Chapter 1
On the eve of their mating ceremony, her mate-to-be suddenly claimed to have lost his memory. He remembered everyone else, but her - his future Luna - was erased from his mind.
That day, Winter Frost clutched a vial of ancient memory restoration potion in her trembling hands, her heart racing as she rushed to find him at the pack house. But just as her fingers brushed the door handle to his study, familiar voices drifted through the heavy oak.
"Alpha Reed, that memory loss act is brilliant! How did you even come up with it? Winter would never suspect you're just playing with her. How long do you plan to keep up this charade?"
The jovial laughter froze Winter in place, her expression hardening as the truth crystallized.
Reed Sullivan, her Alpha mate, was faking his memory loss?
What about all those nights she'd spent crying, desperately searching through ancient grimoires for a cure? Those countless hours consulting with pack healers and elder wolves?
An icy chill crept up from her feet, spreading through her body like winter's grip. Her enhanced hearing picked up Reed's casual tone through the door.
"Perhaps another month. Then I'll return to my dear Winter, playing the role of the devoted mate once again."
His packmates' surprise was evident in their responses.
"One moon? Is that enough time for all your... diversions? Why not just break the mate bond? Seven years with one she-wolf - that's unheard of in our circles."
"All this sneaking around, putting on this memory loss act just to avoid her anger... isn't it exhausting?"
Reed's laughter faded at their teasing. "I'll never break our bond. Winter is my true mate. But seven years... she's too pure, too proper in our intimate moments. I can't bring myself to show her my beast's true nature. This is just a brief escape, a pause before I return and become her everything again."
"But Winter's pride runs deep in her bloodline. If she discovers this deception, she won't quietly submit. Aren't you afraid she'll reject the mate bond?"
"Look at Beta Morrison's situation - his mate fled across the ocean when she discovered his infidelity. He's gone half-feral trying to track her."
Reed's response came with the clink of a crystal glass. "She'll always be mine. As long as she bears the name Frost, whether she runs or tries to mate another, I'll track her down and keep her by my side. Forever."
The pack members howled their approval at their Alpha's confidence, champagne bottles popping in celebration.
Numb, Winter stumbled away from the pack house into the raging storm outside. The sacred memory potion slipped from her trembling fingers, shattering on the ground. As she watched the purple liquid mix with rain and mud, long-buried memories stirred in her mind.
Her first encounter with Reed Sullivan had been at the Winter Solstice Moon Festival during her first year of wolf training. She had been chosen to perform the sacred Moon Dance, her graceful movements captivating the entire pack.
Reed had fallen for her instantly, cornering her after the ceremony with a bouquet of moon flowers, declaring his intention to court her. His reputation preceded him - having courted nearly two dozen she-wolves in his first moon as Alpha, his romantic exploits were legendary throughout the packs.
Winter had no interest in a playboy Alpha, especially after witnessing her parents' bond shatter due to mutual infidelity. The experience left her with an unshakeable need for loyalty and purity in matters of the heart.
She ignored his advances, avoided his territories, yet he pursued her with an almost obsessive determination. He had once plunged the entire pack house into darkness during her pre-heat cycle so she could rest undisturbed, publicly declared his devotion before all five packs at the Great Gathering, rejected countless eligible she-wolves...
For three years he persisted, yet Winter never yielded.
Until that summer after their coming-of-age ceremony, when she was ambushed by rival wolves in the border territories. Reed fought for her against five attackers, suffering multiple silver-laced wounds that nearly claimed his life.
Watching him fight for survival in the healer's den, her tears falling freely, Winter finally understood what it meant for a wolf to value their mate above their own life.
In that moment, she chose him.
They spent seven years together, from young wolves to pack leaders, and Reed's devotion never seemed to waver.
Everyone said the infamous Alpha had finally found his true mate and reformed his ways.
Winter believed it too.
Until three moons before their mating ceremony, when he reportedly suffered a head injury during a territory patrol, resulting in selective memory loss.
He remembered everyone except her.
The news nearly broke her, but she persevered.
She searched tirelessly for a cure, traveling to distant packs, studying ancient healing texts, spending countless nights researching memory restoration magic.
Only to discover it was all an elaborate deception.
The storm washed away the last of Winter's resolve. She returned to her den in a daze, gathering her identification marks and pack documents before heading to the Pack Registry.
Meeting the registrar's questioning gaze, she spoke in a hollow voice.
"I wish to change my name."
The registrar reviewed her documents and handed her the sacred ink.
With trembling hands, Winter inscribed both her old and new names in the pack records.
Looking at her new, secret identity, she forced a bitter smile.
From this day forward, no matter where she went or what she did, Reed Sullivan would never find her again.
Chapter 2
Night had fallen by the time Winter left the Pack Registry. The moon hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the ancient stone buildings of the pack territory. She hailed a taxi, her fingers trembling slightly as she searched for flights to Lunaris on her phone.
Lunaris - the cultural heart of the Southern Packs, where art and innovation had flourished for over a thousand years. Its prestigious Lunaris Academy of Arts was renowned throughout the werewolf world for nurturing creative talents, particularly in photography where wolves learned to capture the raw beauty of both human and supernatural worlds. The Academy's photography program, guided by legendary wolf artists, was especially known for teaching techniques to reveal the subtle magic in everyday moments. More importantly to Winter, it was far beyond Reed's influence.
Though her name change petition had been submitted, pack law required a full moon cycle for the Elder Council to process such a significant binding. The ancient magic that tied a wolf's name to their essence couldn't be altered without proper ceremony. Without hesitation, she booked a flight for the first day of the next month, then sent her acceptance to the Academy's photography program.
Since completing her basic pack training, Winter had dreamed of studying photography at Lunaris. The creative energy that flowed through the city's artistic quarter was said to inspire unprecedented vision in wolf artists. But Reed had always protested, claiming he couldn't bear the distance between mates, causing her to delay for three years.
Now that she'd decided to cancel their mating ceremony and sever their bond, it was time to let go of everything. She needed to think of herself and begin a new life, far from the Northern Territories and the memories that haunted her here.
Back in her apartment, Winter shed her rain-soaked clothes, the fabric heavy with the scent of heartbreak. After a long shower to wash away the day's emotions, she finally found rest. For the first time since the new moon, her wolf slept peacefully, no longer yearning for its supposed mate.The next morning, after a light breakfast of rare meat that she barely tasted, Winter began the painful task of purging everything connected to Reed from her territory. His gifts imbued with pack magic, their matching ceremonial robes blessed under the full moon, the enchanted letters sealed with his alpha essence during their courtship... Five boxes full of memories, each item pulsing faintly with the remnants of what she'd once thought was true love.
She dragged them out of her villa one by one, breaking the magical connections before depositing them in the waste bins. The severing of each magical bond sent small shockwaves through the air, a physical manifestation of her breaking heart.
As she worked, the distinctive growl of an alpha-class vehicle pierced the morning quiet - a rare beast of a car, enchanted with ancient runes of speed and power. Winter turned to see Reed emerging from it, another she-wolf wrapped possessively in his arms.
Even with his enhanced senses detecting her presence, he didn't flinch or try to hide. Winter knew why he acted so brazenly - he was counting on her silence about his actions during his supposed memory loss, secure in his manipulation.
From the start of his "condition," Reed had denied their pair bond, having her possessions magically expelled from the pack house. She would have been left territory-less if not for the neighboring den's owner suddenly offering her shelter at an unusually low tribute price. What she'd thought was the blessing of the Moon Goddess now revealed itself as just another thread in his web of deceit. He'd arranged it all to keep her within his territory, afraid she might slip beyond his reach.
Looking back on this month of deception, Winter could only laugh at her own naivety. Ignoring whatever performance he planned to put on today, she turned to break the magical seal on the final box of memories.
Reed's alpha senses caught the scent of what she was disposing of, his expression darkening as he recognized the magical signatures of his own gifts.
"Why are you breaking our bond tokens?"
Winter cast him a cold glance, her wolf stirring with anger beneath her skin. "Weren't you suffering from memory loss? How do you recognize these magical signatures?"
Realizing his slip, Reed quickly composed himself, affecting an air of alpha indifference. "Just curious about the magic I sense. How could I possibly remember? The past is past. Now my wolf recognizes only Scarlett. After all, she was the only one who tended my wounds after the rogue wolf attack in the Southern Territory."
Attack? There was never any attack - it was all an elaborate deception from the start.
Winter's lips curved into a slight smile as she studied the she-wolf in his arms. Expensive enchanted cosmetics, a figure enhanced by beauty charms, revealing clothes spelled to draw attention, and amber wolf-eyes full of triumph. A new face in their territory.
Likely his favorite conquest during this time, which explained why he brazenly brought her into his den.
With nothing more to say to either wolf, Winter merely hummed in acknowledgment before turning back toward her sanctuary.
Watching her retreat without a hint of jealousy or protest, Reed's alpha instincts stirred uneasily.
He'd brought another female into his territory - shouldn't she be crying? Shouldn't her wolf be howling in distress?
Why was she so eerily calm?
Though sensing something was wrong, Reed didn't follow to investigate. His pride kept him rooted as he watched her disappear behind wards he himself had once placed on her door.
At eight, her protection runes flared as someone rang the bell.
Winter set down the moving box she was packing and opened the door to find Reed's new she-wolf.
Scarlett raised her hand in greeting, wearing a smile that didn't reach her predatory eyes. "Hello, I'm Scarlett Vale. I'll be joining Reed's pack. Since we're denmates now, shall we exchange pack bonds?"
"No need." Winter moved to close the ward.
Scarlett snatched Winter's phone, quickly forcing a pack link through the territory's magical network. Noting Winter's darkening expression, she returned the phone with a smirk. "Let's be packmates - we'll be sharing territory after all. Oh, do you have any spare protection runes? We used up all the ones we bought today. Mind if I borrow a few? Need them for... pack activities."
Winter's face paled slightly, her wolf recoiling at the implication. Her hand trembled as she took back her phone.
"No."
Scarlett pressed on, mockery glowing in her amber eyes. "Of course not. How silly of me to ask - Reed's wolf doesn't recognize yours anymore, why would you need them?"
Chapter 3
Winter recognized Scarlett's deliberate provocation and moved to close her warded door.
Scarlett caught the edge, dramatically collapsing to the ground with false tears streaming down her face, her wolf aura flaring for attention. "Sister, I know you don't want to see me, but I only came to borrow some moon-blessed herbs to cook for Reed. Why are you getting violent?"
Before Winter could process this theatrical display, Reed materialized on the steps, his alpha presence flooding the area as he gathered Scarlett into his arms.
His eyes, flickering with alpha red, bore into Winter. "Scarlett has done nothing to deserve your hostility. She's my chosen mate now - remember your place in this territory."
Without waiting for her response, he carried Scarlett away, each word he'd spoken cutting deeper than silver into Winter's heart.
She watched their figures disappear into the gathering dusk, her face expressionless as she sealed her wards with a thunderous clash of magic.
In the depths of night, when the moon hung highest, Winter's communication crystal hummed to life.
Half-asleep, she instinctively activated it. The crystal's surface shimmered, revealing an intimate scene - pale skin marked with claiming bites, heavy with the scent of desire even through the magical connection.
Passionate moans filled her den, mixed with deep, primal growls.
As the crystal revealed increasingly explicit images of mate-claiming, Winter froze, her wolf howling in anguish within her chest.
Reed's voice, thick with desire, rumbled through the connection. "Never provoke Winter again."
"You saw through my little game," Scarlett purred, "yet you took my side. Is it because you enjoy my body so much? Want to keep playing before coming clean with her?"
Reed's growl deepened as he gripped Scarlett's hips. "You already know the answer. Now claim your alpha."
The crystal's view shifted to Reed's face, contorted in pleasure.
Winter's heart turned to ice. She bit her lip until she tasted blood, trying to suppress her wolf's whimpers of distress.
As their passion intensified, she finally shattered the crystal connection.
Her eyes, once sleepy, now swam with tears. She tilted her head back, fighting them. Memories flooded her mind - how gentle he'd been during their intimate moments, always mindful of her comfort, never letting his alpha nature take control.
Too considerate, she realized bitterly. Too restrained. Now he need never hold back again.
Soon, she would release him completely.
Winter remained in her den for days, emerging only for her best friend Luna Joy's mating ceremony.
At the pack gathering hall, before the ceremony began, Winter delivered her gift - a rare moon-blessed pendant.
As they caught up, Joy clutched her hands, eyes bright. "Winter, I sent Reed a pack summons. He's coming! Perhaps seeing a mating ceremony will trigger his memories of proposing to you?"
Winter remained silent, shaking her head.
Joy's smile faded to concern. "What's wrong? Are you giving up?"
Before Winter could respond, Reed entered with Scarlett on his arm.
Joy's eyes flashed gold with anger at their intimate display, her claws extending as she moved to confront them.
Winter held her back, her voice heavy with resignation. "Let it go. Soon, it will all be over."
Confused by Winter's words, Joy tried to press further, but her beta called her to prepare for the ceremony.
The mating ceremony began, moon-blessed music filling the hall. Winter took her seat at Reed's table, the only empty place remaining.
Throughout the feast, Scarlett draped herself over Reed, begging him to share moon-blessed delicacies from his plate.
He indulged her every whim, pouring her ceremonial wine, cooling her soup with his breath, attending to her every need. He even accepted food from her mouth, a deeply intimate gesture between mates.
Winter turned away from their display, focusing on the ceremony stage.
She hadn't touched her food until Joy's mother, a respected pack elder, placed some blessed dishes on her plate, encouraging her to eat.
Not wanting to offend the elder, Winter reached for a silver-blessed venison medallion.
Reed's hand shot out, snatching it away. "Are you trying to kill yourself? This was blessed with deep sea magic - you're allergic to ocean enchantments."
