Chapter 1

Alaric abandoned me in the cursed Shadowfang Mountains, a place no wolf ventures willingly. He left me to survive alone for an entire month.

When he finally came to retrieve me, his fury was as sharp and biting as the icy winds that haunted the mountains.

"You should thank the Moon Goddess that Rachel's leg wasn't permanently injured," he growled, his golden eyes blazing with frustration. "If it had been, your life wouldn't have been enough to repay the debt!"

"The bonding ceremony is postponed for a year. When we get back, you'll explain yourself to the Elders."

He expected resistance, perhaps even tears—anything to remind him of my once-fiery determination to hold on to my place as his Luna.

But I merely lowered my gaze, speaking softly. "Alright. Whatever you decide."

Alaric froze, his Alpha instincts bristling at my unexpected compliance.

"If one year is too long, I could..."

"No need," I interrupted, a faint, serene smile curving my lips.

Alaric didn't know. He didn't know about the pact I made deep in the heart of the mountains, in the domain of the witch.

He didn't know that in five days, I would stand in a different ceremony—not as his mate, but as the bride of another Alpha.

---

The Shadowfang Mountains were infamous among werewolves. It was a place cursed by the Moon Goddess herself, shrouded in eternal mist and crawling with rogues—wolves who had rejected pack law and lived by no rules but their own.

By the time the Shadowfang Retrieval Pack found Mina, she was a shadow of her former self.

Her once-bright eyes had dulled, her cheeks were hollow, and her skin clung to her bones like a thin veil.

Kael, the young Beta leading the Shadowfang Retrieval Pack, held up a photo of me. His rune stone pulsed as he whispered, "Alpha, we've found Mina. She's alive."

Alaric and Rachel arrived not long after.

Alaric's golden gaze swept over Mina, his expression flickering between shock and fury.

"Why didn't you stay where I left you?" he demanded, his voice cutting through the mist like a blade. "Do you have any idea what the Shadowfang Retrieval Pack went through to find you? They haven't slept in days!"

"You just can't help yourself, can you? Always causing trouble, always making everything harder for everyone else!"

At first, Mina had done exactly what Alaric told her to do—stayed in the clearing where he had abandoned Mina, surviving off the rations in her pack.

But then the rogues came.

One morning, Mina woke to the sound of growls.

Two massive wolves emerged from the mist, their forms larger and more monstrous than any pack wolf. Their glowing green eyes locked onto Mina's pack, and she knew they wouldn't stop at just her food.

Mina froze, her breath shallow, as they tore into the bag, devouring everything inside.

When they finally disappeared into the shadows, Mina was left with nothing. Starvation and desperation drove her deeper into the mountains, where the witch's magic twisted the air and made even the strongest senses unreliable.

Now, as Alaric's anger bore down on Mina, she felt nothing. She knew better than to offer explanations—Alaric had stopped believing her long ago.

"Alpha, if I may," Kael spoke up hesitantly, "these mountains are dangerous. It's a miracle she's alive at all."

Rachel, ever composed, stepped forward. Her silvery hair gleamed in the dim light, and her soft smile barely hid the sharpness in her gaze.

"You know Mina?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Kael blinked, startled. "No. We've never met."

Rachel laughed lightly, covering her mouth.

"You're so quick to defend her—I thought perhaps you two were old friends."

Then she turned to me, her expression turning more pointed.

"Mina always had a way with people. Even strangers feel compelled to help her, don't they?"

Alaric's scowl deepened, his fury shifting fully onto Mina.

"Is that what this is?" he growled. "You've barely been found, and already another man is leaping to your defense? You really have no shame."

Kael motioned for his men to retreat, clearly wary of anyone else stoking the Alpha's temper.

Chapter 2

The forest was unnaturally still, the silence hanging heavy like a suffocating mist.

It was Rachel who broke the tension first, crouching beside Mina with a practiced look of concern etched on her delicate features. "Mina, are you alright?" she asked softly, her voice dripping with feigned sympathy.

Without waiting for Mina's response, she turned to Alaric, her silvery hair gleaming faintly in the dappled sunlight.

"That wasn't entirely Mina's fault," she said, her tone a careful blend of understanding and innocence. "She's been spoiled since she was young and probably misunderstood me. That's why she acted out."

"Alaric, please don't be too hard on her," she added, her eyes shimmering with carefully crafted sincerity. "I'm still recovering from a simple leg injury, and it's been hurting for so long. Mina, left all alone here in the Shadowfang Mountains, must have been terrified. Let's just take her back. She's suffered enough."

Mentioning that day brought an icy edge to Alaric's voice.

"I've already decided," he said curtly. "The bonding ceremony is postponed for a year. When we return, you'll explain everything to Grandmother yourself."

The weight of his words fell like a blow, yet Mina didn't react.

The Silverclaw and Moonveil Packs had long been allies, their bond strengthened by generations of mutual support. Five years ago, after Mina's parents died in an ambush, Alaric's grandmother—the revered matriarch of Silverclaw—had taken her in.

To the astonishment of both packs, she publicly announced that Mina would become Alaric's mate, binding the families even further.

At the time, Mina was a shy girl of seventeen, and when she glanced at the tall, powerful figure of Alaric, her cheeks flushed. The thought of standing beside him as his Luna felt like both a dream and an honor.

From that moment on, Mina embraced the role of his Luna in the future.

She kept the other she-wolves at bay with a fierceness that earned her the nickname "A spitfire". Mina didn't care. Alaric was hers.

But no matter how fiercely Mina fought for him, she couldn't compete with the return of Rachel, his childhood love and the one who had always held his heart.

Because of her, the bonding ceremony had already been delayed once.

That time, Mina's fury had been so intense that the entire estate felt the storm of her wrath. Even Alaric's grandmother pulled Mina aside, warning her not to lose herself to jealousy.

Now, when Alaric declared yet another postponement, everyone present held their breath, bracing for Mina's inevitable outburst.

But she didn't lash out.

Instead, Mina lowered her head, her voice soft and compliant. "Alright. Whatever you decide."

Alaric faltered, his Alpha instincts unsettled by my uncharacteristic submission. He had expected a fight—tears, shouting, or even the need to physically restrain Mina.

But instead, faced with Mina's quiet acceptance, an unease flickered in his golden eyes. "If you one year is too long..." he began, as if searching for some sense of control.

"There's no need," Mina interrupted, a faint smile playing on her lips.

The truth was, none of it mattered anymore. Not a year, not ten years, not even if the ceremony was canceled entirely.

He didn't know about the pact Mina had made deep in the Shadowfang Mountains.

The witch, cloaked in ancient power and shadowed by her feral magic, had appeared to her when Mina was at her weakest. She was a figure of both beauty and terror, her presence impossible to ignore.

She had offered her survival, but it came with a price: She would marry the Alpha --a powerful leader from a rival pack

By then, Alaric could postpone his bonding ceremony, choose a new Luna, or forget about her entirely.

Chapter 3

Before leaving, Shadowfang Retrieval Pack tried to help Mina to her feet. To their shock, They found that she couldn't stand at all.

After rogues raided her bagpack and devoured her supplies, Mina endured days of hunger. Starvation blurred her vision and weakened her strength, but survival instincts drove her to take risks. Desperate for food, she climbed a tree that stretched nearly fifteen meters into the air.

She reached the fruit, plucked it, and took a bite. Relief was short-lived.

Moments later, pain like fire twisted through her abdomen, sharp and unforgiving. The fruit was poisoned.

Before she could react, the pain overwhelmed her, and she lost her grip, plummeting to the ground below.

When she woke, the searing agony in her legs told her what had happened—both were broken, leaving her unable to move.

The Shadowfang Retrieval Pack's temporary pack healer was completely unequipped to handle such severe injuries, so they quickly reached out to the nearest healer's den for urgent assistance.

Alaric stood nearby, his eyes locked on her frail figure. His voice, usually commanding, softened for a moment.

"Why didn't you tell me how badly you were hurt?"

Mina almost laughed at the absurdity of his question.

If she'd been able to contact anyone, would she have spent an entire month trapped in this cursed wilderness?

Alaric seemed to realize the flaw in his words. For once, the Alpha dipped his head slightly, his tone uncharacteristically remorseful. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "Leaving you here alone, it's my fault."

"But don't worry, Mina. I'll make sure your legs are healed. I'll fix this." He stepped forward as though to lift her, but before he could, Rachel let out a soft gasp.

"Oh!"

She stumbled, her face pale, and Alaric instinctively pushed Mina aside to catch Rachel as she faltered.

"Rachel, are you alright?" Alaric asked, his golden eyes filled with concern.

"I'm fine," she murmured, her voice trembling slightly. "It's just… my leg still hurts."

"You're still recovering," Alaric scolded, his tone laced with worry. "You shouldn't be here ."

"But I was worried about Mina," Rachel said, her eyes glistening as tears began to form. "After all, this is partially my fault…"

Alaric's attention stayed entirely on Rachel as he lifted her into his arms. Mina, shoved into the underbrush, felt a sharp sting as something jagged cut into her elbow.

The pain radiated through her arm, but Alaric didn't spare her a glance. He carried Rachel toward the forest's edge, his expression filled with guilt and protectiveness.

It was one of the younger members of Shadowfang Retrieval Pack who finally carrying Mina to the hospital

"Her injuries are severe," the doctor began, choosing his words carefully. "The fractures in her legs are complicated, and the damage to her body from prolonged starvation has caused significant organ failure. Her digestive system has suffered the most. We may need to remove three-quarters of her stomach."

The words hit like a thunderclap, but it was the next part that made Alaric's temper boil over.

"As for her legs… Alpha, I'm sorry, but there's a high chance she'll never walk again."

Alaric's fists slammed onto the desk, the force rattling the room. His Alpha aura crackled in the air, making the staff step back in fear. "What do you mean, she'll never walk again?" he roared. "She just has some fractures! You're a doctor! Fix it!"

Rachel placed a calming hand on Alaric's arm, her voice soothing and sweet. "It's alright," she said softly. "If the Silverclaw Pack's infirmary can't handle it, we'll take her to the Duskhowl Pack's Sanctuary. They have the best healers in the region, and if that doesn't work, we can ask my brother for help. He is a renowned surgeon. He'll know what to do."

Alaric's brow remained furrowed, his expression tense, but some of the fire in his eyes dimmed. Whether he believed Rachel or was simply clinging to hope, his voice grew quieter.

"Yes," he muttered, as though convincing himself. "There's always a way. We'll find it."