Chapter 4 Pain and Self-Healing

"Exactly! Someday, I'll introduce you to an Alpha who's not only handsome but also wealthy- someone far more powerful than Zvonimir. Zvonimir is too cruel; I can't stand violent men like him!"

Rishima was just joking with Zelda, trying to lift her spirits, without taking any of it to heart. She didn't expect that one day, Zelda would actually introduce her to a very powerful male wolf, someone who even knew Zvonimir.

But of course, that's a story for another time.

Upon returning to her rented room, Rishima's face was swollen like a steamed bun. Tired and sleepy, her body and mind were both exhausted. She casually grabbed a tube of anti-inflammatory ointment, applied a bit, then collapsed onto the bed.

She slept restlessly throughout the night, constantly dreaming of recent memories from when she was still at Silverfang pack.

The night before their bond was severed, which was also just last night, Farah had accused her of stealing Mrs. Ashcroft's heirloom bracelet.

Zvonimir, without discerning right from wrong, had forced her to return the bracelet, leading to a huge argument between them.

After it was discovered that Rishima hadn't stolen the bracelet, she wanted to hear a proper explanation from Zvonimir, but he impatiently said, "You're the Luna of the Silverfang pack, you should be more magnanimous. Stop being so petty all the time."

Rishima knew his work kept him busy, the entire Silverfang pack depended on him to manage, and he often had to travel abroad for business with partners, so he disliked trivial domestic matters like this.

But why did she have to be the one to endure the injustice?

Every time the elders of the Silverfang pack criticized her, Zvonimir would demand she endure it, be tolerant. Even when Mrs. Ashcroft insulted her, calling her someone who couldn't bear children, she had to put on a happy face and listen, or else she would be seen as small-minded.

At that moment, Rishima had really wanted to throw the bracelet at Zvonimir's face!

The scene in her dream shifted again, this time to when she had just mated Zvonimir.

Zvonimir had sworn steadfastly, "Rishima, you know me well. Once I've set a goal, I never change! You are the only goal of my life!"

Ha, the only goal, what a lie.

In the middle of the night, Rishima woke up, feeling something cold on her face. She wiped her hand across it, realizing they were tears, and her pillow was already soaked.

She touched the bite mark on the back of her neck, the mark left by a male wolf when claiming his mate. It meant she belonged to Zvonimir, and no other male wolf could claim her, unless the mark was removed.

If she severed her bond with Zvonimir, then there was no need for this mark anymore. Tomorrow, she would go to the healer to have it removed.

Rishima thought it wouldn't be long before Zvonimir marked another mate, and that female wolf would bear him a few adorable children.

The next morning, Rishima went to the central hospital.

"Are you sure you want to remove the mark?" The doctor looked at the strikingly beautiful female wolf sitting in front of him, confirming once more.

"I'm sure," Rishima replied.

"Then you understand how painful it will be to remove the mark, right? Not just physically, but emotionally as well. If you're not ready, I suggest you think it over again."

The doctor said this because some female wolves couldn't endure the pain during the procedure, forcing the surgery to stop. This caused severe physical and emotional damage to the female wolves.

Rishima shook her head and firmly said, "There's no need. Please arrange the surgery for me right now."

Most of the female wolves who came to the hospital to remove their marks shared similar circumstances, mostly breaking up with lovers or severing their bonds with their mate. The doctor's gaze lingered on the swollen redness on Rishima's left cheek, and he frowned.

"May I ask, did your mate abuse you? If so, I advise you to report it to the police after the mark is removed." The doctor spoke seriously.

In the empire, it was incredibly rare for a common female wolf to mate with an Alpha male wolf, so the doctor assumed Rishima's mate was just an ordinary male wolf. According to the law, unless one was an Alpha, all lower-class wolves were legally responsible for domestic abuse toward their partners.

And how did the doctor know Rishima was a commoner? Naturally, because if she were a noble, she wouldn't be visiting this central hospital.

Female wolves born into the upper noble class were usually raised with great care. They lived in isolation and were taught to keep their bodies pure from commoners. Eventually, once they matured, they would be sent to mate with Alpha male wolves from prominent packs to birth the next generation.

So when the news of Zvonimir's intention to mate with Rishima was announced, it sparked fierce controversy. The public criticized Rishima, saying she wasn't worthy of Zvonimir. For a long time, people were envious and jealous of her, and Zvonimir used his power to silence them.

Because of this powerful action by Zvonimir, Rishima fell in love with him without ever guarding her heart or leaving herself a way out. And now, when he abandoned her, she had almost lost everything.

Rishima sadly shook her head at the doctor.

Even if Zvonimir wasn't a male wolf, the fact that he had only slapped her twice couldn't really be considered domestic abuse. Moreover, he wasn't just any male wolf-he was an Alpha, the heir of a great pack. She wasn't crazy enough to report him. Besides, their bond was already broken, and she didn't want to deal with him any longer.

After the doctor completed her medical file, Rishima went out to pay the hospital fees. The nurse informed her that her surgery to remove the mark would be scheduled in half an hour, so she sat in the hallway to wait.

The hospital hallway was always busy with people coming and going. Beside her, a few other female wolves were also waiting to have their marks removed.

But the key difference was that they all had pack or friends accompanying them, while Rishima sat alone, looking utterly lonely.