Scars Of Betrayal: Watch Me Shine

That warning sign struck my dignity like a heavy punch. I reached out with a trembling hand, and the moment my fingertips grazed the barrier, blinding light erupted!

An agonizing pain, like burning fire and piercing ice, spread up my arm. It felt as if my bones were melting. I screamed and collapsed to the floor, the smell of charred flesh instantly filling the air.

It was silver powder. He had laced the magical barrier with the lethal poison of the wolf race.

I cradled my blackened, blistering hand, scalding tears crashing against the floorboards.

The study door clicked open. Wendy walked out holding a cup of coffee, a highly hypocritical expression on her face.

She waved her hand to dispel the barrier and rushed to my side, making a huge fuss. "Oh my goddess, Serena! I forgot to tell you, Caleb added silver powder to the runes for extra security."

She reached out, pretending to help me up. A violent wave of nausea made me gag, and I slapped her hand away. "Don't touch me!"

Wendy took the opportunity to fall back onto the floor in an exaggerated manner, clutching her stomach and screaming miserably. "My core! My Beta power core!" Tears instantly spilled from her eyes.

Right at that moment, the front door was thrown open. Caleb rushed in. The pungent smell of burnt flesh made his breath hitch, but his eyes instantly locked onto Wendy, who was crying on the floor.

He walked straight past me, completely ignoring my bleeding and horrific state, and knelt down to help her up. "What happened?"

Wendy buried her face in his chest, sobbing. "I just wanted to help her up, but she shoved me so hard."

Caleb turned his head and glared at me fiercely, the tip of his boot barely an inch from my charred fingers. "You are so petty and reckless! I warned you not to cross the line. Not only can you not control your temper, but you are also ungrateful!"

I held up my gruesome hand, crying out with a trembling voice. "You set up a barrier laced with silver powder in your own home!"

Wendy sobbed louder against his chest. "I should just leave. I always cause trouble."

"No." Caleb shot me a vicious glare, stood up, and completely deactivated the magic. "We are going to the underground laboratory. It seems my mate is even more narrow-minded than I thought."

He helped Wendy up and walked out with her, leaving me completely alone, bleeding endlessly.

A week later, the full moon arrived exactly on time, accompanied by a raging rainstorm.

The full moon always magnified a werewolf's emotions, making our yearning for our mates almost unbearable.

I was assigned to deliver supplies to the border outpost, a task that was absolute torture for an Omega in this kind of weather.

I shivered under the eaves of the small wooden cabin for hours.

Finally, the headlights of Caleb's SUV pierced through the darkness. A sliver of desperate hope rose in my heart, and I dashed into the torrential rain, waving my hands.

He stepped out of the car holding a black umbrella. I reached out, wanting to get closer to soak up some warmth, but he shoved my shoulder away.

The outpost door opened, and Wendy walked out holding a stack of scrolls. Caleb immediately tilted the umbrella, shielding her so she wouldn't catch a single drop of rain, and opened the passenger door for her.

I stood in the mud, letting the freezing rain batter me. "Caleb?"

Amidst the thunder, his expression was utterly cold. "Wendy's place isn't on the way, it's inconvenient to take you. Wait for the night patrol to pick you up."

The car door slammed shut, the tires kicking up thick mud that splattered all over my legs as the vehicle vanished into the rainy night. I stood in absolute darkness, waiting until midnight.

In my soaked pocket, my phone vibrated. It was a text from Wendy:

"Caleb is too tired. He is staying the night at my place. Don't wait up."

I tossed the phone into the muddy water. In that exact moment, the desperate wolf deep within my soul finally closed its eyes.

The mate bond was finally, completely broken.