Chapter 1

Six months later, Clare saw his missing wife—at the Night Breeze family's heir announcement ceremony.

This was the most anticipated event in the werewolf world in nearly a decade.

Clare sat at the very edge with the now-diminished Blaze Tooth pack, dejected as he drank, his mind filled with images of Silvia leaving with their child.

It wasn't until his pale-faced sister-in-law Royston shrieked beside him—"Impossible! How could that nameless servant and orphan possibly—"—that he looked up to see the now regal and noble Silvia standing with Owen.

They were still here! They were here! Clare rushed forward anxiously: "Silvia! My mate! It's me! I'm here!"

But Silvia turned her head, her expression unchanging, and simply said:

"I don't recall ever having a mate. Who are you?"

Clare's face instantly went deathly pale, unable to speak.

……

……

Silvia's POV

The sound of the lock turning jolted me from shallow sleep.

Before I could fully open my eyes, a strong stench of alcohol mixed with an unfamiliar, sickly sweet rose perfume hit me. Then a heavy body pressed down on me, carrying the coolness of night, lips urgently kissing mine.

It was Clare. Drunk again, and coming home this late.

For a moment, I almost surrendered to this long-absent, possessive kiss. How long had it been since we'd been intimate? A month? Longer? So long I'd almost forgotten the warmth of his embrace. I instinctively raised my hand to wrap around his neck, like countless nights before.

But then, during a breath, with hot panting, he slurred out a name.

"Royston..."

That name was like an ice-cold dagger, instantly piercing through all my drowsy haze and pathetic hope. My body froze, my blood seeming to solidify in that moment.

Royston. That woman who always carried the scent of roses, claiming she needed Clare's "protection" to maintain the family power left by her late husband.

My heart sank, colder than plunging into an ice cave. Images of throwing everything away for so-called love flashed uncontrollably through my mind. I, Silvia, had once been the designated heir of the Night Breeze royal pack. But what had I done? Like a fool drunk on love, I'd hidden my identity and abandoned all glory and responsibility to elope with this man to Blaze Tooth—a pack he'd built himself that wasn't even a tenth of Night Breeze.

I thought I'd found true love, thought marking meant forever.

But this past year, forever had become a joke. Since his brother's accidental death and he'd inherited everything—including this widowed sister-in-law—he'd gone from "visiting" once a week to being absent three days out of five, until now he practically lived at Royston's mansion. He no longer carried the crisp pine scent from when we first met. Instead, it was this nauseating rose scent belonging to another woman.

I'd kept enduring it. For our son Owen, I told myself I had to persevere. Maintain this facade of a family, give Owen a father.

But tonight, lying in our bed, holding me, he called out another woman's name.

That thin veil of self-deception was completely torn away.

I shoved him off forcefully, my voice trembling from suppressed emotion: "Clare."

He seemed to sober slightly, eyes unfocused, trying to move closer again, using his usual dismissive tone: "What's wrong, Silvia?"

"Do you regret it?" I stared at him, not letting him escape. "Regret meeting me, marking me, don't you?"

Clare frowned, a barely perceptible irritation flashing across his face before being quickly masked. He reached out to touch my face. I dodged. "Don't talk nonsense. Silvia, I know I've been too busy lately, neglecting you both, but the pack's affairs, and Royston's situation... there's a lot that needs handling."

"So busy you need to come home every day carrying her scent?" I laughed coldly. "So busy you call out her name in our bed?"

He paused, his tone carrying a chilling casualness: "You heard wrong. I drank too much." He didn't even realize his two excuses contradicted each other, continuing, "I promise, after this period passes, I'll coordinate my time better, spend more time with you and Owen..."

When had returning to his own home, being with his officially marked mate, required "coordinating time" based on a "sister-in-law's" schedule?

A crushing sense of absurdity and humiliation overwhelmed me. I was about to speak when knocking suddenly came from outside, a respectful voice announcing: "Alpha! Royston sent word—she's suddenly feeling unwell and hopes you can come immediately!" Said with such gravity, yet not a trace of actual urgency.

As if the people there were certain of his choice.

And Clare—completely living up to that "trust"—showed not a moment's hesitation. The drunkenness on his face was instantly replaced by worry and urgency, as if the person who'd just been kissing me wasn't him at all. He immediately got out of bed, straightening his clothes as he said: "I'll go right now!"

He didn't even glance at me, not a word of explanation. In his heart, Royston's discomfort was a thousand times more important than his mate who'd just been deeply wounded.

As he passed the bed, I instinctively reached out to grab him, but my fingertips only brushed his cold sleeve.

"Clare!" I called out, voice carrying one last trace of desperation.

But he didn't hesitate, pulling open the door and quickly walking out.

I sat alone on the cold bed, the room still reeking of that nauseating rose scent and the alcohol he'd left behind. Enormous emptiness and cold despair engulfed me like a tide.

I understood all too clearly. What illness—it was nothing but a ploy for attention. And Clare was already preparing for his marking ceremony with Royston.

No. I couldn't wait any longer.

A long-dormant power I'd deliberately forgotten began awakening deep in my bloodline. It was the wolf nature belonging to a Night Breeze heir—pride, decisiveness, the determination to tear apart anything to protect her cub.

Clare, you chose the rose. Then you're no longer worth Owen and me staying.

I looked at the deep darkness outside the window, a thought crystallizing clearly: leave this place. Take Owen and leave this place full of lies and betrayal.

It was time to find myself back.