My wolf howled in despair as his words confirmed the worst.

Before I could unleash a word, Sophie's shrill whine cut through the air.

"It's my fault!"

"I only touched the Bloodsilk to... to give it my blessing, and then she attacked me!"​

Jocab's eyes bled from gold to crimson as he took in the handprint on Sophie's cheek.

"Lily," his growl vibrated, "You know the law. She's my concubine mate, why do you lay your hands on her."​

"Look at the enchanted silver dagger!"

Lily kicked the weapon forward, its edges still stained with my blood.

"She aimed for the princess's heart! This is attempted regicide-a crime punishable by the moonfire ritual!"​

In a flash, Sophie lunged for the dagger.

Her howl split the air as the blade plunged into her shoulder.

"I meant no harm!"

"Let my blood atone for the desecration!"​

Blood gushed from the wound, staining the ground in a macabre pattern.

Jocab's roar shook the courtyard, shattering the stillness.

He snatched the dagger away, he pressed down on the wound. His eyes, now blazing with a feral crimson, locked onto mine.​

"It's just fabric!"

"You, the daughter of the Alpha King, reduce yourself to bullying a defenseless she wolf? I've shielded you from court gossip, told her to bear your jealousy, and this is how you repay me?"​

My wolf whimpered.

Lily stepped forward.

"Open your eyes, Alpha! She staged this! Her wound barely grazes the muscle-"​

"Silence!"

His growl rumbled through the air.

"I would've torn my own throat out for her! But when I merely asked her to show a shred of mercy to Sophie-the defenseless she wolf-what had she done? "​

Jocab's eyes, once a warm amber, now glowed with a menacing scarlet hue.

He didn't spare me a second glance.

With a tenderness that made my heart ache, he scooped Sophie into his arms.

The little she wolf whimpered, her tiny form trembling against his broad chest.​

Lily's wolf was in a frenzy.

"A concubine mate who dares to offend a princess must face the ultimate punishment! Mr. Winslow, are you willing to betray the ancient pack laws written in the blood of our ancestors?"​

Jocab froze.

When he slowly turned, his face was contorted into a terrifying snarl.

"If punishment is what the law demands," he hissed"then as her true mate, bound by the sacred moonstone vows, I will bear the full brunt of it. "

The first strike shattered the silence like thunder.

Jocab's back arched. T

he scent of his blood-rich, earthy,exploded in the air. Yet he remained silent.​

With each subsequent blow, the staff carved deeper, drawing rivers of crimson that dripped onto the ground.

Sophie's wails echoed. "Stop! It's my fault!" she shrieked.​

As the punishment ended, Jocab's body trembled.

But the moment Sophie threw herself into his arms, his eyes-still glowing with residual fire-softened.

"Shh," he crooned.

"You're safe now."​

I watched, my own wolf howling in silent agony.

The bond that had once been a lifeline now throbbed with a pain worse than any physical wound.

My knees buckled, and Lily caught me just in time.

"Your Highness,"

"his wolf has chosen. Let this dead bond rest."​

Closing my eyes, I let the scent of his blood wash over me one last time.

I made a vow to my wolf.

No longer will I pine for a shadow.

I am the daughter of the Alpha King, and I will face the Greyfield Alpha as an equal, not a broken - hearted mate.

In the days that followed, I focused solely on preparing for the wedding, shutting myself in the palace, refusing to hear or see any news about him.

Until the day before Jocab was to take Sophie as his concubine mate, he sudmanorly came to the palace.

Although it had only been a few days since we last met, standing face to face now felt like being separated by mountains and oceans.

The silence spread through the air, and finally, he was the one who broke it:

"Yuki, I know you get jealous easily and get upset when I talk to other women, but I really only see Sophie as a sister.

Taking her as a concubine mate is just to protect her. In the future, I'll have her move to the suburban estate.

That way, after our bond, you two won't see each other often, and there won't be any conflict."

"bond?"

I lowered my head to avoid his gaze, my voice cold as frost:

"No need to trouble yourself.She can live wherever she wants.No need to consider my feelings.

So that if anything happens to her, no one will accuse me of driving her away."

He thought I was still sulking and tried to coax me patiently:"Yuki, stop being angry.What happened before was my fault.I apologize, alright?"

If it were before, I would have softened and forgiven him.

But now, I only found it absurd.

I looked up at him, my tone calm yet firm:

"I won't hold it against you anymore-because there will be no bond between us."

He froze for a moment, a look of helplessness flashing through his eyes:

"Nonsense!If you don't marry me, who will you marry?Anyone who dares marry you-I won't let him live!If the veil is ruined, I'll embroider a new one.Stop making a fuss."

Before he finished, a guard sudmanorly barged in:

"Mr. Winslow, Miss Rowan wants to choose tomorrow's wedding gown. Please return."

Jocab nodded, coaxed me a few more times, then turned and left.

Watching his resolute back, I pulled out a bitter smile and murmured softly:

"Jocab, you still don't know-what we had is already over."

That night, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep, dreaming only of wedding scenes.

I sat in the bridal carriage, full of joy, waiting to marry my beloved.

But in the bridal chamber, I waited from nightfall to dawn, yet the groom never came.

Until a loud burst of firecrackers jolted me awake.

Outside, the chatter was crystal clear:

"Mr. Winslow's wedding procession has set out!"

I got up and climbed to the highest point of the palace wall, gazing afar.

The Marquis's resimanorce was brilliantly decorated, with red ornaments stretching for miles down the street.

Jocab dressed in glaring red, like a flame burning into my heart.

But in the wedding sedan beside him sat Sophie.

I watched as he carried her in his arms, stepping over the fire basin,

And under the cheers of the crowd, entered the Marquis's resimanorce-

I didn't know how long I stood there until Lily came bringing a gift box:

"Princess, this is the wedding gift alpha king and luna asked you to deliver.Her Majesty said-when fate is over, it must be severed."

I knew, my mother wanted me to see it with my own eyes-so I could give up completely.

When I arrived at the Marquis's resimanorce, the guests had all left.

The servants thought I was the future lady of the house and didn't announce me.

I walked alone to the rear courtyard.

Through the window, I saw Jocab lift Sophie's veil.

The two held hands and drank the ceremonial wine.

He closed his eyes in a drunken daze, while Sophie blushed and sat on his lap, leaning in to kiss him.

He instinctively wrapped his arm around her waist, mumbling something.

I turned to leave, but accimanortally knocked over a vase on the windowsill.

With a loud crash, a panicked shout came from behind:

"Yuki?!"