Chapter 3

I rushed to the door without hesitation and started sorting through my things.

The gifts Locke had given me, my clothes, and jewelry were all piled up by the entrance.

I organized them one by one, tears falling without my control.

Locke watched me for a long time from behind, hesitated briefly, then came over and pulled me to my feet. "Stop packing. I'll buy you new things later. Once Debbie has the child, she'll be my mate, but nothing between us will change."

I was stunned. "You want me to be your secret mistress?"

He argued forcefully. "We love each other. Being together is only natural. Don't make it sound so ugly."

I pushed him away and kept packing my things.

If I hadn't promised Ron, I wouldn't have chosen to come back now.

Every word he said made me sick.

Each sentence trampled my dignity.

But I searched through everything and couldn't find the ring. "Locke, where's the ring I gave you?"

Debbie leaned against the doorframe, raising her hand. "You mean this one?"

The emerald gleamed with a unique light in the sun.

I lunged forward to snatch my ring back.

Before I could touch her, Debbie fell backward. "Oh! Julie, why did you push me!"

"I didn't-" Before I could finish, Locke flung me away.

My back, still injured from yesterday's beating, left a long streak of blood on the ground.

Locke used to panic over a small cut on my hand, but didn't even glance at me now.

He carefully helped Debbie up. "Are you okay?"

His gentle tone was a stark contrast to the fury he'd shown me.

"I didn't mean to wear the ring. I just thought it was pretty." She made a show of taking it off. "I'm sorry, I'll give it back. Please don't hit me."

The more pitiful she acted, the more Locke's displeasure toward me grew.

He held her hand. "She gave it to me. I decide what to do with it. I'm giving it to you."

"Locke-" My weak voice drew his attention back.

Seeing me struggling on the ground, the bloodstains caught his eye. "How is there so much blood?"

I might have been mistaken, but I thought I saw a flicker of concern in his eyes.

Debbie clung to his arm. "Locke, it's my fault. I should go back to my place."

Locke snapped out of it and held her close. "You're not the one who needs to leave."

I finally managed to stand, swaying as I faced them. "Locke, I can leave, but please give me back the ring. It's the only thing my parents left me. I'm begging you."

I had never humbled myself like this before.

"If you give me the ring, I'll give up all my privileges in the tribe." I gritted my teeth. "I'll become a Rogue."

"Are you insane?" Locke roared in disbelief. "You can't just say that!"

I ignored his words, pleading only for the ring.

I even knelt on the ground to beg him.

Seeing the fresh blood on my forehead, Locke threw the ring at my feet. "Get out! Don't let me see you again."

I clutched the ring, now back in my hands, and felt a sense of calm.

As I stood, all traces of my earlier vulnerability and pleading vanished. "Locke, from now on, we have nothing to do with each other. Don't regret it."