Chapter 13
Years ago, the Silver Fang Pack nearly met its doom.
The Frost Wind Pack orchestrated the chaos, and only Star Light Pack’s aid saved them.
Ryder “accidentally” befriended Bran.
At dinner, Alpha Phillip boomed, “Once this is over, marry Selina. We’re eager for a daughter–in–law.”
Ryder, mid–chew, didn’t answer.
Selina gracefully toasted, “Let me toast your first, sir.”
After the meal, in the garden, Ryder lit Selina’s cigarette.
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She said, “Ignore the marriage talk. I’ll handle my parents.”
Ryder liked her for this; they were more allies than lovers.
He thanked her, and she burst out laughing.
“Your tone reminded me of a funny novel scene,” she chuckled.
Their non–physical relationship made their chats a relief in his complex life.
Selina asked, “Stealing Bran’s girl, is that revenge?”
Ryder’s hand froze briefly “If it makes him truly suffer, then yes,”
Selina inhaled deeply from her cigarette,.
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“That girl’s a pitiable soul. Bran’s after her ‘cause she’s like his dead first love, and you’re using her to spite him.”
“You know I dated Isabelle, right?”
“Yeah, I know. Her fate’s a real kick in the teeth. If things had been different, you two’d probably be mated by now, huh?”
“I don’t do ‘ifs,” Ryder snapped. “I’m all about the now.”
Ryder quickly came back to the hotel to find
- me.
“I missed you so much” I said, my voice thick with longing.
“Let me guess, you’re about to say you just
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want to jump into bed with me?”
As we sat shoulder to shoulder, a faint scent of women’s perfume wafted between us.
He averted my eyes, flipping through the tablet.“What have you been up to?”
“Echowood Pack is seeking a spokesperson. I want to apply. Can you help?”
“I can recommend you to their alpha, an old friend of my father.”
He said quickly. “But it’s tough. How will you stand out?”
“I’ll showcase my knowledge of werewolf culture, my ability to connect. I’ll pitch unique ideas for the pack’s values. And I need
interview advice. I really want this.”
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“Let’s eat out. We can discuss it over dinner,” I said, trying to shift the mood.
At my favorite Japanese joint, we relished the sashimi’s cool freshness and sushi’s pillowy softness.
After dinner, Ryder pointed to the vibrant night market. “Fancy a stroll?”
“Absolutely!”
The market’s aroma of grilled skewers and lively chatter engulfed us. Ryder’s grip on my hand tightened protectively.
“There’s a pottery studio. Let’s go.”
We ended up with a wonky vase, laughing as we got clay everywhere.
“Our masterpiece,” Ryder joked.
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Leaving the studio, Ryder asked, “Happy?”
I nodded vigorously. He booped my nose. “I’ll always make you smile.”
“I’d fight the world for your happiness.”
“Thank you, Ryder. You’re the best dealer.”
In an instant, Ryder’s heart seemed to be slashed by a thousand knives.
I was to tell him that I no longer loved him, that what we had now was just a transaction of sorts – he entertained me, and I did the same for him.
When we got back at the hotel at night, I thought Ryder, who had already been so passionate on the plane during the day for two hours, wouldn’t have the energy or
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desire anymore.
But he seemed possessed.
Without even taking a shower, he impatiently pushed me onto the sofa.
I wrapped my arms around Ryder’s neck.
He was trying to make me love his body first, and then perhaps, him.
Ryder whispered in my ear“I love you.”
I replied, “Mhm.”
He persisted, “Say you love me.”
I said, “I love you.”
Ryder spread my legs, and then used his tongue to fevently stick into my vagina.
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Then he penetrated me from behind.
We reached climax at the same time.
Afterwards, as Ryder went to run the bath water, I took out the emergency contraceptive pills and swallowed them with a gulp of water.
After spending four days with Ryder in Vegas, I returned home.
When I took a taxi back, Bran cornered me right at my doorstep.
“Where have you been?”
“Does the Starlight Pack alpha’s daughter know you’re here looking for me?”
Bran’s brows knitted together, and he raised
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his voice. “I asked where you’ve been?!”
“I can’t afford to offend the Starlight Pack. Don’t make things difficult for me. I don’t want to end up dead without even knowing why.”
Bran turned and grabbed my wrist. “Baby…”
I looked up and said evenly, “I’m not Alice.”
Bran’s face visibly paled.
I pulled my wrist out easily.
“Bran, I broke up with you not because your took me as a substitute. I’m even grateful that I look somewhat like her, so you could love me by association and help my brother.”
“You’re engaged now. Let’s just break up cleanly!”
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I remembered Ryder’s words, telling me to cut things off completely with Bran.
What I didn’t expect was that Bran was deeply shaken.
After we parted, he immediately went to find Elena, the Starlight Pack alpha’s daughter.
“I won’t marry you even if I’m not with Isabelle!” he yelled at her.
Elena was furious.
The Starlight Pack alpha’s call reached Sarah right away.
When Bran got home, Sarah hurled a teacup at him, splitting his head open. Bran didn’t care and demanded, “Did you say something to Isabelle?”
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“How many girls who look like Alice have you chased after these years? Who does Isabelle think she is? Do you think I’d stoop to sowing discord with her?”
Blood covered half of Bran’s face.
Sarah was exasperated.
Pointing at his nose, she said, “Alice is dead! She’s been dead for years! You let a woman reduce you to this. If you love her so much, why don’t you go join her?”
Bran showed no reaction at that moment.
Sarah was so angry that her blood pressure shot up and didn’t notice the look in his eyes.
That night, on the top of an abandoned high- rise building, the cold wind howled.
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Bran stood alone at the edge.
His eyes were empty and despairing.
All the past memories flashed before his eyes like a revolving lantern.
The pain of losing his love stabbed his heart mercilessly.
Suddenly, he took a deep breath, as if trying to inhale the last bit of air in the world.
Then, without hesitation, he took that fateful step forward. His figure plummeted rapidly in the night sky, and the howling wind filled his ears.
When people found him, he lay quietly on the concrete below, and there was a deathly silence all around. On him, they found a
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photo of him and Alice.
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