Chapter 1 Chapter 1

It was Raven's wedding ceremony, and all our former classmates had gathered in the grand hall. During dinner, I noticed two seats across from me were still empty. "Don't you know? Draven graduated and just came back from Werewolf University in California.""Wow…" gasped a few wolves. Then suddenly, I felt multiple pairs of eyes land on me. Just at that moment, the doors swung open. The man I hadn't seen in seven years stepped inside. He walked straight over— and sat down right across from me. When our eyes met, it felt like something struck me right in the chest. "Bella, what have you been doing all these years? You look... older. Kind of lifeless." Someone burst into laughter, quickly covering her mouth with a fake apology. "Haha, don't take it personally. Honestly, we didn't even recognize you when you first came in.""And those glasses—where on earth did you find them? They're hideous.""Well, she never looked that great to begin with. Without makeup or accessories, she just looks... awkward." I bit my lip to hide the embarrassment burning through me. I dared to glance up—he was staring at me. His gaze was cold and distant. My heart trembled. I immediately lowered my head. Eventually, the conversation shifted. "So, what were you doing overseas these past seven years?" He gave a faint smile, swirling the whiskey in his glass. "When did you come back?" Everyone at the table seemed to speak over one another, eager to get his attention. Then one question silenced the entire hall. "Did you meet any beautiful she-wolves overseas? I heard the ones there are super hot." At those words, the glass in his hand paused midair. The entire room fell into an uneasy hush, as if they could hear his wolf growling beneath the surface. He slowly set his glass down. A strange smirk tugged at the corner of his lips—distant, unreadable. "You'll know when you go there yourself," he said calmly. But they weren't done trying to humiliate me. "Bella, you never answered us. What exactly have you been doing all these years?" The she-wolf who asked was the same one who used to fawn over Draven back then. And now, she was clearly enjoying the show. I didn't want to answer. But clearly, no one was going to drop the question. "I... I worked in a library. Mostly organizing books." That sentence barely left my mouth before the entire table sighed. "A library? Haha, no wonder she looks so dull and lifeless.""Yeah, reading all day must have ruined her eyesight. Look at those thick glasses." Their laughter echoed around me. I didn't argue. Some of them were Alphas from other packs—I couldn't afford to offend them. So I kept my head lowered, silent. "No wonder she looks like such a nerd. Studying is probably the only thing she's ever done." Then someone chuckled and turned to Draven. "Draven, I've been dying to ask you something for years. What on earth made you fall for her in the first place?" That question pierced straight through me. It felt like my heart was bleeding. Still, no one stopped. Not until Kelvin—my former partner—finally snapped. "That's enough. Why are you still making fun of her? Isn't one joke more than enough?" I froze. My body stiffened, and I could feel my wolf sobbing quietly inside me. I couldn't stay there any longer. I muttered an excuse and hurried toward the restroom. Even then, their whispers followed behind me. "Ugh, sitting next to her feels like I'll catch her dumbness.""Draven, you're lucky you never claimed her.""Who would want a washed-out, boring she-wolf like her? She's disgusting." ..... In the restroom, I turned the faucet on full blast. The sound of rushing water was the only thing loud enough to mask the sound of my sobs. I couldn't stop the tears. They just kept falling, so I kept splashing cold water on my face, over and over. When the redness in my eyes faded a little, I looked up at the mirror. Without my thick glasses, my own reflection was just a blur. Seven years ago, a fire damaged my wolf. My sight was permanently injured after that night. If I didn't wear my glasses, the world was nothing but shadows and fog. When I stepped out of the restroom, I heard voices a few meters behind me. Two men were standing with their backs to me, unaware I was there. "Draven, have you really forgotten Bella? It's been seven years." Through my blurry vision, all I could make out was a small flicker of light— a faint glow burning between his fingers. "There's nothing you can't forget in seven years." He let out a dry laugh. "Honestly, looking at her now—there's nothing special about her.""If today were the first time I met her, I wouldn't have even spared her a second glance." I stood frozen at the corner by the restroom entrance, my legs trembling. I had to reach out and steady myself against the wall. He stubbed out the cigarette and pulled out his phone. A woman's voice came through the speaker—clear, sweet, gentle. "Draven, I'm here. Come get me." And that was it. I didn't cry. But it felt like something inside my chest had caught fire and was burning uncontrollably. Without a word, I turned and walked toward the stairs—quietly. And left the ceremony behind.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

That evening, I was helping my little brother Jim prepare for his first shift. We were alone in the backyard, just the two of us under the dim light, when my phone buzzed. "Raven?""Bella, I'm so sorry," he said, his voice trembling. "I just heard what happened today. I feel terrible." I forced a smile, even though he couldn't see it. "It's nothing, Raven. Don't worry. It was your bonding ceremony—you should be with your mate.""The ceremony's over now, but… I couldn't stop thinking about you. I really was worried." There was a silence. Something thick and bitter lodged itself in my throat, but I didn't let it out. Raven spoke again, trying to ease the tension. "How's Jim? I brought a pack of candies for him, but you left before I could give it to you." I softened. "Thanks. He'll love that." Then his tone shifted, cautious but caring. "Is… is he going in for surgery again soon? How's the payment going? Were you able to gather the money?" I clenched my teeth, swallowed the lump in my throat, and exhaled lightly. "I'll figure it out.""Bella, if it's too much, I can help—really. Just say the word.""No, Raven," I cut him off gently. "You've helped me so much already. I'm truly grateful." I ended the call before he could say anything else. When I glanced at Jim, he was already fast asleep, completely worn out from trying to shift into his wolf for the first time. I picked up his coat to cover him gently, but as I did, a small card slipped out of the pocket. On it, in his crooked handwriting, it read: My dear older sister: She is the most precious person to me. She's beautiful and kind, the best sister in the whole world. I want to grow up fast so I can earn a lot of money and help her fix her eyes. I'm sure her eyes will be even more beautiful once they're healed. I couldn't help but smile. Such a thoughtful little pup. A warm, indescribable feeling rose from deep within my chest. I gently ran my fingers through his hair and pulled him into a tight hug. My tears fell silently onto his small, scarred claws. The old burn marks were still there—faint, but clear. The fur in that area had never grown back, even after three surgeries in the past seven years. I took a deep breath, stood up, and returned to my room. There was no time to waste. I needed to get started on my part-time work. .......... Ever since Raven's bonding ceremony, Draven had once again become the center of attention. Back in werewolf school, he was already the star—wherever he went, all eyes followed. His grandfather was the Lycan King, and their family owned multiple companies overseas. Now, he had become an alpha himself and was expected to inherit the king's title soon. Since his return to our pack, he had conquered new lands and absorbed smaller packs under his command. He was still that powerful, commanding figure—admired even by our former classmates. In our Werewolf Class 2 group chat, things had grown more lively after his return. "Draven, was that your mate you brought with you last time?" One of our old classmates asked. About half an hour later, he finally came online and replied: "Yep. Sorry I didn't introduce her to everyone. We left in a bit of a hurry, so I didn't get the chance." When I saw his reply, the phone I was holding froze mid-air in my hands. I sat there motionless as the chat continued to buzz. "She's so beautiful. You two look perfect together.""Isn't she the daughter of the Shadow Pack's Alpha? I think I saw her in a news article years ago. She's even more elegant in person.""Really? That's her? The Shadow Pack Alpha's daughter?" One after another, my former classmates confirmed her identity. "Are you going to claim her soon?" There was a long silence—until Draven appeared again. This time, he replied with just one word: "Soon." The chat exploded with warm congratulations and cheers. I slowly put down my phone and stared out the window. Before I realized it, tears were already falling, hot and unstoppable. I took off my heavy glasses and lowered my head, wiping my face quietly in the dim light.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

Seven years ago, Draven fell in love with me. But our bond was never blessed by anyone—not his family, not mine, not the pack. In the end, everything ended abruptly. I left him without giving any explanation. The truth is… our bond could've continued. All it needed was one more step. But I didn't take it. I couldn't fulfill even his last, simplest wish. Not even that. Back then, his parents had already planned out his future: He was to attend the prestigious Werewolf University in California, far away from me. But he didn't want to go. He stood up to his parents, refused to obey, and tried to prove that he could become a powerful Alpha on his own terms—without following their path. Yet the clan wouldn't give him a chance. The moment he chose to stay with me, chaos followed. Several pack leaders left. Veteran warriors refused to fight. The pack fell into disarray. And all of that… wasn't because of him. It was his parents—they were the ones pulling strings in the dark, manipulating the elders, applying pressure to force him into submission. As for my family… we were struggling to survive. We had nothing to offer him, yet we kept begging for his help. Before his parents cut off his financial support, he had quietly been helping my family—sending money, covering costs, doing everything he could. But once they cut him off… He was left with nothing. Desperate, he began taking dangerous jobs. He even risked his life in illegal werewolf racing competitions, just to win prize money—just to help us. However, during a high-stakes competition, he was severely injured when he tried to leap over a pit laced with silver. His wolf was badly hurt, and from that moment on, he was never able to race again. No one could truly understand how helpless and devastated he was, lying alone in the infirmary bed. In the end, it was his parents who finally gave in. "Since we can't keep you two apart, then just go together—to the Werewolf University in California.""If she goes with you… maybe she'll become someone who truly deserves to stand beside you." His mother sent us both the acceptance documents for studying overseas. After his mother left, the darkness that had clouded Draven's face for days finally lifted. A smile bloomed on his lips. "Bella, did you hear what my mother said? She's accepted our bond!""You must come to California with me and stay for two years.""You're not allowed to say no. I'm going to claim you as my mate. I love you too much—I have to mark you as my Luna." That day, I was so overwhelmed I couldn't stop the tears from falling. I wrapped my arms tightly around him, heart full. My lips trembled as I looked at him with everything I had. "I agree. We'll go together." When the day of our departure came, I broke my promise. He waited for me at the airport until the final boarding call. Until the plane took off. But I never showed up. He called me—again and again. I didn't answer a single one. Then came his messages. One after another. "You fool... If you don't want to go abroad, I won't force you. Just… pick up my call. Just once, my sweetheart.""You promised to wait for me. I'll come back for you after I graduate." The next morning, I was lying unconscious on a infirmary bed, my body covered in soot and the scent of burned fur. When I finally woke up after the surgery, someone gently shook my shoulder. "Are you okay, miss? Here's your phone. We found it in the burned area." I stared at it… but I didn't have the courage to turn it on. Then a werewolf firefighter stepped closer. He hesitated before speaking. "Your mate… seems to have gone overseas.""I saw his last message when I recovered your phone from the scene." My body was weak, but my mind was terrifyingly clear. I buried my face in my arms as a stabbing pain exploded behind my eyes. Tears spilled down my cheeks—hot, uncontrollable. Until they turned red. The nurse beside me screamed, her voice trembling with panic. "Her eyes…! She's bleeding from her eyes!"

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

Seven years ago, my entire life was turned upside down by that fire. I had always dreamed of going to the Werewolf Research Academy. But that dream was destroyed. My wolf was severely injured in the fire, and my eyes were burned—my vision permanently damaged. Becoming a werewolf researcher became nothing more than an unreachable fantasy. Two years passed, but Draven never came back. I only saw his mother once during that time. She showed me a few photos. In one of them, a she-wolf stood close beside him. In that photo, I saw his handsome face, his strong build, and that same confident, defiant smile— the same one I had fallen in love with all those years ago. He hadn't changed at all. I wanted to smile. But I couldn't. My heart had already shattered into too many pieces. I held those photos in my hands, numb and hollow, not even knowing how I made it back home afterward. But I didn't have the luxury of breaking down. I had no time to grieve. Because I had to survive. I had to earn money. I had to keep my brother alive. That same night—the night Draven left for overseas— a fire broke out in our den. My mother and my younger brother were still inside. By the time I rushed back, the flames had already swallowed the place whole. And my mother... was burned beyond recognition. Burying his face into my mother's chest, my little brother Jim—only five years old at the time—was trembling. His small back and arms were covered in burns. The scars ran deep, both on his body and in his heart. Ever since that day, I had only one goal— To earn enough money for his surgeries, to raise him with my own hands, to be both his sister and his mother, and to make sure he had a future... a normal one, with school, laughter, and safety. ..... The next day, while walking home from the library, it happened. Someone suddenly crashed into me from behind. "Make room!" the man shouted as he ran past. The impact jolted me, and my glasses were knocked clean off my face. I heard them hit the pavement with a sharp crack— then shatter completely as the man's heel crushed them into pieces. Panic flooded my chest. I spun around, trying to chase after him, but all I could see was a blurry mess of color and light. He was already gone. My hands trembled as I knelt down and picked up what was left of my glasses. How could I get home without them? Night had already fallen, and without my glasses, the world was a shapeless blur. I can't even remember how many strangers I accidentally bumped into on the street that night— until I slammed straight into another figure. However, the person I bumped into didn't scold me. He didn't complain, didn't scoff, didn't even step away. Instead, he stood there silently, as if observing me... quietly. "Excuse me, sir," I said softly, my voice trembling. "Could you take me to the nearest optician? My glasses… they were broken, and I need to buy a new pair." I couldn't make out his features at all. The streetlights were dim, and without my glasses, the world was little more than a shadowy haze. To my surprise, he didn't move. He didn't speak. He didn't leave. Just silence… long, unreadable silence. "I'm sorry," I murmured, lowering my head. "I didn't mean to bother you." I turned slightly, preparing to fumble my way forward on my own. But then— A familiar voice, low and stunned, sliced through the stillness behind me. "Bella… Are you serious? Did you bump into me… on purpose?" I froze. The air turned cold. My breath caught. That voice— I hadn't heard it in years. And yet, I could never forget it. Was it really him? Or was fate simply playing the cruelest trick?

Chapter 5 Chapter 5

It was Draven. He spoke, his voice low and cold, like ice scraping against my skin. "Well, you're pretty convincing pretending to be blind. Have you become an actress over the years?" He let out a scoff. "How pitiful. If you're trying to seduce me, you're still not bold enough. You should try harder. At least…" He suddenly grabbed my hand and pressed it against his chest. "Like this. Maybe then, I'd feel something for you again." I yanked my hand back instantly. My heart had been pounding wildly the moment I touched him— but his mockery pierced deeper than the contact. His cold laugh still echoed in my ears. I turned away from him, even though I couldn't see his face clearly. "I'm sorry… I truly didn't mean to bump into you." And then, I walked on—blind, embarrassed, and aching. After all these seven years, this was how he saw me. A liar. A manipulator. A disgrace. All he had left for me was disdain and bitterness. I could feel his anger burning behind me, even if I couldn't see him. I kept walking. But the street grew darker, the shadows heavier. Until something darted past my feet—a stray puppy, maybe? I stumbled hard, crashing to the ground. My forehead struck something sharp. A strange chill crept down my face. I reached up. Warm liquid. Something thick and wet. Blood. I tried to get up, but before I could— two strong arms lifted me from behind. "Bella, are you seriously still pretending?" he snarled. "Is this your next act? What's next? Collapsing to your death just to get my attention?" But then… he saw it. The blood. His hands stiffened. His voice changed. "Bella…?" I raised a trembling hand to my forehead and felt it—slick and warm. When I looked at my palm, it was smeared in red. I backed away quickly, swaying. "Sorry… I didn't do it on purpose. Don't come near me—your clothes will get stained." I staggered back, pressing my hand to my head. I didn't want him to see me like this. A mess. A wreck. I just wanted to disappear. "Bella, wait—""Bella, don't run! Stop! There's a car coming—""Bella—!" But I didn't stop. I couldn't. Not when the pain in my chest was louder than his voice. Suddenly, a thunderous bang echoed through the street, and a car slammed to a stop. ..... It felt like I had been trapped in a long, endless dream, running blindly through the darkness. I kept running, even as I crashed into things—again and again—until my body was battered and bruised, the skin turning purple from the blows. Eventually, I collapsed. I fell at the feet of a large wolf, too exhausted to move another inch. Somewhere in the haze of my blurred consciousness, I heard it— voices. "Her wolf is too weak from long-term malnutrition. Her eyesight is severely damaged. She must have been living like this for quite some time…" A sharp voice cut through the air like a blade. "What did you say? Her eyes? Damaged? Poor vision?!" It was Draven. Even in the dark, I could feel his fury. It burned like fire. If he could, he would have killed someone then and there. "Alpha Draven, I'm sorry, but everything I said is true…" Another voice, trembling, full of fear. "I—I don't know… She… she's been staying in your den, not mine. How would I even know what she's been through?" Someone knelt beside me. I could feel the desperate energy radiating from his wolf. "I… I thought her eyes were just short-sighted. I saw her wearing those ugly glasses when I came back. I assumed it was because she read too much in dim light…" Then came another voice, unfamiliar and low: "Draven… who is she?" A pause. Their footsteps started to fade as they left the room. Silence settled in like a heavy fog—but their final words still echoed in my ears. "She must be special to you… I've never heard of you bringing a she-wolf back to your den before." My heart clenched. It pounded so hard I thought it might burst. Was he…? Is he still…?