Chapter 1 Chapter 1

After I lost my wolf, many distinguished families no longer invited me to events. However, for the first time in a long while, I unexpectedly received an e-invitation to a wedding. It was sent by my stepsister, Laila Woodfield. When I opened it, it turned out to be an invitation to her and my mate Jackson Daveed's wedding. She even sent me a live stream link to the wedding. I clicked it open and saw Jackson giving Laila a diamond ring. She looked delicately charming in her golden wedding dress. Laila blushed and extended her hand as Jackson slipped the ring onto her finger. But before she could even lower her hand, Jackson eagerly lifted her veil and pulled her tightly into his arms. Amid the teasing cheers of friends around them, the two embraced each other and kissed passionately. By the end of the kiss, Laila's legs were so weak she could barely stand, and only then did Jackson stop, gasping. He only had eyes for his first love, Laila. He seemed to have completely forgotten about me, who was pregnant and staying at home. A long while later, Laila messaged me, saying, "Sorry, Seraphina. I sent the message to you by mistake." She even attached a tongue-sticking-out emoji. I called Jackson and asked softly, "Where are you?" He let out a cold laugh and mocked me, "Of course, I'm working! Can you not live without a man? Trying to spy on me again? "You're already pregnant. Can't you behave? Are you really that desperate for love?" I sent him the wedding livestream link Laila had given me, and he immediately became flushed and flew into a rage. "Laila was poisoned with wolfsbane. I'm just giving her the wedding she wished for. You're making us sound despicable. Don't you know whether I've cheated or not?" How self-righteous he sounded. He was well aware that I lost my wolf to save him, so now that I was an ordinary person, how could I possibly still have the special mindlink that connected werewolves? On the other end of the call, Jackson's harsh words seemed to drown me like a tidal wave. "Laila once took care of me when I was seriously ill. This is just my way of repaying her. Only a filthy-minded, disgusting woman like you would twist everything into something romantic!" The last sliver of hope in my heart made me choke out my words. "But Jackson, today is my birthday…" Jackson seemed to have just recalled that today was my birthday, and he fell into a brief silence. He was about to say something, but my father snatched the phone and said, "Seraphina, can you stop being so pathetic? Laila doesn't have long to live, and you still want to argue with a sick person?" Laila leaned against Jackson and gently said, "Come on, you all know what kind of person Seraphina is. Today is the most important day of my life. Let's just be happy." With just one sentence, she soothed both men. After the call ended, I was left alone at home in the dark night—like a fool no one cared about. I waited for an entire week, but my family never returned. Not even one of them reached out to me. When I was 12, my father brought my stepmother and an unfamiliar girl into our home. At that moment, I finally understood something—my mother's death wasn't caused by an accident, but by a broken heart.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

After I became a Beta, I had rejected the marriage arranged by the Moon Goddess between Jackson and me. But when I saw that old wooden mask hanging from his waist, I began to pay attention to Jackson. Once, on the battlefield, Jackson was struck by several arrows and forced to the edge of a cliff. In order to buy him a chance to escape, I lunged at the enemy, but they anticipated my move and struck me with a hidden weapon. Liquid silver flowed into my heart through my blood. Even though the healer saved me, I lost my wolf and remained in a coma for an entire year. Everyone knew I was injured because of Jackson, so to make it up to me, he had no choice but to marry me. "Do you think sacrificing yourself can make him love you completely?" asked Waylon, Alpha of the Nocterra pack, when I handed in my resignation. "All you did was cripple the strongest force in the pack." I stubbornly shook my head. During those nights when I was whipped by Mary West, my stepmother, the boy outside the city wearing the wooden mask was the only comfort to my younger self. But when I learned that Laila's gentle care for Jackson had so easily claimed his entire heart while I was unconscious, I began to regret it. After snapping back to reality, I received a video call request from Waylon. He stared at me from the other end. His deep-green eyes were filled with an emotion I couldn't quite fathom. "You look like you've grown more haggard," he said. "You called just to check on your former Beta's physical condition?" My tone was mocking, but I knew he wouldn't get angry—he had always been tolerant of me when I worked under him. He felt like an old friend who knew me well, and we always had excellent coordination on the battlefield. But for some reason, after I got married and resigned, he became much more serious with me. "There was an earthquake in the western region of the Nocterra pack. I'd like you to check on the situation and lead the warriors in rescuing the victims," he informed me. My mother's hometown was also located in the Nocterra pack. I accepted the mission and was about to contact the warriors when I saw that Laila had texted me privately with a photo. In the photo, Laila's hand was wrapped in a strong, well-defined one, and both of their ring fingers wore matching couple rings. "Seraphina, I finally know the joy of being a bride. You'll give me your blessing, right?" Laila asked. Though his face wasn't shown, I recognized the faint scar on the back of Jackson's hand. Even though my heart had already numbed, it still ached uncontrollably. That scar came from the time after our wedding when a drunk man caused trouble and questioned my worthiness to be Jackson's mate. Jackson had protected me and was cut by a silver knife—that wound left a lasting scar. It had always been the proof I held onto that made me believe he truly cared for me. But after I thought back to it, Laila had been standing behind me that entire time. So, in the end, it had all been nothing but my own wishful thinking. I suppressed my emotions, and with a heart full of sorrow and pity, I led the warriors to help the affected people at the disaster site. The consequences of this earthquake were particularly severe. As I looked at the nearby minefield built by chiseling into the mountain, I felt a bad premonition. However, in the next second, someone kicked me hard from behind. Caught off guard, I fell forward onto the rubble and gravel caused by the earthquake. Chunks of tender flesh were instantly torn from my hands and face. My father's voice came from behind, sounding cruel. "Seraphina, did you follow us all the way here just to catch a cheater?"

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

The Nocterra pack was known for its numerous natural heart-shaped stones and had always been the top choice for many werewolf couples' honeymoons, so I figured this was the reason why Father and the others were here. I deeply regretted not avenging my mother when I was at my strongest. I stood up in silence and casually brushed off the dust from my clothes. With a face full of disgust, I stared at him and said, "This is my mother's hometown, yet you dare bring your mistress's daughter here? "I don't have time to deal with you right now. Please leave quickly!" I ignored my father's angry gaze and turned around, continuing my rescue efforts. Nearby, Jackson held the pale-faced Laila as he approached. A trace of guilt flashed across his face as he spoke to me. "Seraphina, I forgot to celebrate your birthday recently. Once I finish up here, I'll…" I composedly shifted my gaze away from the interlocked fingers of his and Laila's hands and shook my head calmly. "No need," I said. My calm response left the three of them momentarily stunned. My father sneered. "Seraphina, what are you pretending now? Who doesn't know you love Jackson so much that you've lost your dignity? Even if you're pregnant, you're still unworthy of kneeling and licking Laila's shoes!" Jackson was also annoyed, saying, "Seraphina, it's one thing to follow us around and cause trouble, but now you’re throwing a tantrum here? My patience is limited. Laila needs rest, and your presence will only affect her mood. Leave now and scram home!" He grabbed my hand, trying to forcibly pull me away from the scene. But the next second, aftershocks began. Jackson immediately let go of my hand and rushed to Laila's side with my father. As I stumbled and fell to the ground, the silver blade in Jackson's hand slipped from his grasp. "Laila, duck!" he shouted, using his weapon to deflect the falling rocks that were tumbling toward Laila. In my weakened state, my movements were momentarily delayed, and the sharp pain of the blade cutting through my flesh exploded across my back. As I lay curled up in a pool of blood, I saw the blade lodged in a crack in the rock. The handle was engraved with my name. I suddenly remembered that this blade was one I had made for him myself. Then, I completely lost consciousness amid the excruciating pain. … When I awoke again, I was lying in the healer's clinic, and there was no one by my bedside. The healer, seeing that I had awakened, said with concern, "Your wound isn't healing. If we forcefully administer medication, the pup might not survive." I calmly gazed at the ceiling and spoke softly. "I don't need to keep the pup. Please help me with an abortion."

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

It wasn't until the healer wheeled me out of the ward that I learned it was one of the warriors accompanying me who had brought me in for treatment. Meanwhile, Jackson only left behind a casually written note. "Laila got shocked by your injury and fainted. I took her home for treatment." It was laughable—Laila was merely frightened, and yet he and Ragnar immediately applied for a rescue helicopter that very night to escort her back to the Ulvengard pack. As for me, despite carrying Jackson's pup and being seriously injured, he didn't care in the slightest. The deep despair in my heart had dulled into numbness, yet it still hurt to breathe. With my body in such a state, I could no longer continue the rescue work. Thankfully, it was nearly complete, so I asked the warriors to escort me back. On the way back, we passed by my home. In the garden, I saw my father, Mary, and Jackson holding a cake, all gathered around Laila. As I watched the startled birds flit across the sky outside the window, a bitter smile tugged at my lips. My father placed a flower crown on Laila's head and said, "May my dearest daughter always be happy!" Jackson set off a sky full of fireworks, and the message spelled out, "I will forever love only Laila." When Jackson saw the car, he called me and openly mocked me. "Seraphina, what kind of fit are you throwing this time? You just can't stand us being good to Laila, can you? "After we got married, I genuinely tried to live peacefully with you, but you kept going after Laila. You accused her and her mother of killing your mom. And the truth? Your father told me long ago—it was your mom's own mental illness! "Laila even got poisoned with wolfsbane when she tried to save you, yet you viciously claimed it was a self-inflicted act! Hah!" He made no attempt to hide the scorn and disgust in his voice. "Even if the Moon Goddess made us mates, I never actually wanted to marry you. If you hadn't forced my hand with your so-called sacrifice, I would've married the one I truly love long ago!" I stayed silent the entire time until one of the staff members I had brought with me interrupted Jackson. "Ms. Seraphina, this is the necklace made from your pup's ashes and remains. Please take it." Jackson abruptly fell silent, and his breathing turned ragged. "What happened to the pup?"

Chapter 5 Chapter 5

For some reason, I could actually hear a trace of disbelief in his voice. I was just about to speak when I heard Laila chuckle on his end. "Jackson, you're so stupid. Seraphina cared so much about you and your pup. There's no way she wouldn't have tried everything to keep them." After he heard this, Jackson's tone instantly turned cold. "Seraphina, you've utterly disappointed me. How could you be this vicious? You did everything you could to marry me, and now you're using the pup to threaten me? "I'm telling you, I won't fall for it. If you keep this up, I'll reject you!" He finished speaking and smugly waited for me to cry, beg, and apologize. However, to his surprise, I stayed silent for a few seconds before sighing in relief. "Alright. I accept the rejection," I said before hanging up the call and going straight home with the necklace. Jackson didn't show up for several days—he seemed to think I was just sulking. He kept texting me nonstop, bombarding me. "If you don't bring my pup back safely within ten days, I'll do what you wanted and break our mate bond." "I'll also publicly declare Laila as my mate in the Ulvengard pack." When he saw I wasn't reacting, he started a countdown and messaged me privately every day about his plans. On the fifth day, he took Laila to a ball. Then, on the sixth, he introduced her to his parents. The next day, they went out to get customized Luna jewelry together… I ignored it all. Once I had mostly recovered, I went to the Alpha King and requested that he forcibly break the mate bond between me and Jackson. I then deliberately sought out Waylon—perhaps because deep down, I believed he was the only one who would never give up on me. "I want to return to the Nocterra pack. The strategies I know for leading troops will surely come in handy," I said. He agreed, and he also said with a meaningful look at me, "Even if you had nothing to offer, I'd always have a place for you." I didn't fully understand what he meant. After bidding him farewell, I returned to the house my mother lived in before she got married. I packed up all the cheap gifts Jackson had given me over the past 15 years. I also left him a letter—and with it, the evidence of how my father and stepmother had colluded with our enemies back then. After Jackson was forced to the edge of a cliff by our enemies, he'd suffered from PTSD and ended up forgetting everything. Although he had heard from others that I saved him, he had always doubted it. All these years, I never dared to say more for fear of triggering him. That was why I never told him who had driven him to such a desperate situation to seize the Alpha title of the Ulvengard pack. Upon looking back at it now, my cautiousness was laughable. I also submitted the documents secretly handed to me by villagers during the Nocterra pack's rescue mission to Waylon. When I learned what Jackson had been doing there, the last shred of affection I had for him disappeared, and only disgust remained. After finishing all of this, I suddenly received a message from Jackson. "I heard you've said goodbye to the Nocterra pack and are preparing to leave. You're preparing to come back, right? There are only six hours left before the tenth day ends. If you're willing to come back with Laila's favorite dessert, I'll extend the deadline by three hours." I simply smiled and didn't reply. I then had everything packed and got someone to send it to them. From that moment on, I'd severed all ties with them.

Chapter 6 Chapter 6

Because I didn't return during the stipulated time with Laila's favorite dessert, Jackson went mad and sent me messages, cursing me out. "You crazy woman! Do you think you can threaten me? No one cares about your well-being—I only care about the safety of my pup in your belly!""Tomorrow, I'll hold a press conference and publicly acknowledge Laila as my mate in the Ulvengard pack. Laila said she's willing to give me a pup. I don't want the one in your belly anymore!""I won't break the mate bond with you either—I want every intimate moment with Laila to stab into your heart like a blade, so you'll suffer more than she did from the wolfsbane!" He messaged me every few minutes, and at this rate, I was starting to wonder if he actually cared about me. However, judging by the timing, the things I sent them should arrive tomorrow. When that happened, Jackson would definitely bombard me even more. I really couldn't be bothered to respond. With that thought in mind, I deleted his contact. Unexpectedly, the very next day, Laila messaged me. "My dear Seraphina, thank you for giving up Jackson and making things easier for us. Last night was our wedding night, and we didn't even change the marital bed! He was so vigorous. As his mate, last night must have been uncomfortable for you, right?""Oh, and here's the link to today's press conference. Make sure you tune in, okay?" I checked the time. It was just about to start, so I clicked on the livestream link. The press conference was being held in the living room of the house Jackson and I used to live in. Many reporters were present. The event hadn't officially started yet, and Jackson was talking with his men, seemingly explaining the procedure. But he seemed distracted—he kept glancing toward the front door again and again, as if expecting an arrival. And, by his side, Laila looked bashfully demure. Gone was the arrogant, sharp-tongued girl I'd always known—she was trying hard to project the dignified demeanor of a Luna. My father and stepmother sat behind them, radiating a noble air that distracted people from the calculating gleam in their eyes. Finally, the press conference officially began. Right off the bat, a reporter asked sharply, "Why is the Ulvengard pack replacing its Luna? Alpha Jackson, have you betrayed your original mate?" The reporter's bold question made many in the livestream comments start to believe the broadcast was genuine and not just a political performance. Jackson cleared his throat and calmly replied, "My ex-mate—Seraphina—and I had a peaceful separation. There was no betrayal from either side." Then he pulled Laila to his side and said, "Because of the Moon Goddess's arrangement, I chose the wrong mate. For the rest of my life, I want to be with the one I truly love." The livestream comments scrolled by furiously. Many believed what Jackson said and widely praised their brave pursuit of love. Strangely, none of the reporters asked about me again. Instead, they kept asking about Jackson and Laila's love story and future plans. I let out a chuckle. Who wrote this terrible script? Anyone with half a brain could see the plot holes. But Jackson clearly hadn't noticed, as he mechanically read his lines while constantly glancing toward the door. At last, someone pushed open the door, and Jackson couldn't help but smirk—that was until he saw who it was. Stunned, he asked, "Why is it you? Where's Seraphina?"