Theodore Schmidt, Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack, and I were drugged by his fated mate, who disappeared after setting us up for a one-night stand.

Since then, Theodore had resented me deeply.

In the seventh year of our marriage, he auctioned off photos of me pleasuring myself.

"One million each. Collect all five to unlock a bonus scene," he mocked.

"She looks pure. But when she's turned on, even call girls can't compete."

I didn't cry or get angry. I even took a bullet for him when the Rogue attacked him.

After that, he stopped bringing other women home and finally decided to have a child with me.

But he didn't know I planned to leave in seven days.

I served as a corpse bearer of my wolf pack. I married him only to repay an old favor.

Now that that debt was settled, and my vow fulfilled.

It was time for me to bring his "long-lost" beloved crush home.

***

When the gun fired, my disgraceful photos were still being displayed on the massive screen.

I was naked, curled up, flushed red, eyes filled with need.

The room was filled with heavy breathing, though no one dared to raise a paddle openly.

"Theodore, you play like this while Hannah's here—are you not afraid she'll divorce you?"

Theodore glanced at me, completely unmoved.

"This woman will do anything to get my attention. I've brought countless women home. Have you ever seen her complain once?"

We had been married for seven years, yet the only time he ever touched me was that one night we accidentally spent together.

He often brought other women into our home and spiked my drinks.

Amid my drugged moans, he would bring those women to climax.

I never imagined he recorded everything that happened while I was stuck in that room, drugged and helpless, forced to pleasure myself.

I clenched my fists as I tugged on Theodore's sleeve, silently begging him to stop.

Instead, he grabbed my chin and said, "Hannah, I warned you—being my wife comes with a price."

His so-called price was what I did to him—drugging him, locking the door, and sleeping with him.

After that night, his beloved crush disappeared.

He ended up marrying me because everyone expected him to, but he hated me to the core.

Theodore put a price tag of ten million on ten photos of me.

He buried my shame under piles of cash.

But for the young heirs present, it was just a casual splash of money.

I swallowed my tears and looked at him. "Do you hate me that much?"

He gripped my chin even tighter. "Take a guess."

Then, out of nowhere, gunfire echoed.

Theodore subconsciously pushed me aside, but he didn't expect me to cling to him.

I shielded his chest with my body, taking the bullet for him.

As blood filled my mouth, I gave him a faint smile.

"Please... don't hate me anymore."

Theodore froze, staring at the blood-soaking my clothes.

He clenched his fists tightly, his eyes red as he cursed.

He shouted in a shaky voice, "Hannah, don't think I'll forgive you for taking the bullet!

"I'm not letting you go until Rachel comes back.

"If you die here, I'll drag you back from the underworld!"

My eyelids felt heavy, and my body was growing cold.

Theodore shouted for help in panic, but I gently reached for his hand.

"You're being loud, Theodore. I'm done caring about you."

Right before I lost consciousness, I faintly smiled.

The sensing charm I carried near my heart burned hot against my skin.

Someone was still waiting for me to take her home.

I had already returned the kindness I owed for seven years.

From now on, Theodore's love or hatred had nothing to do with me.

Seven years ago, I left New York and moved to Los Angeles.

Theodore had no idea I didn't come for him. I was there to take Rachel Ferguson, his beloved crush, back home.

I worked as a corpse bearer for my pack, and Rachel was the daughter of my mentor. She had pulled me out of dark times more than once.

"Hannah, I've helped you a lot. Just do this one last thing for me.

"If I die, take care of Theodore for me..."

I agreed. But I never imagined the care she mentioned meant drugging both Theodore and me, then locking us in a room together.

By then, Theodore had already made a name for himself in Los Angeles. Everyone knew how much he adored Rachel.

But after that night, the person beside him in bed wasn't her—it was me.

Rachel vanished, leaving only a vague message. "I wish you happiness."

Theodore used all his resources to search for her for three months, but she was nowhere to be found.

Since then, he resented me.

"Hannah, you better remember what it feels like to take something that was never yours.

"Your spot, your husband—everything you have should've been Rachel's! Why weren't you the one who disappeared?"

For seven years, I obediently served Theodore as his wife without making a fuss.

I never stopped him from bringing other women home, and I even paid off the paparazzi every few days to cover up his affairs.

Even when he drugged me and filmed me in the most humiliating way to make me a public joke, I didn't say a word.

Everyone laughed at me.

Even the women he brought home walked all over me like I didn't matter.

But after taking a bullet for him, I knew I'd paid back everything I owed Rachel.

Two days later, I woke up in the hospital.

I checked my phone and saw one unread message. I smiled at it.

"Seven days later. New York. The corpse inn."

I had been away for seven years, and the other corpse bearers were now old and wounded.

I had to stay with Theodore because I owed Rachel a favor. If I didn't return her body to New York, I'd be completely cast out.

I marked the date—seven days from now—on the calendar.

Just as I was about to get up and grab something to eat, a beautiful woman walked into the ward.

Theodore always chose women who looked like Rachel, but this one looked the most like her.

I was caught off guard when I met her sharp, stunning eyes.

She immediately noticed the date I had marked on the calendar, gently rested her hand on her belly, and said, "Theodore is taking me for a prenatal checkup in seven days.

"That day happens to be your anniversary. You won't mind, will you?"

It was the first time in seven years that Theodore had gotten someone pregnant.

He must be content with her.

I walked over slowly, took off my wedding ring, and placed it in her hand.

"From now on, he's yours."

I admitted that I couldn't give Theodore a child.

Letting someone else take my place felt like fulfilling what Rachel once hoped for.

But Amelia Robinson suddenly cried. With wet eyes, she threw herself at Theodore and sobbed.

"Theodore, is she mocking me for being a mistress?"

I hadn't even noticed Theodore had arrived or how long he'd been standing there.

When he saw the circled date on my calendar, his face darkened with anger.

"You bullied my woman and still expect me to spend our anniversary with you? Dream on!"

He yanked off his wedding ring and threw it out the window.

"You might still be my wife, but Rachel wouldn't touch anything that's been yours. It disgusts her."

I looked at him, then at Amelia crying behind him, and gave a small nod.

"Do what you want, Theodore.

"If my things bother you, you can also throw them out."

It didn't matter. I was moving to New York in a week. Nothing here mattered anymore.

I turned to leave, but Theodore grabbed my wrist.

The veins on his forehead bulged, and his lips trembled with rage.

"Stop right there.

"I don't like owing people. Since you took that bullet for me, I'll repay you whatever you want."

His grip was so tight it made my stomach twist in pain.

I said weakly, "Just treat me to a meal."

Afraid he'd think I was still clinging to him, I quickly added, "Once I'm done, I'll go home and pack up."

His eyes grew colder. "Fine. Just don't go back on your word."

I smiled faintly. "I wouldn't."

Los Angeles was never meant for a corpse bearer like me—someone who lived among the dead.

While Theodore went to get lunch, I asked an old friend still living in Los Angeles to bring me some sandals and a robe.

Theodore had no idea where Rachel was because her body had been placed in the hospital morgue.

After the crash, her left leg had been stitched and filled with a special substance.

Now, the sensing charm in my pocket was heating up.

It wasn't just me. Rachel was also running out of time.

When I got back from the corridor, I saw a table full of steaming food.

Theodore was gently cooling the dishes. When he noticed me, he put it down with a cold face.

For seven years, I looked after him because Rachel asked me to.

Even though he despised me, he always stood up for me in public.

There was a time when the roads were frozen, and I had a fever that wouldn't go down. He carried me to the hospital in pajamas and stayed by my side.

The oatmeal was warm and soothing.

I held back the ache in my chest and complimented him.

"You're a good man, Theodore.

"If Amelia becomes your wife, she'll be happy."

In truth, the one I wanted to mention was Rachel.

If she had married him instead, she would've lived a joyful life.

Thinking about how difficult my life had been over the seven years, I felt like crying.

Fortunately, it was almost over.

I smiled faintly, but Theodore's expression grew darker.

Just then, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the message and shoved my bowl aside.

"Hannah, are you still pretending you don't know why Rachel vanished?

"If not for you, why would she end up somewhere like that?"

Theodore's men had been looking into what happened to Rachel.

It was the first time they'd found any sign of her.

I froze, completely confused. "Where was she?"

He threw his phone at me.

The screen showed Rachel, clutching a packet of drugs and silently enduring the men's hands on her.

Her lips were bitten so hard they bled, and her face was so pale it made my heart ache.

My fingers trembled, and my eyes widened in horror as I realized it was the drug Rachel had used on me. Then, I looked up and met Theodore's bloodshot eyes.

He grabbed my neck tightly, making the blood in my IV run the wrong way.

"Hannah, I don't know what you did to make Rachel listen to you, but everyone who's hurt her will suffer for it!"

I fought back, but the movement tugged at my chest wound, and the bleeding got worse.

Theodore noticed the blood, and his eyes narrowed, but he still gave his command.

"Bring in the men from the footage.

"If she doesn't pay for what she's done, none of you are making it out alive."

The curtains were all drawn in the ward, and only a camera blinked red in the corner.

I knew Theodore was watching everything from another place.

But no one had the power to change his mind.

Those brutal men didn't hold back, forcing themselves on me without mercy.

One of them even pressed his finger into the wound on my chest with interest.

The pain came in sharp waves, stealing the air from my lungs.

"Theodore, please stop..."

The noise was so loud that doctors and nurses rushed over to stop it.

"Mr. Schmidt, she's still recovering. If it keeps going, she'll die!"

Theodore gave a cold smirk and tapped his temple.

"If Hannah dies, you'll be next."

No one argued. They could only stand there and listen to my screams.

The heart monitor kept beeping, warning something was wrong—until someone got annoyed and smashed it to pieces.

I couldn't remember how many times I passed out.

All I could recall was blacking out from the pain, only to be shocked awake again by salt water. I endured repeated, cruel, and endless suffering.

My throat was swollen, and I couldn't speak. My blurry eyes drifted toward the camera.

Lying in my blood, I barely moved my lips to whisper, "Theodore, is this enough?"

For seven years, I endured torment and was on the verge of death twice.

Even the last shred of pride I had was crushed. There was nothing left I could give him.

This time, I felt no affection or gratitude for him.

The harsh lights in the operating room stung my eyes, so I shut them tightly.

In a daze, I heard voices.

"Mr. Schmidt, let someone else draw the blood. If you keep going like this, you'll collapse!"

Theodore's voice shook as he snapped back, "Stop talking! I just wanted to punish her because of Rachel.

"But I never wanted her to die."

I smiled faintly and mockingly.

If he ever learned that I stayed by his side for seven years because of Rachel's last wish, would he even feel a hint of regret?

My tears had already dried up in the ward earlier.

So when I saw Theodore sitting by my bed, looking after me day and night, I felt nothing at all.

Three days before I returned to New York, he gave me an awkward smile.

"Do you want something to eat?" he asked.

I frowned. My voice came out rough and unpleasant.

"What's your latest trick to make me suffer?"

Looking embarrassed, Theodore rubbed his hands together and said with guilt, "While you were unconscious, I looked into everything.

"I don't understand what Rachel was thinking. She bought the drug herself and let those men touch her..."

His gaze dropped like he couldn't fully face it.

After a moment of silence, he passed me the phone, something else flickering in his eyes.

"Let's drop the topic. Someone texted saying your package is here. What is it?"

I kept my eyes low and answered in a raspy voice, "Clothes."

I was planning to wear them when I left for New York.

Theodore looked distracted for a second, then stepped toward the bed and back again. He smiled like he was doing me a favor. "You don't have to rush. Focus on getting better. I'll arrange for you."

He must have thought I was getting ready for our anniversary.

Before, I always went along with it, dressed up, and let him humiliate me. But I wasn't going to do that anymore.

Even if he went with another woman for a pregnancy check or simply left me behind, it was time for me to take Rachel home.

***

I checked myself out of the hospital without telling Theodore.

I had no idea what he was doing. He didn't show up the entire day.

When I got back, only Amelia and the maid, Zelda Coleman, were home.

Noticing how pale I looked, Zelda quickly rushed to support me.

"Mrs. Schmidt, what happened to you? Are you hungry? I'll make something healthy for you."

I simply shook my head, refusing her offer. Just then, Amelia came over, holding a pregnancy-maintaining drink and gently touching her belly.

"Hannah, now that you're out of the hospital, pack up your stuff," she said.

"I'm moving into the main bedroom. Toss out all the junk you used to keep in there. I don't want any of it."

I nodded without a word. My quiet agreement made her so upset, that she didn't even know how to respond.

Honestly, I hadn't left much of myself behind in Theodore's home anyway.

Even our wedding photos had my face replaced by Rachel's.

It was like a constant reminder that I was never supposed to be in her place.

He never once asked me if I wanted that role.

Everything I owned fit into a single travel bag—just the clothes I brought from New York, some toiletries, and Rachel's suicide note.

I carried my luggage downstairs and spoke slowly to Amelia, "Anything left in the main bedroom is yours.

"I've already gotten rid of the stuff I used. The unopened clothes and bags are still in the closet."

I handed Zelda the note and said goodbye. Just as I stepped outside, Amelia called after me again.

"Hold on, Hannah. Pick up a few boxes of condoms on your way out.

"Make sure they're the kind Mr. Schmidt and I usually use. I get uncomfortable with other types. He's got a strong appetite. Even if I'm pregnant, I probably won't be able to stop him from wanting me."

I nodded. "Is there anything else you need?"

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "You're not actually running away, are you?

"That tiny bag isn't convincing. If you want to act like you're leaving, at least do it properly."

I chuckled and looked at her flatly. "That's none of your concern."

She stormed off, clearly irritated.

Later, when Theodore's usual black coupe pulled up outside, I was already out of sight, wearing sandals and a robe I changed into behind the cameras.

From now on, I'd be nothing more than a corpse bearer. I'd never meet Theodore again.