Chapter 1

All the wolves in the hall lifted their heads in unison.

The elders’ faces turned pale.

“Alpha?!”

On the high platform,

Alpha Rhys Ashbourne’s hand veins bulged against the armrest of the throne.

The wolf guards beside me suddenly lowered their heads, afraid to look up.

I froze for a moment.

…It’s just touching the collar, right?

Whispers floated around me.

“Hahaha, just an intern wolf guard, doesn’t even get a bonus.”

“The Alpha probably thinks she’s too weak and gave her something to pass the time.”

“Yeah, this newbie hasn’t even qualified for patrol duty, has she?”

A female voice suddenly spoke up.

“Well, that’s normal.”

I turned.

Female wolf guard captain Rowan Black crossed her arms, her eyes landing on my neck.

“She’s just decoration anyway. If she doesn’t wear something pretty, she’s even more useless.”

Low laughter rippled through the room.

I pressed my lips together instinctively.

My hands moved toward the clasp behind the collar.

…Should I even wear it?

I was about to remove it.

From above, Alpha’s low, cold voice suddenly fell.

“Who said you could take it off?”

The entire hall went silent.

I froze.

I looked up.

Alpha Rhys was gazing down at me.

His silver-gray wolf eyes radiated pressure.

The floating comments exploded across my vision.

【Oh no, our Alpha is suffering over there.】

【What if my little wolf doesn’t like the gift?! That’s his resonance chain!】

【He looks calm, but he already wants her under him.】

Under him?

Does he seriously dislike me that much?

…Oh no. Is he going to cut my internship score?

I refastened the clasp I had just undone.

“…I won’t take it off again. I’ll keep wearing it properly.”

The air suddenly went still.

High above the hall,

the tension in the man’s hand finally eased slightly.

Like he had barely managed to steady himself again.

His voice turned cold.

“Don’t touch it unless you have to.”

I let out a small “oh,” still not fully understanding.

【Can the Alpha seriously still hold himself back? I’m suffering for him.】

【Little wolf, hurry up and try touching it in different ways.】

I hesitated, then nodded.

“…Got it.”

He closed his eyes, as if forcing himself to endure something.

A moment later, he returned to his usual cold demeanor.

“Everyone else, leave. The elders stay.”

We all filed out.

I stood outside the council hall, guarding the door.

The mirrored wall reflected the wolf fang collar around my neck.

The wolf fang pendant rested against my undershirt, hanging over my chest.

Why would he give me this?

My fingertips unconsciously brushed against the wolf fang.

The next second,

a loud crash came from inside the hall.

Something sounded like it had been crushed with force.

The floating comments exploded again.

【Oh no! The Alpha really can’t hold it anymore!】

【Does she even know what the resonance chain means?!】

【The elders are going to lose it—he’s coming!】

Inside,

the man’s breathing stopped.

Veins on his hand bulged again.

He forced his control over his urge.

The elders turned pale.

“Alpha… your wolf is almost out of control.”

The next second,

the council hall doors burst open.

Alpha’s tall figure appeared before me.

His silver-gray wolf eyes locked onto the pendant in my hand.

His voice was low and hoarse.

“I told you not to touch it.”

I immediately let go.

“…I’m sorry.”

The man turned his head away, like he was forcing himself to hold back.

The floating comments flooded the screen.

【…Oh no. The Alpha is still standing only by sheer willpower.】

【If she touches it again, she’ll be on his bed tonight.】

【Little wolf still doesn’t know how serious this is.】

I thought to myself,

No way… it can’t be that bad.