เข้าสู่ระบบEpilogue:Andrew's PerspectiveI'd always prided myself on reading people.Years of leading the pack,and I'd never once misjudged someone.But somehow,I never saw through Daisy—the person closest to me.I thought she had no one.That she was mine to control.Then she walked out that door and came back a different person.My father and mother had insisted we marry.I'd agreed on the surface but made sure the wedding was empty.I deliberately didn't mark her.She accepted it without protest.She didn't cry.She didn't throw a fit.She didn't even tell my parents.I'll be honest—I never loved Rachel.I can barely remember what she looked like.Rachel was no different from the other she-wolves who fawned over me.The only thing that set her apart was that she died saving my life.Everyone in the pack called Rachel my one true love.I never bothered correcting them.I didn't care enough to.But Daisy—Daisy cared.Desperately.I planted Rachel's yellow roses right where she'd see them.I watched the color
I pulled Austin inside and shut the door.He clutched his face,wincing."Babe,he hits hard.Quick—check if I'm disfigured."I dug out the first-aid kit."Stop calling me that.Hold still and let me put something on it."The moment I leaned in,he turned his head and pressed a kiss to my lips."Way more effective than medicine.And back there,when Andrew was around—you didn't correct me when I called you my Luna."I shoved the ointment into his hand."You said this was just a mark for show.Not a real mating."Austin grinned—the unmistakable look of someone who'd gotten exactly what they wanted."I just wanted to lock down my claim early,before that Aldric Alpha stole you back.""This is fraud!"I glared at him.Austin held my gaze,completely serious."Daisy—I traded my freedom for this.I agreed to work at the Werewolf Council in exchange for choosing my own mate.If this is fraud,I scammed myself into a life sentence.If you break our bond now,I'll have no mate and a desk job for the rest of my l
The Aldric servants knocked on the door while Austin was setting the table.The moment the door opened,several servants pushed their way in—until Austin blocked them."Who are you looking for?"Their eyes locked onto me as I stood holding a bowl of fruit."Luna Daisy,the Alpha wants you home."I hadn't heard that title in over half a year.For a moment,it felt like a lifetime ago."Who are you calling Luna?This is my Luna!"Austin shoved the servants toward the door.They exchanged a glance.One of them pulled out a phone and dialed Andrew."Alpha—Luna appears to have been marked."Andrew arrived faster than I would have thought possible.Within minutes he was at the door,his face dark as a storm.The servants parted.Andrew tried to push past Austin.He couldn't move him."Get him out of my way,"Andrew snarled at his guards."Alpha Andrew—you barged into my home,trying to take my Luna.Don't you think that's a bit out of line?"Austin's voice was calm,almost pleasant.Andrew finally looked at
I touched the mark on my neck,still a little dazed.Back when I thought my mate would only ever be Andrew,I never could have imagined being marked by someone else.Last night,after Austin's relentless persuasion,I'd agreed to let him mark me—so he'd have something to show his family.Austin studied the mark on my neck."Let's go see my parents together.Otherwise my mom will keep thinking I'm making it all up."This marking felt strangely unreal.Three years ago,there'd been a grand wedding—all the ceremony and none of the substance.No mark.All of it had been a performance for an audience,a facade of happiness.Now I had a mark but no ceremony.And yet something in my chest felt settled.Maybe because I'd gone in with no expectations,there was nothing left to disappoint.Austin took me home to meet his parents.When we got back,he was beaming."Daisy,thanks to you,my parents finally agreed to let me hold my exhibition.This collection is my best work yet."A month later,Austin's exhibition
Having him next door was genuinely a nice surprise.In a strange new place,knowing he was right there made everything feel a little safer."I'll whip up a few dishes tonight to celebrate your move."For simplicity,we decided on steak at my place.The moment I set the plates down,Austin cut a piece and held it to my lips.One bite and I choked so hard I had to grab my drink."Oh—you don't like medium-rare?""It's fine.I just haven't had it in a while.Caught me off guard."How long had it been since I'd eaten medium-rare steak?I'd lost count.It used to be my favorite.When the old Alpha was alive,he'd eat his medium and I'd have mine medium-rare,sitting across from each other.One time,Andrew had worked late into the night.The dinner I'd brought him had already gone cold.It started snowing outside,so I suggested we go out instead.I took him for steak.I'd specifically ordered medium-rare,knowing it was the best.Andrew frowned through the entire meal.In the car on the way home,he said:"N
I started learning to make traditional pastries from the old woman down the street.At first I kept mixing up the sugar and salt,which had her in stitches,but watching the dough take shape into something sweet under my hands gave me a sense of groundedness I'd never felt in the North.Austin dropped by for meals now and then.He'd take a bite and dramatically declare it the best pastry in the world,making me laugh until tears ran down my face.One evening,I was watering the tulips when Austin came running over,looking conspiratorial.He said he wanted to show me something.We followed the river at the edge of town for a long time,until we reached a meadow blanketed in wildflowers.He pulled a guitar from his backpack,sat down in the grass,and started playing a bright folk tune.The evening breeze carried the scent of flowers and his music.Sitting beside him,I felt—for the first time—that I truly belonged here.That I belonged to this free,open air.The days drifted by,unhurried.I gradually







