone in his room for the first time.

Just before dawn, I learned from the news that Sabrina had returned, and Matteo had been out all night meeting her in Moonlight Forest. He declared his love publicly to the media, and their entire date was live-streamed to the whole pack.

As I watched them kiss on the livestream, my face drained of all color. Trembling, I called Matteo, desperately hoping this was all just media hype.

On the livestream, Matteo pulled out his phone, glanced at it, and frowned.

"Who is it?" Sabrina asked sweetly.

Matteo hung up and said gently, "Just someone unimportant. Don't worry about it."

Hearing the dial tone, I understood that it was time to leave. I packed my things and dragged my suitcase to the door, only to find Matteo standing there.

His eyes flicked to the suitcase without a trace of emotion. "I'll cover the rent for wherever you're staying."

I refused. "There's no need for that. It's only for a month anyway."

His brows furrowed. "Why just a month?"

I was about to explain when Matteo interrupted me. "Get in my car."

I refused, but Matteo insisted. "Don't get the wrong idea. Penelope asked me to do this. It's raining outside, and she doesn't want you getting soaked."

I finally got in the car with him. The interior was filled with blue moon roses, and even the car's color had been changed to Sabrina's favorite soft blue.

Noticing my gaze, Matteo explained, "Sabrina loves blue."

My eyes dimmed as my heart sank. After a long silence, I finally said quietly, "Congratulations. You finally got her back."

Matteo opened the car door and simply said, "Thanks."

As we drove toward the outskirts, Sabrina suddenly called, saying she wanted to have dinner with him. He pulled over to the side of the road and gave me a conflicted look.

I knew what he was worried about, so I got out of the car on my own. "Go be with Sabrina. I can get back by myself."

Matteo nodded and got out to help me with my suitcase. I lost my balance for a moment, and the suitcase fell to the ground, its contents spilling everywhere.

The crystal engraved with his name, 99 love letters I had written but never sent, and all the things he had thrown away were laid bare before him. My heart raced as I scrambled to pick everything up.

"I'm sorry."

Matteo's gaze darkened. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, he just got back in his car and drove off.

He did not even notice that he had stopped the car at the very edge of pack territory, in a desolate field. I could not get a ride, so I had no choice but to drag my luggage and keep walking.

Suddenly, several dark figures blocked my path: rogues.

"A female all alone out here in the plains? How lucky are we?"

They slowly closed in on me, and my Beta power surged out instantly, making them hesitate.

"She's a Beta!"

"So what? She's alone."

Several rogues lunged at me, and I instantly shifted into my wolf form. I struggled desperately to break out of their circle and run toward pack territory.

When I collapsed at the door of my rental, covered in blood, I received a message from Matteo.

[Sabrina's back now. What we had is over. Don't cause any trouble.]

I stared at the message, lost in thought.

Finally, I sent a response.

[Fine. I won't love you anymore.]

The next day, I burned everything in my suitcase, along with my love for him. Everything had turned to ashes, scattered in the wind.

Since I could not keep fooling myself anymore, I would give him exactly what he wanted.