Chapter 1

When I was thirteen, Silas Vancroft framed me and cast me out to the desolate Silver Creek wilderness.

He was my betrothed, but he did it all for the sake of Shae Miller.

Six years later, he returned in a luxury SUV, holding Shae's hand as they came to find me.

He looked at me with cold, arrogant eyes.

"I hope these years have taught you some humility," he said.

"What happened back then was your fault. Don't blame me."

"If I hadn't sent you to Silver Creek to fix your attitude, I could never have married you."

The servants surrounding him expected me to break down and beg for his mercy.

Instead, I simply offered a faint, chilling smile.

"I never planned on marrying you, Silas. Besides..."

"I'm already married."

1

After spending the morning exploring the mountains, I returned to the old Vancroft estate to pick up my remaining things.

A crowd of people was standing outside the rustic farmhouse.

As I walked into the living room, I saw Silas Vancroft for the first time in six years.

He looked successful and polished, sitting closely with Shae Miller by his side.

"I wonder if Miss Blackwood has turned into a total savage after all this time?" one of the guards whispered.

"Probably. Living in a dump like Silver Creek for six years? She's definitely lost any class she once had."

"That's enough," a soft voice interrupted.

I looked at the woman who had spoken and recognized her immediately.

It was Shae Miller.

Years ago, Silas had exiled me to Silver Creek just to appease her.

I heard she had already moved into the Vancroft mansion in the city.

It was pathetic.

My parents had died on the front lines, leaving me in the care of the Vancroft pack.

Now, she lived there as if she were the one Silas was meant to marry.

I remembered when she threw all my belongings into the dirt.

When I confronted her, she slapped herself and knelt before Silas and his mother, crying like a victim.

"My family isn't as noble as hers. It's only natural for Elena to suspect me," she had sobbed.

Silas had roared at me then. "Elena, how can you be so cruel? She's a guest, yet you treat her like trash!"

I had no way to prove my innocence. In a fit of rage, I had slapped her for real.

"You're hopeless. Maybe you should go back to the old pack lands and reflect on yourself!"

When he sent me away, Silas acted like he was doing me a favor.

"Your parents are gone. Since you live under our protection, you need to lose that warrior-brat attitude."

He told me that if I didn't change, he would never fulfill our marriage contract.

I had been broken then.

But I realized a man who couldn't tell right from wrong wasn't worth my time.

Silver Creek was where my father used to lead his troops.

I thought maybe I could find peace there.

"Miss Miller is the only one gentle enough for our Alpha," a servant added.

"Stop it... Silas and I love each other, but I don't want to cause trouble," Shae said, looking down.

"Especially since my status is so low compared to a General's daughter..."

Silas grabbed her hand, pulling her close to comfort her.

"Your status doesn't matter. If Elena is still the same brat, she's staying in Silver Creek forever."

I cleared my throat, letting them know I was standing right there.

The room went silent as everyone turned to look at me.

"Who is that girl?" someone whispered.

"She's gorgeous."

"Did she get lost?"

Silas noticed the silver heirloom necklace around my neck and his eyes widened.

"Elena...?"

I nodded and set my heavy travel case on the table.

"That can't be her. Look at her clothes. She doesn't look like she's been struggling in the woods."

I knew why they were shocked.

They expected me to be covered in dirt and broken by hard labor.

Instead, I stood there in high-end tactical silk, carrying a custom-made recurve bow on my back.

I didn't look like a peasant. I looked like a queen.

Shae slowly walked toward me.

"Elena, honey..."

I moved my hand away before she could touch me.

She hadn't changed at all.

"I don't have a sister, Shae."

I sat down and poured myself a glass of water, ignoring the tension.

I used to think Shae was a good friend when she first arrived at the pack house.

I even gave her my jewelry.

I never expected her to be a snake in the grass.

Seeing me ignore him, Silas felt a surge of unearned anger.

"Six years and you still have that attitude?"

"You think you're fit to be a Vancroft? Clearly, your time here was too short."

"If you don't fix your behavior, I'm calling off the wedding for good."

The hot water touched my lips. I didn't even blink.

Did he really think I still wanted him?

When I was twelve, my parents died in the war against the rogue packs.

I was forced to live with them.

I didn't stay there because I liked it.

I was young then, and Silas was the only person I felt I could rely on.

I used to be shy around him. I thought I was in love.

Everyone knew we were supposed to mate and marry once I came of age.

But then Shae Miller, the illegitimate daughter of a rival pack, showed up.

Everything changed. His eyes stopped following me.

His kindness was reserved for someone else.

I had confronted him, asking why he treated me differently.

He just told me to stop being jealous.

He even said that a powerful Alpha should have multiple women and told me to grow up.

In a single night, my world fell apart.

I stopped smiling at him.

The more Shae hung around, the colder our relationship became.

Since I moved to Silver Creek, he hadn't sent a single letter.

My heart had died a long time ago.