Chapter 1

My name was Lana Garren. My corpse was discovered deep within the forest.

A patrol of pack warriors caught the overwhelming scent of blood and immediately notified the Alpha.

My parents rushed over from my younger sister Eve Garren's wolf spirit awakening ritual.

The Alpha frowned at the unbearable stench and motioned for my parents to examine the corpse.

Dad was the pack's most decorated warrior, and Mom was the only healer in the entire pack.

Even after witnessing countless battlefields, both of them froze at the sight before them.

The damp, frigid depths of the forest had accelerated decomposition far beyond normal.

Wild beasts had devoured nearly every inch of flesh from my body. My limbs were long gone. Even my bones had been crushed into fragments.

The overpowering stench of decay mixed with blood made many of the werewolves retch violently, forcing them to stumble aside and vomit.

Mom composed herself before beginning a preliminary examination.

As she looked over my mangled remains, sympathy filled her eyes.

When I was alive, she had never once looked at me that way.

I watched as she removed the moonstone ring from my bloodstained finger.

I had personally designed and forged that ring. I had made one for every member of our family.

Yet when Eve complained that the moonstone in hers was too small, they had scolded me mercilessly.

"I knew you had malicious intentions! You deliberately singled your sister out!

"Lana, even if you're our biological daughter, you don't get to bully Eve! She has been part of this family since she was little. She's every bit as much your sister, and she'll always be the most important person in this family!"

Those cold, hurtful words still echoed in my ears.

Even now, I desperately hoped they would recognize me because of that ring.

Instead, Mom remained expressionless. She casually signaled for her assistant to seal it inside an evidence bag.

I laughed bitterly at myself. There had never been a place for me in my parents' hearts even if I was their only biological daughter.

The pack elders had once told me that after I disappeared as a pup and my parents failed to find me, they adopted Eve because she resembled me.

They poured every ounce of love and guilt they had meant for me into an unrelated adopted daughter.

So when I was finally found and returned home with overflowing joy, I realized there was no longer any place for me there.

As the real daughter, I had become the outsider in my own family.

After finishing his examination of the scene, Dad turned to Mom with a grim expression.

"What's the condition of the corpse?"

Mom removed her gloves and sighed.

"The victim was around twenty years old. Initial findings suggest she died from an overdose of wolfsbane venom after enduring prolonged torture.

"The killer's methods were exceptionally cruel. We need to solve this case as quickly as possible, or panic will spread throughout the pack."

Dad frowned with concern as he considered how to handle the aftermath.

Mom pinched her nose. She couldn't bear the stench any longer.

Even in death, I was still causing my parents trouble.

One of the warriors reminded them, "The killer is still at large. Make sure Eve and Lana don't go anywhere alone."

The moment Mom heard my name, irritation appeared on her face.

"Eve has always been obedient and sensible. It's Lana who's impossible to control. She's nothing but a headache!"