Chapter 1

As soon as I was done speaking, the entire living room went silent.

My father, who was about to speak, froze in shock, his mouth agape.

My mother trembled all over as her shrill scream cut through the air.

"Gina Flanders, are you insane? Everyone knows Leonard is a murderous fiend! He's a philanderer! Being claimed by him is no different from a death sentence!"

Dad raised a hand to stop her. In a soft voice, he said, "But… Timothy Newsom has already marked Sasha."

This meant that if I refused this engagement again, I would surely anger Leonard Muller—the Alpha King.

Mom stood stunned for a brief moment, then staggered backward. She looked at me with pity in her eyes but said nothing.

The silence was far crueler than any curses she could throw at me.

A chill spread through me.

I was their daughter, too. Yet my sister, Sasha Flanders, had always received the love and adoration that I never once had.

I let out a bitter laugh. "Fine. I'll become Leonard's mate. However, Sasha must admit in public that she stole my identity, took what was mine, and apologize."

"Gina!" Dad shouted, his eyes blazing. "Don't you know how much her reputation means to her? Do you really want to destroy our family?"

Mom held his hand, steadying him. She refused to glance at me. It was as if I were nothing but a burden to them.

My chest burned wth anger and despair. I gripped the doorframe tightly, almost sinking my fingernails into the frame.

"You can only pick one—me, or Sasha."

They exchanged a look, then stared at me with resentment in their eyes.

It was an answer I had expected—they had decided to sacrifice me instead.

I lowered my head, turned quickly, and walked away before they could see my reddened eyes.

It was the last shred of dignity that I had left.

But just as I stepped out, I ran straight into Timothy, who came out of Sasha's room.

His shirt was unbuttoned, and the collar was wide open. It exposed his skin, which was filled with fresh, red marks.

There was also the cloyingly sweet scent on him that belonged to Sasha.

I stumbled back, covering my nose immediately. But Timothy reached out and pulled me into his arms, explaining in a hurry.

"Gina, it's not what you think. Sasha can't be forced to mate with that tyrannical Alpha King who treats she-wolves like a breeding machine. As long as I've marked her, he won't want her anymore! I'm only trying to help her!"

My ears buzzed as my vision began to go black at the edges.

"What about me?" I mumbled.

My parents' words hadn't drawn a tear from me, but right now, they spilled over uncontrollably. "Timothy, what do you take me for?"

Back in school, we'd sworn to each other that the day after our coming-of-age, we'd become mates.

However, Sasha complained, "If you two get bonded, there won't be anyone to play with me."

Because of her complaint, Timothy repeatedly delayed the bonding ceremony.

And now, he had marked Sasha—shoving me straight into the abyss with his own hands.

At this point, I could either marry a penniless, impotent Rogue… or marry the cruel and ugly Alpha King.

Was there even a choice?

Timothy tightened his grip, guilt flashing across his face.

"I won't let you marry one of those Rogues! Listen to me—you can stay by my side as a servant. Servants are injected with birth suppressants. If you can't bear pups, then the Alpha King won't want you anymore!"

His gaze was steady, and his tone turned gentle. "Gina, trust me. Even if you become a servant, I'll treat you the same as always. To me, you'll be no different from Sasha."

I froze on the spot from the shock.

A servant—that was the lowest, most degrading status imaginable.

He wanted me to inject something that would not only strip away my ability to have pups, but also wreck my body beyond repair?

I stopped struggling and stared into his face with lifeless eyes. My voice was flat as I said slowly, "Timothy Newsom, is this… really what you think of me?"

"You don't want to?"

His brows furrowed, and his expression turned gloomy.

He gripped my chin and said, "I promise to give you the same status as Sasha. What more do you want? Or is it that you no longer love me and don't want to stay with me?"

I tried to curve my lips into a smile, but it crumbled halfway.

"Then why don't you let Sasha be the servant? Why not give her the injection instead? It would work just the same."

He countered without hesitation, "Sasha has always been frail. How could she endure that? Gina, she's your sister! Don't you have any compassion at all?"

I could hear my own voice crack through my choked response. "But I… I'm your fiancee."

Ever since my delicate little sister Sasha had been lost and then miraculously found, I had always been yielding to her.

When she was sick, when she cried, or when she was unhappy—I had to yield.

For countless times, I handed over love, honor, and titles I had won over to her.

And now, even my fiance was going to her.

Indignant, Timothy released me.

"I would never hurt you. Think it over. I'll bring you the suppressant injection in a few days. It's the best choice you have."

When he left, I slumped against the wall.

After forcing myself downstairs, I saw the living room overflowing with gifts from the Alpha King's personal guards. They were piled up like a mountain.

At the very center was a blazing bouquet of red roses.

And in that moment, I felt the irony pierce my chest.

Even the arrogant Alpha King had bothered to send roses to the fiancee he had never even met.

Yet Timothy, the werewolf I had loved for years, was going to send me an injection that would strip me of my dignity.

Perhaps… marrying Leonard wasn't the worst thing after all.