Chapter 1

I spent three years begging my father, the Alpha King, for a sacred mating decree.

But the day the scroll finally arrived, Silas, the rising commander of the Northern Pack, chose someone else.

He tossed ten bolts of fine silver-silk and two chests of glowing moon-crystals at my feet.

He called it "compensation" for the years I spent by his side.

When I demanded an answer, he coldly ordered his guards to throw me out.

"Vivienne, you are nothing but an orphaned wolf with no pack. Did you really think you could be the Luna of my house?"

"Only the daughter of the High Elder is worthy of standing beside me. From now on, we owe each other nothing."

1

Right now, I am looking at the woman standing next to Silas. She is undeniably beautiful.

She wears a dress of soft pink lace that flutters in the mountain breeze, her stray hairs making her look playful.

Yet, her eyes are filled with fury because her dowry was ruined. Even in her rage, she maintains the air of a noble she-wolf.

Is this the woman he is choosing to mate with?

"Where did this filthy stray come from? How dare she cause a scene in my father's estate?"

She raised her hand, signaling the guards to pin me to the dirt.

Silas quickly stood up and stepped between us.

"She is just a distant cousin from the outskirts. She has no manners and hasn't seen the world. Please, Lady Seraphina, show some mercy."

Silas's words were like silver daggers driven straight into my heart.

I had loved him for years and used my secret influence to push him into his position as Commander.

Now that he has fame and power, he wants to discard me like trash. Life isn't that simple.

"Silas, you promised me that the day you returned to the capital would be the day you claimed me. Are you breaking your oath?"

Seraphina's face darkened, her eyes cold as ice.

"Silas, you told my father you were unbonded and single. That is why I agreed to this union. Are you trying to humiliate the High Elder's family?"

Silas, who had been signaling me to keep quiet, suddenly turned cold. He raised three fingers to the sky to swear an oath.

"There was never a formal bond or a promise between us. I only helped her because I was kind enough to rescue her once."

"If Seraphina allows it, she can stay as a lowly concubine. If not, she will be a slave who washes the floors."

I am the Princess of the Royal Pack, yet in his mouth, I am either a mistress or a slave.

No one has ever dared to insult me to my face like this.

He really is something else.

Seraphina looked at both of us with a wicked smirk.

"Silas, my family has a pure reputation. We do not allow mistresses. She can only be a slave."

Silas nodded in agreement, completely ignoring my feelings.

I stood there like a joke, a source of entertainment for them.

My hidden shadow guards in the trees had already tightened their fists. If I hadn't shaken my head, everyone in this courtyard would be dead.

The moment I saw Silas offering a dowry to another woman, he died in my heart.

Allowing this to continue was simply to let him dig his own grave deeper. I wanted to make sure he would never dare to crawl back to me once he knew who I was.

I squinted at Silas after everyone finished laughing.

"Are you certain you want to marry the Elder's daughter and betray everything we swore to each other?"

Silas frowned and threw a silk handkerchief at my face, waving his hand in annoyance.

"Someone get this slave out of my sight!"

2

That was the first handkerchief I had ever embroidered for him.

During the Solstice Festival, he saw other warriors receiving gifts from their mates while he had nothing.

To save his pride, I gave him a rare glass lantern from my royal collection.

He rejected it, saying it wasn't personal enough.

To give him something unique, I spent nights learning to sew and made him that handkerchief with twin swans.

For three years, he kept it pressed against his chest. He even took it to the battlefield.

He used to say that every time he touched it, he felt a surge of power and the will to survive.

Now, he threw it at me like a piece of used rag.

I knew then that there was no turning back for us.

I walked toward him slowly, wanting to see clearly why I had ever chosen him among so many noble alphas.

Silas was forced to step back by the sheer intensity in my eyes.

Seraphina didn't expect to lose face in her own home.

In a fit of rage, she swung her hand to slap me.

Unfortunately for her, I caught her wrist mid-air with a grip of steel.

I had been trained in combat by the King's own instructors since I was a pup. She was nothing to me.

"Silas, remember what you said today. From now on, our paths are separate."

A flash of panic crossed Silas's eyes. He leaned in and whispered, "Vivienne, just leave for now. I'll explain everything when I get back, okay?"

I laughed at his cowardice. Suppressing the ache in my chest, I simply said, "No."

He couldn't hide his anger anymore. When he realized everyone was watching, he snapped.

"Fine! We are dead to each other!"

A sharp pain stabbed at my heart, and my eyes blurred for a second.

My pride as a Princess wouldn't let me cry. I gave him one last look and walked away.

Four years ago, I arrived in this territory after ditching my guards to explore the local taverns.

I thought I was just going for a drink and some music.

But I was cornered by rogues the moment I stepped inside.

Silas happened to pass by and saved me. His rugged, heroic image captured my heart instantly.

I had hidden my own strength back then just to be saved by him.

From that day on, he was the only one I saw.

Four years of longing and three years of devotion vanished in a single afternoon.

It's impossible not to feel the sting when you truly loved someone.

On my way back to my villa, I took a detour to look at Silas's house.

I had bought that estate for him as a birthday gift after my business ventures succeeded.

The thought of another woman living there made my blood boil.

I ordered my shadow guards to drag everyone out of the building. Then, I set it on fire.

The flames rose high and fast, quickly catching Silas's attention from across the town.

I knew he was racing back, so I left my lead guard, Shadow One, behind.

"Find out exactly why Silas suddenly decided to mate with Seraphina Montgomery."