Chapter 1

When Ronan Thorne came back, he was reeking of the overly sweet scent of his secretary, Evelyn Stone.

He frowned the moment his gaze dropped to the bloodstained silver dagger in my hand.

"Carly Durham, what tricks are you pulling this time?"

He reached for the dagger, but I turned aside and avoided him.

"It's okay. Someone already stopped me," I replied softly. I lowered my head.

Ronan's hand froze midair. His gaze held nothing but weariness.

In the beginning, whenever I said someone was protecting me, he would panic. He would grab my hand, and his voice would shake.

"Don't scare me, Carly. You only have me."

Now, my pain had become a burden to him.

"Who? Carly, you're lying more and more these days."

Before I could speak, Ronan suddenly grabbed my chin and forced my head up, exposing the wound on my neck that had not healed yet.

The sharp pain made my eyes sting, but I still smiled at him.

"See? The wound is only this shallow because that person stopped me in time. Ronan, we swore never to lie to each other when we were 18. Remember?"

At those words, his eyes widened, and he let go like he had been burned.

He didn't look at me again. He turned to leave.

"Where are you going? Did what I said make you mad?" I asked carefully as I reached out and tugged at the hem of his shirt.

Ronan's back stiffened, but he still didn't turn around.

"You're overthinking it. Get some rest."

I knew that the 18-year-old Ronan never lied.

As for the 28-year-old Ronan, his silence was already an answer.

A few seconds later, I heard him speak coldly outside the door. "Sebastian, remove every knife and all silverware from the house. Leave nothing behind."

Two maids came in with their heads lowered to clear the room. They spoke in hushed voices, but their words still drifted to me.

"Alpha Ronan hasn't slept in days because of those Rogue raids at the border, yet here is Luna Carly, causing him trouble."

"Yeah. He comes back exhausted and has to deal with this mess. This Luna really is…"

Footsteps sounded at the door. Evelyn walked in openly.

Every helper immediately bowed to her as if she were the real Luna.

She looked at the chaotic room and sighed at me. Her tone was full of reproach as she said, "Luna Carly, the Rogues have been stirring up trouble at the border. Alpha Ronan is already worn out. Can you stop trying to end it all just to distract him?"

When I said nothing, Evelyn put on a look of concern and came over to hold my hand. "I know you don't like hearing this, but I'm doing it for your own… Ah!"

She suddenly screamed and crouched down. A bright silver needle was stuck in her finger.

"Luna Carly, how could you stab me with a silver needle! Alpha Ronan, help!"

Ronan rushed in when he heard her. When he saw the black streaks of silver poisoning spreading across Evelyn's hand, his face darkened instantly.

"Don't be scared, Evelyn. I'll get you treated right now." He scooped her up and held her protectively as he left.

Before he went out, he turned back and looked at me deeply.

I understood that look—cold and furious, like a dragon guarding its treasure after spotting an enemy.

However, Ronan had once said I was his only treasure. He called me his fated mate and said he'd rather die than lose me.

I suddenly felt very cold. I hugged my knees and curled in on myself.

I couldn't blame him. I must have made things harder for him. That was why he was angry.

As I thought that, the 18-year-old Ronan appeared before me again.

He reached out in a panic, trying to wipe away my tears. However, his hand was unreal. It passed straight through me.

He was so anxious that he looked like he was about to cry. "How could she frame you like that? Why doesn't he believe you? Carly, you're the best she-wolf in the world!"

I sniffed and raised my hand, trying to hold his, but I grasped only cold air.

"Can you take me away?"

The moment the words left my mouth, I suddenly fell into a warm embrace. My nose filled with that familiar, clean scent of wood.

It felt just like when we were 18.

Back then, Ronan loved me more than anything.

That year, my Beta parents died in a pack war. I became an orphan, and I lost all protection.

Still, our enemies wouldn't let me go.

During the hunting festival, they cornered me deep in the forest and forced wolfsbane into my mouth.

It was 18-year-old Ronan who sensed my fear and tracked me by scent.

That day, he shifted into his wolf form for the first time. He stood in front of me and tore into four adult werewolves. His body was covered in blood.

It was like he couldn't feel pain at all. His eyes held only me. "Carly, run! Don't look back! Run somewhere safe!"

When I came back with the previous Alpha and the pack guards, Ronan was barely alive. His silver fur was dark red, soaked with blood. However, when he saw me, he still forced a smile. "Luckily, you're alive… Don't worry. It doesn't hurt…"

I held him tightly, and my tears wouldn't stop falling. "Ronan, you've lost so much blood. How could it not hurt? Don't lie to me."

He leaned into the crook of my neck. His breath was scorching yet weak. "Carly, you're my fated mate. I swear by my bloodline that I'll be loyal to you for life. I'll never lie to you."

His vow was clear and heartfelt. Every single word sent a tremor through the very core of my heart.

However, I didn't know back then that vows only lasted for a moment once they were spoken.