Chapter 1 Chapter 1

Bang…! Brute force hurled me out of the car. From behind me, piercing laughter and cheers erupted. I staggered to my feet as the cold, damp air of the forest crept down my spine. Goosebumps burst all over my skin. In the darkness, crimson eyes began to glow. Beasts! Countless of them! "No…!" My teeth rattled with terror. I spun around and lunged for the car door, wanting to climb back. Yet, my efforts were met with a loud slam. Those inside, safely hidden in their steel fortress, treated me as nothing more than a joke for their entertainment. No one cared whether I could make it out of this accursed forest alive or otherwise. Growl… Around me, low growls rumbled. The beasts stepped out from behind the bushes, one after another. Their fangs glinted with a cold, cruel light, as if they were already at my throat. I was a fighter. I had always been disciplined in my training. Yet, I knew that I had no chance against so many Beasts. "Open the door! Let me in! Please!" The Beasts closed in, every step making my skin crawl as I slammed my fists on the door in panic. Yet, all I got in response was loud laughter from inside the car. They even pulled out cash and started placing bets on how long I would last against the Beasts' assault. Roar…! A giant Beast, so much taller than me, suddenly lunged. "No!" I screamed; the impact slammed me away, and in an instant, razor-sharp fangs tore into my neck. The thick scent of blood permeated the air as pain surged through my body. Cold sweat drenched my back, and my consciousness started to fade. Right before everything went black, I could just make out two men standing coldly behind the car window. Once, one of them had given me a new life. Now he stood in silence, utterly indifferent. The other had sworn to always be by my side. Now, he held another woman in his arms, as if my dying self wasn't worth even a glance. Upon seeing this, agony coursed through me, pain a hundred times worse than the Beast's fangs. At that moment, I finally understood something. No one cared about me. Not even a single soul. "Violet…!" Just before I blacked out, someone seemed to be calling my name in a panic. Sapped of strength, I couldn't reply. In the end, I simply let the darkness swallow everything. I didn't wake up again until the sharp smell of disinfectant stung my nose. It was so strong that I woke up coughing. Nearby, I could hear low voices murmuring. A healer leaned over to check on me. "She's awake! Go inform the two Alphas." I struggled to sit up, glancing around the cold, sterile hospital room. My gaze landed on my bandaged, battered body. Then, the memories came flooding back. I had gone to Claire Beaumont's welcome-back party as Alpha Julian Archer's date. Claire, lunatic she was, desired something thrilling. She pushed Julian and Alpha Lucian Gray into making a bet. The loser would have to throw his date into the Death Forest, where Beasts prowled. Not wanting to gamble my life on such a stupid game, I decisively refused. But Claire kept insisting. Julian and Lucian… They actually agreed! They played a "Hunting Game" with bone tiles carved by claws. The rules were much like poker. Julian had a winning hand, but then he suddenly paused and glanced at Claire, whose face had gone pale due to her uneasiness. If Lucian lost, she knew she would be thrown into the forest. Julian hesitated…and then deliberately sabotaged his hand. He threw away his chance of winning. "Julian?!" I couldn't believe my eyes. "I lost." Julian tossed his cards, his voice icy cold. Lucian sneered as he stared at me. "If you're going to bet, you have to be willing to lose. Rules are rules." My heart sank as a cold dread gripped my heart. "No… Tell them, Julian! You could have won!" I pleaded desperately as I looked at him. But Julian turned away, his voice cold. "You're seeing things. I couldn't have won.""No…!" Alas, my pleas fell on deaf ears. They dragged me to the edge of the forest. After all, a bet was a bet. Claire nestled into Lucian's arms, flashing me an obviously fake smile. "Violet, good luck!" I didn't want to force myself to remember what happened next. The wound on my neck still ached, a reminder of everything that had happened after I was thrown out of the car. Those claws and fangs… And that bone-deep betrayal. I would never forget the faces of the two men, once central in my life, watching in cold silence as I had one foot in the grave. Just then, footsteps echoed outside the hospital room. Julian and Lucian walked in, with Claire peeking in behind them, her expression one of fake concern.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Claire's eyes were red, her voice trembling as if she truly regretted everything. "Violet, I'm so sorry… I thought it was just some harmless excitement… I never imagined those Beasts would actually hurt you! Don't worry, I'll cover all your medical bills. I promise I'll help you recover!" I tried to speak, but a sharp pain shot through the wound on my throat. It was so painful that I gasped and my face twisted in agony. But to Julian and Lucian, that painful expression only made it look like I was being unrelenting toward Claire. Julian leaned against the window, his eyes cold, as if he were looking at a complete stranger. Where was the boy who had once pulled me out of the abyss? My father and I were Rogues. When I was seven, he tried to sell me to another pack just for a bite to eat. "My sweet daughter, go take care of that gentleman. A good life awaits you there." He actually patted my head, his tone so gentle that I was dazed for a moment. It was like tasting candy for the very first time. I stupidly nodded. Until I was pushed into that room. Inside stood an old Werewolf with thin white hair and a lustful gleam in his eye. Werewolves usually lived long, healthy lives. Even seventy was only considered middle-aged. But this one… Just how old was he? "Go on! Take good care of him." My father shoved me forward. At that moment, I finally snapped out of it. He was still the same bastard who had once sacrificed my mother to the Beasts' jaws to save himself. And now, it was his seven-year-old daughter's turn! "No! Let me go!" I struggled desperately, but a bony hand clamped tightly around my ankle. My father slammed the door behind him, severing the last ray of light. My desperate cries caught in my throat. "No… Please don't!" I shut my eyes, my face drenched in tears. Why was it always me? Bang! A violent kick struck the door open. In that blinding light stood a young Julian, like a hero sent from above. I rubbed my eyes hard—it wasn't a hallucination. "Come with me." Julian held out his hand to me. The heat and strength from his hand were a warmth I had never known before. He paid twice the price to buy me and took me back to his pack. He was the distinguished heir of the Alpha, but he treated me like a younger sister. He made sure everyone respected me, and he even personally taught me how to fight. He promised he would always protect me. But now, everything changed after Claire's return. Julian had thrown me to the Beasts to die just for her. Even now, he was still defending Claire. "Claire got drunk at the party and got carried away in the heat of the moment," he said coldly. "Let it go." I opened my mouth, but something was caught in my throat. I couldn't get a word out. Julian's brow furrowed, a hint of impatience in his eyes. "Violet, I taught you before. You need to be more magnanimous." I shut my eyes, digging my nails into my palms. I used every bit of strength to keep my tears from falling. So, the reason he taught me everything—all the training, the lessons to respect others… In the end, was it so I could be more magnanimous and forgive the person who nearly got me killed? Just as I was gathering myself, ready to be done with it all… Lucian finally snapped and cut me off, his patience gone. "Violet! Say something, damn it! Claire has already apologized! What more do you want?!"

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

The coldness in Lucian's eyes and his cruel sneer felt like a hard slap across my face. It was so painful, I could barely breathe. The first time I met Lucian was at Julian's Alpha Succession Ceremony. After the ceremony, Julian introduced me to everyone. Just then, someone called out, "Julian, is she your mate? Your future Luna?" Julian didn't answer; he neither confirmed nor denied it. I knew what being a mate meant, and my cheeks flushed slightly. "If she's not your mate, does that mean I have a chance?" A tall, handsome Alpha came over with a smile—Lucian. His pack and Julian's were allies, and the two had grown up together. If Julian was the composed prince, Lucian was the charming playboy who made women swoon. Lucian took my hand and kissed the back of my hand lightly. "Remember me, Violet. I'm the Alpha, Lucian." For a moment, I became the center of attention, caught between the two dazzling Alphas in the room. The music started, and Lucian gave me a gentlemanly bow as he invited me. "May I?" He didn't wait for my reply, and he simply pulled me onto the dance floor. "You're adorable," he whispered in a deep, magnetic voice, his muscular arm around my waist. I was sure my face must be burning. After that, Lucian became a regular guest at Julian's home. He would take me to the plains, where we would run in our wolf forms in the soft grass or chase each other by the creek until we were soaked, our fur soaking each other's scent. We grew closer and closer. On my eighteenth birthday, Lucian presented me with a huge bouquet and confessed his feelings to me in front of everyone. The way he looked at me made my heart race, and I found myself drawn into the love in his eyes. Just as I was about to say yes, Julian stepped between us. "Stay away from her." Julian glared coldly at Lucian. "She won't say yes." Lucian lowered his head, a flicker of pain in his eyes. I wanted to go to him, but Julian held me back. I thought Lucian would disappear after that. But the next day, he showed up again with cookies and dragged me out to the grasslands to have fun. Julian didn't stop him, either. One day, Claire came back. Just like Julian, Lucian became someone else entirely. He was treating me more and more coldly. No longer was he the man I once knew. "I'm not angry." I finally forced out those words, my voice raw and hoarse. Lucian visibly relaxed, his expression softening. "Good. When you're better, I'll take you out." I forced a smile, but I felt nothing inside. Everything changed after Claire returned. Before that, Lucian would use our mind link to say goodnight every night and wouldn't rest until I replied. He said it was the only way he could sleep. Since Claire's return, that link had been severed. "Listen, stop linking with me. You're overstepping my boundaries," Lucian told me coldly. The sweeter the memory, the sharper the pain I felt now. I closed my eyes, refusing to think about how he had pushed me away. Julian glanced at his watch; before leaving, he said, "Get some rest, Violet. Everything will be fine after some sleep. Don't overthink it." Everything will be fine after some sleep? I touched the scar on my neck. It was there for good, and it also scarred my heart. Soon after, Lucian was called away by his subordinates. The room went quiet, leaving just me and Claire alone. She hadn't left? Since coming back, Claire had avoided me like the plague. She looked at me like I was trash, as if sharing the same air would make her sick. "Wow, Violet. You actually survived getting your throat torn out. You have quite the luck!" Claire said with a fake smile. "But it's good that you're still alive. Now you get to see for yourself that no matter how much you struggle, you'll never replace me. It just makes you look even more stupid and pathetic!""I never wanted to replace you," I replied flatly. Claire scoffed. "Really? Then why haven't you left? Don't tell me you're doing this out of gratitude! Don't be so naive! Do you think Julian saved you out of pity? Are you blind? Look at our faces!" I shuddered and stared at her in disbelief. Claire raised her eyebrows, as if she had stumbled onto something interesting. "You really didn't know? Oh, Violet, you really are an idiot! You never asked Julian why he brought you home? Aren't you even a little bit curious?" Of course I had asked. I asked Julian the night he became Alpha, after he had downed a dose of liquor. He hesitated, then brushed my cheek. "Violet, you have a face as lovely as a violet flower. When I first met you, all I saw was fear and tears. I just wanted to wipe those away and see you smile again. That's all." I stared at Claire's face. Her nose, her mouth… We look so much alike! So that was it. The only reason I had escaped that old monster was because of my face, one that looked so much like Claire's. Every bit of care I had received had her shadow all over it. To Julian and Lucian, I was just a substitute. Now that the real thing was back, the substitute was no longer needed. A strange sense of relief swept through me. All these years had been nothing but a transaction. They found comfort in me after losing Claire, and I had my rebirth thanks to their pity. Maybe this was for the best. When it was time to leave, it would actually feel like freedom. I stayed in the hospital for two weeks. Julian would stop by occasionally, but never for more than a few minutes. Lucian called me only once. After that, I saw pictures of him and Claire together all over social media. Soon, Julian started showing up at their parties too. They all looked so happy in the photos, like the world was a better place without me. The day I was discharged, my phone rang as soon as I stepped outside. It was a photo from Claire. Julian and Lucian were flanking her like knights while she sat in the middle, looking like an elegant princess. I went back to Julian's home and packed my things as quickly as I could. Then, I bought a plane ticket to the farthest city from their pack. Just as I was about to board, Julian called. I turned off my phone and tossed it in the trash. The moment the plane soared into the clouds, a relief I had never felt before washed over me. Finally, it was truly over.