Chapter 1

Through the window, I saw two silhouettes locking in an embrace under the moonlight.

The bitterness in the air choked the breath out of my lungs.

Her shoulders flinching, Gwen Forrest said in anguish, “Harris, this has to end now.”

She looked up with tearful eyes and pulled a wry smile. “Soon, I’ll complete the mating ceremony granted by the Moon Goddess. It’s time you held yours with Grace.

“You’re all Grace has left.

“Ever since we lost our parents, my only concern is Grace.”

Harris Light kept his head down in silence. Moments later, his voice was raspy. “I can’t do it.

“Don’t make me, Gwen. You’re the only one I’ve ever loved.”

Leaning against the cold wall, I sank to the floor, a crushing weight falling on my chest.

Since Gwen and Harris had always kept their distance, I had never linked them together. I thought I was the only reason they ever interacted.

Flashbacks of the past few years played in my mind.

Every year, as soon as the Winter Hunt ended, Harris would show up at my doorstep with presents.

He’d greet Gwen respectfully, but the latter would always stay far away. Gwen simply replied, “Welcome back.”

That was the end of their exchange.

I had always assumed that Gwen couldn’t stand him.

My mind drifted back to the look on Gwen’s face when Harris walked away. There was something in her eyes I'd never seen before.

Now, I finally knew what it was.

Harris was still pleading with Gwen, desperate to change her mind.

Steeling her heart, Gwen pushed Harris away. “From this day forth, we are strangers to one another.”

Harris snapped and smashed his fist into the wall. However, he seemed numb to the pain.

His eyes were bloodshot. “No! I’ll take you away from here! We can go to a place where no one can tear us apart. I don’t care about being the Alpha heir. I just want to be with you.”

Gwen recoiled, the tenderness in her eyes fading.

“Harris.” Her voice was barely a whisper but firm. “I can’t do that…

“Grace is my only sister. If she gets hurt because of this, you’ll never see me again.”

The air went still.

Harris went rigid. His hand clutching Gwen dropped limply, and it took a long while before he let out a dry chuckle.

He met Gwen’s gaze and said bitterly, “I surrender. I’ll do what you want and take Grace as my mate. I’ll love and protect her for the rest of my life.”

The thick bitterness hung between them, suffocating the room.

I closed my eyes and smiled mockingly.

Staggering away from the lounge, I didn’t have to wait long for Harris’ return.

“What happened, Grace? Why are you crying?” He looked at me with concern and reached out to brush the tears from my cheeks.

I shied away from his touch and uttered, “I’m fine.”

He didn’t press further.

The lights in the Moon Temple dimmed, and every wolf in the hall turned their attention to the altar.

An elder’s voice boomed through the hall. “Gwen and Ryan, please step forward to receive the Moon Goddess’ blessing.”

Draped in a silver-white gown, Gwen approached holding a bouquet.

She glanced at me, and then her gaze fell on Harris.

For a brief second, I sniffed the intense bitterness once more.

Sitting next to me, Harris clenched his fist and tried desperately to keep his emotions in check.

Apart from Ryan, Gwen’s soon-to-be mate, I caught no hint of sweetness in the air.

Gwen and Ryan exchanged mating vows to never be parted.

At the end of the ritual, the elder handed over the microphone. “May Grace, Gwen’s only sister, step up to share her blessings.”

I was about to take the microphone when Harris, who had held his silence so far, stood up ahead of me and snatched the microphone.