LOGINThe results came back fast.Vivienne's video was fabricated, and my audio was genuine.No matter how skilled the forger she hired, the academy's analysis could not be fooled.Vivienne still refused to give up and kept pleading through her tears."Ashlyn's audio is the fake one! Pavel only lied for her because she seduced him. What does one conversation prove? I..."Before she could finish, Pavel cut her off."I admit it. I did it."A supermarket near the academy has security footage of Vivienne deliberately setting that dog on Ashlyn, and I ordered the employees to keep quiet about it."I'm willing to submit the footage as supporting evidence."Vivienne stared at him, stunned. She had not expected him to turn against her at the one moment that mattered.Maybe only then did Vivienne truly understand that Pavel had never loved her.With the evidence conclusive, the ruling came quickly.Vivienne was barred for life from becoming a healer.Pavel was banned from the Council of Elders for th
The first time I met Caleb, I was eight years old.My mother had not been gone long, and my father had scolded me over Vivienne so many times that I ran out of the house in a fury.I sat by the river alone and cried.That was when Caleb turned up.He was still a boy then.Covered in wounds, he washed ashore right in front of me.He scared me so badly that I ran.Pack nights were bitterly cold. Injured as Caleb was, he would certainly die if I abandoned him.After a long hesitation, I stole some medicine and treated him the way I had seen the pack's healers do.Back then I did not even know his name.The boy actually lived.He told me that his family's enemies couldn't defeat his parents, so they had ambushed him instead.Once he healed, he moved into a run-down hut by the river.I had my first friend.Every time my father shouted at me, I would run to that boy and pour it all out.More than a year went by like that, and then he told me he was leaving.That day, I had just fought with m
Only after we entered the room and I released Caleb's hand did I notice that the man who had seemed so composed outside was blushing to the tips of his ears.When he caught me looking, Caleb glanced away self-consciously.Caleb cleared his throat. "You just got here, and this is all new, so we'll sleep separately for now."My things are all outside. Everything in this room is for you. It's all new and freshly cleaned, so make yourself at home. If you need anything else, just tell me."I looked up and took in everything in the room.In addition to the basic furniture, there were slippers, towels, a toothbrush, shampoo, body wash, and pajamas, and every single item was the brand and the scent I already used."This is more than enough. I love it. Thank you."I meant it.Caleb smiled a little."You came here as my Luna. Treating you well is the least of it."Rest for a while if you want. Later, I can show you around the territory. If you're tired today, we can go another time. Whatever you
"Ashlyn! I won't let you mate with him!"Pavel burst in, his sharp gaze sweeping over every wolf in the room."Ashlyn is the Luna of my Nightfall pack. If you know what's good for you, you'll give her back!"The wolves roared with laughter.Pavel frowned and turned his gaze on Caleb at the altar."Alpha of the Phantom pack, I know you and Ashlyn only just met. Her father forced this arrangement on you. There's nothing between you."Ashlyn and I are different. We were together for four years. She only agreed to her father's arrangement in a fit of anger. Let her go, and I'll form an alliance with the Phantom pack."But if you insist on holding my future Luna here, we'll settle this in battle. Think carefully. Is one woman you barely know worth it?"The Phantom wolves erupted."Ashlyn is already mated to our Alpha. She is the Luna of the Phantom pack.""You stand on our altar and insult our Alpha and our Luna. Do you think we're afraid of you! If you want a war, you can have one!"Pavel
Vivienne threw herself at his legs and clung to them, sobbing so hard she shook."Pavel, I didn't mean to lie to you. I just love you too much."I don't understand. My father has loved me since I was a child, everyone in the pack respects me, and Ashlyn was never wanted! Why are you the only one who can't see that?"If he hadn't wanted to absorb the Cloudweave pack's power, my father would never have taken her mother as his mate."Everyone in the pack finds her cold and strange. How can you not see what she is?"You don't even like her that much, do you?"You only decided to make her your mate because the Moon Goddess chose her for you."But she's so ordinary. How is she anywhere near good enough for you?"Admit it. I'm the one you like best, which is why you drop her for me every time I need you, why you panic more when I'm hurt than when she is. Am I wrong?"The mate the Moon Goddess arranges isn't always the right one! Plenty of wolves choose for themselves and end up happy. We coul
(Third person’s POV)The Nightfall altar.The hour of the mating ceremony had come.Pavel searched the crowd, but Ashlyn was nowhere to be seen.Then his Beta, Silas, hurried over."Alpha, we can't find Ashlyn. Her landlord says she checked out and left first thing this morning. Word is she went back to Moonsong territory."Pavel's eyes went wide and he grabbed Silas by the collar."Impossible! Ashlyn has been waiting to be mated to me for so long. Why would she leave now?"Something urgent must have come up. I'll call her."He yanked out his phone and dialed.No matter how many times he tried, every call went straight to voicemail.His hand trembled."Give me your phone!"He snatched the phone from Silas before the Beta could answer and punched in Ashlyn's number.No one answered that phone either, but it rang normally before going to voicemail.Then Pavel understood. Ashlyn had blocked his number.It felt as if a hand had closed around his heart. He couldn't breathe.Why?He could no







