Chapter 1
I fall in love with my father's friend, an Alpha 20 years my senior.
I'm only eight when I first meet him. It happens at a banquet for the upper echelons of the werewolf pack. My father brings me with him.
Layson Romanov instantly catches my eye. He stands tall at six feet and two inches, and his toned figure shows through his black suit. He exudes a natural dominance.
My father introduces me to him, and he caresses my hair with a smile. Then, he gives me a pink dress adorned with pearls and pink diamonds. "You'll look beautiful when you're old enough to wear this."
Back then, I didn't understand what he meant.
…
Ten years later, I put on that dress and enter his room. He's drugged after falling into someone's trap, and his wolf is out of control. His usually calm eyes are filled with mania.
I know that he'll go insane—even lose his life—if he doesn't have an antidote. So, I give him my pure, untainted body. I become his antidote.
We later marry, and he loves me as my father would've done. However, when I'm four months pregnant, I discover that his personal secretary, Grace Parker, is also pregnant.
"I'm sorry to have put you through this, Grace. Everyone knows I only married Charlotte out of duty. I'll make sure our child is my only heir," he says.
It all makes sense now—no wonder Layson refused to mark me despite us being married. Grace is the one he loves.
I'm heartbroken. I ingest a large amount of wolfsbane, leading to a miscarriage. I ultimately die of blood loss.
Intense regret washes over me as I breathe my last breath.
When I open my eyes again, I find that I've been reborn. I'm taken back to the day Layson is drugged…
Chapter 1
Charlotte's POV
"Come here." Layson Romanov's voice was low and firm, leaving no room for refusal.
In the yacht's luxury suite, the air felt stiflingly hot. Layson's loosened collar looked messy. He had left a few buttons of his shirt undone, revealing his firm chest. His usually deep and calm green eyes now burned with scorching desire.
In my previous life, he had tempted me in this same way.
Right now, I simply stood by and watched this man who was normally so noble and untouchable.
I once believed I could become his greatest love. I paid no heed to the fact that he was my father's friend or that he was 20 years older than me, or even the mockery from my family. I flung myself into becoming his so-called "antidote".
I loved him with all my heart, yet all I got in return was a tragic end—I died along with my unborn baby. Even love became a luxury I could no longer afford.
Right before I died, I found out that Layson had secretly been in love with his personal secretary, Grace Parker.
They had long been fond of each other. I was only an intruder who barged into their romance and took Grace's rightful place, becoming a burden to him.
Perhaps the Moon Goddess pitied me, for she granted me a second chance at life.
In this lifetime, there was only one thing I wanted to do, and that was to let them be together.
Without a moment of hesitation, I took out my phone and dialed Grace's number.
Ten minutes later, Grace arrived in a hurry, her gaze filled with wariness.
"Charlotte, what on earth are you playing at? Don't you like His Majesty? Why call me over instead of seizing the opportunity?"
When I heard her say that, I couldn't help but give a bitter laugh.
In my previous life, everyone knew that I clung to Layson. Wherever he went, I would appear at his side.
Back then, I thought he truly loved me. When my father was away at war for five years, Layson would take me to his castle, look after me with care, and grant me anything I desired.
I was naive enough to think that it was only our differences in status and age that separated us. Otherwise, why would a man as reserved as him indulge all my whims?
But reality made it clear that he didn't love me.
So, I merely shook my head. "I don't like him anymore. I'll never like him again. You and he grew up together and have always liked each other. You only lack a chance to be together. Tonight is the perfect moment."
Just then, a muffled sound came from the room, filled with suppressed pain.
"He's about to be overwhelmed by the drug. If you don't go in, he might not make it."
Grace still hesitated.
I simply stepped aside and pushed her into the room. I gave her no chance to back out and shut the door at once.
Not long after, I heard Layson's ragged breathing and Grace's soft moans. Their sounds of passion grew clearer, one after another, like sharp blades slicing into my heart.
So, this was what heartbreak felt like. It felt as though I had been hollowed out. I crumpled to the floor right by the door.
My tears flowed without my control, yet I felt strangely relieved. I had finally broken free from the fate of my previous life.
I ran back to my own room and spent the whole night sleepless.
At dawn, my father, Arthur Winston, called right on time.
"Charlotte, I've already arranged a spot for you in Silvermoon City. That's where all the young elites from every pack gather. Would you like to go?"
Over the past few years, my father had been busy expanding his territory and hadn't been able to take care of me, so he entrusted me to his good friend, Layson, the ruler of the North. I ended up staying under Layson's care for several years.
I used to foolishly believe that his kindness toward me, his protection, and even his occasional stares were some form of special affection. By now, I finally understood that Grace was the true love he had cherished all along.
"Yes, I'm willing to go," I said.
After I spoke, my father seemed momentarily taken aback on the other end of the line, then his tone turned excited.
"My darling, you've finally come round. In Silvermoon City, you can study and explore, and you can even look for a partner. I've already contacted Carlson Bennett from the Blazing Sun pack. He has a strong bloodline and is about your age, and you'll both attend the same academy.
"Charlotte, it's not wrong to want romance. But the right person matters. Give yourself a new chance."
Hearing my father's words made my tears flow again.
In my past life, he had also tried to persuade me, but I wouldn't listen. In the end, I wasted my life away.
I pinched my palm, letting the dull pain of my nails biting into my skin clear my mind.
In this lifetime, I would never let myself remain trapped in Layson's shadow.
"Dad, I'll do whatever you say. I'm going to Silvermoon City. I'll arrange the entry permit later."
Chapter 2
Charlotte's POV
I hung up on my father and wiped away the tears from the corners of my eyes. I didn't want to show any sign of weakness.
I disembarked from the yacht early and took a car back to the castle by myself. I packed my papers and wanted to head out right away to arrange my entry documents for Silvermoon City.
"Charlotte, who told you to come back alone? What if you had run into a pack of rogue werewolves? Do you have any idea how long I searched for you? You're getting more disobedient by the day!"
Layson pushed open the door and confronted me. His tall figure towered over me, and the string of love bites on his neck stood out so glaringly.
He still carried Grace's scent on him, which drifted into my nostrils.
Even though I already knew they had been intimate, I still couldn't stop the sorrow from welling up inside me. I avoided meeting his gaze. I pretended not to react, but he knew me too well. Besides, my eyes were a little red.
He instinctively helped me fasten the coat I hadn't put on properly.
Then, he said in a calm tone, "Charlotte, Grace and I are together now. She'll soon be my wife and the queen of this pack. Since you're living here, you need to respect her. So, stop talking nonsense about marrying me, and don't get any foolish ideas."
I lowered my eyes and said calmly, "I understand, Your Majesty."
The air seemed to freeze in an instant.
Layson paused, frowning, his intense gaze locked on my face. He hadn't heard me address him like that in a long time.
When I was a kid and first brought to his castle, I used to sweetly call him "Your Majesty". Later, once I understood the feelings I had for him, I refused to use that title anymore.
Sometimes, I called him "my Alpha Daddy" or "Daddy", and sometimes, I was bold enough to call him directly by name, "Layson".
Those were all ways I used to act spoiled with him. We were closer than most lovers, but everything felt different now.
Layson noticed my unusual attitude. Just as he seemed about to say something, a soft voice sounded from behind him.
"My dear Majesty, I've brought my luggage over. Which room should I stay in"
I looked up and saw Grace walking over. She smiled brightly at Layson.
When he saw her, he pulled her into his arms and said softly, "You like sunlight, and Charlotte's room faces south. It has the best light and is closest to my room as well, so I'll have her move to a guest room on the second floor. You can stay there from now on."
A flicker of satisfaction crossed Grace's eyes, but she spoke with a pretense of hesitation. "How can I accept that? After all, Charlotte has been staying in the castle for several years. Maybe I should stay in the guest room on the second floor instead."
She made it as if she wanted to go downstairs at once, but in the next second, Layson scooped her up in his arms.
"You're going to be the queen of this pack from now on. This is your home. There's no way I'd let you stay in a guest room."
Grace leaned against him, giving me a smug look. "But Charlotte has lived in that room since childhood. Forcing her to move all of a sudden might be unsettling for her."
"Why would it be unsettling? She's only spoiled because of me. She needs to get used to the fact that I'm getting married and that there's a lady in this home now. She has to understand that she's just an outsider."
Yes, he was right. I really was an outsider.
"I understand. I'll pack my things and move out right away."
Before long, I would be leaving this place for good, and I was never coming back.
This castle was Layson and Grace's home now, not mine.
Chapter 3
Charlotte's POV
Over the next few days, I went through all the formalities to leave the pack and head for Silvermoon City.
I left early and came back late every day just to avoid running into Layson. No matter how hard I tried, I still witnessed his clear fondness for Grace.
She loved swimming, so he had all the cherry blossom trees we planted together removed to build a private pool for her. When Grace felt unwell, he canceled an important meeting and stayed with her throughout the night. If she casually mentioned liking a piece of jewelry, it would appear on her dressing table the very next day.
All the gentleness, care, and appreciation he once showed me, he now devoted to Grace without holding back.
I no longer clung to him or threw tantrums the way I used to. I quietly watched it all, like an outsider.
While waiting for the paperwork to go through, I began packing my belongings.
First, I organized my luggage. Then, I gathered the sketches I had drawn of Layson, the love letters I had written him, and the albums I had made to confess my feelings. I tore them up and placed them into a large cardboard box, planning to throw them all away.
When I walked out the door with the rubbish in my arms, I happened to run into Layson, who had just returned to the castle. He was carrying a small box of pastries, probably something he had bought for Grace.
I lowered my gaze, pretending I hadn't seen him, and prepared to pass by without looking.
But then, Layson suddenly grabbed hold of my wrist.
He gripped me tightly, his voice low and dangerous. "Charlotte, have you been hiding from me these past few days? Is this your new trick?"
"I have not."
He leaned in closer, studying my evasive expression.
"You're not hiding from me? Then why do you leave early and come back late every day? Why do you turn away the moment you see me and refuse to speak? Aren't you avoiding me?" His voice sounded deep as he stared me down with a powerful sense of oppression. "Why? Just because I'm with Grace now?"
"No, that's not it. Your Majesty, you're with your fated mate. I should be happy for you. I truly wish you both happiness and may the Moon Goddess bless your love forever. And don't worry. I don't like you anymore. I won't call you anything inappropriate ever again."
I spoke in a calm, even cool tone, as if stating a perfectly reasonable fact.
Yet Layson's expression darkened in an instant. "You don't like me? Charlotte, are you trying to get my attention in another way?"
He watched my face as though scrutinizing me. When I tensed up slightly, he sounded even more sure of himself.
"You confessed to me once, and I turned you down. You hovered around me every day, and I ignored you. Now, you've changed tactics and are trying to play hard to get?"
He moved step by step toward me. Then, he spotted the box in my arms and let out a cold laugh.
"You wrote so many letters to me and secretly drew countless portraits of me, and you followed me around for five long years. Now, you say you suddenly don't like me anymore? Charlotte, don't you think that's ridiculous?"
I lifted my head and silently watched the man before me. Yes, it sounded absurd. I had truly loved him, so nobody would believe I no longer cared.
But it was the truth.
"Your Majesty, I loved you for a long time, but you never felt the same. In fact, you even hate me. So, I've already let go."
After I spoke, I moved around him and dumped all the items related to him into the bin.
When I looked up, I saw that Layson's expression had grown colder, his gaze deep and unreadable. While I stood there uncertain, his cold voice suddenly fell on my ears.
"Keep pretending. Charlotte, I watched you grow up. I know exactly what you're thinking. I do spoil you, but we'll never be together!"
I never understood why he couldn't love me. Was it because he was my father's friend? Because he was 20 years older than me? Or were those just flimsy excuses so he could have both of us at once?
Chapter 4
Charlotte's POV
After that day, I never spoke to Layson again. I had nothing left to say, but he probably thought I was just playing hard to get.
Things remained tense between us all the way to the Full Moon Celebration hosted by the Black Forest pack.
I still remembered the Full Moon Celebration when I was 18 years old, the night I awakened my wolf for the very first time. Layson had been standing right beside me. When violent power surged through my blood, pushing my sanity to its breaking point, he used his Alpha power to keep me firmly under control.
Layson became my guide. From that time on, he taught me how to control my wolf, how to find the balance between hunting and restraint, and how to become a true warrior. He taught me everything except how to make him love me.
I used to believe that we were a perfect match.
Before I turned 18, he doted on me and indulged me. After I turned 18, he made me endure his wolfish desires under him every night. I thought that was the intimacy between mates, that he needed me, longed for me, and wanted to meld me into his body night after night.
Yet as it turned out, he behaved the same way with Grace.
At tonight's celebration, everything I once had was given to Grace instead.
The nobles of the Black Forest bowed to her, and the elders gathered around her with whispered blessings.
Layson's mother, Margaret Carter, even placed the family's heirloom necklace around Grace's neck.
That necklace had been passed down for generations, worn by each queen before her coronation. In my previous life, I had never even set eyes on it.
At the celebration, I watched Layson and Grace dance together. I slipped away to hide in a quiet room.
"Charlotte, you should leave."
Margaret followed me in, her tone calm but carrying no effort to hide her dislike.
"You know Layson stayed unmarried for so long because of you. But now, he's engaged to Grace, and their wedding is next month. So, tell me, is there any reason for you to stay here besides making trouble and embarrassing yourself?"
She had once treated me kindly, but that warmth disappeared the instant I confessed my feelings to Layson. Everyone regarded me as ridiculous and berated me for having no shame.
I drove my nails into my palms, forcing my emotions down, and spoke slowly.
"Don't worry. I'll be leaving."
I pulled a stack of papers from my bag and handed them to her.
"A few days ago, I called my father and told him I'm willing to study abroad. He has already arranged for me to attend an academy in Silvermoon City and has also set up a marriage with Carlson from the Blazing Sun pack.
"Once my permit is approved, I'll leave immediately. After that, I'll have nothing more to do with His Majesty."
Margaret glanced through the papers. After a moment, a satisfied expression crossed her face. "You'd better do exactly as you said."
"Don't worry. I'll stay far away from him."
She turned and left, and only then did I slowly unclench my fist.
Just as I was putting the papers away and getting ready to go, a tall figure stood silently in the doorway. It was Layson.
"Who are you trying to stay away from?"
"No one. You misheard."
I didn't want him to know I was leaving. As I turned around, his voice reached my ears.
"If you don't want to go abroad, then don't. After I marry Grace, you don't have to move out. I'm your father's good friend, and I've watched you grow up all these years. I can take care of you for the rest of your life."
Chapter 5
Charlotte's POV
I didn't take Layson's words to heart that day.
I simply waited quietly for my documents to be approved so I could leave.
The next day, Grace behaved very differently. She enthusiastically insisted on taking me to the werewolf pack's marketplace.
However, the moment we boarded the carriage, I caught a whiff of something strange. A wave of dizziness rushed through me, and then everything went black.
When I opened my eyes again, icy winds whipped around me, and waves crashed against the jagged rocks nearby. My wrists were chained to a wooden stake. Not far away, Grace was also chained up. I struggled to ask her why, but my mouth was gagged, and all I could produce were muffled whimpers.
Grace seemed to understand my question and smirked coldly.
"Charlotte, I don't want to do this to you. But you've always been a threat. I heard what Layson said that day, and it unsettled me. I need to prove who matters more to him."
I never imagined Grace would go to such extremes.
Before long, I heard the sound of familiar footsteps.
Layson arrived. He wore a black coat, his gaze was cold, and he was followed by several werewolf guards. Yet as he approached, a few shadowy figures emerged from either side of the cliff. They were rogue werewolves.
Exiled from their packs, they roamed the forests and wastelands in a life of looting and banditry. Grace had spent a fortune to bring them here.
Layson directed his guards to place two chests of gold before them.
"Here's your money. Let them go!"
One of the rogue werewolves sneered, glancing at Layson with a mocking grin. His voice was rough as he said, "So, the Alpha of the Black Forest, the Wolf King of the North, really does keep his word. Too bad we're not here for money."
Layson narrowed his eyes, his tone suddenly turning cold. "What do you want?"
The rogue werewolf dug his claws into my shoulder, slicing my flesh and drawing blood.
"I hear these two women are dear to you. One is the daughter of your loyal beta, Arthur Winston, and the other is your fiancée. You can only save one. The other will be thrown into the sea for the sharks."
With that, they forced both of us to the cliff edge. The rocks beneath my feet shifted, and the roiling tide below seemed to await my fall.
Grace struggled in terror, her voice trembling. "Layson, save me! I don't want to die!"
Layson's expression changed in an instant. "Don't touch Grace!"
The answer was clear.
Grace, who had been deathly pale only a moment ago, let out a sigh of relief.
When Layson looked at me, I kept my face calm. He probably expected me to feel hopeless and beg for help. But I stayed silent.
I could see his panic. He started toward me, but in the next moment, Grace threw herself into his arms with tearful eyes. "Layson, my dear Majesty, thank goodness you got here just in time..."
He instinctively hugged her.
Right then, the ropes binding me came loose. The rogue werewolves threw me straight into the crashing sea.
"Charlotte!"
His cry for me grew fainter, and the water was so cold it stabbed like knives, dragging me down into the depths. I struggled as hard as I could, but my body was turning rigid, and my mind was slipping away.
In the end, everything went dark...
Chapter 6
Charlotte's POV
I thought I was dead. But when I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a bed I knew well.
Rain was falling outside the window, a fire crackled in the hearth, and the air was filled with Layson's distinctive herbal scent. He was sitting next to the bed, his clothes rumpled and his chin covered in stubble. His bloodshot eyes made it clear he had been keeping watch over me for days.
When he saw that I was awake, relief flickered across his face.
"Charlotte, you're finally awake! Do you have any idea how worried I was?"
I only looked at him in silence. After a long pause, I said quietly, "Your Majesty, you don't have to stay with me. Go be with Grace. She needs you more than I do."
"Are you still upset with me?" he asked.
I gave a slight smile and said, "I can take care of myself."
He was a bit stunned, looking as though he couldn't quite understand. His expression was complicated as he stared at me.
"I'll arrange for the maids to be here around the clock. If you need anything, just call them."
With that, he got up and left.
…
Three days later, I was almost fully recovered. During that time, I hadn't seen Layson at all.
I wanted to go outside, but the maids kept coming up with excuses to stop me from leaving my room.
When I slipped out through a side door, I discovered the real reason—it happened to be Grace's birthday that day, and Layson clearly didn't want me around. He was throwing her a grand party, and countless expensive gifts were piled in the corners.
He held Grace in his arms and spun her around the dance floor while romantic music played.
A large screen showed their sweet memories on a loop. The guests were moved to tears by their love story.
Suddenly, the screen went dark.
Then, one by one, handwritten letters, childish drawings, and photos of me and Layson over the years appeared for everyone to see.
"I'll do my best to become the kind of woman you love."
"I hope that one day, you'll proudly say I'm your mate."
"I love you, Daddy. I'll grow up exactly how you want me to."
The whole place fell dead silent, and my face went pale in an instant. Those things... I had torn them up long ago. Why were they here now?
Everyone in the werewolf pack seemed stunned, and the whispers around me grew louder and clearer.
"Layson has already chosen his future Luna Queen, but she still clings to him. How shameless."
"She brought out these love letters at Grace's birthday party. Is she trying to provoke her?"
"They're 20 years apart. This is practically incest. Charlotte has no shame!"
"She's been trying to crawl into the Alpha King's bed since she was a kid by using her father's connections."
"Poor Grace..."
The chattering was so loud it drowned out the music.
On the dance floor, Grace definitely heard what people were saying. She looked up at the images on the big screen, and her face went deathly pale. She trembled from head to toe, tears flooding her eyes.
She pushed away from Layson's arms, her eyes rimmed red, and ran from the banquet hall in her gown.
"Grace!"
Layson's chest tightened. He immediately went after her. But as he passed by me, he suddenly stopped. In the next second, he raised his arm and slapped me hard. My ears rang, and the hall went quiet.
Layson's eyes were dark with anger, and he growled in a low, furious voice, "Charlotte, so that's why you've been acting all docile. You were just waiting to humiliate me!"
He had hit me so hard that I fell to the floor, my cheek burning and my ears buzzing.
He stood over me, his voice cold as ice. "Charlotte, remember this. I'm never going to like you. It'll never happen between us!"