Chapter 1

After undergoing the memory-erasure ritual with the witches, I forgot everything about my fated mate of seven years, Aiden Harrington. I forgot the Omega girl, Lily Ashford, whom I had sponsored since childhood and who ended up taking everything away from me. I forgot all about the Blackwood Mayfair Clan.

Once the paperwork for leaving the pack was settled, I applied to join the Lunar Heritage Society and set off on my own to a war-torn region overseas.

Everyone assumed I was leaving in anger, that I wouldn’t last long in the harsh conditions of the conflict zone, and that I’d soon crawl back to the safety of the pack.

That was until several helicopters marked with special insignias suddenly surrounded the Lunar Heritage Society base. Fully armed wolf warriors swiftly took control of the area.

Beneath the blinding searchlights, a representative from the London Wolf Alliance stepped out, his tone laced with surprise when he spoke. “Why haven’t you contacted Alpha Aiden Harrington of the Blackwood Mayfair Clan all these years? Do you even know he’s been waiting for you for five years?”

I blinked, puzzled. “Sorry, I once underwent a memory-erasure ritual. May I ask… who is Aiden?”

The air froze as my words hung in the silence.

For reasons I couldn’t explain, unease crept into my chest. I instinctively looked up.

Standing in the open doorway of the helicopter was a tall man in tactical gear. His eyes, rimmed red, were locked onto me with an intensity so fierce it was almost unbearable.

---

I discovered Aiden and Lily’s betrayal on the night of what was supposed to be our bonding celebration.

Unable to find him anywhere, I eventually wandered to the balcony of the Harrington Townhouse. There, I saw him, pressing the Omega girl I had supported for ten years, Lily, against the wall and kissing her.

I quietly approached and slapped Aiden across the face without a word. Immediately, Lily shoved me off the balcony.

As I plummeted, a strange sense of inevitability settled into my chest.

It was always like this.

The people I cared about most would always end up being taken by Lily.

Lily was the orphaned daughter of my father’s old comrade, an Omega who had a pitiful family background.

From the age of twelve, I had sponsored her, treated her like my own sister.

I paid for her education, brought her into my social circle, and arranged a relaxed clerical job for her within the pack.

She was clever, warm, and cheerful—a little ray of sunshine.

At first, the pack members and my family were indifferent to her. But over time, they grew to like her.

“She’s far more likable than you,” they’d say, over and over again.

Now, even my fiancé of seven years, the man I was supposed to formally bond with under the Moon Goddess’s blessing, was no exception.

When I woke up in the pack infirmary, Aiden was sitting by my bedside. But he wasn’t there to check on my injuries.

His first words were all about Lily.

“Serina, that kiss was just an accident… It will never happen again…”

“And Lily… She’s already been through so much. You’ve taken care of her since childhood. Can you not hold this against her? Please?”

I stared into his golden eyes, the symbol of his Alpha status, and suddenly, I laughed.

“Aiden, you’re telling me all this because you’re afraid I’ll ruin Lily’s reputation, aren’t you? That I’ll kick her out of the pack?”

His face darkened, and he gripped my wrist tightly, dodging my question. “I know you’re upset, but as the future Luna, your actions affect the stability of the pack.”

“This ends here. We’re about to formalize our bond. Don’t make this ugly.”

I pulled my hand free and looked out the window at the bright moon hanging in the sky.

He opened his mouth again, as if to say more, but his Beta, Marcus Blackwood, entered the room and whispered something in his ear.

Apparently, Lily was emotionally unstable and needed him.

Aiden glanced at me, his tone softening. “There’s been some trouble with rogue wolves at the border. I need to handle it personally. Get some rest.”

He didn’t wait for my reply. He stood and left, his steps hurried, never looking back.

That was the last time I saw him.

I lay there in bed, staring blankly at the phone screen, where an advertisement caught my eye:

“The ancient memory-erasure ritual by witches—helping you sever the chains of the past.”

I had always been decisive, unwilling to tolerate any blemish in my life.

Once tainted, I never looked back.

So whether it was Aiden or the seven years we shared, I wanted none of it anymore.

When I walked out of the witch’s secluded residence, my mind was unusually clear, yet strangely empty.

Some of my memories felt locked away in a box enchanted by magic.

I knew they existed, but I had neither the interest nor the key to open it.

The memory-erasure ritual required two stages. Five days later, I’d have to return for the final step.

Following the faint traces of memory I had left, I returned to the Blackwood Mayfair Clan’s territory.

The guards recognized me, nodded respectfully, and let me through.

When I opened the front door to my home, laughter filled the air from the living room.

“Lily really outdid herself this time! First place in the Alliance Hunting Games!”

“She’s made us all so proud!”

I saw Lily surrounded by a crowd of packmates. Her face was flushed with a mix of shyness and pride.

Aiden stood by her side, not in combat gear but still standing tall. A faint smile of approval played on his lips.

One of the packmates noticed me and froze mid-laugh.

The lively room fell silent.

Aiden’s face flickered with unease as he walked toward me.

“Serina? You’re back? You left the infirmary without telling me—I would’ve come to pick you up.”

I stepped away from his familiar gesture to steady me and spoke in an even tone. “What? Am I intruding in my own home?”

The atmosphere grew awkward.

Chloe Beaumont, a companion who had fought beside me countless times, stepped in to ease the tension. “Serina, you’re just in time.”

“Today’s Lily’s celebration party. We all chipped in to buy her a gift. Since you’ve looked after her since she was young, it’s only fitting that you’re the one to give it to her.”

Not giving me the chance to refuse, she handed me a finely wrapped gift box.

Not wanting to cause a scene, I took the box and handed it to Lily without a second thought.

As Lily reached out to accept it, the box slipped and fell to the floor.

Inside, the wolf totem carved from moonstone shattered into pieces.

Lily’s eyes brimmed with tears. “Serina, you still can’t forgive me, can you? That night… it was truly an accident. I never meant to hurt you…”

“I’ve been so worried about you while you were recovering…”

The crowd, seeing her cry, rushed to comfort her. Their gazes turned accusatory as they looked at me.

“Serina, Lily’s had such a tragic life. Can’t you let her be happy for one day?”

I looked at the faces around me, full of condemnation.

At the center of it all, looking at me with disappointment, was the man I had loved for seven years.

My heart felt like it was being pierced by silver spikes, one after another. I could barely stand.

“Enough,” Aiden said. His voice was calm but carried the weight of an Alpha’s authority, silencing the room.

He walked to me, his tone low. “Serina, don’t be stubborn. Lily earned this honor through her own ability.”

“Even if you’re upset, there’s a time and place for everything.”

He picked up the gift box from the floor and handed it back to me.

“Give it to her again. You two need to get along in the future.”

His voice was gentle, but the hand resting on my shoulder pressed down with force.

I took a deep breath and stepped away from his touch. My voice was quiet but firm. “There’s no need. Lily and I… we won’t be living together.”

“Actually, the reason I came back today is to pack my things. I’m moving out.”