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
Layson's POVThe moment I lifted the lid, I saw a note right on top."Evidence of Grace's Crimes."A buzzing sound filled my ears, and it felt like all other noise vanished. My fingers trembled as I flipped through the items inside.Photographs, receipts, secret letters... Every page ripped apart my trust in Grace a little more.Secret murders within the Black Forest pack, underground deals, paying rogue werewolves to kidnap Charlotte, and colluding with a witch to tamper with her wedding dress…Grace had done everything she could to frame Charlotte in my eyes. I never realized the schemes went so far. She didn't just use dramatic tricks. She had even hired people to kill.I felt like I couldn't breathe. My chest was filled with anger and disappointment, and it hurt.My personal secretary, my wife, Grace... She had been lying to me all along.She wasn't an innocent victim. She was the one scheming all of this.Rage surged inside me. I snapped the box shut and stormed out of t
Layson's POVFrom the moment I learned the truth, it took a full week to accept it.Charlotte, whom I despised, had actually been framed. Grace, whom I loved deeply, was a murderer.I tried not to believe it, but the facts were right there.Grace kneeled in front of me, crying as she confessed everything. The women around me who had mysteriously died over the years, including my former fiancée, were all killed by Grace. They hadn't done anything wrong. They just got too close to me.Charlotte was the perfect scapegoat because she was too young to be a real threat until she came of age.Grace had everything planned. She fooled me completely."I love you too much, Your Majesty," she rasped, her eyes bloodshot.She called it love, but she made me push Charlotte out of my life. I stood there, staring at her. Anger, pain, and disgust crashed over me all at once."Evil" was the only word I could think of. I couldn't understand who this woman was anymore.Had she ever been the sweet
Carlson's POVI first met Charlotte in the music classroom at Silvermoon Academy.She was sitting at a black grand piano by herself. Her fingertips glided softly over the keys, and the melody she played felt filled with an otherworldly loneliness.Moonlight streamed through the windows and fell across her shoulders. Her profile looked delicate and distant.I stood outside, afraid to step in too suddenly.People said that Charlotte loved Layson to the point of madness. They claimed she was obsessive, wilful, and vicious just to have him. They said she schemed to become the Luna Queen of the Black Forest, going so far as to collude with witches.Yet at that moment, the Charlotte I saw was simply sitting there quietly. Her gaze was lowered, and she seemed as lonely as a forgotten star.Right then, I realized that those rumors couldn't be entirely true. She was never the cruel woman they described. She was only a girl who had loved the wrong person.Because she would be my future m
Charlotte's POVThree months had passed since I arrived in Silvermoon City.I didn't know if Layson had tried to find me, but at least in those three months, I had never seen him.Today was my first formal meeting with my fiancé. I stood in front of row after row of dresses, unable to decide.My father had sent me here for school and arranged the engagement, yet I knew almost nothing about my fiancé. Even though we attended the same academy, we had never once run into each other, probably because we chose completely different majors.I had seen his photo. His refined and composed face gave me no clue about his personality.Besides, this was our first date, and I didn't want to make any misstep in etiquette. My reputation was already poor enough.In the end, I chose a green halter dress. Its skirt reached my knees, and it didn't look showy. I wore my hair down naturally.We agreed to meet at Moonlit Restaurant in Silvermoon Academy. It was the most romantic place on campus.At
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
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
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 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