Chapter 1

Clary's POV

Near the pool party, voices drifted over in hushed tones.

I was about to walk over when I suddenly heard my name.

“I think Isabelle just relies on me to spoil her.

“Bad temper?”

Alpha James let out a snort. “No matter how bad her temper is, can it compare to Clary back then?”

The werewolves lounging on the chairs quickly chimed in. “Isabelle’s still young. She just turned nineteen after the full moon.”

James’ Beta, Damien, nodded. “An Omega being a little possessive and headstrong is normal. Clary was about that age when she started dating you.”

James fell silent for a moment, not responding.

Someone else joked, “We all remember how proud and untouchable Clary used to be.

“Now? She’s completely obedient. She'll do whatever Alpha tells her to do.”

Damien laughed. “Exactly. Back then, no one would’ve imagined Clary becoming this gentle and well-behaved.”

Another werewolf added, “I remember too. Clary had a fierce temper. If I hadn’t run fast enough, her wolf would’ve torn me apart on the spot.”

Damien glanced at James. “Now that Clary’s older, she’s not as interesting as a newly grown Omega.

“When I see Isabelle get angry, it kind of reminds me of Clary when she was younger.”

James nodded, then instructed him. “Arrange a plane. I’m flying back tonight.”

Damien looked surprised. “Alpha, are you going back to coax Isabelle?”

He didn’t deny it. “My mother’s birthday is coming up. As for Isabelle, it’s just on the way.”

Damien nodded. “There aren’t any flights tonight. The earliest is 3 a.m…”

“Book the 3 a.m. one,” James cut in decisively.

My face turned pale.

The voice of my wolf, Rowan, sounded softly in my mind. “Clary, did you hear that? He said that Omega is like us.”

“I heard.”

“But Clary, he’s your fated-mate. How can he go to another she-wolf?”

Rowan’s voice was filled with confusion and hurt.

I didn’t walk over.

Instead, I stood frozen in the corner. My wolf curled up inside me, like a small, injured ball of fur.

It wasn’t until the rain began to fall in a light drizzle that I snapped back to reality.

I blinked slowly, then turned and walked toward the parking lot.

The Clary James was talking about was me.

The one who used to be irritable and cold, who had rejected a powerful Alpha’s pursuit more than a dozen times.

Now, I had become a quiet, obedient she-wolf.

Because James always said, “Clary, you’re going to be the pack’s Luna one day. You need to be sensible.”

Little by little, I became what he wanted—gentle, quiet, well-behaved, and never causing trouble.

However, James still found me boring.

When I got into the car, James reached out to me through the mind link.

“Why aren’t you here yet?”

“Something came up. I’m not going over.”

“Alright. The party’s almost over, anyway. I’ll head back soon.”

His voice was as gentle as ever. “Be good and wait for me at home.”

I said nothing.