Charlotte's POVOver 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 let
Charlotte's POVAfter 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 intim
Charlotte's POVI 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
Charlotte's POVI 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 ne
Charlotte's POVThe moment my fingers touched my cheek, tears started rolling down.In my last life, even if I caused big trouble, Layson would just pat my head and pretend to scold me. But now, he had actually slapped me.My werewolf blood gave me faster regenerative powers than most humans, but it didn't ease the pain on my face. This wasn't just physical pain—it felt like a blade striking at my soul.That night, when I went back to my room, I got word that my documents were ready. I called my father. "Dad, could you book me a train ticket for tomorrow night? I want to leave as soon as possible.""It's already arranged. Once you arrive, I'll pick you up."After I hung up, I packed all my luggage. Then, I took the last photo I had of Layson and me, the one I kept inside a locket, and burned it. The flame licked across the photo, warping our once-happy faces until they turned to ash. My heart felt like it was turning to dust right along with it.When morning came, Grace caught m
Charlotte's POVA week later, I saw on social media that Layson and Grace's wedding had gone ahead right on schedule. The entire werewolf pack was swept up in the grandeur of the event. The ceremony wasn't simplified just because Grace was pregnant. On the contrary, it was even more lavish than any Alpha wedding I'd ever heard of.This grand wedding, celebrating ten years of love, was even broadcast live across the entire internet.The venue was filled with the red roses Grace loved, all of them gathered by Layson and his troops from the thorny forests in the North. Those roses symbolized the Alpha's promise to his mate—he would push through thorns to bring her the brightest blooms.On the pack's biggest social media platform, the flood of admiration for their bond was endless, and their wedding post shot straight to the top of the trending list."Layson and Grace are the perfect match.""I heard Layson nearly died once while saving Grace.""Ever since the former Alpha's fiancée
Layson's POVI was sitting in Charlotte's room, staring at the empty space around me. I never expected to find her room completely cleared out. I also never thought she'd have the nerve to block me.For all these years, no matter how much she sulked, how much she cried, or how often she got mad at me, she had never truly cut me off. Now, she not only blocked me, but she even turned off her phone. It was like she was trying to vanish from my life for good.I clenched my teeth, my fingers trembling."Fine, Charlotte. Are you playing hard to get and trying to make me chase after you? That won't work on me," I said out loud.I took a deep breath to force myself to stay calm and called my personal guard. "Find out where Charlotte ran off to! Once you do, keep an eye on her and make sure she's safe."No matter how impulsive or infuriating she was, she was still the daughter of my best friend. I couldn't just leave her on her own.But I knew she couldn't have gone too far. She loved me
Layson's POV"My dear Majesty, why are you still awake?"Grace's voice made me realize she'd been standing there for a while. My expression changed as I pulled off the shawl draped over my shoulders and walked over to her."Why aren't you sleeping? Are you cold?"I placed the shawl over her shoulders and held her hands in mine to warm them.She smiled a little, but her eyes were filled with worry. "I can't sleep when you're not there. I got up to check on you."She lowered her voice and hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "I overheard you and Ron mentioning Charlotte. She really left? Is it because of me?"Her voice got softer and softer, and by the last line, she was practically whispering. Her head drooped, and her eyes were red from tears, looking guilty.I felt a twinge of pity. I gently pulled her into my arms and kissed the top of her head. "Don't worry about it. It has nothing to do with you."She tugged on my shirt, looking uneasy. "But she was entrusted to y
Charlotte's POVDue to prolonged suffering and malnutrition, the once glamorous Grace was now thin and frail.At the sight of her, Margaret slapped her hard.Grace stumbled to the ground, letting out a cold laugh.Margaret still felt it wasn't enough. Furious that her son might never wake, she lunged forward and grabbed Grace by the collar, delivering more blows. If the guards hadn't intervened, Grace might not have survived."You wicked creature!" Margaret roared in anger. "Why isn't it you lying there unconscious?"Grace let out a sinister laugh."Me? Wicked?" She lifted her head. Hatred shone in her eyes."And your son isn't wicked? He said again and again that he loved me, but every time Charlotte called, he'd drop everything and run to her! He kept me by his side while refusing to let her go! A man like that deserves to die!"She laughed wildly. "He deserves it! He seduced a teenage girl! Now, he'll never wake up!"A guard pinned Grace to the ground, but her laughter wou
Charlotte's POVThere was a time when I used to dream about the future with Layson.I would imagine if we had a daughter, I'd spoil her into the happiest little princess alive, and she'd be forever safe from harm. If we had a son, I wanted him to be as strong as Layson, inheriting his father's glory.I drew countless portraits of those children and imagined how they would look one day.But when I timidly offered those drawings to Layson, he never looked at them. He tore them up and threw them into the fireplace. He told me in the coldest tone that he could have children with anyone but never with me. He told me to stop daydreaming.Thinking of that, I closed my eyes for a second. I felt no emotion anymore.Once, I had clung to Layson's arm, happily talking about the future, but now, the man I wanted to have children with was someone else. I figured Layson, after all that happened, had no more interest in me. He must have learned I was expecting a daughter.Yet no one could have
Charlotte's POVI didn't hesitate at all. I flatly refused Layson's proposal.Still, Layson wouldn't give up. He grabbed my hand and tried to force the ring onto my finger."Charlotte, be good. Come home with me. Grace has already been punished, so nothing will get in the way of our relationship anymore."I let out a cold laugh. Our problem was never just Grace's fault alone."I love Carlson. I'm his wife."When Layson kept pestering me, Carlson threw a punch at him. They began to fight.Elder members of both packs quickly pulled them apart.Carlson shouted at Layson in anger, "How much do you hate Charlotte that you keep trying to ruin her over and over? Do you even realize how many people are watching our wedding today? What do you expect them to think of her?"You barging in made the whole world see her past. Do you want her to become the werewolf pack's laughingstock?"Blood stained the corner of Layson's mouth. He protested loudly. "No! I love her!"Seeing their alpha i
Charlotte's POVTo avoid more trouble from Layson, Carlson moved up our wedding date. He wanted every noble from each pack to witness our grand ceremony. The event would still be held in Silvermoon City.Today was my wedding day.Carlson spared no expense, making it a grand event.Every big screen in Silvermoon City was broadcasting the ceremony, and countless rose petals rained down from above. Fireworks blazed for ten full minutes outside the castle.Alphas from every werewolf pack were in attendance. An elegant orchestra played gentle melodies. Flowers filled the thousand-year-old castle, and silver candelabras glowed with sacred flames.I wore a pristine white wedding gown and walked down a runner embroidered with golden threads.Carlson waited at the end of the aisle in a black and gold suit. He looked at me quietly.The tribal elder stood at the altar under the moonlight with his hands gently open. His voice was old but commanding as it echoed through the hall."Great Mo
Charlotte's POVThe maid hurried off to deal with the gifts.When Layson heard those gifts had been sent back, he gave no visible reaction. He just kept sending more.Carlson had assumed the gifts would keep being delivered, but instead, Layson brought them in person during an event in Silvermoon City. It was a banquet hosted by the Blazing Sun pack in Silvermoon City, and my first time attending such a function as Carlson's partner.I entered the main hall on his arm, wearing a scarlet gown. A ruby glowed on my chest under the lights.Everyone stared at me, some with envy, others with curiosity.I was already used to such looks. I smiled while greeting the nobles around us.But before long, I felt a burning gaze.I turned in that direction on instinct and saw Layson in a corner of the ballroom. His eyes were locked on me, but I was no longer the girl whose emotions were thrown off by his stare. I simply tilted my head as if I hadn't noticed him.Just then, I heard people whis
Charlotte's POVThe heavy snowfall caused Layson to fall into a high fever and lose consciousness again.Ron couldn't stand watching Layson in his delirium, calling my name over and over. So, he pulled every string he could, hoping to bring me to the hospital to see Layson.But in the end, all that arrived in Layson's hands was the voice recorder that Carlson had someone pass along.The hospital ward was so quiet that it felt like even the sound of snow falling outside could be heard. Layson stared at the recorder for a long time before finally pressing the switch. In the recording, my voice echoed in the empty ward."People are like this. Only when the truth comes out and only when they lose something do they finally regret it. But I don't need that kind of belated remorse. I also don't want to keep getting tangled with Layson over those things. It only brings me trouble. There's no point."It's best for Layson and me never to see each other again, never to have any more contact
Layson's POVMaybe I had already seen Charlotte as my prey long before this.When she looked me in the eye for the last time and told me she no longer loved me, it was as if something deep inside me knew I had lost the most important thing in my life.The day she vanished from the Black Forest, my instincts warned me that I was missing something priceless. I should have searched for her right then, but I held myself back. I told myself that sooner or later, Charlotte would return, loving and depending on me like she used to.But when I arrived in Silvermoon City and saw her walking side by side with another man, I realized how badly I had miscalculated.She never looked back. She didn't gaze up at me with that familiar devotion. She used those same tender eyes to look at someone else.At that moment, my heart felt as though it had been pierced by a silver blade.My wolf howled in rage—wanting to shred that man to pieces, wanting to take back my mate, wanting Charlotte to submit
Charlotte's POVWhen I saw the relieved smile on my father's face, my chest tightened for some reason. All these years, my love for Layson had brought him a lot of gossip, yet he never blamed me.After dinner, my father and Carlson went to the study together. I didn't know what they discussed. It was half an hour later when Carlson emerged. He said goodbye and got ready to leave.Strangely, I didn't want him to leave.It was only our first meeting, and this was an engagement I had never really considered. But when he stood at the door smiling at me, I realized I didn't want him to go.Still, I couldn't bring myself to say anything. If I asked him to stay, would he think I was a clingy woman eager to marry into his pack?He seemed to see my conflicting thoughts. He gave a soft laugh. His warm hand covered mine, and he gave it a gentle squeeze."Charlotte, I know everything about you. Don't overthink it. On Monday, I'll pick you up to head back to campus. I'll give you the grandes
Charlotte's POVThat voice and that presence were too familiar.Layson was clearly enraged. Whenever he was furious with me in the past, he would shout my name that way.In these few months, I liked to think I had become stronger, but as soon as I heard his voice, I still felt a stab of fear.Maybe I was afraid I would fall back into his dangerous embrace, or maybe I was afraid his possessiveness would block my new life.I wasn't sure why I felt like that. My emotions toward him were still complicated.I instinctively clenched my fist. Just then, Carlson took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, signaling me to stay calm."Get in the car," he said in a low voice.I bit my lip and followed his instructions.The moment the car door closed behind me, Carlson dropped his gentle demeanor. He turned around in the pouring rain and drove a fist straight into Layson's face.If this had been before, Layson would have definitely dodged. But this time, he didn't. A moment passed before