Chapter 1

I am the daughter of the Alpha of the Crescent Pack.

After my parents passed away, all the pack’s territories, mining rights, and company shares were transferred to me.

But I had never been interested in the endless struggles for power and wealth. I preferred living quietly, in my own way.

The Elder Council had no way to persuade me otherwise, so they could only ask Theo to manage the pack on my behalf.

Theo was a werewolf of the Crescent Pack, young, talented, and humble. The first time he stood before me, he was so nervous that he did not even know where to place his hands.

Grand Elder Harlan patted him on the shoulder.

“Don’t be so nervous, child. It’s just a ceremony.”

I had a honey cookie between my teeth as I casually pressed my seal onto his Acting Alpha appointment document.

“There. One stamp a year. Come back at the first full moon next year.”

Theo lowered his head and stared at the silver wolf-head seal, his breathing becoming noticeably lighter.

For twelve years, whenever I reviewed the pack’s financial reports, I would simply skim through them and sign without asking questions.

Theo smiled helplessly.

“Silvia, aren’t you worried that I might do something behind your back?”

I answered confidently.

“Why would I? I wouldn’t have chosen you if I didn’t trust you.”

Because I had always kept a low profile, and because I trusted Theo completely, the outside world gradually came to know only one name — Alpha Theo of the Crescent Pack.

When other Alphas from different packs met him, they treated him with respect and courtesy.

Whenever there were business disputes, they would go to him first.

I thought that was perfectly fine.

Until last year, when Theo met Mia, the daughter of the Alpha of the Redstone Pack.

But he did not dare tell the Redstone Pack Alpha that he was only an Acting Alpha.

The first time Theo came to me, he asked for my blessing and help.

At the time, I was eating apple pie. I did not think much about it and only asked him one question.

“Are you certain that she is the one you want as your mate?”

He nodded.

The next day, I approved his decision to transfer the mining rights to three mines to the Redstone Pack.

That very day, the Redstone Pack set the date for their mating ceremony.

Mia really was a gentle person.

She went shopping with me, cooked all kinds of delicious food for me, and treated me as if I were her own younger sister.

On the day of Theo and Mia’s mating ceremony, I gifted her a territory.

“Welcome to the Crescent Pack.”

She held onto Theo’s arm, her reddish-brown hair braided into an elegant style. Her smile was gentle and graceful.

“Thank you, Silvia.”

She accepted the documents.

“I will always remain loyal to the Crescent Pack.”

On the first day after their mating ceremony, Mia said she wanted to come visit me.

Coincidentally, I also wanted to show her a forest spot I had recently discovered.

When she arrived, she was carrying a bottle of wine, wearing the same gentle and polite smile.

“Silvia, I brought this vintage wine just for you. Try some.”

I smiled and reached for a glass, but she stopped me.

She twisted open the bottle cap. Then she flipped her wrist.

The dark red liquid splashed across my body, soaking my clothes and dress. The intense smell of alcohol was so overwhelming that it almost made me choke.

“Madam Mia, what are you doing?”

My butler Lily stepped forward, intending to stop her.

But before she could say another word, the guards behind Mia rushed forward and pinned her, along with the other maids who tried to intervene, firmly to the ground.

“Take them away.”

Mia did not even turn around as she spoke.

“Don’t you dare!”

I shouted.

But Mia’s guards ignored me and quickly dragged them out of the living room.

My breathing grew heavier.

“Mia, what exactly do you mean by this?”

She dropped the wine bottle. A hint of mockery appeared on her face.

“It means everything before this was just an act.”

Her voice was soft, yet cold.

“You didn’t really think I considered you my little sister, did you?”

She was half a head taller than me, looking down at me as her smile grew brighter.

“I only treated you well before because you were Theo’s adopted sister.”

I stared at her in confusion. When did I ever become Theo’s adopted sister?