Chapter 1

"Father, I will marry into the North in Sophia's place."

The great hall fell silent. Mother's eyes reddened at once. "The North is savage and warlike, and Knox is brutal and blind. How could you endure a life there?"

I knew all of this, of course.

In my previous life, Sophia had volunteered for the marriage and died on the journey. My brothers believed she had suffered in my place. When the enemy attacked, they abandoned me among enemy wolves as payment for her death.

In this life, I would never again leave my fate in their hands.

"Our pack has grown weaker over the years. If I bond with Knox and our packs become allies, our people will no longer have to face the enemy alone."

Father was silent for a long time before handing me the marriage contract. Mother pulled me into her arms. "If this is the path you've chosen, we'll see you through it."

But the moment I stepped out of the great hall, my three brothers blocked my way. Sophia stood behind them, her eyes rimmed red.

My eldest brother, Caine Vale, spoke first. "I heard you're marrying into the North in Sophia's place?"

"That's right."

Caine didn't even go inside to confirm it. He said coldly, "Our parents can't bear to see you suffer even a little. There's no way they'd actually send you to the North.

"Sophia is willing to suffer for you and for the pack. She only has three days left at home, and you choose now to use the marriage to fight for our attention. You're just trying to pull us away from her."

Rhael Vale scoffed. Lucian Vale looked like he wanted to speak, but in the end, both of them moved in front of Sophia.

When we were children, they used to carry me on their shoulders through the Moon Garden.

I had believed that even without sharing the same blood, we would be family for life.

Now I had told them the truth to their faces, and they would rather believe in a fight for their attention that existed only in their heads.

Sophia gently tugged at Caine's sleeve. "Please don't blame her. She just can't bear to part with you..."

Caine immediately pulled her behind him, his gaze toward me growing colder.

"No matter how much fuss you make, I will spend every one of Sophia's last three days by her side. Stop humiliating her."

I pressed down the last ache in my chest and said calmly, "Don't worry. I won't fight with her over you anymore, and I won't cling to any of you."

Caine dismissed it as another ploy to make him chase after me.

I didn't bother explaining. I pushed past them and walked away without looking back.

They had heard every word I said, yet refused to believe a single one.

Sophia would stay by their side forever, and the sister they despised would vanish from their lives, just as they wished.