Mated to Adoptive Alpha Brother After Betrayal

As the younger sister of the most powerful Alpha in the Southern Territory, I dated Damon, my brother's biggest rival for Alpha King, for five years without telling my brother and parents.

We were in love for five years, and he gave me everything. He always tells me his wolf can't control its desire when it sees me. That's why he likes to have sex with me anywhere, anytime—even out in the wild, he doesn't care.

But the day before our mating ceremony, I found out that my fiancé was dating me just to threaten my brother to quit the election with our sex tape.

After knowing the truth, I decided to give up everything and leave, but my fiancé humbly knelt on the ground and begged me to come back.

1

As the younger sister of the most powerful Alpha in the Southern Territory, I dated Damon, my brother's biggest rival for Alpha King, for five years without telling my brother and parents.

But the day before our mating ceremony, I found out that my fiancé was dating me just to threaten my brother to quit the election with our sex tape.

---

I'm the sister of the Stormfang Pack Alpha, one of the top three most powerful packs in the southern territories. Everyone knows me as the most well-behaved noble she-wolf in our bloodline.

The most reckless thing I've ever done? Secretly dating my brother's biggest rival, Damon Blackwood, for five years.

Behind my parents' and brother's backs, I submitted a mating bond application to the Alpha Council. As core members of the Werewolf Alliance, we need the Council's approval before we can officially become mates.

Damon is the Alpha of the northern Ironwood Pack. He's also my brother's greatest threat in the race for Alpha King.

He always tells me his wolf can't control its desire when it sees me. That's why he likes to have sex me anywhere, anytime—even out in the wild, he doesn't care.

Right here in the grasslands of Stormfang Pack's largest hunting grounds.

He stripped me bare and claimed me completely. Always like this—me naked, him fully clothed, his phone casually placed beside us.

His lips found my collarbone, sending shivers through me and leaving a trail of marks.

"Damon..." I whispered his name softly. "Could we... not do this outdoors anymore? I think I heard the patrol guards' footsteps just now. What if they see us?"

Damon's movements paused, then he chuckled low.

He lifted his head, his dark eyes reflecting my face with a mix of indulgence and amusement. "What? Getting shy now?"

"Don't worry, they can't see us. Besides, they're all pack members. Even if they discovered something, they wouldn't spread it around. I can't help myself when I see you. You're going to be my mate, baby. Just satisfy me this once, hmm?"

That word "baby" made my ears burn. I felt completely enchanted by his voice, unable to speak another word of refusal.

Damon's kiss fell on me again, carrying an irresistible dominance that devoured all my rational thoughts bit by bit.

Our temperatures rose together. Damon's movements grew more intense, as if he wanted to meld me into his very bones. My breathing became rapid, my fingers unconsciously gripping his shoulders.

I don't know how much time passed before the reeds stopped swaying and everything finally ended.

I had just reached the peak of pleasure, sitting on top of him, my whole body drained of strength.

Damon calmly fastened his belt, looked down at me, and reached out to ruffle my hair. "I need to go handle some business at the Pack House office. I'll have the driver take you back first, then I'll come home to you later, okay?"

I nodded, my voice soft. "Okay."

After Damon left, I got dressed, still feeling dazed.

Just as I was about to get up and look for the driver, I suddenly noticed Damon had dropped some documents in the hunting grounds.

Luckily, the hunting grounds were right next to the Pack House office. I quickly grabbed the documents and rushed to the office.

I arrived at Damon's office door.

The door was slightly ajar. Just as I was about to enter, I heard bursts of laughter from inside.

"Alpha, you made quite the commotion out there. When we were patrolling the hunting grounds, we saw all the birds fly away. The whole grassland was shaking. Tell me, if Garrett Rivers knew his sister was being so wild under the Alpha, would he cough up blood from rage?"

My brain buzzed like I'd been struck by lightning. I froze in place.

"Hahaha, both Damon and Garrett Rivers have great chances of being elected the next Alpha King. The reputation of 'Southern Rivers, Northern Blackwood' isn't just talk. That's why the Alpha deliberately orchestrated that whole hero-saves-beauty love-at-first-sight scenario, rescuing Garrett Rivers' sister and making her fall head over heels for him."

"They've been together for years now. The Alpha just loves having relations with her in public places. Sage Rivers thinks no one knows, but actually many pack members have seen them, even taken videos. Everyone calls her a slut behind her back, shameless. Even her brother Garrett Rivers' reputation gets dragged down. Once the Alpha officially bonds with Sage Rivers and becomes her legal mate, he can use her to threaten her brother into withdrawing from the Alpha King race."

The group was talking excitedly, completely unaware someone was standing outside the office.

My mind went completely blank, ears ringing.

Their words echoed in my head over and over, getting louder and louder until they thundered like bells, threatening to shatter my skull.

Damon... when he first saved me, it was all planned?

Our five years together was just manipulation, a stepping stone for his Alpha King campaign.

"Alpha, why aren't you saying anything? You originally approached Sage Rivers just to threaten Garrett Rivers, to make him stop opposing you. You didn't actually fall for his sister, did you?"

"Fall for her?" The man who had just been calling me baby sat in his high seat, lazily exhaling smoke. His lips curved into a mocking smile. "Garrett Rivers is my mortal enemy. I just want to destroy him. Once Sage Rivers officially becomes my mate, I'll use her sex videos and mating rights to threaten Garrett Rivers into withdrawing from the Alpha King race. We've already submitted the bonding application. In two weeks when it's approved, we'll officially execute the plan. I imagine Garrett Rivers' expression when he discovers his precious sister secretly became mates with his mortal enemy will be quite spectacular."

"Alpha is brilliant!"

Everyone burst into laughter, their voices full of excitement and anticipation.

My fingers trembled. I could barely stand.

Suddenly, I heard the pack elder's voice beside me. "Miss, why aren't you going in?"

I finally snapped back to reality, frantically shoving the documents at him. "I... I'm not going in. Please give these to the Alpha and tell him someone found them. Don't tell him I was here."

I turned and ran, tears streaming freely in the wind, Damon's cold words echoing in my ears—

"Garrett Rivers is my mortal enemy. I just want to destroy him."

My heart felt like it was being crushed by an invisible hand, the pain almost suffocating.

So our meeting was orchestrated from the very beginning!

Years ago, I came to the northern territories against my brother's wishes to study healing arts. There were healing herbs that only grew in the harsh cold regions, herbs that could cure silver poisoning.

After passing the Werewolf Alliance's tests to become an official healer, I was determined to stay at Ironwood Pack. No matter how much my brother tried to persuade me to return to Stormfang Pack, I refused. Mom and Dad spoiled me since childhood, and my brother was obsessed with protecting me. I wanted to make it on my own.

I was completely absorbed in my healing research until I met Damon Blackwood, my brother's legendary mortal enemy. I'd heard that in recent years, the two of them had been fighting over territory, prey, and Alpha King qualifications, locked in a life-or-death struggle.

But this very person saved me twice.

2

The first time, I was surrounded by a rogue wolf gang. The rogues attacked me viciously, tearing and biting. Even though I fought back with everything I had, I was outnumbered. Other werewolves didn't want to get involved and ignored my cries for help in the pool of blood. Just as I was about to lose consciousness, he shifted into his wolf form and charged into the rogue circle, carrying me to safety like a savior god.

The second time, I had been poisoned with wolf's bane and nearly died from hypothermia while fleeing to the wilderness. He saved me, brought me somewhere warm, and used his wolf form to hold me while I recovered my body temperature.

That was when we first made love.

The next day when I regained consciousness, I discovered he was the Alpha of Ironwood Pack—Damon Blackwood. When I woke up, he was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window putting on his shirt, lazily buttoning it. Hearing me stir, he turned around, and those captivating dark eyes nearly stole my soul.

He leaned down, slowly moving closer. "I've wanted to ask since we first met, little sister. Do you like me?"

My brain buzzed. Looking at that devastatingly handsome face, I stammered without speaking. But he curved his lips: "Don't you like me? Then why does your wolf keep clinging to mine? You were so passionate last night."

I was so embarrassed I wanted to run, but he pulled me back and kissed my lips gently, his eyes and brows full of smiles.

From that day on, we were officially together. But considering his rivalry with my brother, we never made our relationship public to my family.

Together for five years, I always believed we were in love. Countless times I thought about returning to Stormfang Pack to meet my brother. I naively thought that with me there, the two of them could surely make peace. Looking back now, I was pitifully stupid.

I don't know how long I ran until raindrops hit my face and my phone started ringing.

The call was from my brother. I took a deep breath and answered.

"Sage, I've built the largest research institute for you at Stormfang Pack. I've collected all the herbs and potions from the werewolf world, and I've found a potential mate candidate for you. You know how much I and Mom and Dad miss you. We just want you to stay at Stormfang Pack forever, by our side..."

Hearing that familiar voice, my tears finally burst free.

I forced back my sobs and nodded.

"I'm sorry, Garrett. I've worried you all these years. I'll return to Stormfang Pack, and I'll listen to you about meeting the candidate you found."

I was determined to sever all ties with Damon Blackwood and return home to be with my real family.

On the other end of the phone, Garrett's voice carried a hint of disbelief. "Sage, are you really willing to come back? And you'll meet the person I want to introduce you to? You don't want to stay at Ironwood Pack anymore?"

My voice was barely a whisper. "Yes, I won't stay at Ironwood Pack anymore. I want to come home. There's nothing left here worth staying for."

After Garrett's initial joy, he immediately sensed something was wrong. His tone turned cold. "Did someone hurt you? Tell me, and I'll make them pay."

Those harsh words from the office flashed through my mind. Damon was only with me to threaten my brother. He never truly loved me.

I was in agony, but I had to stay rational.

Garrett had protected me since childhood. If he knew the truth, he'd probably storm Ironwood Pack and fight Damon to the death.

I couldn't let my brother worry anymore. This mess was mine to clean up.

"No one hurt me, Garrett." I forced myself to stay calm. "I'll handle things here first, then come home immediately."

After a few more concerned words, my brother reluctantly hung up. I returned to my safe house.

I went to the bathroom first and took a long shower, washing away all the humiliation.

Thinking about the mating ceremony plans I'd overheard at the hunting grounds, I had to leave before the bonding was complete.

While I was lost in thought, the front door opened. Damon's voice came from behind me, carrying lazy amusement. "What's got you so deep in thought?"

I turned around to see Damon leaning against the doorframe, suit jacket in hand, his shirt collar slightly open, revealing his defined collarbone.

I forced myself to appear calm and smiled. "I was thinking about our bonding application and mating ceremony. How are the preparations going? Why won't you let me help with the ceremony planning? I have no idea what the progress is."

His gaze softened. "I want to give you a big surprise. My mate, just look forward to our mating ceremony."

My fingers clenched tightly as I looked up into his eyes, forcing a smile. "I have a big surprise for you too."

Damon paused, then chuckled. "Now I'm really looking forward to it."

He walked over and ruffled my hair affectionately. "But will your brother attend the mating ceremony?"

My heart lurched, and my fingers unconsciously gripped the table edge.

I looked up, feigning calm. "Do you want me to invite him?"

Damon looked down at me, something complex flickering in his eyes.

He smiled, his voice low. "Please do. Let him see how I'm giving you the most magnificent ceremony in all of Ironwood Pack. Even though our packs have been feuding for ten years, he's still your brother. How can he not attend our mating ceremony? I can't let my mate feel wronged."

My throat felt blocked. I couldn't say a word.

Damon leaned down to kiss me, but I turned my head away. "I'm not feeling well today. Let's not."

Damon's movement stopped. He chuckled softly and kissed my forehead instead. "Alright, get some rest early."

He turned and headed into the bathroom.

I stood there, listening to the sound of running water, my fingers gripping the table edge so tightly my knuckles went white.

My gaze fell on Damon's phone, carelessly tossed on the sofa. My heart pounded like it would burst from my chest. I knew his phone contained his electronic signature and seal. If I could get his phone, I could withdraw the Alpha Council bonding application and officially break free from Damon.

I tiptoed over and picked up the phone, trying several passwords, but couldn't unlock it.

My fingers trembled slightly, a wave of helplessness washing over me.

Finally, I had to put the phone back and force myself to calm down. I'd figure out another way later.

The next morning, when Damon woke up, he found me packing things.

At my feet were piles of couple items—silver bracelets engraved with our names, protective charms woven from each other's hair, a deer bone pendant from our first shared hunt... Many were things I'd made by hand, representing the deepest bonds between werewolf mates.

Damon frowned and walked over, confusion in his voice. "Why are you suddenly throwing all these away?"

I didn't look up, my voice flat. "I don't like them anymore. I'll buy new ones later."

Damon didn't ask more questions, just smiled. "Don't bother with this. I'll have the servants organize it later. It's getting late

3

—should I drive you to the research institute?"

I shook my head. "No need. I quit."

Damon froze, his brow furrowing slightly. "Why did you suddenly quit?"

I looked up, my gaze steady. "I'm tired. I want to rest for a while."

Damon was silent for a few seconds, then reached out to ruffle my hair. "Quitting is good. Research work is too exhausting, and besides..."

His fingers gently traced my waist, his voice low and husky. "If you quit your job, we'll have more time to deepen our bond. And after our mating ceremony, you'll be the pack's Luna. You'll have pack management duties too. You'll be very busy."

I stepped away from his touch, my tone cold. "You should go handle your business."

After Damon left, I spent most of the day throwing away all those mementos that carried our memories.

Standing in the empty living room, I felt like something was blocking my chest, making it hard to breathe.

Just then, my phone suddenly vibrated.

I picked it up and saw an unknown text message.

"3 PM today, Central Street Restaurant. Meet me. I am Damon Blackwood's destined mate."

My fingers clenched the phone so tightly my knuckles turned white.

I pushed open the restaurant door, and the wind chimes chimed crisply.

I immediately spotted a woman in haute couture sitting in the VIP booth, polishing an Ironwood Pack crest ring—a token only the Ironwood Pack Alpha could possess. Yet I had never seen it on Damon.

"My name is Lydia Ashford, and I'm Damon Blackwood's destined mate." Lydia cut straight to the point, her tone carrying a hint of provocation. "We recognized each other the moment we first shifted. Our packs have already arranged our engagement."

I didn't speak, just looked at her calmly, my eyes as still as stagnant water.

Lydia clearly hadn't expected this reaction. She frowned. "You and Damon have already submitted your bonding application, and now he suddenly has a destined mate. Don't you have anything to ask?"

I forced a smile, my heart completely cold.

Ask? What was there left to ask? Ever since I overheard those words outside the hunting grounds office, I was completely done with Damon Blackwood.

Nothing he did could surprise me anymore.

Seeing my silence, Lydia's expression darkened.

I had revealed my identity expecting to see Sage Rivers break down hysterically, but this girl was like a block of ice—so cold I couldn't find anywhere to strike.

She gritted her teeth, her tone turning sharp. "To expand the northern territories' influence, Ironwood Pack and my Ashen Peaks Pack will be united in marriage soon. Damon confessed that applying to bond with you was just to use you. No matter who you are, he'll abandon you immediately. So I advise you to leave voluntarily. I can even give you some money. Otherwise, you're just embarrassing yourself."

I looked up, my gaze steady and calm. "When will your marriage alliance be announced?"

Lydia paused, then smiled smugly. "Early next month. The exact date isn't set yet, but it won't be long."

Early next month—right after the mating ceremony.

So Damon had planned it all along. Use me to threaten my brother into withdrawing from the Alpha King race during the mating ceremony, then marry into the Ashen Peaks Pack alliance.

Damon Blackwood, you truly have no heart.

My voice was flat. "Did you investigate me? If you had, you'd know I don't lack money. If you came here today to humiliate me, you miscalculated."

Lydia's face instantly turned ugly. I glanced at her and added, "And let me remind you—Damon Blackwood has no heart. He doesn't love anyone but himself. Marriage alliances for mutual benefit are fine, but if you fall for him, you're dead."

I stood up to leave, but Lydia suddenly shot up and grabbed my wrist, her voice shrill. "How dare you say that about him!"

Before I could react, Lydia had grabbed a cup of scalding silver water from behind her and threw it at me.

I couldn't dodge in time. The burning silver water splashed across my body. I was frozen by the excruciating pain, unable to move.

But Lydia wasn't satisfied. She shoved me hard to the ground.

My wolf was suppressed by the silver and couldn't emerge. My back slammed hard against the table corner. I crashed to the floor, my head hitting the ground with a sharp pain. Everything went blurry, and I could feel blood flowing.

Just then, the restaurant door was thrown open.

"Lydia Ashford, what are you doing!"

A cold voice suddenly rang out behind me, filled with suppressed fury.

I looked up through my blurred vision to see Damon striding over, several pack guards following behind him. He wore a black coat that made his expression look even more terrifyingly dark.

He shifted into his Alpha wolf form and used all his strength to shove Lydia away, sending her flying to the ground.

Then he stripped off his coat to wrap around me, his voice trembling slightly. "Sage, are you hurt?"

Lydia endured the pain and stared at him in disbelief. "Damon, I'm your destined mate! You've already sworn before the Moon Goddess that you would bond with me! You're attacking me for her sake?!"

4

Damon ignored her, only looking down at me with an impossibly gentle voice. "Easy, you need to clean the silver off first. I'll handle things here and be right with you."

I didn't speak, letting him help me stand and walk step by step toward the door.

My mind was completely blank, ears ringing, until the silver was neutralized with special medicine and I finally came back to my senses.

Soon after, Damon's Gamma guards came out first.

One of them approached me.

"Luna, even though you haven't had the mating ceremony yet, we all know you're the Alpha's mate. Don't misunderstand—this is an arranged marriage by the pack elders. He didn't tell you because he wanted to handle it himself, but he never expected Lydia Ashford to dare provoke you. He cares about you so much, he would never be with anyone else."

Cares about me?

I found it laughable, but my face remained expressionless as I sat quietly like a lifeless statue.

After a while, Damon came out. Lydia ran away crying, her figure utterly disheveled.

Damon dismissed the Gamma guards and got in the car, tenderly applying medicine to my wounds.

His movements were gentle as if handling fragile treasure, his voice low and hoarse. "Sage, the marriage alliance is arranged by the pack. I won't bond with her. You're my mate. Don't overthink this."

I didn't speak, just stared ahead blankly. "I understand, Damon. Let's go."

Damon glanced at me, seeming to want to say more, but finally just started the car.

The atmosphere inside was suffocating. I closed my eyes, my mind in chaos.

Suddenly, the sharp sound of brakes pierced the air.

I snapped my eyes open to see countless silver arrows flying toward us. But because of the silver water's earlier corrosion, my wolf was still unconscious and my reflexes were too slow to dodge.

My pupils contracted sharply. The next second, Damon threw himself over me, holding me tightly in his arms.

"Thud—" the sound of arrows piercing flesh.

A tremendous crash, and the whole world spun.

I lost consciousness in a pool of blood.

When I woke again, I was lying in a hospital bed, the harsh fluorescent lights stabbing at my eyes.

Damon sat beside the bed, his face pale, his eyes filled with both sorrow and relief. "Sage, you're finally awake. You scared me to death. We... we lost the baby. But don't worry, we're both still healthy. We'll have children of our own in the future."

I was devastated. I had been pregnant and didn't even know it. Lost before even a month. But thinking of how Damon was using me, maybe it was better the child was gone. This way, after successfully breaking the mate bond, I wouldn't have any more entanglements with him.

After some time, as I recovered from the grief of losing the child, I moved my lips and asked hoarsely, "How badly are you hurt?"

Only then did Damon ruffle my hair, his tone casual. "Just took two arrows, nothing serious. I failed to protect you properly."

He quickly stood up. "You rest here. I'll get the healer to examine you."

After he left, my phone suddenly vibrated.

I picked it up to find a video message from Lydia Ashford.

The footage showed the scene from the restaurant earlier.

In the restaurant, a group of pack guards were explaining repeatedly:

"Miss Ashford, how many times do we have to tell you before you believe us? The Alpha being with Sage Rivers is all planned. Pretending to love her is all an act. He needs to actually bond with Sage Rivers to trade her mating rights and threaten that bastard Garrett Rivers. Since the Blackwood and Ashford families have already agreed to the alliance, he'll definitely break the mate bond with Sage Rivers and become your mate. The Alpha always keeps his promises—when has he ever gone back on his word? Just don't sabotage the Alpha's plans, please."

But Lydia only stared at Damon, her voice trembling. "Damon, is what they're saying true? You really don't care about Sage Rivers at all? It's all just using her?"

The men quickly chimed in: "Of course! How could he possibly fall for his mortal enemy's sister? That's not Damon's style at all. If he actually fell for her, it wouldn't be Damon humiliating Garrett Rivers—it would be Garrett Rivers trampling Damon underfoot. Damn, I can't even imagine that scene."

"I only want to hear it from Damon!" Lydia stared at Damon with red eyes. "Damon, you tell me."

Damon's expression was complex as he kept looking toward where I sat in the car.

Finally, he nodded.

Lydia finally threw herself into his arms, her voice choked with tears. "But I still don't feel secure. All the pack members know about our engagement, but you're still someone else's mate in name. You still have to act with another woman. How about this—arrange for your men to attack Sage Rivers with silver arrows so she gets hurt and hospitalized. Then I'll believe you, okay?"

Damon was silent for a moment, then said quietly, "Alright."

The video cut off there.

5

My fingers trembled, and my phone clattered to the floor.

So even this attack was planned by him. Little did he know his scheming had killed his own child.

I closed my eyes as a storm of emotions—grief, despair, hurt—churned in my chest, making it feel heavy and suffocating.

I couldn't understand what more Damon wanted from me.

During the crash, those two silver arrows were definitely aimed at me. But just as I was about to be hit, he turned and shielded me instead.

I didn't understand what he was thinking. If he was determined to use me ruthlessly, whether I got hurt or not wouldn't affect his plans. Why go through the trouble of taking those arrows for me and getting seriously injured?

A thought flickered in my mind, but I didn't want to pursue it further.

Damon Blackwood.

I hope it's exactly as you said—that you have no feelings for me whatsoever, that it's all just using me.

Because if you have even the slightest bit of feeling, you'll be in agony.

For the next few days, Damon took care of me constantly.

Despite his own serious injuries, even though the healer advised him to rest properly, he stubbornly stayed by my side every moment. He fed me porridge, tucked me in, peeled fruit, and told me stories.

Anyone watching would think he was madly in love with me. But I couldn't feel happy about it.

I knew it was all fake.

His tenderness, his care—it was all an elaborate lie.

On the day I was discharged, seeing my low spirits, Damon took me to the autumn hunting ceremony to cheer me up. Torches illuminated the forest edge. All the pack warriors were present.

Damon was attentive to me, and those Gamma guards surrounded me with concern. But I felt uncomfortable all over, sensing something was about to happen.

Until Lydia Ashford arrived with the Ashen Peaks Pack hunting party.

Everyone's faces immediately darkened.

Just as Damon was about to lose his temper, his guard wolves quickly stepped forward and whispered to Lydia, "Didn't we explain everything to you before? You asked the Alpha to arrange for his men to deliberately attack and injure Sage Rivers, and Damon did it. Why are you causing trouble again? Sage even miscarried—don't you believe the Alpha yet?"

Lydia smiled, her voice light and airy. "Relax, I'm not here to cause trouble. I'm here to join your plan. After all, Damon will soon be my mate. The people he wants to deal with, I should help fan the flames too."

She then leaned down and whispered something in the guard wolf's ear.

The guards' eyes lit up, meaningful smiles spreading across their faces.

I desperately wanted to hear what they were saying, but the surrounding noise was too loud. I couldn't make out anything.

After finishing, Lydia walked straight up to me with a fake smile. "Miss Rivers, what happened before was my fault. Damon already punished me for it. He really didn't agree to the marriage alliance. He loves you too much to give any other woman a chance."

I frowned, an ominous feeling rising in my heart.

I didn't know why the previously arrogant Lydia suddenly backed down or why she was saying this, but my instincts told me things weren't so simple.

Damon's expression also looked troubled, his gaze shifting between Lydia and me.

But Lydia completely changed her previous hostile attitude. She suddenly pulled out a string of premium healing crystal beads from her bag and offered them to me. "Miss Rivers, I bought this top-grade healing crystal bracelet at an auction last month for two million dollars. Since you're still weak, please take this bracelet. And I'm also gifting Ironwood Pack one of Ashen Peaks' resource-rich hunting grounds as an apology for last time."

I didn't take it, my voice cold. "No need. I won't be staying at Ironwood Pack much longer anyway."

Hearing this, Damon's face instantly changed.

He grabbed my hand tightly. The man who was always in control now had panic creeping into his voice. "Sage, what do you mean by that? I'm the Alpha of Ironwood Pack, you're my mate. If you're not staying here with Ironwood Pack, where else would you go?"

I looked at him calmly.

Of course I wanted to return to Stormfang Pack, to be with my real family. I didn't want to accept anyone else's fake affection anymore.

6

But I didn't say it directly, just deflected. "I was just speaking casually. Don't overthink it. Since we haven't had our mating ceremony yet, I want to go back to Stormfang Pack first and explain things to my family."

Damon clearly didn't believe me and wanted to ask more questions, but Lydia interrupted. "Miss Rivers, I heard you're a chief healer and a pillar of the research institute. I know where to find precious blood moon grass. Want to take a look? If we could gather fresh blood moon grass, that would be even better—it's a key ingredient for werewolf strength enhancement potions."

I shook my head. "No thanks. I don't want to look, and I don't want to gather herbs."

But Lydia persisted. "Don't worry, Miss Rivers. The elite guard teams from both Ironwood Pack and Ashen Peaks Pack are here. There won't be any danger. We'll all go together."

Damon's expression darkened. He obviously didn't want me to go either, and still wanted me to clarify what I'd said earlier.

But then the guard team members started persuading him. "Alpha, let Luna go. Today is the last day of blood moon grass blooming season. Blood moon grass is the raw material for werewolf strength enhancement potions. If we could gather several stalks to make potions, it would greatly boost our pack's power."

After speaking, one of them leaned close to Damon's ear and whispered something.

Damon's face instantly darkened, but after what seemed like several seconds of hesitation, he finally nodded.

As Lydia pulled me away, I felt an uneasy feeling in my heart.

I had the sense they were brewing some plan. I just wanted to gather the herbs quickly and leave.

But just as Lydia and I entered the herb section of the hunting grounds, Lydia suddenly received an urgent mindlink from Ashen Peaks Pack members.

She said seriously to Damon, "Our pack's Alpha is requesting support. There must be an emergency situation. Come with me to check it out."

Damon frowned, clearly somewhat impatient, but Lydia grabbed his sleeve, her voice tearful. "Our two packs have been allies for generations. Even if you don't marry me, our pack has strongly supported your Alpha King campaign. When our pack faces difficulties, you can't just abandon us, right?"

Damon finally compromised. He turned to me and said, "Sage, I'll take some people with her to check on Ashen Peaks Pack. You go gather herbs first, and when you're tired, head back. I'll leave guard team members with you."

I nodded, but felt even more uneasy.

After Damon left, I was about to leave when those guard team members stopped me again, saying it was rare to encounter fresh blood moon grass, so we should gather more since today was the last day of blooming season. Don't spoil the mood.

I was practically surrounded in the middle, unable to leave even if I wanted to. I was forced to go deeper into the herb area.

By the time we reached where the blood moon grass grew, we were in a remote area, and those guard team members gradually dispersed. Finally, only I remained.

My heart tightened. Something felt wrong.

I looked around warily, trying to find an opportunity to leave and return to where there were more people.

But just then, there was sudden movement in the bushes.

What emerged wasn't Damon's guard team, but a group of vicious-looking rogue wolves. They were barely clothed and reeked of foul odors.

They came out of the bushes, their gazes immediately locking onto me, making lewd sounds.

"Hahaha, this girl looks tender. Brothers, we're in for a treat today!"

Terror flashed across my face as I stumbled backward several steps, but those men pounced on me like hungry wolves.

I struggled desperately, but having just been injured and miscarried, my wolf was still in deep slumber and hadn't awakened yet. How could my strength match several adult werewolves?

My clothes were torn, and my cries for help were swallowed by the wind across the hunting grounds.

"Get away! Don't touch me!" My voice trembled as tears streamed down my face.

I kicked and fought desperately, but those men seemed crazed, grabbing my wrists and pinning me to the ground.

My dress was ripped open, my skin exposed to the cold air.

I felt nauseated, my stomach churning, almost ready to vomit.

"Help! Is anyone there! Save me!"

"Help me!"

I screamed desperately, but no one responded. My vision blurred, and all I could hear were their sinister laughter and heavy breathing.

Just when I was nearly in despair, the werewolf on top of me was struck away.

Damon burst in like a demon from hell, his eyes full of murderous rage.

His claws instantly pierced through a rogue wolf's shoulder, slamming him hard to the ground. The werewolf let out a scream, but Damon's attack didn't stop. His wolf used its fangs to bite through the second werewolf's front limb, the sound of breaking bones clearly audible. The third tried to flee, but Damon leaped and pinned him down, claws directly tearing open his back.

But Damon didn't stop there. His fists fell on those men like raindrops until they all lost consciousness.

I trembled all over, my vision went black, and I fainted.

7

When I woke again, I found myself lying in the villa's bed.

Agonized howls came from the living room. I struggled out of bed and cracked the door open to see Damon standing in the center of the living room, with those rogue wolves bound by silver chains at his feet.

Damon held a silver knife in his hand, his voice cold as ice. "Which hand did you use to touch her?"

The rogue wolf trembled all over, too terrified to speak.

Damon sneered coldly. "Then it must have been both hands."

Without hesitation, he brought the knife down, the blade viciously piercing through the rogue wolf's palm. In werewolf tradition, severing wolf claws was a punishment second only to death, meaning permanent loss of hunting ability.

The werewolf let out a scream, blood instantly staining the floor red.

The remaining wolves were scared out of their wits, frantically shouting, "It was the left hand! It was the right hand!"

But Damon showed no mercy. One knife stroke per wolf, he disabled their hands, then threw them into the fire for punishment.

The guard team members stood to the side, watching him with complex expressions. "Alpha, is this really necessary? Wasn't this originally Lydia's plan that you agreed to?"

"Yeah, Lydia deliberately used Ashen Peaks Pack's distress signal to lure you away, giving you a reasonable excuse to leave. Then we found excuses to leave too, followed by sending a group of low-ranking wolves to assault Sage Rivers while she was alone in the herb area. There was no one in the hunting grounds then—she could cry to heaven and earth and no one would answer. If Garrett Rivers' most beloved sister was violated by a group of low-ranking wolves, he'd be devastated when he found out. Using this as leverage, he'd definitely never compete with you for Alpha King again, and it would severely punish Sage Rivers too. Why did you suddenly change your mind and rush back desperately, nearly beating these wolves to death? You haven't been this bloodthirsty in years. It's insane."

Hearing this, I felt like my whole body couldn't support itself, nearly collapsing.

I never imagined that even those low-ranking wolves were part of their plan.

No wonder Lydia had whispered with the guard team members, and then the members whispered with Damon...

Damon said nothing, just watched coldly as those wolves were dragged away.

The group of men looked at each other, their faces becoming even uglier.

Finally, someone couldn't help asking, "Alpha, you didn't actually fall for Sage Rivers, did you? If you forgot, let me remind you—she's your mortal enemy's sister! You and Garrett Rivers have been fighting for how many years now. If you actually fell for his sister, you'd be..."

Damon's expression instantly turned ugly. He violently kicked over the coffee table, his voice filled with suppressed fury.

"I don't like her! If I liked Garrett Rivers' sister, I'd cut off my head and let him use it as a football! Is that enough? Get out, all of you get out! Don't fucking bother me for the next few days!"

After driving everyone away, Damon poured himself a glass of whiskey and stood by the floor-to-ceiling window.

After a few drinks, his expression looked particularly gloomy.

He poured another glass and drank it in one gulp, feeling the cold alcohol burn down his throat into his stomach.

His mind was in chaos, constantly seeing images of Sage Rivers being pressed down by those disgusting men. Her despair, her pain—like a knife stabbing straight into his heart.

He didn't understand his emotions toward Sage Rivers. Initially approaching her was clearly just to get revenge on Garrett Rivers and find leverage to threaten him.

But why did seeing her treated that way make him want to kill someone in a murderous rage?

She shouldn't be like that.

Every time she lay beneath him, so good and soft, her eyes full of love, like a gentle little cat.

But that day, her eyes held only fear and despair.

He didn't dare think about it further, just felt suffocated inside.

Suddenly remembering that Sage Rivers didn't like the smell of alcohol, he frowned and poured the expensive liquor down the drain.

He turned toward the bedroom, his footsteps very light, afraid of waking her.

I heard his footsteps and quickly closed my eyes, holding back tears and pretending to sleep.

My heart was beating fast, my fingers gripping the blanket corner tightly, afraid he'd discover I was faking sleep.

Damon stood by the bed, looked down at me for a while, gently stroked my head, then turned and left the room.

For the next several days, Damon never went to the Pack House office again, practically revolving around me every day.

He made the entire northern territory's night sky bloom with blue fireworks that I loved most as a declaration of love, spent 100 million dollars to buy the most expensive healing stone in history to make into a ring, filled the entire villa with my favorite flowers.

He even spent a million dollars to hire the head chef from a French Michelin restaurant to cook just for me.

I looked at the table piled high with gifts, but felt no joy in my heart.

I knew he was trying to make me happy, but my heart had already grown cold as ice.

No one mentioned what happened that day, but everyone knew I wasn't happy.

I smiled less and less, my eyes becoming more and more numb.

Damon finally couldn't stand it anymore. After dinner one evening, he held me in his arms, his voice low and hoarse. "Baby, it's my fault. I didn't protect you properly. Forget about that attack and our lost child, okay? I'll do anything you want."

I looked up at his deep eyes and asked softly, "Anything?"

Damon nodded. "Anything."

I was silent for a while, then finally spoke. "I want to know your phone password."

8

Damon paused, then laughed. "That's it?"

He recited a string of numbers. I froze.

Because it was actually the date of our first meeting.

"Why did you choose that date as your password?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

Damon leaned down and kissed my forehead, his tone gentle. "Because I love you. The day I met you was the happiest day of my life."

I was stunned.

I didn't know if this was true or false, but either way, I would never believe it again.

Damon handed me his phone with a smile. "Want to check my phone? I'm clean as a whistle, baby. Anytime, anywhere, check whatever you want."

I took the phone and finally showed a hint of a smile.

Damon sighed in relief and hugged me tightly. "Finally, you're smiling."

His voice carried a trace of indulgence. "Your birthday is in two days. I've prepared a grand birthday celebration. So I can't be with you constantly these next few days. Stay home and be good, okay?"

I nodded, then hesitated and asked, "Should we invite my brother?"

Damon was silent for a long time—so long that I thought he wouldn't answer—before he finally said quietly, "Yes, let's invite him."

I smiled, but my eyes held tears. "Alright."

Next, Damon busied himself preparing for the birthday celebration while I began packing my belongings.

I organized everything carefully, then said goodbye to my friends one by one.

The day before the birthday celebration, Damon came home.

He held me and tried to kiss me, but I refused, saying my body hadn't recovered from the miscarriage yet.

Damon didn't force it, but possessively licked behind my ear and whispered, "I can't wait for our mating ceremony to arrive. Only then can I truly mark you."

I said nothing, just silently endured his teasing.

At midnight, after Damon fell asleep, I quietly took his phone.

The first thing I saw was a group chat with his Beta guards.

The group was discussing tomorrow's plans.

"Alpha, tomorrow is the mating ceremony. Didn't you say we'd execute the plan that day? What are the specific arrangements? Why hasn't the Alpha finalized the details yet?"

"Yeah, Alpha."

"Alpha, haven't you seen the messages? We've been reminding you since this morning, and now it's already night."

My fingers trembled as I exited the group chat and logged into his email, withdrawing the Alpha Council bonding application. The moment I finished, I finally felt a sense of relief.

Early the next morning, I carried my suitcase and prepared to leave.

Damon happened to wake up just then. Seeing me standing by the door, he was still half-asleep. "Baby, where are you going?"

"To pick up my brother," I said calmly.

Damon glanced at my suitcase, seeming confused. "Just picking someone up—why bring luggage?"

"These are northern territory specialties I prepared. I want my brother to take them back south."

Now I seemed to have learned from Damon—lying came so naturally.

Sure enough, I fooled Damon. He didn't ask more questions, just got out of bed and hugged me. "Wait for me, I'll go with you."

I shook my head. "I'm afraid my brother won't be able to accept it. You go to the birthday celebration first. Let me meet with my brother and calm him down. After all, we haven't seen each other in a long time."

Damon thought about it and seemed to agree it was too rushed, so he ruffled my hair and nodded with a smile.

"Alright, but come over early. I'll be waiting for you at the birthday celebration."

After washing up, he drove straight to the celebration venue. I stood there watching his car disappear before hailing a taxi to the airport.

Check-in, baggage claim, boarding—everything went smoothly.

Only after getting on the plane did I open Damon's chat window.

The last message I wanted to send him—I had thought about it so much beforehand.

I wanted to tell him that I knew about all his schemes and manipulation.

I wanted to ask him why he treated me this way.

But now, when it was truly time to end things, I only typed a short sentence.

[Damon Blackwood, I, Sage Rivers, refuse to accept you as my mate. I don't love you anymore.]

After sending it, I deleted all contact information. The plane slowly took off, carrying me home.

Never to see Ironwood Pack again.

And never to see Damon Blackwood again.