Chapter 2

When I got home, my stomach churned violently, a wave of nausea rolling through me.

A week ago, Ryan received a collaboration assignment from another pack, but on his way there, he was attacked by rogues.

The moment I got the news, I didn't sleep the entire night, praying he would be safe.

Eventually, I received news of his death. According to the rescue team, they hadn't arrived in time. Ryan was already dead by the time they got there.

The scene had been gruesome, they said. Not even a trace of Ryan's remains had been found.

When I heard the devastating news, I almost fainted from grief. Our bonding ceremony was only a week away, yet Ryan had met with an accident at such a crucial moment.

I retraced the route he would have taken for three days and three nights. I even forced myself to dig through piles of corpses in the wasteland, choking back nausea just to find any part of his remains.

And now I was supposed to accept this.

That all of it—every last piece of heartbreak—had been nothing but a setup he orchestrated to coax another she-wolf.

From beginning to end, I had been nothing more than a joke.

[I can't stand this anymore! If my hand could reach into the book, I'd have slapped Ryan already! How dare he treat Jenna's feelings like a game? May he really die without a corpse!]

[Exactly! Our girl is the Alpha's only daughter, a true princess. Those who want to form an alliance marriage with her could circle the whole world! He doesn't know how to cherish her. When his mate really runs away, he'll be the one crying.]

Sarah Summers, Ryan's younger sister, appeared in front of me and handed me a sheet of paper. Her face was full of concern. "Jenna, don't be too sad. My brother definitely wouldn't want to see you ruin your health over him."

I lifted my head and saw her pretending to look sorrowful.

"Sarah… is Ryan possibly still alive?"

For a moment, Sarah froze, but she quickly regained her composure. "I know you're in a lot of pain, but you have to accept the fact that Ryan is gone. Didn't the rescue team already say it? By the time they reached the scene, he was already dead. Even his bones were eaten by rogues."

I remembered Ryan's words. Sarah had always known his death was fake. She'd been in on the lie from the beginning.

To think I actually thanked her for staying by my side during my darkest moments. Now that I looked back, Ryan probably placed her there to monitor me.

When I didn't respond, Sarah assumed I was too heartbroken to speak, and she stepped forward to say, "Jenna, don't overthink things. If Ryan knew, he would definitely feel terrible."

Feel terrible?

How ironic.

Following the clues from the divine messages, I found Rowena's social media account.

Only then did I learn that they had known each other even before Ryan and I got together. They had gone on countless dates behind my back. If not for the divine messages' warning, I wouldn't have even known Rowena existed.

I scrolled through her old posts, and pieces of the past began linking together in my mind.

Last year on our anniversary, Ryan claimed he needed to work overtime and couldn't accompany me, but that same day, Rowena posted on social media.

On the golden beach, the two of them held hands tightly, embracing under the setting sun.

The one in the photo only revealed his hand, but I recognized that watch instantly. It was the one I gave Ryan; there was only one like it in the world.

Posts like this were uploaded every so often, and every single one was perfectly aligned with the times Ryan claimed he was too busy, on a business trip, or working late.

The latest post was a photo of the two of them kissing in Moonlight Forest.

Once again, only Ryan's jawline was revealed, but there was the mole. Even if he turned to ash, I would still recognize it.

The caption read: "You abandoned your perfect alliance match and traveled across the world just to be with me. In this moment, I feel like the happiest creature alive."

The comment section was overflowing with praise for their "beautiful love".

"When one goes this far for the one he loves, I believe in true love again."

"This dude truly loves you. That alliance match is just cannon fodder standing in the way of your happiness."

"How did you land such an incredible guy? Please teach me!"

The divine message section exploded like it had swallowed gunpowder.

[Is there anyone normal in that comment section?? A scumbag cheating with his mistress being praised like some epic romance, pfft. Believe in love? I hope you all find a husband just like him!]

['Alliance match'? As if Ryan deserves it. Jenna's real alliance partner is the big antagonist of the entire novel.]