Chapter 1

“Lyra, why did you come back from outside so early today?”

Laurent had just returned from the Pack Market. She held the werewolf lotus roots and fresh bones she had just bought, smiling at me as usual.

“Jason and I just bought some ingredients. How about I stew your favorite soup for you tonight?”

Jason followed right behind her.

He was the current Alpha of Silvermoon Pack, and the werewolf I once believed would be my fated mate for life.

Yet at this moment, he merely gave me a glance, nodded politely, and reached out to take the items from Laurent’s arms.

“It’s cold outside. Go inside,”

he said, his tone as natural as if they were the true owners of this castle, while I was merely an outsider temporarily lodging here.

Six months ago, Jason led warriors to patrol the northern border of the Pack when they were ambushed by the Rogue Pack.

The enemies were fully prepared, deploying silver dust, wolfsbane poison, and even poisoned daggers specifically crafted to strike an Alpha’s inner wolf on him.

By the time our warriors arrived, Jason had almost stopped breathing.

It was my father and mother who saved him.

My father was the previous Alpha of Silvermoon Pack, and my mother was the Pack’s Luna.

To save Jason, my father blocked a silver blade aimed at Jason’s heart, while my mother was pierced from behind by a Rogue as she dragged the unconscious Jason back toward our territory.

In the end, Jason survived. But my parents never returned.

Before breathing his last, my father handed the Alpha Gold Badge to Jason.

At that time, although my inner wolf had already awakened, I was not ready to be an Alpha Queen. The Pack had just suffered a devastating battle, and the borders were in chaos.

A werewolf with powerful Alpha blood was urgently needed to stabilize the Pack.

My father entrusted the entirety of Silvermoon Pack to Jason.

“Protect Lyra for me.”

My father died after his last words.

Jason became the new Alpha of Silvermoon Pack, while I lost both my parents.

At that time, I never resented him, believing my father had chosen the right heir.

After all, Jason and I had been in love for four years.

Before he left for that patrol, we had already decided to hold our Bonding Ceremony at the next Moonlight Festival.

I always thought that even though my parents were gone, at least Jason would stay by my side.

However, after the battle ended, Jason fell into a coma for seven full days due to silver poison invading his inner wolf.

When he finally woke up, his inner wolf had collapsed, and his memories were severely fractured.

Coincidentally, the first she-wolf he saw opening his eyes was Laurent.

As a result, he believed Laurent was the mate he was meant to bond with.

Meanwhile, I became just “the daughter of the former Alpha”.

I was gradually turned into an outsider living in the Central Central Castle.

The most ironic part was that this castle was originally my home.

Silvermoon Pack had been established by my grandfather.

The central Central Castle, the Moon Spring, the eastern training grounds, and the large expanse of core ancestral land around them were all private ancestral territories belonging to my father’s Aurora bloodline.

Jason inherited the position of Alpha, not these lands.

After my father died, all those territory title deeds automatically fell under my name.

I just never cared before, because back then I believed Jason and I would eventually hold our Bonding Ceremony.

What was mine would also become his.

Yet after Jason lost his memory, I was forced to move out of the master bedroom where I had grown up and into the most remote side room of the Central Castle.

Every single stone brick, every silver pine, and even the row of laurel trees by the training grounds had been planted by my father’s own hands.

Now, every day, I had to watch Jason walk past them holding another she-wolf’s hand.

I watched them hug, watched him kiss Laurent, and watched him naturally stand beside her in front of all Pack members.

Every single time, my inner wolf would roar against the depths of my consciousness:

“He is not her Mate!”

“He belongs to us!”

She was furious.

Later, even she gradually fell silent.

All I could do was tell myself again and again to wait just a little longer.

The healer said that as long as his inner wolf awakened, his memories would return.

Once Jason recovered, everything would return to its rightful place.

I waited for six whole months.

Laurent stood before me, following my gaze toward Jason, who was preparing dinner in the kitchen.

She gently held my hand.

“Lyra, I’m sorry. It’s all because I’m useless; Jason still hasnt recovered.”

She continued,

“But don’t worry, I will take care of him for you. I will never let any other she-wolf get close to him.”

I lowered my eyes, suddenly feeling like laughing.

I said softly,

“I just came back to grab a few things. I’m going out again in a bit. Don’t worry.”

Just then, Jason’s voice came from inside.

“Laurent, honey, come give me a hand.”

Laurent turned immediately.

“Coming!”

Then she smiled at me again.

“Go ahead with your business then. You can have some soup when you return.”

I didn’t leave.

I just stood at the corner of the hallway.

Inside the kitchen, after organizing the herbs, Laurent held out her hand to Jason.

“Smell this, does it smell really bad?”

Jason looked down and actually smiled, kissing her fingertips.

“It doesn’t smell bad. Your scent has always been lovely.”

Laurent laughed and pushed him lightly.

Jason took the opportunity to wrap his arm around her waist, and the two of them laughed together, looking just like a real Alpha and Luna.

Jason and I were like that.

Only the she-wolf standing beside Jason wasn’t me anymore.

Perhaps they thought I had already left.

After a moment, I heard Jason suddenly ask,

“When does Lyra plan to move out of the Central Castle?”

“Move out? Why?”

Jason lowered his head to prepare the moon lotus roots.

“She has already lived here for half a year. She can’t keep staying here forever.”

Laurent hesitated.

“But this was originally where she grew up. And her parents...”

Jason’s brows furrowed slightly.

“I know she is the daughter of the former Alpha. That’s why over the past six months, I have taken more than enough care of her. But this is the Central Castle. In the future, if you become the Luna, you will also live here. What does it look like for the three of us to stay like this indefinitely?”

My inner wolf stirred uncomfortably.

Jason continued,

“Besides, every time I want to get close to you, I have to keep in mind that she’s right nearby. I don’t like it.”

Laurent whispered,

“But if Lyra moves out alone...”

“The Pack is huge,”

Jason said.

“Is there nowhere else for her to live? There are plenty of ordinary member residences in the East District. If worst comes to worst, I’ll have the Beta arrange a room for her.”

Standing there, I suddenly didn’t know whether to cry or laugh.

Ordinary member residences?

Jason had probably completely forgotten. This Central Castle was built by my family.

When I scraped my knee as a child, my father personally carried me on his back from the entrance to the Moon Spring.

Every year during the Moonlight Festival, my mother would stand in the main hall to bless the Pack members. Their portraits were still hanging in the Council Hall right now.

And the werewolf whose life they saved with their own lives was now discussing which “ordinary member residence” their only daughter should be dispatched to.

Jason continued,

“Laurent, you’re always like this. You’re clearly going to be the Luna of this place, yet you always act like an outsider because of Lyra.”

Laurent fell silent for a moment, then stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek.

Deep within my consciousness, my inner wolf let out an extremely faint wail.