Chapter 4

The one-month deadline had arrived.

I received a text from Lucian.

*Meet me at Lakeview Park tonight at 7 PM. I have something really important to tell you.*

I replied: *Okay. I have a surprise gift for you too.*

Nora saw my reply and started pacing the room frantically.

"Elena, are you out of your mind?! Why are you going? What if he tries to force a Mark on you? You won't be able to fight him off!"

"I know," I said calmly.

"That's why I prepared a very special gift for him."

A gift he would remember for the rest of his miserable life.

That evening, I walked into Lakeview Park.

Lucian was standing by the water. He looked like a prince from a fairytale, but beneath his charming smile, I could see the greedy excitement he was trying to hide.

In the dark shadows of the woods, Brittany and the other heirs were already holding up their phones, recording.

"Elena." He stepped closer, his voice soft as if coaxing a scared puppy. "Did you enjoy this past month with me?"

I nodded, giving him a shy, innocent smile.

"Good." He reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from my shoulder. "Actually, the reason I called you out here today is..."

He paused, his eyes locked onto my neck. A flicker of raw hunger flashed in his eyes.

"I want to Mark you."

He said it so smoothly, as if it were the most romantic proposal in the world.

I froze for a second, then lowered my head, keeping my voice hesitant. "Are you... serious?"

"Of course," he murmured, taking another step forward and grabbing my wrists. "You know how much I care about you. Elena, I love you. Let me Mark you, okay?"

He leaned down, his fangs extending, heading straight for my scent gland.

But before his teeth could touch my skin, I shoved him back with sudden, brutal force.

"Lucian Blackwood," I said, my voice dropping all pretense. It was ice-cold. "Do you really think I don't know what you're doing?"

"You wanted to Mark me, and then Reject me, right?"

His face stiffened.

"I knew about your bet with Brittany from day one. Woo me in a month, Mark me, and Reject me in public. That’s your little game, isn't it?"

Lucian stared at me for a few seconds. Then, he laughed.

It wasn't a laugh of anger, but of amusement. He didn't even care that he was caught.

"Impressive," he said, tilting his head. "When did you find out?"

"From the very beginning."

"And you still played along for a whole month?" He smirked. "You've got guts, Elena."

"I just wanted to see how disgusting you could truly be."

He shrugged, showing absolutely no remorse. "Well, what a waste."

He looked me up and down with a sleazy grin.

"I really wanted to taste what a wolf-less human felt like. Great body, pretty face. It’s a shame I didn't get to sleep with you."

From the shadows, Brittany and her friends couldn't hold back anymore. They walked out of the woods, phones still recording. Since the "Marking" plan failed, they decided to jump straight to the humiliation part.

I smiled, unclamping the luxury watch from my wrist.

Then, right in front of them, I tossed it into the air.

The watch drew a perfect arc in the sky and splashed straight into the deep lake.

Brittany shrieked. "My watch! Elena, you crazy bitch!"

"Lucian, you were right. A watch of this quality really doesn't suit me," I said smoothly.

"I've never seen such a cheap 'limited edition' watch in my life."

"As for this dress..." I turned to Brittany, my eyes scanning her. "Take a closer look. Is this really the rental dress your mother lent Lucian?"

One of Brittany’s friends squinted and whispered in terror, "Britt... that’s not your dress. That looks like the custom starlight gown designed exclusively for the Alpha King's daughter!"

Brittany smacked her arm. "Are you insane?! How could a wolf-less orphan like her wear something like that?"

I ignored them.

I turned back to Lucian, giving him one last look.

"Lucian, I'm tired of playing with you guys."

"The trial period is over. As a candidate for my arranged marriage..."

"You are disqualified."