Chapter 2

I felt Oliver's tense muscles relax the instant the words left my mouth.

He held my gaze, then leaned in.

I reached up, wrapped my arms around the back of his neck, and kissed him first.

The hall erupted with whistles and cheers.

These wolves might have seen Julian hook up with plenty of she-wolves before, but they had never expected me to be the one boldly kissing another male wolf, especially not Oliver, the cold, untouchable Alpha of the powerful Frostmoon pack.

Yet the cheers gradually died down. I couldn't afford to wonder why, because Oliver was kissing me with surprising intensity.

His hand gripped my waist, pulling me closer as the kiss deepened, growing hotter and more demanding with every second. I could barely breathe by the time the thirty seconds ended.

When I finally pulled back, the entire room had fallen strangely silent.

Julian's face was thunderous.

Oliver gently wiped the moisture from the corner of my lips with his thumb.

"What's going on with everyone?" I asked, feigning confusion as I looked around. "Didn't I finish the penalty?"

Violet recovered first and forced a smile.

"Looks like amnesia didn’t kill your craving for your boyfriend."

Julian's expression darkened even further.

I pretended not to notice and excused myself to the restroom.

As I reached the turn in the staircase, I overheard voices from below.

"Oliver, I told you not to touch her," Julian said coldly. "You went too far just now."

Oliver leaned casually against the railing, his tone relaxed.

"It was only a game. Besides, was she supposed to ignore her so-called boyfriend and kiss you while you had another she-wolf in your arms? That would've looked even stranger. And don't forget, you're the one who asked me to play her boyfriend."

Julian was quiet for a few seconds.

"Fine. Just be more careful next time. I don't think you'd actually be interested in her, let alone sleep with her, but try to avoid anything too intimate."

"After all..." Julian gave a soft, mocking laugh. "You've always hated her, right? Asking you to stay by her side like this is already unfair. I feel bad about putting you through it."

Oliver let out a low chuckle.

"Heh. You know me too well."

Back at the villa, I had just turned toward my room when Oliver suddenly pulled me close and kissed me.

"Mmm..."

I instinctively tried to pull away, but his arm wrapped firmly around my waist, holding me in place.

When he finally drew back, his long fingers gently brushed my cheek. His voice was low and deep.

"Today, we feel a little more familiar than yesterday, don't we?"

Once again, his actions completely contradicted what Julian had told him.

I stared at him, more confused than ever. I couldn't figure Oliver out anymore.

From the moment Julian introduced me to his circle of young masters and Alphas from the most prestigious packs, everyone could tell Oliver disliked me.

He had never approved of my relationship with Julian, probably because I was just an ordinary she-wolf from a declining pack. Every time we crossed paths, he would throw cold, sarcastic remarks my way. So I had always avoided him whenever possible.

But now, after Julian used my "amnesia" as an excuse to push me into Oliver's care, Oliver kept crossing lines he never should have.

What was he trying to do?

Was this his way of getting revenge for Julian forcing me on him?

After graduating with a design degree, I worked as a freelance designer. Most days, I stayed in the villa working on my sketches.

Oliver knocked lightly on the study door and invited me to a fireworks show by the lake tonight.

"Enough work for today. Come get some fresh air with me."

By the time we reached the lakeside, night had fallen and the shore was crowded with wolves. The best viewing spot was already occupied by two familiar figures.

Julian and Violet.

They stood side by side under the colorful bursts of fireworks.

Violet suddenly rose onto her toes and kissed Julian on the lips, beaming like a kid who had just received candy.

Julian looked down at her with gentle eyes and playfully tapped the tip of her nose.

Then he turned his head and saw us.