After Refusing to be Luna, I Marked the Alpha's Shadow Chapter 2

The sunlight was blinding. I gripped my phone tight, looking at Liam.

The boy's features were sharp, clearly the rugged lines of an Alpha, yet those beautiful eyes always carried a feigned innocence.

He walked over, habitually reaching for my phone—a gesture of dominance.

I had already put the phone away and replied casually, "I was discussing with Dad which territory to go to for my internship."

Liam's eyes flickered. He smiled at me. "Didn't you say you'd go wherever I go?"

Yes, I used to agree to whatever Liam said.

I forced the corners of my lips up. "I was discussing with Dad where Chloe is going."

Hearing Chloe's name, Liam's pupils constricted slightly, and his voice unconsciously softened.

"She likes art. The art capital in Europe would be better for her."

I had never told him what Chloe liked to study, yet he blurted out her preferences.

I suddenly remembered art class. Liam, clumsy as he pretended to be, insisted on taking it with me.

He spent a month using wolf teeth and silver wire to make a camellia necklace.

I thought it was for me. Now that I think about it, isn't the camellia Chloe's favorite flower?

Liam's bias toward Chloe was so obvious. How had I been blinded by so-called "friendship" before?

I looked at the unconcealed tenderness in Liam's expression, my throat feeling dry.

"Yeah, Chloe is going to Europe."

Liam would probably go to Europe with Chloe, right?

As for me, I would firmly become an Enforcer protecting order.

After the trials, our paths would never cross again.

In the afternoon, we had combat practice.

I went to the gym with Liam. At the entrance, we saw Chloe waving at me with a smile.

Seeing Chloe, the corners of Liam's lips raised involuntarily.

I watched his smile, my hand slowly curling into a fist.

I didn't like hand-to-hand combat. I only chose this class because Liam said he wanted to get stronger, so I accompanied him.

But now it seemed the person Liam wanted to protect wasn't me, but someone else in this class.

During class, the coach required us to pair up for sparring.

I subconsciously looked at Liam, about to speak, but Chloe beat me to it.

"Student Liam, my partner called in sick today. Can I pair up with you? You know, you're an Omega, and I'm a relatively weak Beta. We're a better match."

She was lying. She knew Liam wasn't an Omega.

I froze. Then, I heard Liam answer without hesitation, "Okay."

After speaking, Liam seemed to remember his disguise and looked back at me.

He hesitated for a moment, but the desire to be close to Chloe won out.

He said to me, "I'll come find you after I practice with her."

"...No need."

I tightened my fingers and looked straight at a burly male student nearby.

"Can I partner with you?"

Liam paused, looking at me with dark eyes that faintly exuded a hint of Alpha pressure.

The boy was stunned too. "You... didn't you always pair with Liam?"

"Yeah," I smiled. "But doesn't Liam have a partner now?"

The boy looked hesitantly at Liam, seeming to fear some invisible authority. "But..."

Liam's black eyes held a few cold stars. He stared at me deeply, then withdrew his gaze and smiled faintly. "It's fine."

Only then did the boy relax.

Throughout the class, the sound of Liam and Chloe's laughter drifted to my ears.

"Am I gripping too hard?"

"No, it's very light."

"Then be gentle when you throw me later, okay?"

"Okay."

Every sentence had a response.

Liam, even when pretending to be weak, had never been this gentle with me.

Distracted, my reaction to the boy's move was a split second too slow.

I immediately dodged backward, but Chloe had somehow ended up behind me. We collided heavily.

Before I could react, I heard Chloe crying, "It hurts!"

The next moment, my wrist was violently grabbed by Liam and I was flung aside. That was Alpha strength; I couldn't resist it at all.

After helping Chloe up, Liam looked at me coldly.

"What are you doing? Can't you control your brute strength?"

This was the first time I heard Liam use such a commanding tone, and the first time I saw such cold disgust in his eyes.

I wanted to explain, but Liam had already anxiously picked Chloe up and walked out.

I wanted to chase after them, but a sudden pain shot through my arm.

Looking down, I realized my arm had been cut by a piece of protective gear on the floor. Blood was oozing out.

It happened when Liam threw me.

I hadn't noticed it, and naturally, Liam wouldn't spare a glance to notice it either.

I went to the infirmary alone to treat the wound. Werewolves heal fast, but this cut throbbed with a dull ache.

On the way back to the classroom, I texted Liam asking about Chloe. There was no reply for a long time.

Just then, a few Beta students said the instructor wanted me to move some raw meat from the cafeteria's cold storage to the classroom for biology class.

I followed them. As soon as I entered the massive walk-in freezer, the heavy metal door behind me slammed shut with a bang.

I whipped around and heard them giggling as they walked away.

"Just stay in there for the night. This is Liam's idea."

"Don't go! Open the door! Open the door..."

I pounded on the door frantically. My fists bled, but the soundproof freezer swallowed my screams.

Suddenly, a terrifying chill came from behind me.

I turned in horror and saw the cooling system had been cranked to the limit.

The display read minus fifty degrees! This temperature was for freezing mutant beast meat. Even a werewolf would go into shock if they stayed here too long!