Chapter 1

The day I decided to leave was Christmas. Our family had a tradition to celebrate this day together every year.

That morning, I got a call from my professor.

"Zoe, I'm glad to see your email accepting the Antarctic research project," he said. "Three years ago, you said you couldn't bear to leave your family. I'm happy to see you continuing your career now. I've already booked your flight for tomorrow night. Make sure you say goodbye to your family today."

The word family made my eyes sting with tears.

After my mother passed away, it was just me and my three fathers. I used to be the most cherished daughter in the werewolf world—the daughter of three powerful Alphas.

But ever since Arie appeared, she became their beloved one. And I became the one they stopped seeing.

"Professor," I said, "please apply for the highest level of confidentiality for me. Delete all my identity records from the Werewolf Information Bureau."

"Why would you do that?" he asked, startled. "Once your records are erased, your name, Zoe Harding, will cease to exist. Your fathers will never be able to find you again. Do you understand that? They'll go mad when they realize you're gone!"

He couldn't understand why I was doing this.

"They won't," I said softly.

My father's cold voice echoed in my mind. 'Those things have nothing to do with us. You don't have to tell us.'

If I disappeared completely, it would be easier. I could pretend they stopped reaching me because they couldn't, not because they didn't care.

After a long silence, my professor agreed to my request.

When I hung up, I tried reaching out to my three fathers through mind link, one by one. As I expected, they had already blocked me.

So I took out my phone and called my first father, Jeff.

"Dad… it's Christmas," I said softly. "Can we have dinner together? Just one family meal?"

There was a long silence on the other end.

I rushed to add, "I bought Arie a new performance dress—the moonlight gown from the fashion magazine she loves."

"What family dinner?" Jeff's voice was sharp and irritated. "Arie's in the hospital from an allergy, and you still have the mood to celebrate?"

"Then I'll bring the dress to the hospital," I said. "We can celebrate there—together."

Maybe it was the tremor in my voice—something I'd never shown before—that made him fall silent again.

Ever since Arie came into our home, arguments between me and my fathers had become constant. No matter how bad things got, I'd never bowed my head. I'd never begged.

Arie wasn’t even supposed to be part of our family.

Back then, she was just a timid girl in the orphanage—bullied, isolated, flinching at every raised voice.

I pitied her. I was the one who convinced my fathers to take her in.

And at first, everything was perfect. We shared clothes, secrets, midnight snacks.

I genuinely believed I’d saved her.

But somewhere along the line, something changed.

My fathers started treating her differently—softer, warmer—

their affection for her slowly eclipsing their affection for me.

Even my friends were drawn to her sweetness, her innocence, her perfect little smile…

and they drifted further and further away from me.

It took me far too long to realize the truth:

the girl I once felt so sorry for…

was the one hiding the sharpest claws behind her tears.

But now, I was about to leave—and I would never see them again. The least I could do was say goodbye properly.

Then a sweet, bright voice cut through the silence.

"Dad, if Zoe apologizes to me, we can have dinner together," Arie said.

"I'm sorry, Arie," I said immediately. "I'll be right there."

After hanging up, I went home and gathered the other gifts I had prepared.

I wanted Arie to be happy. If she were happy, my fathers would be too. I wanted the last family meal in my memory to be a peaceful one.

When I arrived at the hospital, I saw how far they'd gone for her.

Bran, the Alpha who controlled the world's medical resources, had given Arie top-level treatment.

Kael, who commanded the warriors of the Northern Alliance, had deployed guards to protect the entire floor so no one could disturb her.

I stepped into the ward quietly.

Arie's cheeks were rosy, her expression innocent as ever.

I quickly pulled the dress from the bag, helped her slip into it, zipped the back, and adjusted the straps. Then I took her phone, snapped several photos so she could pick one to post online.

My three fathers looked at me in surprise. They had never seen me like this—so calm, so gentle.

"It's beautiful," Arie said, twirling on her toes, the moonlight skirt shimmering as she spun.

Their gazes followed her, drawn to her light.

"Careful, don't fall," Kael said softly, stepping closer to shield her.

Jeff and Bran's eyes followed her every move, filled with the same tender warmth that once belonged to me.

When Kael was sure she was safe, his eyes flicked to mine. But the moment our gazes met, the warmth in his turned cold.

That change cut deep.