Chapter 1

I had given Jacob Fulton 99 chances. For five long years, I truly believed he was my fated mate.

Now, I was finally ready to walk away and return to my pack to fulfill my duty.

Hearing that I was heading back, my Alpha father, Lennon Conner, called immediately. "Wendy, you've finally come to your senses? You're leaving that arrogant patrol captain?"

Tears slipped down my cheeks.

When I first fell for Jacob, I broke ties with my family just to be with him.

Back when I arrived at the Silverfang pack, Jacob was nothing more than an ordinary patrol guard.

I remembered how remorseful he looked when he told me, "Wendy, I'm just a low-ranking guard right now, but I'm going after the captain's seat. The day I take that seat will be the day we become mates. I'll mark you before the Moon Goddess."

Patrol missions were lethal, with casualties almost every day.

The first time Jacob was injured, I stayed up all night, sick with worry.

So, I threw myself into learning healing techniques and potion-making, joining his team just to treat his wounds.

With me shielding his back, Jacob fought recklessly at the front lines, pulling off every mission flawlessly.

In just one year, he stood out from the rest and officially became the patrol captain.

I thought our bonding ceremony was right around the corner, but Jacob just held me tight and said in a voice heavy with fatigue, "Wendy, I fought my way here, but I've never led a whole team.

"I don't know if I can handle this. If I bond with you now, I'm scared I won't be able to give you the future you deserve."

He had looked down into my eyes and promised sincerely, "Once I secure my place, I'll give you a bonding ceremony like no other."

So, I waited again and joined his team as their dedicated healer.

From that moment on, I wasn't just Jacob's personal healer. I became the anchor for the entire team.

By day, I braved dangerous territories alongside them. By night, I stayed up researching antidotes and healing potions, bringing guards back from the brink of death no matter how severe their injuries were.

Under my care, the Silverfang pack's patrol team achieved an unprecedented milestone—five consecutive years without a single casualty.

Jacob became the youngest, most celebrated patrol captain the pack had ever seen.

The Alpha himself awarded him the highest honor.

Yet, Jacob never mentioned the bonding ceremony again.

In the end, I was recalled by my pack elders before I ever got the promise he owed me.

"Yes, Dad. I'm coming home to fulfill my duty," I said.

Dad sighed softly over the line. "I'll send an escort for you in three days. Don't worry, sweetheart. I'll find you the finest match out there."

When Jacob returned from his patrol, I was already packing.

Everything that belonged to me was neatly packed away into two massive suitcases.

Jacob fell silent for a moment, then rubbed his temples in exhaustion. "Wendy, what are you playing at now? Yelena cried all day because of your nonsense. Hand over your position as the team healer to make it up to her."

I looked up, stunned. "Jacob, are you serious? How could someone with her skills ever be the team healer?"

Two years ago, Jacob had begged me to help his childhood friend, Yelena Shaw.

She had married an abusive werewolf who beat her daily.

When she finally found a chance to escape back to the pack, she ran straight to Jacob for help.

Pitying her situation, I took her under my wing and taught her everything I knew about healing without holding anything back.

But Yelena was only interested in slacking off.

To this day, she couldn't even brew a basic poison antidote.

Jacob's expression darkened instantly. "Yelena might be a little clumsy, but she's a certified healer! Do you really have to tear her down like this?"

I almost laughed out of sheer frustration. Everyone knew Jacob bought the exam answers at a ridiculous price just to pass her through the certification.

Fearing for the team's safety, I tried to reason with him. "Yelena has never treated anyone on her own, Jacob. You can't gamble the crew's lives on her—"

"Enough! Wendy Conner, do you think you're the best healer in the pack? That no one can match you?"

I froze. "No, I never said—"

"This team can run fine without you!"

He glared at me and spat out every word with cold finality, "Starting today, Yelena is the patrol team's healer. Anyone who has a problem with that can get the hell out."