Chapter 3. Humiliation and Hurt
Slap!
Zvonimir ruthlessly slapped Rishima across the face.
Her head tilted to one side from the force of the blow, her cheek swelling quickly, a streak of blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Her thin lips stained crimson, the blood appearing even more horrifying under the pale streetlights.
Rishima raised her head slightly and looked at Zvonimir with a cold smile, "One’s a dog, the other’s a whore. You two are a perfect match!"
Slap!
Zvonimir raised his hand again, delivering another slap, his face as dark as the depths of water, veins bulging on his forehead and neck, looking as though he had been provoked to his limit.
"Rishima, don't exhaust the last bit of patience I have for you! Apologize to Farah right now!" He grabbed Rishima's arm and growled softly.
Rishima spat out a mouthful of blood, staring at Farah, she spat out each word, "You wretch!"
Zvonimir raised his hand, ready to strike again.
"Stop!" Zelda stepped in front of Rishima.
She was just an ordinary female wolf, so when faced with a dominant Alpha male wolf like Zvonimir, she was naturally suppressed and instinctively submitted. The reason she dared to curse at Zvonimir and Farah earlier was only because she had been drinking and wasn't fully aware.
Now that she had sobered up and saw the situation, Zelda quickly said, "Zvonimir, Farah, I'm sorry, I misunderstood you! Please, don't hit Rishima anymore!"
At that moment, Farah finally spoke, her voice gentle, "Zvonimir, let it go, Rishima is also quite pitiful. She just severed her bond with you, so perhaps her mental state has been affected, and she’s not acting normally. I don't want to make things hard for her."
Zvonimir frowned without a word, coldly staring at Rishima.
Rishima's face was emotionless, her gaze resting on Zvonimir's hand that was holding Farah. Suddenly, she didn't want to argue anymore.
He clearly knew that she had done nothing wrong to Farah, yet he still wanted her to apologize to her. She understood now that her apology was just an excuse for him to vent his anger on behalf of his new lover.
So what about the years of love between her and him? Did he no longer love her at all?
A thought flashed through her mind: You should give up hope on this relationship.
Then, in a daze, Rishima said, "Sorry."
Only then did Zvonimir let go of her arm and warned, "Rishima, remember this well, our bond is severed! Next time, be more obedient! I'm in a good mood today, so I'll let this go, but if you insult me again, it could cost you your life."
Hearing this, Rishima's anger surged, her throat tightened, making it hard to breathe. The overwhelming sense of humiliation washed over her, and she felt as if the male wolf standing before her was a complete stranger.
How had she ever loved this cruel male wolf?
Sadly, even now, she still felt heartache from Zvonimir's words.
Zvonimir paid no attention to Rishima's reaction, opening the car door, then, like a gentlemale wolf, gently helped Farah into the car first, before sitting beside her, and ordered the driver to leave.
Before the car drove off, Rishima saw Farah's smiling face through the window, the triumphant grin of a victor.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know you had severed your bond with Zvonimir."
Zelda scratched her head, her face full of guilt. "It's all my fault that Zvonimir hit you."
Rishima shook her head and raised her hand to her face. Even a light touch made her wince in pain, proof that Zvonimir hadn't held back at all when he struck her.
Zelda quickly grabbed Rishima's hand. "Don't move, let me take a look."
Under the streetlight, Zelda took one quick glance and immediately gasped.
The left side of Rishima’s face was delicate, with a high nose, thin lips, and a soft, clean jawline. But the right side of her face was swollen and red, with frightening blood vessels showing under the skin.
"That bastard! Zvonimir was way too brutal!" Zelda was so furious she punched the streetlamp in frustration, feeling indignant on Rishima's behalf. "If I were an male wolf, I would beat him to the ground, knock all his teeth out."
Unfortunately, she was just an ordinary female wolf. Whether in status or strength, she couldn’t compare to an Alpha male wolf like Zvonimir.
Zvonimir was nearly 1.9 meters tall, with a body that concealed immense power. Moreover, he had trained in martial combat since he was a young wolf. Forget about female wolves— even other male wolves couldn't stand a chance against him.
Rishima, filled with anger and disappointment, looked at Zelda. She wanted to tell her friend that she was fine, but deep down, the discomfort was too overwhelming, and she couldn't find the words.
Zvonimir had slapped her twice in front of Farah, stripping her of all her dignity. Rishima never imagined that the male wolf who once pursued her, who treated her so well, would one day humiliate her for another female wolf.
With a self-mocking smile, Rishima quietly walked forward. Now her heart felt hollow, as though a piece had been carved out with a knife, leaving a gaping, bleeding wound.
The cold winter wind brushed against her face, chilling and slightly damp. Her eyes seemed to well up with liquid, and her vision became blurred.
"Rishima, don’t cry, please don’t…" Zelda, flustered, wiped away Rishima’s tears. "A severed bond is just a severed bond. You'll find a better male wolf than Zvonimir. That bastard will regret this for the rest of his life!"
Rishima shook her head without saying anything, only lowering her head as she kept walking.
In truth, she didn’t even know where she was supposed to go.
When others sever their bonds, they can at least go home and be comforted by the pack.
But she had no one left. Her parents had passed away fifteen years ago. Back then, she was only ten years old, often shuffled between relatives' houses, only to be pushed to another after a few days.
She felt no different from the beggars she passed on the streets.
Seeing Zelda’s concern for her, Rishima forced a weak smile. "You're right, a severed bond isn’t the end. I can still find a better male wolf."