Chapter 3

3

I didn't bring the others with me; I traveled alone to the town at the foot of the Zenith Pack's mountain.

Today was the wedding of Sienna Blackwood and Gideon Sterling.

The whole town was decorated with lights and banners, celebrating the union.

Looking at this familiar yet distant place, my heart felt heavy with irony.

Before I joined Moonshadow, I was the High Alpha of the Zenith Pack.

Well, the former High Alpha, anyway.

Back then, I was known as the strongest wolf in the world, untouchable and proud.

Then the Crimson Fang rogues attacked, slaughtering thousands and turning the forests red.

I led the allied packs against them, finally facing the Rogue King in a death match at the edge of Desolation Cliff.

When I collapsed at the bottom of that cliff, exhausted and broken with nothing but a shattered blade, I thought it was over.

But fate was kind, and I was found by Arthur.

"What happened to you, little girl? How did you get hurt so badly?"

"Where's your home, honey? I'll take you back."

I was lost back then, not knowing where to go or if I even had a home to return to.

After all, everyone believed that Valerie Frost, the High Alpha, had died taking the Rogue King with her.

So, I just shook my head blankly.

Arthur sighed, but then he flashed a warm, fatherly smile.

"Here, eat this rotisserie chicken. Get some strength back. There's no hole in this world you can't climb out of!"

He watched me devour the chicken, then continued.

"Since you have nowhere to go, come back with me. I've just started a small pack, and I haven't even taken any disciples yet. You'll be my first! What do you think? Sound good?"

Watching that middle-aged man act like a goofball just to make me smile, a wave of warmth filled my chest.

The world had always looked to me as a pillar of strength, a god-like figure.

This was the first time someone had treated me like just a girl.

Because of that warmth, I followed Arthur to Moonshadow and became their eldest sister, the one who handled the chores and kept the peace.

I stayed there for five years.

I pulled myself out of my thoughts and followed the crowd of guests up the mountain path toward the Zenith Packhouse.

"Did you hear? This Sienna girl is only getting the title because she saved High Alpha Gideon's life!"

"I heard. That tiny Moonshadow Pack must have been desperate to give up a Silver-Grove elixir like that."

"A single bottle of medicine for a marriage to the most powerful man in the world? That's a hell of a deal!"

I felt a surge of cold mockery.

My father's life for a pathetic marriage contract, and everyone thought it was a bargain.

Did anyone care about the blood on that contract?

Did anyone care about the life of a small-town Alpha?

I raised my shattered silver blade and swung. With one strike, I cleaved the Zenith Pack's massive stone gates in two.

If no one cares, I'll make them care!