Chapter 1 Chapter 1

My daughter, Cecilia, died on her fifth birthday. Her dad, the Alpha King, Liam Pearce, had promised to spend the day with her, but he went missing on that day. I had to arrange for Cecilia's funeral alone. With an exhausted body and a broken heart, I brought her urn to the amusement park—her favorite place when she was alive. The park was tranquil at night. I had planned to find a quiet corner to cry my heart out. My beloved daughter, Cecilia, had truly left me… "Darling, you can open your eyes!" Before I could shed a tear, a familiar voice rang in my ear. I clenched my fist and covered my mouth when I recognized Liam's voice! "Hm? It's just the Ferris wheel. We've been here many times." The woman beside him pouted, clearly displeased. When the woman turned around, I was beyond shocked to learn that she was a human. Did Liam seriously cheat on me with a human? "Wait a minute, darling. Three, two, one! Sweet Mia, look up! Be ready for my surprise!" Following Liam's countdown, a dazzling light show commenced in the direction of the Ferris wheel. A sea of hearts surrounded Mia Cordell's name, with fireworks and colorful lights dancing with each other. In the end, countless glowing rays spelled out the line: "I love Mia." How ridiculous! Cecilia was gone, yet here was Liam putting on a display for his beloved woman without a care in the world! My werewolf heart twisted in pain from my husband's betrayal. "Thank you, darling. Thank you for making me such happy memories." Tears of joy welled up in Mia's eyes. She threw herself into Liam's arms. Something struck her. "But darling, isn't your werewolf princess sick? How do you have the time to hang out with me?""Forget about them. I'm sure it's one of Sofia's tricks. She's probably lying about Cecilia being sick to make me stay. Darling, you're the one I love the most." Liam professed his love in the sweetest voice ever. "How about your daughter? Between me and Cecilia, who do you love the most?""Of course, it's you.""Liam, you bastard!" When I heard Liam picking a mere human and putting down Cecilia, I could no longer take it. I appeared from my hiding place and interrupted their kiss. "Sofia, are you seriously stalking me? As expected, you're a calculative woman!" Liam, who was caught red-handed, looked rather uneasy. Yet, he accused me coldly. "Darling, please don't talk about Sofia like that. She's still your mate, after all. Maybe she just happened to be here," Mia reminded Liam in a soft voice, but at the same time, she gave me a smug look. "Get lost! How dare you call me by my name? You're a different species, and a homewrecker at that! You don't have the right to speak to me!" Gripped by anger, I fired back at Mia in a shaky voice. A loud snap echoed in the air. I lost my footing and saw stars when Liam slapped me across the face. He yelled at me, "Who are you to be speaking to Mia in that tone? I wouldn't have married a jealous woman like you if you didn't threaten the Snowdrifter Pack with your wealth! "You're the one who came between me and Mia! You'd better apologize to her!" His hair was standing on end from rage. Then, he added, "That slap on the face is a lesson for you, you dumb, shameless woman!"

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

I fell to the ground, looking disheveled, as blood trickled out from the corner of my lips. I couldn't believe this was Liam, whom I had loved since a young age. For him, I took my responsibility as the Luna of Snowdrifter Pack very seriously. I even used my inheritance from my late parents to expand the influence of his pack, only for him to lay a hand on me for a human. "Drop it, Liam. You know I don't care about titles and status. All I want is to stay by your side," Mia said to Liam with affection. "Don't hurt your marriage because of me." Once again, she shot me a gleeful smile. "Liam, even if you don't love me—even hating me to the point you do not want to see me—our daughter is innocent! Didn't you agree to spend time with Cecilia on her birthday?" I shouted at Liam between sobs when I thought of Cecilia's unfulfilled final wish. "It's just a birthday! I'll make it up to her. As for you, you really didn't have to stalk me in the middle of the night. It's cold out here. Go home and rest early with Cecilia." Liam's tone softened at the mention of Cecilia. Unbeknownst to him, Cecilia would never enjoy another birthday. My kindhearted daughter now rested in the urn I held. Why couldn't Liam spend Cecilia's last birthday with her? "Oh, Liam, was it Cecilia's birthday on that day? I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have asked you to come with me to my prenatal checkup if I had known. I could have gone alone." Mia put on a look of guilt. Caressing her belly, she inched closer to Liam and spoke to him. I was shell-shocked to learn about Mia's pregnancy and the reason Liam went missing on Cecilia's birthday! "You—" My heart was torn into pieces. I confronted Liam in disbelief and begged him for an answer. "Whatever. You don't have to be this confrontational. And don't you dare do anything to Mia's baby. I plan to register his birth in the Snowdrifter Pack royalty," Liam announced without any room for discussion. He added, "That way, Cecilia will have a playmate. The baby will not threaten your position as the Luna of the Snowdrifter Pack.""Hah! Liam, you really covered all your bases, didn't you?" I snickered loudly, feeling sorry for my foolish love and for Cecilia. Stroking the urn in my arms, I thought, "Cecilia had refused to leave the world and hung on until the last second for a father like him." Liam did not deserve to be Cecilia's father. "I'm telling you now, so you won't cook up any wicked tricks to sabotage my plans!" Liam pulled Mia into a hug and kissed her on the forehead. "I have something going on tonight. Go home to Cecilia and tell her I'll celebrate her birthday tomorrow." Tears flooded down my face. My poor Cecilia did not live to see another day! "He's right. Sofia, go home and spend time with Cecilia. Isn't she sick now? You got me wondering if you've been faking her sickness since you refuse to leave." Mia sounded concerned, but the look in her eyes suggested otherwise. "Mia, how I wish you were actually with Cecilia now, you shameless, lowly human!" I could no longer control my emotions and slapped Mia on the face. "Sofia, are you crazy?" Liam immediately put me under control using the werewolf spiritual power. I crashed onto the floor, hard, but never once did I let go of Cecilia's urn. "Get lost!" Liam screamed at me impatiently. Feeling despaired, I scrambled up, ready to leave. "Stop!" Liam suddenly called out. "What are you holding?""You don't have the right to know." With that, I left defiantly.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

I returned to the palace of the Snowdrifter Pack, where Liam and I had been staying after our marriage. Liam and I were childhood friends. He was a prince of the Snowdrifter Pack, while I was the daughter of the richest member of the pack. My parents tragically lost their lives in a rebellion within the pack. Before my mother passed, she begged Liam to shelter me, which he agreed to. Only then did she draw her last breath. Since I had had a crush on Liam from a young age, I mustered all my courage to confess my love. To my surprise, Liam rejected my confession. I had thought he loved me back because he was the one who helped me through the grief of losing both parents. He had hit back at those bullies who harassed me or insulted me because I was an orphan. I could have misinterpreted the intentions behind those actions, but what about the times he'd dried my hair, bought me underwear and pads, and even kissed me on the cheek? I thought he loved me. I was left confused and frustrated for a while. Things started to change when we got engaged on Liam's parents' wishes. Overjoyed, I naively thought that Liam had deliberately turned me down to spring this surprise on me. Never had I thought that the marriage arrangement was the start of our deteriorating relationship. "Sofia, I never thought you'd be so calculative! After I turned you down, you bribed my parents with your inheritance and forced me to marry you!" Liam came at me angrily and glared at me as though he was staring down an enemy. I was utterly confused and desperately explained to Liam that I had done nothing. But he didn't believe me. In his eyes, I was just a woman who would stop at nothing to marry him. He still held onto that belief even after we formed a mate bond and had Cecilia. Perhaps I had made the wrong decision from the very beginning. If I had never married Liam, my daughter wouldn't have fallen victim to an unknown dose of wolfsbane and met such a tragic end. I held Cecilia's ashes in my arms and stayed awake the entire night. "Why are you just sitting there in a daze? Look at yourself—where is the dignity of the Luna of the Snowdrifter Pack?" Liam had returned. Seeing that I didn't respond, he assumed I was still upset about Cecilia's birthday. "I bought Cecilia a birthday cake. See? I kept my promise this time. So, stop acting like the whole world is against you.""There's no chance anymore," I said coldly. "What are you talking about? I missed one birthday! It's not like Cecilia won't have any more birthdays in the future! Do you really have to blow this out of proportion? Sofia, my patience has its limits!" Liam's pupils contracted, his frustration evident. "Liam, what's going on? Is Sofia mad at you again because of me?" Just as I was about to explode in anger, Mia barged in. "I'm really sorry, Liam. You know I never wanted to come between you two. I just… I just want to stay by your side…" Mia's acting had gotten much better. If I hadn't caught the smug, taunting look she threw my way, even I might have felt sorry for her. "It's okay, my dear Mia. It's not your fault." Liam's voice was filled with tenderness. Watching this scene unfold, I suddenly lost the will to argue. Their voices became nothing more than noise. "Just leave, Liam.""Sofia, I am only here to celebrate Cecilia's birthday. Look, I even brought a gift! And I wanted to apologize for selfishly taking Liam away last time. Please don't kick me out, okay?" Mia pleaded, her eyes brimming with tears. "Sofia, don't be ungrateful. I'm warning you—just get along with us peacefully." Liam's tone carried a sharp edge. "Go wake Cecilia up. We'll celebrate her birthday and not let Mia's kindness go to waste.""Cecilia isn't here." My voice remained emotionless. "She's not? Where did she go? Don't tell me you hid her on purpose just to get my attention! I'll find her myself." Liam started heading upstairs. "Sofia, I heard Cecilia was poisoned with wolfsbane. Is she alright?" Mia's lips curled into a wicked smile. "What did you say? It was you! You did this to Cecilia, didn't you?" I hadn't told anyone about Cecilia's poisoning. Everyone simply believed Cecilia was sick. "Give me back my Cecilia!" My eyes widened in fury. I wanted nothing more than to strangle Mia right then and there!

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

"Are you out of your mind?" Liam happened to come downstairs. "Liam, help me! Sofia says she wants Cecilia to be the only princess of the Snowdrifter Pack. She doesn't want my child to be born!""Sofia, you never learn your lesson, do you? I've had enough of you and your vicious schemes!" Liam carefully picked up Mia and yelled at me. Looking at the two of them, I suddenly burst into laughter. "Haha... Liam, you fool!" I shot Mia a hateful glance. "Fine, I'll grant your wish! Liam, inform all members of the royal family that we're getting divorced tomorrow!""Good! Remember—you said that! Don't back out at the last minute! You think rejecting me will make me care about you again?" Liam sneered. "You'll regret this! Mia, let's go!" The two of them slammed the door and left. Without time to calm myself down, I packed up the belongings of my deceased daughter and used the werewolf spiritual power to erase every trace of the life we had shared. I swore never to return to this disgusting place. … The next day, Liam sat proudly in the center of the bustling sacred hall of the Snowdrifter Pack, waiting smugly for something to happen. "Did you hear? Our Alpha King is divorcing Luna!""No way! Luna loves our Alpha King so much—she even tolerated his affair with a human. How could she possibly agree to a divorce?""Just look around. The royal marriage officiant isn't here, and some of the elder council members are missing too. That couple is probably just arguing!" The royal members whispered among themselves. "Hmph, I don't believe that—" Liam did not get to finish his speech. I entered the hall, dressed in an elegant black gown. I was accompanied by the royal marriage officiant and a group of elder council members. "Sofia! How dare you?" Liam clenched his fists in fury. But I didn't spare him a single glance. I stepped onto the stage and spoke calmly, "Thank you all for attending our mate bond dissolution ceremony. I willingly relinquish my position as Luna of the Snowdrifter Pack and divorce Liam.""Good! Sofia! You chose to reject me! You'd better not regret this!" Liam gritted his teeth. As I watched our mate bond dissolve, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. "I will never regret this! My only regret is not breaking our mate bond sooner! If I had... Maybe my Cecilia would still be alive!""What? Is Princess Cecilia dead?""Is this real? What happened?" A wave of murmurs swept through the hall. Liam staggered back, clutching his chest in shock. "W-What did you just say? Sofia, what did you say?""You've always been so curious about this box I carry, haven't you?" I looked straight into his eyes. "Liam, I'll tell you now. It contains the ashes of our daughter, Cecilia! Our daughter is dead! And it was your precious human, Mia, who killed her!" I screamed, my voice breaking. "As you wished, Cecilia will never have another birthday! My poor child... Her last breath was spent asking me, 'Why hasn't Daddy come yet? Does Daddy not love me anymore?'""No! That's impossible!" Liam's hands trembled as he glared at me. "Sofia, is this another one of your tricks? You're lying to me again, aren't you?! I'll find out for myself—I'll check for myself!" He fumbled for his phone, his hands shaking violently. A cold, emotionless voice answered on the other end. "Yes, Alpha King. Princess Cecilia was cremated... on her birthday."