Chapter 1 Chapter 1

David had been acting strangely lately. Every time I saw him, he'd frown and mutter something under his breath. Whenever our eyes met, he'd hesitate—like he had something to say—but then he'd say nothing at all. And when I tried to ask what was wrong, he simply shook his head, gently but firmly. Today was both the hunting competition and his birthday. He was out celebrating with his friends, and since it was getting late, I figured the party must be over by now. I decided to pick him up—and maybe talk to him about what had been bothering him. I even wore a dress—for the first time in three years. I wanted to look presentable in front of his friends, even if it felt unfamiliar and awkward. As I reached for my moonstone necklace in the drawer, something caught my eye. A glimmering ring lay quietly in the box. I was stunned. My wolf was so overwhelmed, she nearly leapt with joy. This… this had to be it. This was why he'd been so distant. He was planning to propose. My heart soared. I could hardly wait to see him— To tell him I was ready. That I wanted to be claimed. That I wanted to be his Luna. But just as I found him, I heard something that made my blood run cold. "I really want to mark her," he said, "but she's always kept her distance over the past three years." The smile on my face froze. I stood still outside the door—paralyzed, as if the world had stopped spinning. "She's always kept her ex-mate, Jackson, in her heart. That's why she keeps wanting to end her life. I've lost count of how many times she's tried to kill her wolf in silence. Can you believe it? Even after all this time, even as the Alpha, I still can't compete with a dead man. I've been by her side for three years. Waited for her. Loved her. And in all that time—she never cared about me. No matter how much I gave her, she was always cold. Cold as ice. And now I just want to know— Is her wolf even still alive? If she is, then why has she never once responded to mine?" Hearing this felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over my head. I started trembling. Hard. I knew David wasn't drunk—so every word he said was real. Then the others joined in, one by one. "Exactly. No she-wolf could stay that cold for three years. She should've shown some gratitude.""Let's be honest—Aria's wolf was never into you. She didn't even like your scent." One guy, clearly itching for trouble, smirked and added, "Maybe she still dreams about Jackson when she sleeps." That did it. David slammed his fist on the table. His wolf was already shifting—eyes glowing, teeth bared. He let out a low, vicious growl. "What did you just say?" One of David's friends noticed the fury burning in his eyes and quickly stepped in to ease the tension. "Come on, he's just joking. Don't take it so seriously." Then he smirked and added cruelly, "But honestly, David, don't get too attached. She's just a toy. Something to play with and throw away." Another chimed in, laughing mockingly. "Yeah, David. Don't forget who you are—our Alpha. You used to be strong, fearless, romantic. Now? You're like some heartbroken fool, always whining over that she-wolf." I stood there, staring at David as he slowly sank into his seat. His eyes were hollow, haunted. My mind went numb. Everything around me blurred. Then another voice cut through the noise like a blade. "Maybe she thinks you'll never be as good as Jackson." The words landed like a dagger to David's heart. He didn't speak. He just grabbed a bottle and began drinking—one shot after another, like each swallow could drown the pain. His expression twisted, dark and violent. His wolf surged forward beneath his skin, ready to tear the room apart. And still—no one stopped. Not even themselves. Finally, someone stood up, breaking the awkward silence. "Don't make a scene! Today is David's birthday. Say something cheerful to him.""Don't take it to heart, David. Anyway, her ex-mate is dead. It's actually better for you—at least your mate won't betray you like other she-wolves." Hearing these "comforting" words, David regained his composure. "I used to wish I had died… just to see whether she loved me more than Jackson." My wolf let out a low, hoarse growl—I knew she must have been deeply wounded by his words. His friends were all shocked by what he said. "David, don't talk nonsense." Suddenly, David slammed his bottle to the floor. The crash silenced the room. He clenched his jaw, forcing out a few words full of regret. "She tried to take her life so many times… and I saved her every single time. Has she never once been moved by that?""I swear, if she ever died for me, I'd laugh myself awake from the dream." Everyone could tell he was spiraling again, so they tried to joke around to lighten the mood. "Come on, she wouldn't do that for you. Who would save her if you were dead?""Seriously, why don't you just reject her? There are tons of gorgeous she-wolves in our pack.""Yeah, every year Werewolf University graduates new beauties—and there's this one in our army, sexy and gentle." David's head turned sharply to the side. He sneered. "I hate to admit it… but maybe I really am not as good as Jackson. Three years, and I still can't make her accept my claim.""But if I don't try… I'll never know. So tell me— If I died in front of her, would she die for me?" It felt like something was tearing my heart apart—and I could hear my wolf sobbing from the depths of my soul because of his words. I wanted so badly to push the door open and rush in, but it felt like something sticky and heavy was clinging to my feet. I couldn't move an inch. David thought I had taken him as Jackson's replacement. So he tried to prove who I truly loved by taking his life—and dragged me down the edge of that cliff with him. He didn't even care about scheming against himself. Did he want to see if I'd really end my life… just because he died? He didn't even hesitate to rip open my old scars—just to test me. How ridiculous he was… and how little he cared about me. My heart, which had only just begun to heal, was shattered again by his cruel words— shattered, and thrown straight back into hell.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

David was no longer the one I used to know. Back then, when he saw me jump into the silver pin with a firm resolve to end my life, his wolf nearly broke apart. Without a moment's hesitation, he leapt in after me and dragged me back from the silver pin. From that day on, unlike everyone else, David didn't point fingers or throw blame at me. Instead, he stood by my side—and comforted me. He told me that everything I had lost would return to me in another form. He said we had to move forward—and if I couldn't forget Jackson, then I should just hide him deep in my heart. Jackson had saved me by sacrificing his life. He didn't do it so I could throw mine away. David saved me time and time again after that. And in order to stop me from ending my life again, he said he would claim me as his mate. He told me, "You have a new life now. Hide Jackson in your heart. But now that you're forming a new bond—you must treasure your own life." From that moment on, David stayed by my side every day, like a ray of sunlight piercing through my endless night. On the Full Moon Day last month, beneath the moonlight in the forest, he claimed me as his mate. I saw all the care he gave me. I felt it. So I was truly happy and decided to accept him— Even though I didn't say yes right away, Because first, I wanted to say goodbye to Jackson... And finally let him go from my heart. I knew that only by truly letting go of Jackson could I be ready to start a new bond. David was the one who deserved my whole heart—every last piece of it. But deep down, I also knew… He hadn't let go of my past the way I had. He hadn't forgotten. Just then, a sweet voice pulled me out of my thoughts. A young she-wolf couldn't help but ask, "Have you even thought about how Aria would react… if she found out you were testing her like this?" David swirled the wine in his glass, his pride slowly creeping back into his expression. "If she truly loves me, she'll understand." But the she-wolf pressed on, her tone sharper now. "We all know her wolf was already emotionally shattered. What if she really takes her life this time? What will you do then?" A cold curve appeared on David's lips. "Wouldn't that prove she truly loves me? Even more than she ever loved Jackson.""Are you not afraid she might completely break down—and actually die?" David burst into laughter. "Isn't that even better? At least then… I win. I beat Jackson." My legs trembled violently, and I had to lean against the wall for support. My wolf howled in sorrow, her cry growing weaker and weaker—until she nearly collapsed inside me. So that was it. He held back. Again and again. His voice faltered. His eyes avoided mine. He hesitated not because he was shy, but because he didn't believe in me. And that silence hurt more than rejection ever could.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

I was confused— Did David love me from his heart, Or was it all just a competition with Jackson? If he truly loved me, How could he say—so easily—that he hoped I would die for him? He didn't care if my wolf broke down. He didn't care if I actually died. All he wanted… was to prove that, in my heart, he had finally replaced Jackson. Despair consumed me. My knees gave way beneath me, and I collapsed to the ground. My wolf whimpered endlessly, curled up inside me. I could feel her pain—the raw agony of betrayal. And then, A quiet, terrible thought crept into my mind... the Aria who clung to the past had finally vanished.. From now on, I wanted to be myself. I wouldn't live in Jackson's shadow anymore, nor would I wait around to be loved by David. After returning to my den, I kept thinking about David's strange behavior these past few days. The things he said today weren't because he was drunk— but I believed he had been planning it for a long time. After everything, I finally understood: I had always been living beneath the shadow of his suspicion. Then something blurred my vision, and tears streamed down my cheeks. It wasn't that I didn't want to be claimed by him— it was that he told me he would never mark a she-wolf who still carried another's shadow in her heart. It was also him who humiliated me for the scar on my belly— the one without fur, caused by the fire. That's why I was still trying to heal it in the Moon River. I didn't understand how the words coming from his mouth had become so twisted, so cruel. He blamed everything on me— because my wolf was "insane," because I hadn't forgotten Jackson, because I didn't care about all he had done for me... But why did he act like he loved me so much? That's when I realized—the ring hidden inside the drawer was his secret, and he was hesitating whether or not to claim me. Thinking about that, I felt something tighten around my throat, suffocating me, making it hard to breathe. I vaguely heard my wolf whisper, "It's the Moon Goddess guiding us on the right path." Suddenly, I understood. I would play my part perfectly with David. I would show him my madness and sorrow. I would make him believe I died right before his eyes— because my wolf was completely broken. So he would finally see how much I loved him… and how impossible it was for me to leave him. But it was cruelly ironic— because David's mind wasn't any stronger than mine. He was just as weak. You would completely lose me once I finish everything and die right before your eyes. Then we would see who truly ends up regretting. The luckiest thing is that I already know the whole truth in advance— so even if I stray down the wrong path, I can always find my way back. David, now it's your turn to taste the bitter emptiness of shattered hope, to feel desperation sweep through your soul, and to watch your wolf spiral into madness.

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

I was still sitting on the bed in a daze when David returned. When he turned on the light, he suddenly pulled out a bouquet of flowers from behind his back. He handed them to me, his voice unusually soft. "Aria, on my birthday, all I want is for you to stay with me. Only you can be my mate… my Luna. I can't lose you." Hearing those words, I held back a bitter smile. Did love from a he-wolf always come with conditions? Was it always meant to be repaid on their terms? Just then, his phone rang. David stiffened, then quickly turned away and walked into the other room to answer it. He did it so cautiously—as if afraid I might overhear something… Something that could trigger my wolf again. Something that would make everything worse. If I hadn’t already discovered his true intentions, I would have believed he truly cared about me. I reminded myself to act exactly as I always had— so he wouldn’t notice any change in me. So, just as he expected, I asked him in a cautious, hesitant tone— whether he had just been speaking with the healers about my wolf. Falling neatly into the trap he had laid. “What was that about? Was it… about my condition?” David smiled gently and reached out to stroke my hair in a doting manner. “Nonsense. Your wolf is perfectly fine.” I didn’t respond. I just sat there in silence. Then he changed the subject, casually. “How about we go hunting tomorrow? It’s been a while since we had fun together.” I nodded, obediently, playing my role to perfection. “You get some rest first,” he said. “I’m heading out to get things ready for the hunt.” His eyes gleamed with pride—probably thinking I was easy to fool. That I’d fallen for him all over again. I was completely at a loss. Was he the gentle, considerate Alpha I once trusted— or the cold, cruel, and stubborn David I could no longer recognize? My wolf grew restless, agitated by the two conflicting sides of him. She broke down, unable to tell which one was the real David. I was on the verge of telling him that I would reject him as my mate. But I couldn’t— Because deep inside, a voice echoed: If you reject him now, everyone will still see him as the loving, devoted mate… And you’ll be the one who walked away. My head spun. Panic surged through me. Suddenly, David pulled me into his arms. He pressed his jaw against my forehead, gently guiding my head to rest on his shoulder. “Aria, what’s wrong? You look pale. Don’t worry, I’ll always be by your side.” I couldn’t bear his hypocrisy any longer. Trembling, I shoved him away. “David… Do you want me to die?”