Chapter 1 Chapter 1

My family had always hoped that my Alpha mate and Luna ceremony would be given to my cursed sister, Lilith Blackwood. When I refused to give in, I was thrown into the Dark Forest, which was rampant with wild beasts. I was pregnant, which weakened me greatly. I ended up being gnawed and mauled to death. It was wrong of me to think that my death would end everything. I became a ghostly spirit with nowhere to go. Eventually, I floated back to the former home I shared with my Alpha mate, Fenris Soren. That was when I saw something that shook me to the core. My sister, Lilith, was wearing the dress I had carefully chosen for our Luna ceremony. She replaced me by Fenris' side while being showered with everyone's blessings. Fenris held her hand tenderly. They looked like a match made in heaven. My mother and older brother watched below the stage. Their eyes were red from tearing up. My mother said, "You'll live a happy life from now on, Lilith!" The words 'happy life' burned into my soul like a searing cast iron. I was just a fragment of a spirit and should not be feeling pain. However, the feeling of my soul tearing apart felt so real. I, Selene Blackwood, had always been invisible to my family since I was young. Lilith had always been their little princess and sweetheart. I was always just 'Selene'. When we grew up, they left all the family fortune to Lilith, while I could barely feed myself, even though I worked three jobs a day. It was only after meeting Fenris that I was finally convinced I could have happiness. How wrong I had been. My mother and brother wanted me to fulfill Lilith's only wish before her death by using the excuse that she was suffering from a lethal curse. They wanted me to give her Fenris. They wanted Lilith to replace me in completing the ceremony with Fenris. I was adamant about rejecting this ridiculous request. Fenris had promised to make up for the lack of a marking ceremony during the Luna ceremony. I trusted my mate. I thought he would never agree to the request. However, Fenris… He had actually agreed to it. He had betrayed me. He had turned his back on our vows. Fenris probably had no idea I was dead. After all, he had not marked me. It was only a few days ago that something had to be done to prevent me from stopping Lilith from taking part in the ceremony. My brother, Damian, tossed me into the Dark Forest, where wild beasts roamed. That was when I realized I was pregnant with Fenris' child. My pregnancy had caused my strength to weaken tremendously. There was not much I could do to fight back the packs of wild beasts coming at me. I was gnawed on and torn apart by the beasts while still alive. I subconsciously rubbed my non-existent neck. It felt like my horrible wound was still there. Now, I was just a fragment of a spirit. All I could do was watch things unfold in front of me. However, there had to be a reason the Moon Goddess allowed me to remain in the mortal world. I continued following Fenris and Lilith. After the ceremony, Fenris kept close to Lilith the entire day by using the excuse that he had to teach Lilith how to be a qualified Luna. They would have long walks on the grassy fields while holding hands, and would hug and kiss as if no one were around them. Everyone cheered for them, including my mother and brother. "Fenris." Lilith leaned into his arms. She looked up at him with a fragile expression. She had always been good at acting frail. "Selene hasn't been in contact. Is she… Is she still mad at me?" I wanted to applaud her performance. "She won't be mad at you." He comforted her softly. His fingers brushed through her hair. "Selene would understand this. Your curse can't be broken, and your life is on a countdown clock. Being my Luna is your only wish." He paused. He sounded like he was trying to convince himself. "She'll understand. I'll… make it up to her in the future.""That's good to know." Lilith sounded relieved. They returned to the room that night. Lilith put on a sexy, revealing night gown and saw Fenris standing by the window in a daze. There was half a cigarette still burning between his fingers. She hugged him around the neck from behind. Her voluptuous breasts pressed tight against him. She rubbed them sensuously against him. "Fenris, it's getting late. How about having some rest?" Fenris pushed her away. He said distractedly, "You should get some sleep. I still have work with the Pack." He turned away and left the room. Disappointment flashed across Lilith's face. Fenris had always been a workaholic, but he had chosen Lilith as his Luna. He could not continue rejecting her this way. I floated over to my mother's house. Damian and she were trying to call me crazily. They looked extremely upset to hear the robotic tone at the other end of the line saying that I could not be reached. "Why isn't Selene picking up my call?!" My mother screamed shrilly. "Is she crazy?!" Damian roared as he smashed his cellphone to the ground. The screen cracked right away. They had always taken for granted that I would come running to them with my tail wagging like a pitiful dog every time they cajoled me with lies after hurting me. To them, I was the clown who would keep doing what they wanted in exchange for a pitiful amount of love and care. However, they miscalculated this time. I would never pick up their call again. My mother said worriedly to him, "Damian, Selene is the most powerful female warrior in the Pack. We still need her protection. Is she not picking up because she's still upset with us?" He lit up a cigarette and sneered while blowing smoke rings. "Hmph! You brought her up. It's only right that she does as she is told. What right does she have to be upset?" I watched this disgusting sight silently while floating in the room. If I had a choice, I would never have chosen to be born in the Blackwood family.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Not long after, Lilith probably felt that it was not enough. She called over renovation workers to completely redesign the house. Lilith was wearing my nightie and acted as if she were the mistress of the house, directing the workers. Fenris was taken aback by the sight when he returned. He realized that the last of my existence in the house was about to be wiped out. When the workers were about to enter my beloved study, Fenris stopped them. "Lilith, not this room." She quickly put on a pitiful look, and tears welled in her eyes. "Fenris, I know that I don't have much time left. I bought so many new clothes that I haven't had the chance to try them on. I'd like to wear them. Can't I turn this study into my wardrobe?" There was a flash in Fenris' eyes. He was clearly about to give in to her. "But… Selene has always done her work in there…""Alright. How about turning the storeroom downstairs into her study?" Lilith showed how 'understanding' she was by giving in. She quickly pressed her hand to her chest and put on a painful expression. "If only I weren't cursed. I would have a long time to live, and I wouldn't need to put you on the spot. How fortunate that I'm the one who was cursed, and not you.""Alright… I'll do anything you want." Fenris' heart ached for her. He pulled her into his arms. I could see the cunning smile on Lilith's face clearly. That was how my study, which I had taken a lot of effort to design, became Lilith's luxurious wardrobe. The project documents, notes, and all my effort, which I treasured with my life, were unceremoniously chucked into the dark, wet storeroom like they were garbage. "Take this away! Throw that away too! That's right! Throw them into the storeroom!" Lilith gave the orders arrogantly. A can of paint was overturned, and the sticky liquid destroyed all of my books instantly. No one thought it was a problem. Even Fenris stood stiffly by the side to watch all of this silently. He should have known better. He knew that I had always struggled with my parents' unfairness since I was young. He knew that I had always wanted to prove myself with all my heart. My greatest dream was to become the Beta of the Pack and lead us all to the peak. To achieve this goal, I had locked myself in my study for many sleepless nights to work out numerous plans. Each one of them was precious like my child. However, Fenris had destroyed all of them over a few insincere lies from Lilith. It felt like a hole was torn in my heart. The pain of my soul being torn apart was so intense that I could hardly take it. Fenris had claimed to love and cherish me. It was all nothing but a joke. … A few days later, Fenris arrived at the Pack Affairs Office. His face fell instantly when he saw the documents heaped high on the table. They were supposed to be handled by me, but nothing had been touched. Fenris thought I was throwing a tantrum and failed to consider the bigger picture. He probably thought that he was just trying to fulfill Lilith's dying wish, and I had no right to be acting stubbornly. He took out his cellphone to call me. Naturally, no one picked up the call. After that, he tried to contact me with our mind-link but could not sense where I was. How ironic. He had never marked me before. How could he sense me? He did not even know I was dead. "You've crossed the line, Selene!" he roared. The mountain of documents had delayed the progress of his plan. Fenris swept all the documents to the floor in great anger. "Don't be mad, Fenris." Lilith walked into the office at the right moment. She said sweetly, "I can do anything Selene can. Let me help you." She bent over to pick up the documents from the floor and pretended to flip through them. A complicated look flashed in Fenris' eyes when he saw Lilith busying herself with the documents. He seemed to come to a decision as he clenched his teeth and said, "Alright. If things are going to be this way, you should take over Selene's position." Fenris announced my resignation and appointed Lilith to take over my post as his right-hand woman. Lilith did not miss any chance to seduce Fenris. The moment the office doors closed, she took off her coat by claiming she felt too hot. All she was wearing under her coat was an almost transparent lacey camisole. Her luscious breasts were almost pouring out of it, and they caught Fenris' attention instantly. It was not surprising to see what was left of Fenris' pitiful willpower broken down almost immediately by Lilith's attempt at seduction. They tore at each other's clothes as they grabbed each other passionately on the office table. I almost threw up from the deep sense of disgust. If a look could tear them into a million pieces, my stare would have already killed them. I touched my flat belly without realizing it. There used to be a life created by me and Fenris living in there. But that little life could no longer see the world. I guess I should feel lucky about it. Fenris was not good enough to be a father, after all.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

Fenris seemed to have gone crazy in the next few days. He kept trying to contact me and even sent out his men to find me. He left message after message. They started angry, but eventually, he began pleading and begging me to return to his side. However, he continued to have sex with Lilith every night. What a hypocrite. A few days later, Lilith announced that she was pregnant. She caressed her belly gently while lying in Fenris' arms with a blissful look on her face. "Do you want a boy or a girl, darling?" Lilith was glowing from this gift from heaven. Her eyes shone bright with happiness. Did she look like someone who was tormented by a curse and did not have long to live? It was a cheap lie that was easily exposed. However, Fenris was like a blind man who could not see the truth. His mind was in a mess because of my disappearance, and he put his cellphone down in frustration. When he glanced at Lilith's hand, he suddenly stopped short. "That's Selene's ring. Why is it on your finger?" A look of panic flashed on Lilith's face, but she quickly hid it with her impeccable acting. "Really?" She looked at the ring in mock surprise. "Selene must have used the same design I did. I love this design and hired a jeweler to get it made for me." Fenris frowned. He looked at her suspiciously. Lilith quickly changed the topic. "Come on. Damian and Mom are waiting at home to celebrate my pregnancy. We should go." She pulled Fenris along as she got up. As I watched them leave, I touched my empty finger. How did she get her hands on my belongings after my death? Could it be that my death was no accident? While at the dinner table, everyone was showing concern for Lilith. She was cursed, but had gotten pregnant with Fenris' baby when her body was weak and frail. My brother, Damian, even warned Fenris to take good care of Lilith. Fenris nodded distractedly. All of them had forgotten about me. It was as if Selene Blackwood had never existed in this world. After going through everything, I no longer felt pain over this. All that was left after the intense pain and sorrow was a cold numbness. My love for Fenris and the pitiful yearning for my family's attention fell away gently like dust from the very depths of my soul. They were worthless to me now. "Very good, my child. You have finally let it go." A crisp, elegant voice rang in my mind like a beam of moonlight. Even though I could not see her, I was convinced that it was the voice of the Moon Goddess. "You are my most devout believer. I will help you. Those who hurt you will pay the price." Before she finished her sentence, the feeling of her presence vanished suddenly in the wind. That was when violent knocking was heard coming from the door. Damian frowned with annoyance. He got up slowly. "Who is it? It's already late at night." The person outside the door seemed to have lost patience. There was a loud crash, and the door was kicked open violently. It was my best friend, Vivian. She came through the door like a great gale of wind. Her eyes were red as she roared. It echoed throughout the house. "Where's Selene? I've lost contact with her for a long time! Damn you, Blackwoods! Where did you hide her?" I floated to her in agitation and kept circling her. Vivian! She was the only light in my life. We connected because of our difficult childhoods. Her mother died very early in life, and she lived with her alcoholic father, who had come close to selling her off a few times. However, none of these broke her. She grew up into a woman who was tough as steel. She had always been at my forefront and shielded me since we were young. Panic flashed in Lilith's eyes. She said shrilly, "She's not here! You should search for her elsewhere!""Cut the crap!" Vivian ignored her and swept a glance across the room. "This is her home. Where could she be besides here? Selene! Selene! Where are you?!" She kept calling out my name with everything she had. "I told you she's not here. Are you deaf?!" Lilith ran forward to push Vivian away. Vivian flung her off. She was about to head upstairs. During the altercation, Lilith screamed as she almost rolled down the stairs. Fenris quickly rushed forward to grab Lilith while shouting at Vivian, "Calm down, Vivian! Selene isn't here. I can testify to that." Vivian stopped to stare at Fenris for a few seconds. She suddenly raised her hand without warning. Deep scratches were left on Fenris' face from her sharp claws. Blood splattered everywhere. "Fenris Soren." Vivian's voice was cold like ice. "This is the last time I'm calling you my Alpha. I don't think you're good enough to lead the Pack when you've betrayed your fate. You did nothing when Selene went missing. That proves how much of a coward you are. You aren't capable enough to protect anyone!" She pointed at the Blackwoods with a cold look in her eye. "As for you leeches, I, Vivian, swear to the Moon Goddess that every one of you will pay a painful price for this!" There was dead silence in the room. Vivian's exploding rage had stunned everyone, including her Alpha leader. It was not until Vivian slammed the door upon exit that Fenris snapped out of it. He covered his face with his hand as blood flowed through his fingers. He threw a sharp glance at the Blackwoods. "I've been searching for Selene for a long time without any news of her. Are you sure none of you know where she is?" Damian and my mother lowered their heads guiltily. They did not dare to meet his eyes. Fenris' eyes widened. He felt a cold chill creeping down his back. "You…" His thoughts were interrupted when his cell suddenly rang. Fenris picked up the call. His Beta's shocked voice, which eventually became distorted, exploded from the other end of the call. "We found a corpse in the Dark Forest, Fenris. It's… It's Selene Blackwood."