Chapter 20 Claire's parents looked at Aaron with fury , their faces hard . " Alpha Aaron , you're not one of us . Go back to your life as a pampered heir . I don't care how you collect and abandon those whores as you please . But hear this clearly : our daughter isn't your toy , and she sure as hell isn't your punching bag ! " " Our daughter had been perfectly fine before bonding with you ! How much pain has she endured , how much suffering has she swallowed - do you even care ? How dare you lock my child in a cell , and abuse her again and again ! What did she ever do to deserve a faithless , heartless bastard like you ?! " Their words grew harsher , their tears falling as they struck him . Aaron lowered his head , guilt pressing on him like a mountain . He didn't fight back , just letting them vent their rage . Still , he couldn't stop himself from asking , " Then what about Caden ? He's an Alpha too . Aren't you afraid one day he'll treat her the same way I did ? " Before Claire and her parents could respond , Caden's calm voice cut through . " I'll prove with time that I'm nothing like you . I signed an agreement the day I began dating Claire . If I ever betray her , all of my assets will be hers . And even after separation , half of everything I earn for the rest of my life will still belong to her . ' " With that security , she'll have the means to defy me . If I wrong her , she can punish me directly , no tolerance required . I love her , but if someday she stops loving me , if her heart turns to someone else , she won't owe me anything . She'll be free to go . " Aaron stood frozen , blindsided by the words . He couldn't imagine Caden would stoop to this level . Even Claire herself looked shocked . She hadn't expected Caden's love to be this deliberate , this absolute . At first , she'd assumed he was just another of Aaron's crowd , pitying her or playing games . Maybe he'd confessed only to humiliate her , to abandon her later in some twisted revenge . Yet upon closer acquaintance , Caden revealed himself to be nothing like . He carried himself with a chill that kept everyone at a distance , but for her , he was the one who closed the gap . When she once asked him , " Why are you so forward with me ? It doesn't suit your personality , " he had smiled bitterly . " Because I already lost my chance once . If I miss it again , we may never cross paths . I want to cherish every moment I get with you , keep your company and never part away . " She had been stunned , because she couldn't remember him from her past at all . But Caden remembered . Back in college , he'd seen her once and fallen instantly . He'd watched her from afar , crossing paths with her many times , their eyes meeting briefly , but she never noticed him . On the day she first met Aaron , Caden had planned a grand confession . But a sudden rainstorm ruined it all . He arrived just a step too late - Aaron had already reached her , umbrella in hand . And from then on , no matter how many chances came , Caden was always one step behind , which felt like something out of a bad play . When he finally did get a chance to speak with her , her attention was already completely consumed by Aaron . So he gave up . He loved her silently , in the shadows . He buried that affection beneath his cold façade , claiming no interest in love and pouring himself into his research . He rejected the mate bond that surfaced at eighteen . With plenty of offspring - Finnian , plus another twin brother and sister - the Ironfang Pack didn't lack heirs actually . That was why nobody had been pressuring him to find a mate . Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!