1

I returned to my temporary den in the Moonridge Pack and pulled out my suitcase to start packing.

My best friend Violet burst in, her face full of disbelief.

"Aria, are you really going back? You worked so hard..." Her voice was urgent. "You spent three whole years establishing yourself here, you finally..."

I didn't look up.

"Yeah, I've already applied for travel permits back to the Crimson Pack. I'll get authorization in seven days."

Violet hesitated, wanting to say something. "Can you really bear to leave here? To leave... my brother?"

Violet was Marcus's sister. It was because of her that I met Marcus in the first place.

I looked at her in confusion. "Did I really love your brother that much? I clearly remember everything about the Moonridge Pack, about you, about training, about territorial affairs. Only my memories about him are completely blank. I even feel like... I never knew him at all."

Violet rummaged through a drawer and pulled out a thick diary, shoving it into my hands.

"You loved him to death! This records three whole years of you pursuing him!"

I flipped through the diary. Even though I couldn't remember, it was definitely my handwriting.

Marcus had actually rejected me 99 times. Every single time was because of another woman—Serena Vale.

Violet sighed, her tone complicated. "This Serena Vale was the wolf who once blocked an assassination attempt for him. Ever since then, he's been madly in love with her."

I closed the diary.

"What's so great about some old wolf who rejected my confessions 99 times? Besides, I don't have any memories of him now. As the Alpha heiress of the Crimson Pack, once I return to my territory, what kind of mate can't I find?"

"What old wolf? What mate?"

A strange, cold voice came from behind me. I spun around sharply to see a tall figure leaning against the doorframe.

It was Marcus.

The way he looked at me was full of irritation and impatience.

"Aria Blackwood, didn't you get what you wanted? I've already agreed to the arranged mating with you to become your mate. What else are you dissatisfied with? Are you planning your next dramatic scene?"

His tone was mocking, thinking I was plotting some new trick.

Violet quickly tried to explain. "Brother, Aria she..." The words about memory loss never left her mouth before being cut off.

"I didn't ask you."

Marcus's gaze shot toward me like a knife.

"Aria Blackwood, since I've already agreed to hold a mating ceremony with you, even though this was the Alpha's idea, you got your wish. But don't expect to compare with Serena. Her place in my heart is something you'll never be able to replace."

His tone brooked no argument. "Pack up. Come with me to the autumn hunt."

I frowned. "Why?"

"Serena is feeling unwell due to her pregnancy and is emotionally distressed. I'm taking her out to lift her spirits."

Marcus's tone shifted from the previous coldness. "I'm taking her to the hunting grounds to relax. But since she has no official status following me, going to such occasions would cause gossip. Since the pack members all know I'm holding a mating ceremony with you, I'll bring you along too. You can carry Serena's things when the time comes."

I was stunned. Since I'd forgotten everything about him, his words just seemed utterly ridiculous. "Bastard wolf, I'm not going!"

Marcus seemed surprised that I would refuse. He paused for a moment, then his expression became even colder.

He walked straight over and, completely ignoring my still-weakened state from not fully recovering, grabbed my hand and started dragging me outside.

"Ugh!" I grunted.

Although my external injuries had mostly healed, my strength was far from recovered. I couldn't resist the domineering power of his Alpha wolf at all, stumbling as I was dragged along.

"Marcus!"

A pitiful-looking she-wolf walked in, her hand gently caressing her belly as she called out to Marcus in a soft voice.

It was Serena Vale.

When Marcus saw Serena, he ruthlessly released my hand, dropping me like a piece of trash.

With that violent shove, and the silver poison not completely cleared from my system, my wolf still not recovered, my lower back slammed into the sharp corner of a table. The pain left me speechless for a long moment.

Violet cried out and quickly ran over to help me.

"Aria! Aria, are you okay?"

But Marcus only had eyes for his beloved at that moment. He walked to Serena's side and asked in his gentlest voice,

"Serena, why did you come over? Is the baby bothering you?"

Serena naturally leaned into Marcus's embrace, shooting me a triumphant glance as she said,

"I've been having severe morning sickness lately. I heard from the people at the medical center that you were here, and I couldn't help wanting to see you. I hope I'm not interrupting anything?"

Hearing this, Marcus lovingly lifted her up in his arms and walked outside.

Violet saw the blood seeping from my head and couldn't hold back anymore. She shouted at Marcus's retreating figure, "Brother! Aria Blackwood is your future mate! No matter how much you love that Omega, you can't treat Aria like this!"

Marcus stopped in his tracks. Serena in his arms began to sob quietly. "It's all my fault. I'm dragging you down. I should leave the pack. I shouldn't make things difficult for you, preventing you from smoothly inheriting the Alpha position, and forcing you to mark someone you don't love..."

Marcus immediately set Serena gently on the sofa.

Then he spun around sharply, shifting as he walked. If Violet hadn't stopped him, he would have transformed into his full wolf form.

Marcus's bloodthirsty eyes fixed on me.

"If Violet hadn't stopped me, I would definitely teach you a proper lesson today. It seems all your innocence these past years was just an act. You're quite the scheming wolf too. If I ever hear a single rumor about Serena and the pup in this pack, whether you spread it or not, I'll hold you responsible! The consequences are more than you can bear!"

He looked down at me coldly, like he was viewing prey.

"Don't forget what I just told you. Day after tomorrow at eight, at the Northern Hunting Grounds. Be there obediently!"

After saying this, he didn't spare me another glance. He picked up Serena and left without looking back.

Violet's face was streaked with tears as she carefully helped me up, her voice full of guilt. "Aria, I'm sorry... I..."

I leaned against the sofa, trying to process everything that had just happened, and smiled weakly. "It's not your fault, Violet."

Violet helped me sit on the sofa and applied herbal salve to my wound.

"That bastard wolf! No wonder you remember everything except him! He doesn't deserve all the devotion you gave him! I support you going back!"

I remained expressionless, feeling the waves of pain from my wound.

But my heart was completely calm.

Thinking about his final words, no matter what, I was currently his fiancée. Some appearances had to be maintained, and some things needed to be wrapped up.

Just endure five more days. Then I could return to the Crimson Pack and inherit the Alpha position.

After five days, the Moonridge Pack and all the wolves here would become the past.