Chapter 4

Late at night, the torches were lit, making the area around Spirit Fall as bright as day.

Somehow, I still came—following behind Darcy. But it didn’t matter anymore. When I realized I was truly leaving him for good, a strange sense of relief surged through my heart.

The moment he arrived, he became the center of the entire Hunting Competition. He-wolves flattered him, and she-wolves flirted shamelessly.

Brigitte, his new lover, naturally tried to keep her competitors at bay. Unfortunately for her, it was impossible to fend off so many beautiful she-wolves throwing themselves at Darcy.

To his credit, Darcy had one virtue—though he changed new mates frequently, he was loyal during each fleeting bond.

Strangely, that night he didn't turn down a single she-wolf's advances, making Brigitte look utterly humiliated. It seemed he had already grown tired of her—breaking his own record. The shortest bond he'd had until now was half a month.

I looked down at the water hole—deep, dark, and unsettling. A sense of unease twisted in my stomach.

"Darcy, I really like you."

While every werewolf reveled in the competition, Brigitte chose that moment to confess publicly, her cheeks flushed red.

Clearly, Darcy had given her the illusion that he returned her feelings.

This scene had played out too many times before, just with different she-wolves.

Brigitte thought herself unique—but she was just another page in his well-worn script.

I didn’t expect Darcy to give her up so soon, thinking I could leave him without any regrets—but I still couldn’t walk away. The scene wasn’t over yet.

I took a sip of red wine and, like the others, waited for what would come next.

"You like me?" Darcy chuckled, adding a seductive charm to that noble, unrestrained face.

Suddenly, memories stirred inside me. Even though I had only drunk a little, I felt tipsy—drunk on the past.

Under everyone's watchful gaze, Darcy slowly stood, took off his wolf-tooth necklace, and casually tossed it into the deep water hole.

I froze, stunned.

That necklace was worth a thousand gold coins. I'd heard his mother had given it to him, and he had worn it for years. And now he just threw it away?

"Brigitte, that necklace is one of my most treasured possessions. If you jump into the water and retrieve it, I'll make you my Luna. What do you say?"

Brigitte's smile stiffened. She didn't speak for a long time.

It was late. The cliff was high. Jumping into that water hole could easily be fatal.

Watching it all unfold, I felt oddly relieved.

I should have realized sooner. A future Alpha King like Darcy would never truly claim any she-wolf. No one was an exception—not even Brigitte, and certainly not me. But fortunately, my heart would never be shattered by him again.

"Whoever does it, I'll make her my Luna!"

The she-wolves who had been fawning over him earlier exchanged nervous glances. None of them had expected this madness.

Becoming Darcy's Luna—joining the prestigious Lemche clan—was a dream. But you had to survive first.

Only I knew the truth. He wasn't mad. He was spoiled—used to getting everything he wanted. And now, he was simply playing with lives.

Tonight, he was in a foul mood, which led to this cruel spectacle. When no one stepped forward, I assumed the farce would end.

Just as I stood there compliantly, grateful to the Moon Goddess for blessing me to stay out of it, I suddenly heard someone call my name.

"Ginger. She'll do it."

A wicked voice sliced through the silence, calling my name and stirring unrest among the crowd.

More voices joined in.

"Where's Ginger? She loves Darcy more than anyone. She'd definitely jump in for him."

"Exactly! I can't believe I didn't think of her. She won't miss this chance."

I wanted to scream at them all, but what was the point? They didn’t know my love for him had already died.

I had gotten used to flattering Darcy over the years and usually let things slide. But right now? It wasn’t death I feared—I just couldn’t bring myself to die for someone who never deserved my love.

Someone pointed me out in the crowd. All eyes turned to me.

Darcy saw me and slowly approached.

The night wind was cold, and he wore that familiar, gentle smile.

He howled, "Ginger, will you seize your chance to become my Luna?"