Chapter 1

After seven years of marriage to Alpha Caius, he never marked me.

During those seven years, he kept twenty-nine mistresses.

Looking at the thirtieth young girl, Raven, wrapped in a bathrobe and lounging on our bed.

I turned to look at him.

"Isn't playing around outside enough? You have to bring them home?"

But Raven deliberately pulled her bathrobe lower.

"Luna Alicia, Alpha Caius says you're like a dead fish during sex! Let me teach you how to really please a man!"

That night, I was forced to watch the intensity of their lovemaking.

The next morning, Caius was furious at my indifference.

But he forgot that our marriage was an agreement to begin with.

One week until the agreement expires.

"Alicia, go get Raven some clothes."

Caius sat bare-chested on the bed, lighting a cigarette as he ordered me around.

Clothes were scattered all over the floor, as if narrating last night's intensity.

I stood still, glancing at him.

Raven, wrapped in the sheets, smiled sweetly at me.

"Alpha Caius, that's not very appropriate. After all, she's Luna Alicia."

She said "Luna Alicia" with her mouth, but her tone carried not a trace of guilt. Instead, it was full of pride and provocation.

The sheets slipped down slightly with her movements, revealing skin covered in red marks.

"Besides, I have a hot, sexy figure. Luna Alicia probably doesn't have anything suitable for me!"

I kept my expression blank and walked toward the door.

"Alicia! I'm talking to you!"

His voice came from behind me, tinged with displeasure.

I paused but didn't turn around. "If you want clothes, get them yourself. I have things to do."

In seven years, I'd rarely defied him.

Whether his instructions were direct or implied, I'd almost never refused anything he asked me to do.

Today was the first time I broke that understanding.

"What did you say?" Caius clearly wasn't used to my cold attitude, and anger crept into his voice.

"You have things to do?! What could you possibly have to do? You stay home all day, don't participate in pack affairs, don't work!"

"Alicia, don't forget—if I hadn't married you, where would you be now? You'd never have this status on your own!"

He was right. Without marrying him, I wouldn't be living such a wealthy, comfortable life.

But he forgot that this kind of life wasn't what I wanted.

Back then, I had just graduated from the wolf academy with a degree in pup training.

The director of the orphanage that raised me told me that because of land acquisition, the orphanage would soon be demolished.

Without someone to sponsor it, those young wolf pups would be homeless.

That's when Caius appeared.

He made me an offer—marry him, and he'd fund the orphanage.

I hesitated.

After all, we weren't from the same world. He was the Alpha of Stormheart pack, and I was just an ordinary wolf, an orphan.

He saw my hesitation and added in a tone that left no room for refusal.

"Let's add a time limit. Seven years. After seven years, you can leave freely and choose whatever you want. During these seven years of marriage, I won't mark you."

After we married, I never expected any unnecessary emotions.

Sure enough, it wasn't long before I discovered that he'd chosen me only because I resembled his white moonlight—a wolf girl named Aisling.

Aisling was Caius's fated mate. She died shortly after they started dating, and since then, Caius had been searching for her replacement.

Caius once said, "Out of all those women, you look the most like Aisling. That's why I chose you."

Just then, Raven walked out of the dressing room wearing a white dress, her long, silky hair cascading down.

I froze. In that moment, she looked exactly like Aisling.

It seemed she'd heard the rumors and came prepared.

Caius's gaze immediately fixed on her.

Perhaps because of that familiar shadow, he didn't show his usual cold indifference. He actually froze for a moment before slowly speaking, his tone carrying a hint of seriousness.

"Very nice. Dress like this from now on."

Raven's smile became even more radiant. "Really? Then Alpha Caius, you'll have to take me shopping for a few more dresses like this."

Caius nodded. "I'll take you in a bit."

She smiled triumphantly, then turned her gaze to me, deliberately provoking me. "Luna Alicia should come too, right?"

I understood. She just wanted to provoke me, to deliberately humiliate me.

"No thanks. I have things to do."

But Caius suddenly frowned and spoke coldly. "You're coming too. I don't want to say it twice."

I knew this wasn't the time to defy him again.

I stopped arguing and agreed quietly.

Just seven more days. This would all be over.