Chapter 2. Facing the Betrayer
And just when Rishima thought she was at her happiest, Zvonimir struck her with a blow so heavy that she couldn’t react in time.
In truth, Rishima knew that even without Farah's appearance, she and Zvonimir's bond would have shattered anyway. Because the powerful Silverfang pack, one of the empire's most prestigious packs, would never allow their Alpha heir to remain without offspring. They had long forgotten that Rishima’s womb was injured while saving Zvonimir’s life.
Returning to her small apartment, Rishima did nothing but sit by the window in a daze for a long time. Until night fell, she didn’t want to be alone in this empty room, so she made plans to meet her best friend at a bar.
Under the dim lights and chaotic atmosphere of the bar, Rishima and Zelda sat leaning on the bar sofa by the window, drinking.
After finishing one glass, Rishima couldn’t hold back her tears as they rolled down her cheeks, leaving only a bitter taste in her mouth.
"The alcohol concentration is too high. It stings my eyes and makes me cry," Rishima said, trying to cover up her true feelings. But deep down, she knew it wasn’t the strength of the alcohol—it was the overwhelming pain inside her.
"Rishima, could it be that since you got mated, your alcohol tolerance has decreased?" Zelda teased playfully, but then her eyes suddenly widened as she looked in one direction.
"What the fuck? Is that Zvonimir? Who's that he's holding?" Zelda nudged Rishima with her elbow, still unaware that Rishima and Zvonimir's bond had been severed.
Following Zelda’s gaze, Rishima saw Zvonimir holding Farah tightly in his arms with a smile so tender and affectionate.
Rishima froze. She couldn’t remember the last time Zvonimir smiled at her like that. Maybe it was a year ago? Every time they met, it started with harsh words and ended with one of them walking away. She never imagined he would save that tenderness for his 'adopted sister.'
Before Rishima could say a word, Zelda stood up and stormed out, shouting, "I thought Zvonimir was a good male wolf, but he's just a jerk! Damn it, I'm going over there to confront him!"
"Don't! Wait!" Rishima hurriedly chased after her.
Rishima was extremely tense.
Zvonimir had trained in martial arts and had once broken multiple bones of others in a fight. She feared he might hit Zelda.
Zvonimir glanced coldly at Rishima, "What's going on?"
Rishima quickly rushed in front of him, saying, "It's nothing, my friend just had a bit too much to drink, please don't mind her."
Under the influence of alcohol, Zelda saw Zvonimir still holding Farah and immediately burst into rage: "Zvonimir, how could you do this to Rishima? She's standing right here in front of you, and yet you're embracing this slut…"
Rishima quickly stopped Zelda, "Don't say anymore!"
"Fuck! Rishima, stop enduring this! Sever the bond with him already! Once you're free, you can find a better male wolf, and he'll be the one begging you on his knees!"
"No, please stop…" Rishima pleaded helplessly.
"And you, slut!" Zelda glared menacingly at Farah, "Do you have any shame? You're having an affair with someone else's mate; karma will get you soon, watch out for divine retribution!"
At this moment, Zvonimir coldly uttered, "Rishima and I have already severed our bond."
"What?" Zelda’s eyes widened in shock.
"You didn’t tell her?" Zvonimir turned to ask Rishima, a mocking look crossing his handsome face. "Are you clinging to the idea of staying my mate, is that why you kept it secret?"
Rishima bit her lip, saying nothing, though her eyes were already red. The humiliation Zvonimir inflicted was becoming unbearable.
Seeing her silence, Zvonimir sneered, "Rishima, you should understand your current position. If you're still so obsessed with me, why didn’t you accept the villa in state Z? Maybe when I’m free, I’d drop by to visit you…"
"I don’t have any feelings for you anymore!" Rishima forced herself to suppress the pain in her heart, putting on a cold expression, "Zvonimir, you're the one who's delusional! Submission to an Alpha wolf is an Omega wolf's instinct, but you can't mistake that for love."
Zvonimir's face suddenly darkened with an intimidating look, as he laughed mockingly, "You'd better be wise and not bother me, or else…!"
Rishima clenched her teeth, pursed her lips without saying a word, then turned to pull Zelda away.
"Wait a moment." Farah, who was leaning against Zvonimir's chest, suddenly spoke up, her beautiful face showing a hint of grievance. "Rishima, I think your friend should apologize to me right now."
She continued pretending to be pitiful, saying, "Zvonimir, you heard it just now. They called me a whore and cursed me to die. But I haven’t done anything wrong to Rishima."
Rishima felt exhausted, but she had no desire to argue with Farah, so she lifted her foot to leave.
Suddenly, Zvonimir grabbed her hand and ordered, "Rishima, apologize to Farah right now!"
His grip was strong, tight, without any leniency. If Rishima didn’t apologize, he wouldn’t let her go.
Rishima felt pain in both her bones and her heart. Seeing how Zvonimir was protecting Farah, she suddenly felt the urge to resist.
"I won’t apologize!" Under the streetlights, Rishima’s already pale skin grew even more ashen, and she pressed her lips tightly together.
"What did you just say?" Zvonimir’s face darkened.
As a powerful Alpha wolf, he was used to wolves submitting to him. Even though he had severed his bond with Rishima, he still believed she would obey everything he said, just as if she would forever belong to him.
"I said I won’t apologize, because my friend wasn’t wrong!" Rishima firmly stated, "Zvonimir, this morning you severed our bond, and tonight you’re here embracing your adopted sister in public. And yet you dare to say you didn’t betray me? Zvonimir, Farah, both of you wronged me. You should be the ones apologizing to me!"
After saying this, Rishima pointed at Farah, "You are the shameless whore!"
"Rishima, shut your mouth!"
"Why should I shut up? Did I say anything wrong? The more you don’t want to hear it, the more I’ll say it! Zvonimir, the female wolf in your arms is the shameless one who steals other wolves’s mates, she’s nothing but a disgusting wench..."