I died on an unbearably cold winter night.There was no moonlight, only the suffocating darkness of a mountain cave. I thought I could hold on until dawn, until my people came to rescue me. But Ryan had other plans.Without ceremony, he drove a silver blade straight into my chest, and blood poured out relentlessly.Even that wasn't enough for him.He raised his arm and plunged the icy blade into my heart.The searing pain shattered my consciousness. I was dying, but I forced myself to ask him a question. "Why?"We grew up together, and we were inseparable since childhood. Our families had been allies for generations. He was my fated mate, and my family was the cornerstone of his path to becoming the Alpha King.My father bolstered his forces, clearing obstacles for him and paving the way to the throne when he was at his weakest. Even after Ryan became the Alpha King, my family never sought power or demanded favors. We were content to guard our pack's lands and live in peace.
That year, the Snowfang Pack had just annexed several smaller wolf packs in the surrounding regions, expanding its territory and prestige.That year, I had not yet officially become Ryan's mate, nor had we held the Moonlit Ceremony that symbolized an eternal bond."It's not surprising she'd have a headache," came a sharp whisper behind me. "Prince Ryan has been making public statements on all the major networks for three days now, announcing he's breaking off the engagement with the Snowfang Pack!"I stopped Annie, my maid, from snapping back in my defense.The situation was far more complicated than just a broken engagement.A few days ago, Ryan was ambushed by rival packs while inspecting the newly annexed borderlands. Gravely injured, he fell off a cliff and was rescued by a young she-wolf living in seclusion deep in the forest.She was delicate and beautiful. In a desperate attempt to save him, she used a forbidden herb to heal his wounds, which ultimately cost her the abilit
What a familiar scene.Even the tear hanging precariously at the corner of her eye was exactly the same as in my past life.Back then, I had been utterly deceived by this fragile, helpless act of hers. When she knelt before me, I actually felt pity. I found myself helping her and Ryan, doing everything I could to help them achieve their "true love".As the Snowfang Pack's princess, I was destined to shoulder the responsibilities of my people. My future didn't have to revolve around Ryan. Even though Saya's arrival left a bad taste in my mouth, it wasn't enough to shake my dignity.When Ryan had wanted to break off the engagement, I didn't throw a tantrum. Instead, I earnestly offered him advice out of the respect and history we shared."Saya comes from a lower-ranked wolf pack and is mute. While she saved your life, the elders or the clans may never accept her as your Queen, no matter how hard you try to convince them. It'll only bring her trouble."Why not take a step back? Sett
Yes. Saya was acting.Her muteness was an act. Her delicate, innocent facade was an act. Even her dramatic "poison suicide" in my past life? That was also an act.I had seen her true colors with my own eyes. It happened at a secret gathering, where I accidentally stumbled upon her talking to a werewolf alchemist."Sir, I'm just an exiled lowly she-wolf. How could I survive without using some desperate ploys to get into Prince Ryan's good graces? Please, I'm begging you! Give me a potion that can make me appear dead for a short time. Just once—that's all I need."I truly love His Highness. With my background, being his servant would already be aiming too high. But now that he has promised to marry me! I have to use this final trick to ensure he'll always feel guilty about me."Please, help me! Just one staged death, and His Highness will remember for the rest of his life that he owes me."What a masterful scheme.Saya fooled Ryan, fooled me, and even fooled an entire gathering of
"Selina, do you even understand the rules and etiquette of the wolf kingdom?"Ryan's golden eyes burned with fury as he glared at me, his tone colder than the winds in winter.He turned and helped Saya to her feet, his movements so gentle they bordered on absurd. He carefully touched her swollen cheek, his expression filled with pain and concern."Selina, apologize." His voice was low but commanding. "Bow your head, admit your mistake to her in front of everyone here, and I'll let this slide. I won't pursue it any further."I almost laughed out loud.How foolish I was in my previous life.The moment I discovered Saya's schemes, I wrote a secret letter to Ryan. In painstaking detail, I explained how she had been manipulating him, using her feigned fragility to win over the sympathy of the wolf pack elders.I warned him, "Saya isn't as simple as she seems. Every step she's taken toward you has been calculated."The very next day, news broke that Saya had "poisoned herself to deat
Soon, word spread throughout the pack.It seemed that the marriage alliance between the Alpha King's family and the Snowfang Pack might really be falling apart.Ryan's determination to marry his so-called savior had already made waves.And today? The ever-composed princess of the Snowfang Pack had publicly declared, at her own birthday party and in front of all the wolf kingdom elders, that she was severing ties with Ryan.They said Ryan's face had been a sight to behold.However, Leopold had been downright livid, going so far as to slap Ryan across the face in front of everyone.-"Ridiculous!"Now, in the quiet of my father's study, his expression mirrored the Alpha King's earlier fury. However, I remained unmoved.His voice shook with anger. "Do you have any idea what this means? You dared to make such a scene in front of all the wolf kingdom's elders!"I stood straight, meeting his glare without so much as a blink."This alliance has been years in the making, built on th
All that remained was the Selina who swore to seek revenge.-The man before me had sharp, angular features. He was tall and muscular, with a posture that commanded attention. His eyes gleamed with a wild, untamed light, and his deep gaze seemed to pierce straight through to the heart of everything.He looked nothing like the man I remembered.I studied him, and he returned the gaze, his eyes appraising me just as much.His deep blue eyes were mesmerizing."Princess Selina, it's an honor to finally meet you. You're truly as stunning as they say."His voice was deep and pleasant, with a hint of amusement in it.I smiled slightly."The eldest son of the Alpha King, the rumors didn't do you justice. You're as strong and handsome as they say."He chuckled softly, and a spark of unspoken understanding passed between us as our eyes met."The black rose that you had delivered the other day," he said, nudging a potted plant on the table, "has already bloomed."I raised my wrist, de
Ryan's mood had obviously improved lately.Since Leopold didn't treat him kindly after the incident, he decided to take his lover Saya and head for a getaway on the icy plains far from the wolf kingdom’s territory.With him absent from the kingdom, he naturally wouldn't notice the frequent reshuffling of resources and territories that had been happening within the kingdom over the course of just a month. Even if he were present, it was unlikely he would have cared—after all, he never bothered with such "mundane matters".Ryan thought that no matter what problems arose, Leopold would cover for him. He would never notice that those "insignificant" mid-level warriors and sentinels were quietly being replaced."Is that all?" I looked at the latest intelligence in my hands before calling Alaric. He didn't say anything, and I waited patiently for his response.Two days later, a short drama called "True Love in the Wolf's Domain" went viral across the kingdom's network. The show told t
I didn't see Ryan again until three months later, in the dark, moonless dungeon.The cold winter night wrapped the dungeon in pitch blackness, the chill cutting through to the bone.It felt eerily similar to the day I had died.Ryan huddled in the corner, dressed in prison garb, his eyes hollow and weary. The commanding presence of the former Alpha King's heir was gone, replaced by a broken shell of the man he once was.Things never should have come to this.Leopold had been utterly disappointed in him, so much so that he refused Ryan’s request for a visit until his last breath.Yes, Leopold was gone.Despite hiring the best medical team, his life had only been prolonged for three more months.When he heard footsteps, Ryan looked up, a glimmer of long-lost hope flickering in his eyes.I stepped into the visitation room, and he immediately stood, reaching out as if to take my hand.I stepped back, and his hand hung awkwardly in the air."Selina, you still won't forgive me."
So this was the "true love" Ryan had always sworn by.Back then, his face had at least gone pale when he killed me. Today, he held the silver fang dagger steady, his expression cold and unflinching.I clenched my fists."Are you satisfied now?"I turned my gaze away."Selina, I know I was wrong. All these years, I've regretted it every day. I did it all for you—""Shut up!"I didn't want to hear another word from him.Ryan's eyes darkened, then a smile suddenly crept across his face."It's three in the morning now. This was the moment you were waiting for, right?"Three in the morning.In my previous life, that was the exact time the Alpha King had taken his last breath."Selina, do you really think that just the Snowfang Pack and that useless Alaric will be enough to defeat me? I'll show you how I take the throne of the Alpha King!"Ryan dragged me into the car and headed straight for the palace. As soon as we entered the main hall, Ryan's trusted aide informed him that L
Ryan and I did have some good memories together.Before Saya came into the picture, every year on Blood Moon Night, he would accompany me to the Sacred Spring to make wishes.When I was younger, I was innocent and unguarded, and I would shout my wishes out loud. "I want the sharpest silver blade in the hunting grounds!" "I want a pure white wolf pup!" Within days, those things would mysteriously appear in my room.But as I grew older, I learned to keep my thoughts hidden. Yet, Ryan always seemed to know what I liked. He would find a way to surprise me with the perfect gift, one that showed he understood me better than anyone else.Tonight, the silver moon hung high in the sky, and the Sacred Spring was eerily quiet.I walked closer, and from a distance, I saw him. He had arrived before me.Ryan stood by the spring, his back to me, but his figure bore an undeniable weariness that couldn't be hidden."Selina, it's been years since we've been here," he spoke finally, his vo
Ryan must have been hit harder than I thought—he fell ill after returning home, and there was no more drama to watch.But for Alaric and me, wedding preparations kept us both incredibly busy.One day, while I was reviewing the wedding plans, there was a knock on the door.Saya immediately fell to her knees when she saw me, her face streaked with tears."Princess Selina, please go see Ryan!" she pleaded, sobbing.I stepped aside, nearly tripping over her in the process."Princess Selina, Ryan is very sick. He can't wake up, and he keeps calling your name in his sleep. Please go and see him. Maybe he'll wake up if you do!"It was rare to hear Saya's voice.I looked down at her from my position, but didn't feel like responding."Princess Selina, you and Ryan have known each other since childhood. Please, just visit him!" Saya continued, her voice breaking into another round of tears. "I was too proud for my own good!""If you agree, I'll step aside! Princess Selina, I'm begging
Growing up as the princess of the Snowfang Pack and the future queen of the wolf kingdom, I was taught one unshakable truth—emotions were a liability.Even with trust, it was wise to leave room for doubt.Wasn't Ryan taught this as well, being the heir to the Alpha King?Or maybe he had been too spoiled to learn it.His mother had clawed her way to the top as the Alpha King's mistress-turned-wife, basking in the favor that came with it.From the moment Ryan was born, he believed it was his right to have the family's full resources at his disposal. He carried that same sense of entitlement into every aspect of his life, convinced the world—and everyone in it—should revolve around him.If he wanted to marry, he would. If he didn't, he wouldn't.What he decided was unquestionable.Leopold was so enraged by him that he nearly passed out. He slammed his fist on the table in fury.There was a storm raging in the city, and now, with the wedding date fast approaching, Ryan wanted to c
Saya was steadily expanding her influence.While Leopold held immense power, Ryan's pride was too great for him to seek help again.[It's time to start our second move.] I sent a brief message to Alaric. [Expose Saya's lies.]Ryan had always believed that Saya's love for him was pure and untainted. Even when she cried out that he had abandoned the weak, he would only sigh faintly,"Saya just cares too much about me."I laughed. If only he knew that Saya's "disability" was nothing but a lie. What would he think then?An amused glint flashed across Alaric's eyes. He had already placed his spies close to Ryan.Getting a person who could originally speak to say something wasn't difficult.One day, Saya was at the market, handing out the spices she had made. Her delicate features and graceful movements caught the attention of countless noblewomen from the wolf kingdom.They thought that owning Saya's spices would make them as desirable as she was—that they, too, could marry a wol
"If it weren't for you and your pack, Saya and I could've lived happily ever after, basking in the admiration of the entire wolf clan!"I scoffed. I would love to see how he and Saya planned on spending their lives in bliss and receive such admiration.-Inside an exclusive private club, wine flowed freely."The wolf kingdom territory on the southeastern frontier does indeed have endless potential," an elder from the Whiteclaw Pack swirled his drink, his gaze sharp."But Prince Ryan, bringing along that lowborn mute girl—that doesn't seem appropriate, does it?""What's wrong with that? Prince Ryan wants to break tradition and bring his new fiancee into the inner workings of the wolf kingdom. Maybe that's a good thing.""Is this what you meant by the 'good show'?" Alaric's voice was low, with a playful edge to it.I raised an eyebrow and took a sip of my red wine. "It's hardly just that.""You're truly beautiful, Selina. Some people must be blind not to see it," Alaric suddenly
Using the power of public opinion, we forced Leopold into making a concession. It was a strategy that killed three birds with one stone.It shattered my father's illusions, cut off Ryan's rise to power, and created a rift between Ryan and Leopold.The so-called "destined woman" was nothing more than a carefully orchestrated online marketing scheme.Leopold wouldn't suspect Alaric, who rarely appeared in public. Instead, he would assume it was all Ryan's doing.As for Ryan, still basking in his good fortune, he was probably still patting himself on the back for what he saw as his "good luck".[How was it?] Alaric texted me.[Quite clever.] I replied.[Is that all?] He seemed a bit dissatisfied with my response.I had someone send my silver moon necklace to him. This gift would definitely spark his interest. He would probably imagine me wearing it as we spent a passionate night together.I added, "Alaric, why not strike while the iron's hot and take it a step further?""Have yo
Ryan's mood had obviously improved lately.Since Leopold didn't treat him kindly after the incident, he decided to take his lover Saya and head for a getaway on the icy plains far from the wolf kingdom’s territory.With him absent from the kingdom, he naturally wouldn't notice the frequent reshuffling of resources and territories that had been happening within the kingdom over the course of just a month. Even if he were present, it was unlikely he would have cared—after all, he never bothered with such "mundane matters".Ryan thought that no matter what problems arose, Leopold would cover for him. He would never notice that those "insignificant" mid-level warriors and sentinels were quietly being replaced."Is that all?" I looked at the latest intelligence in my hands before calling Alaric. He didn't say anything, and I waited patiently for his response.Two days later, a short drama called "True Love in the Wolf's Domain" went viral across the kingdom's network. The show told t