Chapter 1

When the first snow of winter fell, my father was ambushed at the border of the Duskhowl pack. A silver bullet pierced his abdomen. When he was brought back, his breathing was so faint that it was almost inaudible. And the one who escorted him back was Glen, my father's Beta, and the man with whom I had been secretly entangled for a year. I kept vigil at his bedside in the tribal hospital for three full days, not daring to close my eyes. Afraid that if I did, I would lose my father just as I had lost my brother six months prior. But by the evening of the third day, my father started coughing up blood. The tribal witch doctors rushed him into the emergency room on a gurney, and I clung tightly to his hand, refusing to let go. He mustered his last strength to squeeze back: "I... am not afraid to die. It's just... I haven't seen my daughter marry yet." The emergency room doors slammed shut. I stood frozen outside, chilled to the bone, my fingers trembling uncontrollably, unable to stop. Glen stood before me, as steady as ever: "The witch doctors here are the best. The Alpha will be alright." But his words failed to reassure me. The hospital corridor was chaotic and noisy, yet it felt like all sound had been sucked away, leaving only a piercing coldness. My thoughts involuntarily returned to six months ago, when my brother was brought back the same way. A Rogue's silver bullet had pierced his heart, leaving a wound that could not heal. But after an all-night rescue effort, they brought back only a cold urn. And Glen, back then, had stood beside me just as he did now, delivering my brother's final words to me: "Death isn't terrifying. Everyone must meet their ends eventually. My only regret is... I couldn't attend my little sister's coming-of-age ceremony." That sentence became my brother's lifelong regret and an everlasting pain I could never mend. My nails dug deep into my palms. Finally, I couldn't hold back any longer. For the tenth time, I asked that question: "Glen, can't we... go public? And then get married?" His entire body stiffened. He was silent for a few seconds before answering in a low voice: "Sophia, I know what you're afraid of, but your father will be fine. You don't need to do this." I cut him off: "What if I insist?" The air froze. His silence was more hurtful than any rejection. I should have realized long ago. Over this past year, I’d brought up going public, getting married, no less than five times. If he had been willing, he would have agreed long before. I looked at him. After a long while, I managed a pale, stiff smile. "Anyway, I will get married." Glen didn't speak again. He just silently placed his large, warm palm over the back of my hand. His palm was warm, but it felt exceptionally ironic to me. He thought this was just another childish outburst, like every other time I’d mentioned marriage before. But he would never know—this time was different. Yesterday, when warriors from the pack came to visit my father, I clearly overheard their conversation outside the hospital room. "You've taken care of the Alpha's daughter for so many years," one of them joked, "never thought about forming a mate bond with her?" Glen's tone was utterly cold. "With a little girl eight years younger than me? I haven't gone that mad." We sat there side by side, neither of us speaking further. Early the next morning, the tribal witch doctors finally wheeled my father out. His face was still deathly pale, but he was at least temporarily out of danger. After arranging for servants to take shifts taking care of him, I left the hospital alone. I needed to go to the church for some peace. Just outside the hospital gates, I saw Eva. Glen's childhood friend, the most popular beauty at the tribal academy, a teacher. I tried to pretend I hadn't seen her, but she had already quickened her pace towards me. "Sophia, what a coincidence meeting you here." She made sure I could see the silver bracelet on her wrist glinting coldly in the morning light. "You look exhausted," Eva said with feigned concern. "Oh, and Glen and I are getting engaged at the end of the month. You simply must come." My breath hitched. "What?" She got surprised. "Glen didn't tell you? This time when he came back, besides escorting the Alpha, it was to prepare for our engagement ceremony." The whole world seemed to lose sound in that instant. I stared fixedly at that bracelet, suddenly remembering it was Glen's family heirloom, a token his grandmother had said would only be given to Glen's future wife. And Glen had taken a long leave upon returning. Not for my father’s sake, but to prepare for his engagement. "Glen has always thought of you as a daughter," Eva continued smoothly. "He probably forgot to tell you because he's been so busy." My voice turned icy. "My father is still alive. I don't need anyone else to be my father." For a moment, I almost rushed back inside to confront Glen. Question him. But the biting wind sobered me up. I had already wasted a whole year. I didn't want to keep entangled in a love that was doomed from the start. My brother's departure was an eternal regret. Now, I just wanted my father to witness my wedding with his own eyes. Inside the church, candles flickered before the statue of the Moon Goddess. A few young girls were there, divining their marriage prospects, praying devoutly to the Goddess. I knelt before the statue too, pulling out three name cards—the three suitors my father had meticulously chosen for me during my coming-of-age ceremony. "Please, Moon Goddess, guide my choice," I murmured in prayer. The diviner slowly flipped over the middle card. When I saw the name, my pupils contracted sharply... Ethan Fisher, Alpha of the Crimsonmoon pack.