Chapter 1

Her words fell into dead silence.

I lowered my gaze, hiding the coldness in my eyes, and answered slowly.

"Yes."

That single word froze everyone in the hall.

She clearly hadn't expected me to agree so easily. The rehearsed speech she'd prepared died in her throat.

Beside her, my brother Noah narrowed his eyes, suspicion written all over his face.

"You've been refusing for days. What changed?"

I looked up, my voice so docile it bordered on meek.

"Mother has already decided. I'll go."

The tension in her expression eased at once.

She seized my hand — her fingers ice-cold, her grip iron-tight.

"Elsa, I always knew you were the sensible one. When the Trials are over, your brother will come to bring you home. I won't break my word."

I laughed inwardly but said nothing.

In my previous life, being "sensible" was what had gotten me killed on the frozen plains.

Everyone knew the heir Jacob was savage. To trick me into being Freya's shield, my mother hadn't hesitated to lie.

She told me Jacob despised the weak — that if I played helpless, I'd be eliminated early.

I obediently hid every ounce of my strength. But Jacob dragged me out specifically to mock and humiliate me.

I fled in disgrace, hunted for seven days and nights.

I didn't dare stop. I survived on frozen raw meat and melted snow before I finally shook off my pursuers.

Then, fearing I'd endanger the family, I wandered the frozen plains for two years before daring to return.

But her warm embrace never came.

What awaited me was Freya's grand Marking Ceremony.

Freya stood at the Alpha's side, basking in everyone's blessings.

And my mother stood in the center of it all. When she saw me, her eyes were those of a stranger — cold and distant.

"Rogue. This isn't a place for you."

In that moment, I finally understood.

She had never intended for me to come back.

I lost the will to go on. Within days, I died alone on the frozen plains, consumed by despair.

The deathly cold jolted my mind awake. I looked at her face — painted with urgency — and spoke.

"There's one condition."

She blinked.

"What?"

"If I'm going to represent the Frostfang Pack, I need to be able to access my own resources. The mines Father left me, and my three hunting grounds — I want full control before I leave."

A heavy silence settled over the stone hall.

Her brow furrowed immediately.

"Those were meant as your future mating gift. You want them now — you don't trust me?"

I shrugged.

"It's not about trust. The Luna Trials are deadly. If I die out there, I'd like to leave something behind."

Color drained from her face, then flooded back in an angry flush. She finally swallowed her anger and nodded.

"Fine. I'll have the Elders transfer control to you."

I bowed my head in a small gesture of respect.

"Thank you, Mother."

She watched me, then sighed, her voice softening.

"Don't overthink this. When you come back, the Frostfang Pack will still be your home."

I'd heard those exact words in my past life.

And later, she'd said with her own mouth:

"There is no place for you here."

Late that night, I returned to my room.

Low voices drifted in from outside — wolf-tongue. Guards she had posted.

They were watching me. Making sure I didn't change my mind and escape.

I stood at the window and slowly clenched my fists.

This time, I would go. Of course I would.

But I would never again be the Elsa who was carelessly thrown away as a sacrifice.

The Luna Trials — I would see them through to the very end.

And everyone who owed me would pay back every last debt.