Chapter 1

Sylvia POV ：

I couldn't breathe. The stench of the cell, my cell, was unbearable, but it had become my world for the past three years. When the sound of chains rattling reached my ears, I flinched, instinctively pulling back into the shadows, as if I could disappear into the walls.

The door creaked open, and light, too bright for my eyes, flooded the tiny space. I squinted, trying to adjust, and through the blinding glare, I saw her—Kelly, my sister. She stood there, holding her nose, her expression twisted in disgust.

"This is where Sylvia lives? It stinks! Open the door and get her out first “ she ordered, her voice sharp and full of disdain.

Kelly winked at his men and immediately two men came forward roughly and dragged me from the cell.

They dragged me home and threw me on the cold floor of the living room, where my parents were sitting indifferently on the couch watching me.

“What do you want?” I asked hoarsely.

Kelly’s lips curled into a smirk, her eyes gleaming with cold amusement. "Sylvia, count yourself lucky. You're supposed to be imprisoned for the rest of your life for such a big mistake, but it just so happens that BloodMoon Pack’s alpha is now going to be joined in marriage to our pack. So, be a good girl and get married. After that, keep your tail between your legs over there."

Lucky? Was she serious? A bitter laugh escaped my lips, the sound harsh and empty. "How could you possibly let me have such a good thing? Tell me, what the hell are you playing at?"

Before Kelly could answer, our father—Alpha Oliver—slammed his fist on the table, his face contorted with anger. "Sylvia, watch how you talk! If your sister hadn't suggested that you be married off, you'd still be locked up in the brig today!"

His words hit me like a slap to the face. This wasn’t some kind of twisted joke; they were serious. My heart sank, but I forced myself to stay calm, to think. What were they planning?

Nancy, my mother, reached over and took Kelly's hand, her gaze icy as it settled on me. "Sylvia, soothsaying, I'll tell you. The original coupling was indeed your sister, but the alpha of BloodMoon pack was suffering from a hidden disease and was not a good match for Kelly at all. We thought about it and decided you were the best fit. After all, you're just as dislikable as that wolf-less alpha, Douglas!"

My stomach churned at her words. So that was it. They were willing to throw me to the wolves, literally, because I was expendable. Kelly couldn’t be married off to someone with a "hidden disease," so they decided I was the perfect sacrifice. A union with BloodMoon Pack would strengthen our position, and who better to use than the daughter they had already discarded?

My heart ached, a deep, gnawing pain that seemed to spread through my entire body. But I refused to let them see my weakness. I had been through too much, lost too much, to give in now. I looked up at them, meeting their cold, hard gazes with one of my own.

"Since Kelly is not willing to get married, then neither am I. You can find someone else," I said, my voice steady, though every fiber of my being was trembling.

Nancy’s eyes widened in shock as she stood up and approached me, her voice trembling with anger. "Sylvia, aren't you afraid that if you don't go ahead and get married, you'll be put back in jail?"

Of course, I was afraid. The thought of returning to that dark, suffocating cell made my skin crawl. But I would rather endure that hell than let them use me as a pawn in their game. I squared my shoulders, trying to project a confidence I didn’t feel. "I'm not getting married," I repeated, more firmly this time.

“Sylvia, take a look at this, and then decide if you want to agree.”

Kelly’s smirk widened as she reached into her pocket and pulled out something—a necklace, old and worn, with shells strung together in a simple design. My breath caught in my throat.

Chapter 2

Sylvia POV ：

That necklace... It was a token left to me by a stranger three years ago The necklace was made of simple shells, strung together in a delicate, yet worn pattern.

It wasn’t much to look at—old, faded, and seemingly insignificant—but to me, it was priceless.

This necklace was the only thing left from that night three years ago, a token given to me by a stranger when I was at my lowest. I remember the weight of it in my hand, the rough texture of the shells against my skin, and the soft voice of the man who had slipped it to me, asking me to keep it as a reminder, as a promise that I wasn’t alone.

Three years ago, everything changed. My sister had betrayed me, drugging me and leaving me helpless in that dark forest. I can still remember the terror of being surrounded by wolves, their eyes glowing in the shadows, closing in on me. Just when I thought it was the end, he appeared—my savior. He drove them away, strong and fierce, but gentle when he held me. That night, we were together, a brief moment of solace in the chaos.

By the time the sun rose, he was gone, leaving me with nothing but a shell necklace. I clung to it, thinking it was my only link to him, whoever he was.

But when my family found me, they didn’t see someone who had been saved. They saw shame, dishonor. They threw me into a prison, treating me like I was something to be hidden away. And then, I found out I was carrying his child—our child. I never even got to meet my baby. They told me it was born lifeless. I wasn’t even allowed to grieve properly; they took the tiny body away, discarded it like it meant nothing.

But now I wonder—was my baby really gone?

Rage surged through me, and I lunged at Kelly with all the strength I had left. "Give it back!" I hissed, my voice breaking with desperation. But the chains on my wrists and ankles held me back, and Kelly remained out of reach, her smirk only growing wider.

"Don’t worry," she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "I’ll give it back to you. But not yet. Marry Douglas, and the necklace will be yours."

My mind raced. This was my only chance. If I agreed to the marriage, I might finally regain my freedom. And once I was free, I could search for the man from three years ago. I had to play along, at least for now.

"Okay," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I promise."

Satisfied with my compliance, Kelly handed the necklace to Nancy, who pocketed it without a second thought. The decision had been made, and there was no going back.

The very next day, they sent me to BloodMoon Pack. There was no wedding ceremony, no celebration—just a simple exchange of vows in the presence of a few pack members. Douglas, the alpha I was now bound to, was nowhere to be seen. I had heard rumors that he hated women, that this union was nothing more than a formality forced upon him by his mother.

As I stepped into BloodMoon Pack's territory, an unsettling feeling crept over me. Something about the place felt... familiar. The smell, the atmosphere—it all tugged at the edges of my memory. And then it hit me. This was the same scent I had caught that night three years ago in the forest. The night everything had changed.

My heart pounded in my chest as the realization sank in. Could it be? Could Douglas be the man who had given me the necklace, the man who had saved me from death?

I clenched my fists, my resolve hardening. I had to uncover the truth, and when I did, nothing would stop me from reclaiming my life—and my freedom.

The scent was unmistakable. As I continued walking deeper into the palace, I finally understood where that familiar fragrance came from. Gardenia flowers were planted all around the grounds, their sweet, heady aroma filling the air. It struck me instantly — the man I had a one-night stand with three years ago carried this exact scent, a heavy gardenia fragrance on his skin.

Could he be from this pack?

The thought jolted me. My curiosity deepened, and I became even more determined to stay and uncover the truth. My heart raced as the butler led me further inside the palace, a place far grander than I expected. Douglas, the alpha, lived here. I’d heard whispers about him — a wolf without a wolf. Yet, despite his lack of transformation, he was renowned for his strength and leadership.

“Miss Anderson, please wait here for a moment,” the butler said respectfully. “The alpha will be here shortly.”

“Good,” I replied, my voice calm even though my mind was racing.

Chapter 3

Sylvia POV ：

I sat down on a plush couch, my eyes scanning the opulent room. The decorations were lavish, gold accents gleaming in the soft light. If it weren’t for the fact that Douglas didn’t have a wolf, he would have made a great match. A powerful leader, wealthy, and feared. But there was something more to him — something dangerous, a presence that was palpable even before he entered the room.

Suddenly, a slight movement caught my attention.

I glanced down and froze. A large black spider crawled along the arm of the couch, its body shining eerily. As it moved, it left a trail of faint purple marks on the fabric, a sure sign it was poisonous. My heart skipped a beat. I’d encountered dangerous creatures before, but this spider was different — its slow, deliberate movements were almost sinister.

Instinctively, I reached into my bag and pulled out a silver needle. Without hesitation, I aimed for the spider’s body, preparing to strike.

“Stop!” A voice rang out, deep and commanding, stopping me mid-motion.

My hand paused, but the needle had already pierced the spider’s back slightly. I looked up to see a tall figure descending the grand staircase, his eyes locked onto mine. He moved with a quiet authority, and even from a distance, I could feel the intensity radiating from him.

It was Douglas. The alpha.

He reached me in moments, his eyes flashing with anger. Without a word, he snatched the spider from my hand and examined it closely. His gaze shifted to me, and for a moment, I felt like I was being judged, not just for the spider, but for everything I was.

“You killed it?” His voice was cold, as if he already knew the answer.

I took a deep breath and pulled the needle out of the spider’s body. It twitched and then began to crawl away, very much alive. I looked back up at Douglas, who had not taken his eyes off me.

His stare was unnerving, sweeping over me with a mix of curiosity and disdain. “You’re not Kelly,” he said suddenly, his voice carrying a note of certainty.

My heart sank. I’d been found out.

There was no point in pretending anymore. “You’re right,” I admitted, keeping my voice steady. “I’m not Kelly. I’m her sister, Sylvia.”

His expression didn’t change, but his eyes narrowed slightly. “Kelly never mentioned having a sister.”

I let out a soft laugh. “That’s because I’ve been locked up for the past three years.”

Douglas’s face remained unreadable, but in an instant, he moved closer, his hand suddenly gripping my chin. His touch was rough, and his face loomed dangerously close to mine. I could feel his breath on my skin as he whispered, “A prisoner who dares to come here and marry me in her sister’s place?”

His words dripped with disdain. I’d heard rumors that Douglas hated women’s touch, that he avoided intimacy at all costs. But here he was, pinning me down with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine.

I smirked, deciding to play along. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I murmured, “Well, my parents thought it fitting. A prisoner for a cripple.”

His grip loosened instantly, and he stepped back in disgust, as I had anticipated. I stood, adjusting my clothes as he glared at me, fury flashing in his eyes.

“Sylvia,” he growled, “are you looking for death?”

As he spoke, the scent of gardenia hit me again, stronger this time. I stared at him, the memory of that night three years ago flooding back. The man I’d slept with… he had the same scent, the same intensity. Could it be him?

No. Douglas was different — he was dangerous, commanding, and cold. The man from that night had been softer, more mysterious. Yet, something about him tugged at my memory.

Before I could piece it together, Douglas’s expression shifted. His eyes darkened, and his body tensed. It was as if something inside him was trying to break free.

“Douglas?” I asked, stepping forward. “What’s happening?”

He clutched his head, breathing heavily, his body shaking as though he was fighting something deep within. I reached out, trying to steady him.

“Get out!” he roared, his voice laced with pain.

I couldn’t leave him like this. Ignoring his order, I pulled a small pill from my pocket, one of the secret remedies I’d kept for emergencies. “Take this,” I urged, pressing it to his lips. “It’ll help.”

He hesitated, his eyes locked on mine, but before he could respond, the door burst open.

A young woman, dressed elegantly, stormed in. Her eyes went wide as she saw Douglas’s state. She rushed toward him, pushing me aside as if I were nothing.

“Brother!” she cried, panic in her voice. “Are you sick again?”

She turned to the door and screamed, “Butler! Get the medicine!”