Chapter 1

This was year five of my mission to win over Serena, and tonight she'd left me alone at the office again, working late into the night.

Everything around me was pitch dark. Not a single soul on the streets at this hour.

I was flat broke. Walking home from the office would take at least two hours, and I couldn’t shift into wolf form in the city.

After a moment's hesitation, I pulled out my phone and called Serena.

The phone barely rang twice before she hung up.

I sighed. Of course. When had she ever cared? I'd just walk home.

The silence was suffocating. The darkness felt like it was hiding something dangerous. When I first transmigrated into this world, I'd heard constant reports of rogue wolves attacking people on the streets. They said rogues were savage — they'd tear you apart without a second thought. If I ran into one on the way home...

The thought made me walk faster.

My phone suddenly rang, nearly scaring me out of my skin. I answered, and Adrian's smug voice poured through the speaker. "Bet you didn't know — when you called Serena, she was right here with me. I watched her hang up on you with my own eyes."

Whatever his reason for calling, at least hearing his voice in this darkness made me feel a little safer.

"Can you just... keep talking to me?"

He paused. "What?"

"It's really dark out here. And I keep feeling like there's a rogue following me."

Adrian's tone sharpened. "Are you stupid? Why don't you just take a cab home?"

The night wind cut right through my clothes. I sniffled, sounding even more pathetic. "I don't have any money."

His voice turned urgent. "Hey — don't cry, okay? You're making it sound like I did something to you."

"Forget it, forget it. Just send me your location. I'm coming to get you now."

I thought he was joking, but less than ten minutes later, his car actually pulled up in front of me.

Serena rolled down the window and looked at me with undisguised contempt. "How did I never notice how calculating you are? Using Adrian just to force me to come see you."

I froze.

For five years, I'd done everything to please Serena for the Moon Goddess's mission — working myself to the bone, pulling all-nighters to land the project that would shape the pack's future.

And what did she do? Treated me like a dog she could summon and dismiss at will. Took everything I did for granted. Berated me whenever she was in a bad mood. Left me stranded at the office. And on top of all that, she withheld my wages until I couldn't afford rent.

I was done with this mission target. Completely done.

"Whatever, just — it's cold out. Get in."

I climbed into the back seat. The atmosphere in the car was painfully awkward.

Serena watched me through the rearview mirror, her expression unreadable. Then she spoke. "I've noticed you've been performing well lately. I'll give you a reward. What do you want?"

My head snapped up. "Anything?"

Serena scoffed. "Of course. I keep my word."

The Moon Goddess materialized in my head. "This is the perfect opportunity! Quick — tell her you don't want anything except time alone with her! You could go on a date! The Moonlight Forest, Featherveil Lake" — your progress will skyrocket!"

I was silent for two seconds.

"Can I get an advance on next month's salary?"