Chapter 1

When I returned to my bedroom, I received a call from someone on the werewolf council. "Ms. Lovel, your application to leave the pack has been processed. As of tomorrow, you'll no longer be a member of the Sable pack. Are you sure you want to leave?"

Before I could respond, my phone vibrated again. My mate, Dorian Roumanoff, sent me a message. "Where'd you go? Are you back in your room yet?"

I stared blankly at the screen, unaccustomed to his sudden display of concern. I was about to reply when another message came through. "Bring over the moonstone bracelet I gave you. It's part of a set with this necklace. Since I've already given the necklace away, I might as well give Vanya the complete set."

I stared at my phone for what felt like an eternity. It had been a month, and he hadn't sent me a single message. He had reached out on his own initiative just to make me give my jewelry to my stepsister, Vanya Lovel.

It brought back memories of Vanya's third day at the manor, when Dorian caught her weeping in the glasshouse. I could still remember the empathetic look on his face when he came back and told me, "Vanya moved into your house with her mother. Her biological father has abused her ever since she was a child. After all these years, she has never even seen a moonlit rose."

That was when I learned that my stepsister, who was about my age, had lived such a miserable life. Consequently, I willingly gave up the greenhouse I had tended with my own hands and even gifted her my favorite moonstone ornament. I did my best to give her whatever she wanted.

Little did I know that my repeated concessions wouldn't earn me a shred of gratitude. It only fueled her bottomless greed.

While preparing for our mating ritual, Dorian had commissioned an artisan to craft a sapphire hairpin for me. Vanya had traced her fingers over the hairpin, with a wistful look in her eyes. "You're so lucky, Tiana. I doubt anyone will ever prepare something like this for me in this lifetime."

The very next day, that hairpin appeared on her vanity table.

Later on, after the full moon hunt had ended, Dorian returned with a snow fox pelt. Wrapped in a blanket and coughing, Vanya murmured, "Tiana, you're so fortunate. No one has ever given me a snow fox pelt."

Thus, that snow fox pelt—which was supposed to be mine—was made into a cloak and draped over her shoulders.

I had argued with Dorian about this before, yet every single time, he would give me that exasperated look. "Can't you just indulge her for once, Tiana? Vanya had such a hard life growing up and never owned any of these things. Consider it as making up for what she missed out on. I'll get you something better in the future."

Unfortunately, he never followed through on his word. Whenever something better came along, he would always present it to Vanya first.

A wave of bitterness spread through my chest as I replied, "I have something to take care of, so I won't be coming over. I'll have the butler send the bracelet over."

Within seconds, he replied, "Honey, are you sulking again? Like I said, Vanya has been through a lot as a child. As her older sister, you should be more understanding… Besides, it's just a jewelry set.

"I'll buy you something far better in the future. The auction house just recently acquired a new batch of moonstones. I'll commission something even more exquisite for you in a couple of days."

However, tomorrow was our mating ritual. I gently closed my eyes. Instead of arguing out of grievance like before, I simply replied with a single word. "Okay."

Dorian's reply came almost instantaneously. Even through the screen, his excitement was palpable. "I'm glad you understand. I really am overjoyed... Our mating ritual's tomorrow. I can't wait to be with you!"

Right after sending that, he followed up with another message. "I've asked the designer to come over tonight to adjust the jewelry dimensions for Vanya, so I won't be coming over to your room. Get some rest early."

I stared at his messages for a long while until the voice of the werewolf council staff member came through the other line once more. "Ms. Lovel, are you still with me? Are you certain about withdrawing from the Sable pack?"

Without the slightest hesitation, I responded firmly, "I'm certain."

The moment the sun rose tomorrow, I would leave this place behind. I would leave the Sable pack and Dorian.