Chapter 1

When I came back from Silvermoon Training Camp, I saw my older brother, Zachary Barker, leaning back against the couch with fine beads of sweat sliding down his taut neck.

He was wearing some gray sweatpants, and his eyes looked somewhat dazed.

"Zachy? Why are you back so early today?"

I went over to him, meaning to grab his hand, but instead, I touched a warm, sticky liquid on his hand.

"Why's your hand all wet?" I asked, holding up my hand and sniffing it. "There's a strange smell to it too…"

Zachary suddenly stiffened all over. He then quickly pushed me away and spoke in an icy voice, "Don't touch me, Tanya Barker."

I felt a pang of sadness shoot through me.

I hadn't gotten my wolf when I turned 14 years old like everyone else, and the other members of the pack made fun of me and called me useless. Zachary was the only one who would always protect me without any hesitation.

It wasn't until a few days ago, when I turned 18 years old, that I finally welcomed my wolf. However, after transforming into my wolf form, I realized that I was nothing like Zachary.

I only learned then that I wasn't Mom and Dad's biological pup.

After that, the pack was filled with gossip. And even my own brother Zachary, the Alpha, grew cold toward me.

It had only been a few short days since I got my wolf, but he had distanced himself from me so much so that he even locked his bedroom door from the inside at all times, preventing me from going in.

"Fine! I won't even touch you anymore, then!" I roared at him in a huff.

"I'm packing up my bags and going back to the training dorm tomorrow! You can go ahead and have this villa all to yourself!"

I ran up to the second floor afterward.

I calmed myself down and decided to take a shower because of all the sweat from the training earlier. After the shower, I reached my hand out through the crack in the bathroom door to reach for my clothes on the shelf next to the door.

However, after searching for a long while, I could only feel my fingers brushing against my nightgown. The lace underwear couldn't be found anywhere at all.

But I clearly remembered bringing it back with me this time…

I didn't manage to find the underwear after searching for a long time. So, I had no choice but to only put on the nightgown with no underwear.

At dinnertime, the atmosphere in the dining room was very tense.

Zachary didn't say a word to me and just ate his steak quietly by himself.

I held back my temper and deliberately carved the steak on my plate with all my might, making loud noises as my knife clattered against the plate, to get his attention. However, it was of no use.

He didn't even bother looking at me for a split second. He just hurriedly finished his steak, wiped his mouth, and got up and left the dining room altogether. I could only stare at his cold, indifferent figure as he disappeared from view.

I then stared at his empty seat and felt my nose beginning to sting as tears welled up in my eyes. A wave of resentment washed over me as well.

After all, we'd been siblings for 18 years, and he'd taught me how to defend myself, treated my wounds when I got hurt, and would always be the first to rush over to protect me in the face of danger.

Everyone in the pack knew that the powerful Alpha Zachary doted on his younger sister very much. I trusted and relied on him a lot as well, and my most favorite thing to do was to snuggle in his bed at night.

I loved and even craved his unique scent that smelled of fir and tobacco.

Yet, my awakening period ruined everything.

Zachary began treating me more and more like a stranger after I finally got my wolf. He even refused to look me in the eyes anymore, as if he would lose control of himself if our gazes were to meet. Still, I refused to continue and let ourselves grow distant just because of this.

His neglect of me was making me anxious. I desperately wanted to get back the closeness we used to have.

So, before going to bed, I slipped into his bed as I’d done so many times.

The bed was filled with the scent of fir trees, and I thought that it matched his very cold and aloof demeanor a lot.

I snuggled against his pillow and inhaled deeply, trying to get in as much of his familiar scent to ease the anxious feeling in my heart. Yet, I noticed something peeking out from under his pillow, and I stopped my actions at once.

I reached underneath and pulled it out.

Lo and behold, it was the lace underwear I'd been looking for just a while ago!

I felt my face burning red and hot at once.

How did this thing get under his pillow?

The bathroom door opened just then, and I quickly stuffed it back under his pillow, burrowing into his blankets and playing dead.

I peeked through the covers and saw Zachary's half-naked upper body as he walked out, water droplets sliding down his muscular abs as they glistened under the light.

He was wearing some tight boxer briefs that barely covered his crotch, and I could also see his bulge swaying as he dried his hair with his towel.

I couldn't stop my gaze from drifting downward and fixating on his crotch. My breathing quickened without me even noticing it.

After Zachary was done drying his hair, he threw the bedcovers back, intending to get in. Before he could react, however, I emerged suddenly from his bed and grinned impishly at him.

"Tanya Barker! Get out of my bed!"

Zachary's voice was a lot harsher and more dangerous than usual. "I'm warning you, you're not allowed to get into my bed ever again!"

He yelled at me again.

I cowered back under his covers and turned my back on him without getting off the bed.

Zachary's face turned dark at once. He reached out and grabbed me by my arm, wanting to forcefully drag me off his bed.

"Get up! And go back to your own bedroom!"

I clutched hard to his bedcovers and shouted defiantly, "No! I'm staying here tonight, Zachy!"

I kept struggling against him as I shouted and screamed, flailing my arms wildly in the air as I tried my best to break free from his tight grip.

In the struggle, my hand accidentally bumped against something big, hard, and hot.

The air around us seemed to freeze in an instant.

The sensation against my hand was so vivid, penetrating into my palm even through the thin fabric of his boxer briefs.

I froze at once as I stared at him, not knowing what to do.

"Zachy…"

Zachary shoved my hand away at once and took a few steps back. Then, he yelled at me again.

"Shut up! And don't call me 'Zachy' ever again!"