Chapter 4
A night out with the wolves.
I was sitting on a garden bench, lost in thought, when the message came. A maid brought an insanely expensive evening gown and filled me in on the plan.
“Mr. Reed wants you to come,” she said, her tone a little judgmental, “and you need to… look presentable.”
My heart sank. Presentable? How could I—just a human, basically a “medicine catalyst” they’d bought—look “presentable” in front of a bunch of born werewolf nobles?
As night fell, I was primped and polished like a packaged gift. Next thing I knew, I was on Caleb’s arm, walking into an estate that made the castle ballroom look tiny.
The crystal chandeliers were blinding, the air thick with alcohol and something wild, powerful.
Countless eyes—curious, mean, probing—locked onto me all at once. I could feel their intimidating aura, way stronger than any human’s. This was werewolf territory, no doubt about it.
Caleb kept a straight face. His powerful presence pushed most people back, but he didn’t bother introducing me—just paraded me through the crowd like a possession.
Before long, a tall, stunning female werewolf walked over, her eyes full of obvious hostility. She ignored me completely, giving Caleb a flirty smile.
“Caleb, it’s been ages. And this is…?” Her gaze finally landed on me, sharp as a knife, full of disdain.
“My partner, Olivia,” Caleb said, short and cold.
“Partner?” The female werewolf raised her eyebrows dramatically and laughed softly. “A human? Caleb, when’d your taste get so… unique? Or does she have some ‘special’ trick for that annoying blood rage of yours?”
Her words were straight-up provocative，and a few nearby werewolves couldn’t hide their smirks.
My cheeks burned with humiliation, and I clenched my fists. But I stayed quiet—I had no right to speak here.
Caleb stopped walking.
He didn’t look at the female werewolf. Instead, he turned his head slightly, his cold golden eyes flicking to her for a second. Then he did something no one expected—he wrapped his arm tightly around my waist, pulling me a step closer.
The move screamed “mine.”
“Isabella Voss,” his voice wasn’t loud, but it froze the air around us, “you think you can question my wife?”
Those simple words, plus his arm around my waist, were like a silent slap to Isabella’s face.
Isabella’s smile froze, and her expression turned sour. The werewolves around her wiped their smirks away, their eyes now showing a little respect.
Caleb ignored her, walking straight past with me still close to his side.
My heart was racing—not from fear, but from something way more complicated. His protection felt like a hot cup of coffee on a freezing day—warm, but somehow burning.
I could feel the heat of his palm through my dress, smell his familiar cedar cologne. For a second, I almost felt like his real partner, actually protected by him.
But reality snapped me back.
This was just him protecting what he “owned”—like an animal guarding its territory. He needed me, his human “medicine catalyst,” to save face. Nothing more.
I couldn’t let myself get sucked into this fake warmth.
And yet, that strong arm around my waist and his words—“my wife”—were like a stone dropped in my still heart, sending ripples I couldn’t stop.
This double life was getting more complicated—and more dangerous—by the day.
