Chapter 1

After two thousand years of being bound to the Supreme Alpha of War, he finally agreed to ask the High King for permission to make me his Luna.

I thought he had finally let go of his dead First Love. I was filled with joy, ready to tell him that I was carrying his heir.

But then, I saw him in his private chambers. He was holding a woman who looked seventy percent like his lost mate.

He was whispering her name, "Rosalie," with such obsession.

I stood outside the hall, finally realizing he never forgot her. He had even found a surrogate who looked just like her.

After a sharp pang in my heart, I told my brother through a spirit link, "I want to go back and guard the Bridge of Souls."

1.

In the heart of the Underworld, my brother let out a long sigh.

"Guarding the Bridge of Souls is the duty of every Shadow Goddess. It is time for you to come home," he said finally.

"However, the guardian must be free of earthly desires. What about your fiancé and that child in your womb?"

I bowed deeply toward my brother.

"Do not worry, brother. I will not be marrying Silas."

I placed my hand over my lower abdomen, suppressing the bitterness in my soul. "As for the child, please give me ten days."

Ten days from now was supposed to be my wedding day with Silas.

I wanted to end it then. It felt right to finish where it all began.

When my spirit returned to the Celestial Realm, the two figures in the bedchamber were still entangled.

I pretended not to see them and turned back to my own quarters.

My hall was bustling with energy. The handmaidens were preparing for the wedding in ten days.

When they saw me, they rushed over to gossip.

"Lyra, do you think red lanterns look better in the front hall, or should we fill it with enchanted lilies?"

"I heard that in the human world, they light red candles for a full house of children. Should we prepare a pair for you and the Alpha?"

I had been brought to the Celestial Realm by Silas as a mere servant. No one here knew my true identity.

The handmaidens felt close to me because of that.

When I didn't speak, one of them grabbed my arm and laughed. "Lyra, if you don't pick, we're going to start a fight!"

I looked at their excited faces and forced a small smile.

Before I could speak, a cold, deep voice interrupted us. "Keep it simple. There is no need for such a spectacle!"

The handmaidens immediately scattered, bowing and scurrying away.

I gave Silas a formal curtsy.

Seeing my submissive posture, Silas assumed I was upset. He sighed and reached out to stroke my hair.

"The anniversary of Rosalie's passing is in a few days," he said softly. "The wedding shouldn't be too loud or grand."

Rosalie was his dead mate, the eternal scar on his heart.

In the past, hearing this would have made me throw a tantrum. I would have turned the palace upside down.

But now, I just looked at him calmly. "Whatever you wish, Alpha."

Silas frowned, noticing my strange behavior. He opened his mouth to say something.

Suddenly, a woman walked into the hall.

I recognized her instantly. She was the one from his bedchamber, the one who looked exactly like Rosalie.

She didn't bow. She walked straight to Silas with a charming smile.

"Alpha, the High King has summoned you."

Silas turned his gaze toward her.

A flash of tenderness appeared in his eyes. "Very well."

He walked away with her without a second thought.

Before leaving, he threw a cold line over his shoulder. "Go rest. We will discuss the wedding when I return."

I watched them leave, my heart feeling like lead.

Everyone in the Celestial Realm knew the High King had been in deep meditation for five hundred years. He wasn't seeing anyone.

They didn't even try to come up with a good lie to fool me.

I shook my head and swallowed the pain.

I didn't care anymore.

After all, I was going home in ten days.