Chapter 1

At our mating ceremony, Corbin took Faye's hand and declared firmly in front of the crowd.

“The claim that a song can suppress the madness is nothing but a rumor. Faye and I are truly in love, and no one can tear us apart. Today, I hereby dissolve my engagement to Ayla!

His gaze fell on me, filled with pure disgust.

At his words, the crowd below erupted into an uproar.

My fogged mind suddenly cleared.

The searing pain of silver poison still lingered in my body as if it were only yesterday.

I forced myself to stay calm and scanned my surroundings.

I quickly realized — I had been reborn.

Seeing that I said nothing,Corbin's expression turned even darker.

He walked up to me, holding Faye's hand, and sneered,

"Ayla, your clan spread the rumor that the song of a she-wolf with the Moon Goddess bloodline can subdue the madness — all just to cling to our pack, didn't you? You succeeded before, but with me, you will never fool me again."

Whispers erupted from the crowd—some shocked, others gloating.

"Corbin! Have you lost your mind?" His father, Logan Blackwood, shot to his feet, his face livid. "Who gave you the right to speak to Ayla like that?"

"Every male in our bloodline goes feral after thirty! Only the song of a Laurel Pack she-wolf can soothe the beast within!"

"Soothe?" Corbin cut him off, his voice sharp with mockery. "You mean sing us lullabies like some common nanny? Father, do you really believe a few notes can suppress a genetic defect?"

Corbin's mother, Elena,also looked displeased..

By denying the power of the Goddess's bloodline, he was denying her own sacrifice—and her own worth.

She stood up, frowning, and said:“Corbin, your father showed the same signs of madness. It was my song that brought him back from the brink..."

"That was a coincidence!" Corbin retorted loudly, "Or a placebo effect! Mother, you’re only forcing me to mark Ayla so the Laurel Pack can leech off us!"

“I will never believe your lies again — I’d rather die than form a mate bond with her!"

It was obvious that Corbin had been reborn, just like me.

Even better. It saves me the trouble of breaking this damn betrothal.

But Logan had heard enough.

SMACK!

The sharp sound of the slap echoed through the sanctuary.

Corbin’s head snapped to the side, a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth.

"You foolish boy!" Logan’s voice shook. "You won't live to see thirty without Ayla! Her song is your only salvation!"

Corbin wiped the blood from his lip and smirked at his father. "Then I'll prove to you that I don't need anyone's salvation."

He turned to the audience, his voice ringing through the hall.

"Let everyone here be my witness! As of today, I, Corbin Blackwood, officially reject this ridiculous arrangement. And if the Laurel Pack doesn't agree to end the betrothal, I'll make sure they will be erased from the werewolf world completely!"

Upon hearing his words,My father, Marcus, shot to his feet, his fists clenched and veins bulging on his neck.

“The bond between Black Moon and Laurel is a tradition witnessed by the Moon Goddess herself. It seems the Alpha of Black Moon has an issue with that. But the she-wolves of the Laurel Pack are not so desperate that we cannot find mates, nor will we allow ourselves to be trampled on. Since that is the case, the engagement is hereby dissolved!”

My mother came to my side, patting my hand gently. "Don't be sad, Ayla. There are countless Alphas who would kill for a Laurel daughter. We don't need him."

Logan's face was ashen. He started to step forward to salvage the situation, but Corbin stopped him.