Chapter 1

After risking my life to save Alpha heir mate Ethan and his father from the devastating rogue attack, I devoted three years to watching over him and helping our pack to reclaim its position at the top.

But on the night of the victory celebration, standing beside him was his first love—the woman who had once abandoned him.

【Northern Pack's Alpha Heir Ethan's Triumphant Return, Reunited with Childhood Sweetheart】

The news headline dominated the entertainment section, the video thumbnail showing Ethan and Victoria standing side by side at the press conference, fingers intertwined.

When I clicked on it, I heard a reporter ask curiously, "Alpha Ethan, you've been mated to Miss Emma for three years. She stood by you through your darkest period. Now that you've successfully reclaimed your position, why don't you consider her the most important person in your life?"

Ethan's expression remained calm. "I'm very grateful for her dedication these past three years, but gratitude isn't love. I'm willing to honor our mating bond, but that doesn't mean love and mating have to go hand in hand."

The comment section exploded.

【Unbelievable! A woman stands by her mate through three years of hardship, and after he succeeds, he dismisses her with 'it's not love'?】

【She deserved it—what did she expect from being such a desperate omega!】

Almost everyone directed their criticism at me.

Those cruel comments stung as I watched the man in the video, his eyes full of tenderness for another woman, and my heart filled with bitterness.

So these three years had been nothing but my wishful thinking. He saved duty and gratitude for me, but gave his gentleness and heart to his first love—even though she had abandoned him once.

I closed the video and dialed my lawyer.

"Add another clause to the severance agreement. I don't want him to get a single thing."

Since he dared to use three years of my youth to teach me what reality means, I should at least get some compensation for my trouble.

After hanging up, I pushed open the door. Alexander still lay quietly in his hospital bed.

I skillfully wrung out a towel and wiped his body.

"Uncle, this is the last time I'll come see you."

"Your son says Victoria is the love of his life."

"How strange. Just a year ago, when he could shift again, he clearly told me, 'Emma, I can't imagine this lifetime without you.'"

I laughed bitterly as I spoke, placing the towel back in the basin.

Through the rippling water, I seemed to see eighteen-year-old Ethan again.

At the high school opening ceremony, he stood in the spotlight as the student representative, while I huddled in the shadows at the back of the auditorium.

He was the pack heir; I was an orphan surviving on scholarships.

For three whole years, I only dared steal glances at the back of his head during morning assemblies. Even in graduation photos, I could only stand in the corner farthest from him.

I don't even know when I started liking him.

Perhaps feelings never make sense to begin with.

Like a shadow, I lingered in dark corners, watching from afar.

To attend the same college as him, I studied desperately.

But on the first day of school, I watched him fall in love with Victoria at first sight.

For four whole years, I witnessed all his methods of courtship—grand and passionate gestures that made them the envy of the entire campus.

But Victoria remained composed and aloof, only accepting his proposal on graduation day.

The day she said yes, Ethan was so excited he set off fireworks across the entire city. And I shed tears as I offered him my blessing.

I thought my secret crush would end there.

Until that sudden rogue attack changed everything.