Chapter 2

The original poster had created the account three days ago.

It was well known that companion wolves were genetically modified to be extremely loyal to their owners, so the sudden appearance of a wolf that betrayed its owner quickly drew a crowd.

"Is this true? If so, your owner is really unlucky. After buying a wolf, it falls in love with someone else."

"Don't embarrass us companion wolves, okay? I can't get enough of loving my owner every day, yet you dared to betray yours. Where are you? I feel like clawing at your face."

The poster ignored all the insults and stayed immersed in his own world.

"I only have one suppressant left. If I can't complete the bond with Lilian, I'd rather kill myself."

Every companion wolf was given seven heat suppressants when they left the breeding center. It wasn't that they couldn't make more, but that suppressants caused great harm to the wolves.

Each injection shortened their lifespan by a year, and seven was the maximum number of injections a wolf could take.

On Liam's pale arm, there were exactly six needle marks.

"Even if the princess buys me the best energy potions, they can't compare to a piece of venison jerky from Lilian."

I kicked the newly arrived package at my feet. Inside were custom energy potions delivered from the breeding center, each one individually formulated for Liam.

It was these potions that gave him the strength to push me away after seven days without any soothing from a companion.

The day I went to pick up Liam, Lilian had insisted on coming with me. They had only met once.

A 100 thousand-dollar energy potion couldn't compare to a cheap piece of venison jerky—something that was only given to Liam because it fell on the ground and Lilian had deemed too dirty to eat.

"In this life, I will only be loyal to Lilian. Just looking at Evelyn makes me sick. She even tried to come on to me, and I nearly ended it all with her."

He truly was a fool.

With a blank face, I packed up all the energy potions in the house and threw them into the trash. Then, I opened the chat with customer service, deleted the two words I had typed, and confirmed the exchange.

"Thank you for your understanding. A new companion wolf will be delivered to your home in three days. The courier will pick up the defective one at the same time."

"Okay," I replied.

I continued reading the person's latest post.

"I mustered the courage to contact Lilian, who said she would definitely take me away. It turns out she likes me, too. I'm not an unwanted wolf.

"I got too worked up. My heat has hit."

Muffled growls echoed from the closed guest room.

Just then, a knock sounded on the front door. After thinking about it for a moment, I opened it.

Lilian arrived with a suitcase in tow, greeting me with a bright smile. "Evelyn, Dad and Mom are both away on business. I'm scared to stay home alone. You wouldn't mind if I moved in with you for a while, would you?"

Of course I minded. Lilian and her mother, Sierra York, had risen to power over my mother's death.

…

My mother had been the former Luna Queen of the Northern Wolf Kingdom. When I was five years old, Sierra showed up at our door with Lilian.

Mother coughed up blood and died of a heart attack on the spot.

From that day on, I gained a stepmother and a half-sister.

Once, when Lilian smashed an antique of Father's, she cried and said I had tried to hit her with it.

I was forced to kneel at the Moon Goddess' altar for a week as punishment, and my knees were left permanently damaged.

When she came of age, Lilian was involved with three male wolves at once, and her private photos were leaked. She cried and said she wanted to kill herself.

Father said, "You're the older sister. You need to protect your younger sister. As long as you admit to it, I'll give you your mother's ashes."

So, in front of the whole pack, I read out a confession that wasn't mine to read.

From that day on, the label of "whore" followed me like a shadow.

It was too bad Father's plan to hand control of the kingdom over to Lilian fell through.

After I got Mother's ashes back, I rallied her old allies and became the princess of the Northern Wolf Kingdom.

The first thing I did with my newfound power was move out of that vile castle.

…

"I do mind," I said, lightly smirking as I moved to throw Lilian out without hesitation.

However, a surprised voice sounded from behind me.

"You… actually came?"

I turned around to see Liam, who had been holed up in his room for a week, stepping out for the first time.

He wore the expensive suit I bought him, and his sharp features made him look like a noble.

His face flushed uncontrollably as he rubbed against Lilian's arm with restrained urgency. Behind him, his tail wagged like an excited puppy.

Just that bit of skin contact was enough to leave him teary-eyed with satisfaction.

So the advertisements weren't wrong after all— a companion wolf really was loyal and passionate once they recognized their owner.

Unfortunately, the owner he recognized wasn't me.