ManyWriters

My mate, Alpha Richard, locked our she-pup inside a sealed antique cabinet.
Our asthmatic pup.
All because his adopted sister's pup was throwing a tantrum and needed a "doll" to amuse him.
"It's just a Ball-Jointed Doll in there," he sneered. "Can't you even tell your own pup from a doll?"
Then he walked next door to praise the boy. “You’re so much braver than my pup,” he cooed. “You’re my favorite.”
Later, at a fashion show, he let his sister steal the designs I made for our pup.
He called me a plagiarist to protect her.
I was about to shatter when a man burst through the doors.
In his hands was a funeral portrait of my pup.

The Alpha’s Empty Antique Cabinet

Aside from the day my mother, Amelia, came to see me, no one else had visited.


I traced the ugly scar on my side, hobbling out of the hospital and heading home.


The moment I opened the door, I was met with Richard's accusing gaze.


He pointed to the urn placed right by the entrance.


“Who told you to put something so morbid in the house?”


My voice was faint, as if my soul had left my body.


“That’s Nina’s urn. Her ashes are inside.”


A flicker of something—panic?—crossed Richard's face. He gripped my hand, his knuckles white, pressing me for an answer.


Absurdly, I could actually hear a hint of panic in his voice.


I laughed and cried at the same time. “I said Nina is dead! You killed her!”


And in that moment, Monica seized the opportunity to give Mike a look.


Instantly, Mike burst into tears, capturing all of Richard's attention.


“There, there, my sweet boy. Don't cry, don't cry!”


Meanwhile, Monica added fuel to the fire from the side.


“It looks like the urn frightened him. Pups shouldn’t be exposed to the presence of death like this.”


Hearing her words, Richard seemed to understand everything as he glared at me. "Is this your new ploy to harm Monica and Mike? Do you really think I'd believe you?"


With that, Richard smashed the urn to the ground.


My heart shattered into a million pieces along with it.


My attempt to stop him only enraged Richard further.


"If Monica hadn't married my brother back then, do you think you ever would have had a chance?"


I let go of him, looking at him calmly.


"Richard Blackwood, let's sever the mate bond."


My solemnity made Richard's heart lurch.


Snapping back to his senses, he flew into a rage out of pure humiliation.


"Irene, have you already found someone else? You've been marked by me! By what right? By what right do you dare ask to leave?"


"Only I get to say I don't want you! You don't have the right to say that!"


"You, Irene Blackwood, will be my possession for the rest of your life!"


Disgusted by his childish rage, I was about to pull out the documents I had prepared. But then, I saw Monica give Mike a subtle nod.


He scattered Nina's ashes on the floor and began to stomp on them viciously.


A red haze of fury clouded my vision. I lunged, desperate to shove the boy away.


But Monica screamed, throwing herself in front of him.


"Mike's just a pup; he doesn't know any better! If you want to hit someone, hit me!"


But before I could even reach out, Mike peed right on top of Nina's ashes.


At the same time, a stinging slap landed hard across my face.


"Who gave you permission to touch Monica? You're not even fit to touch her little finger!"


The next second, he dragged me to the wine cellar.


"Let me out! I just want the ashes! Just give me the ashes and I'll leave here, I'll get out of your sight!"


But the only response was the sound of Richard's retreating footsteps.


The wine cellar was frigid. Within an hour, the biting cold had turned my lips purple.


When the servant came to bring me food, I seized the opportunity when she wasn't looking and escaped.


Chapter 3