All Chapters of Love Was Never the Deal: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The Darkmoon Pack's territory thrummed with an unusual excitement today.Somewhere in the distance, a horn sounded—low and solemn—its reverberations rolling through the forests and over the mountains. The entire Pack was swept up in the fervor of the Alpha succession ceremony… even the werewolves I'd never truly belonged among since childhood.Warm yellow wall lamps cast a gentle glow across the room, their light falling onto the mirror and reflecting the image of me, my expression distant and unreadable.I drew in a slow breath and let my fingertips drift to my left cheek—the long, narrow scar I'd carried since childhood tracing down the side of my face, stark and unforgiving beneath the lamplight.When I was young, my father would frown and push me aside, as if my very presence might shame him."Don't go near her. She looks scary."The other kids would hide from me, and in their eyes, I saw who the real monster was.As the light flickered over my scar, I could almost hear the whispe

My blood froze.They were going to kill me.They truly meant to kill me.A chill crawled up my spine as my heartbeat pounded against my skull. I couldn't die here. I couldn't let them decide my fate.I had to escape.My thoughts spun wildly, clawing for any plan—any chance.Leah stretched lazily, almost bored. "I'm tired."As if she were announcing she needed sleep—not ordering my execution.Henry never looked at me. Not once. He didn't offer a reason, an excuse, nothing.His voice was ice."Kill her."Two words. Final and absolute.Then—He and Leah turned and walked away side by side.Their footsteps faded into the dark.At the same time, the darkness exploded with footsteps.A few werewolf warriors surrounded me in an instant.And the next second—They lunged.I stumbled backward, the impact slamming me hard against the thick trunk of a pine tree.I barely had time to think—instinct took over.Crack!The first warrior's claws sliced toward me, fast as a shadow. I twisted aside, my

The moment the words left my mouth, I froze.Why did I trust him?Why did I feel… he would help?I had no explanation—only a quiet voice buried deep in my subconscious insisting that this man would never hand me over to the ones chasing me.He didn't answer.In the dark, all that existed were our breaths—his steady and deep, mine sharp and trembling.After several long seconds, he finally spoke.His tone was calm, yet carried an authority that allowed no argument. "Take care of it."The warrior outside immediately replied, "Understood, Alpha."When the footsteps faded down the hall, the tension drained out of my body, and I let out a shaky breath I hadn't realized I was holding.But just as I thought the danger had passed—A low, restrained voice slid through the darkness, close enough that it brushed my ear:"Now," he murmured, his fingers hooking beneath my chin and tilting my face up to his, "it's time for you to keep your promise."The next second, I was suddenly lifted off the gr

"How peculiar," he muttered.I was just as puzzled. Why would he say that?From the way his gaze lingered, I could tell he was studying me—as if I were some kind of riddle he hadn't yet solved.Still lying on my back, utterly drained, I soon slipped into sleep.When I woke, daylight had already flooded the room.The morning light felt like a dull blade, slowly slicing into my eyelids.Pain came before awareness. Before sight.My shoulders, my waist, my legs—even my fingertips ached, as if I'd run through an entire forest the night before. Yet not a single memory had been carried away by the wind.I drew in a breath and finally opened my eyes.The other side of the bed was empty.The sheets were cold, though the indentation remained—mocking proof that someone had been there. The room was eerily quiet, broken only by the occasional birdcall outside the window and the faint, distant whisper of the wind.I sat up too quickly, the sudden surge of pain forcing a gasp from my throat."…Where

As I dragged my suitcase out of the airport, night was already settling in.Cold air slipped down my collar, and I instinctively pulled my coat tighter. The glass doors slid shut behind me, cutting off the airport's clamor. All that remained was the low hum of engines and the hiss of tires rolling over pavement.I narrowed my eyes, scanning the crowd for the car that was supposed to pick me up.Before long, a discreet yet immaculate black sedan eased up to the curb. The window lowered, and a gray-haired man in a crisp suit leaned out. His gaze lingered on me for a moment before shifting away, clearly double-checking something."Miss, excuse me—"He hesitated, his eyes returning to my face. A slight crease formed between his brows, as if he sensed something was off but couldn't quite place it.I straightened and met his gaze."Smith," I said evenly. "It's me."He froze.The next moment, the door swung open. Smith stepped out and, without thinking, looked me over from head to toe. He ca