It's my seventh year of secretly dating Liam Ferguson, my brother's friend. We're about to have our marking ceremony soon.

I happily prepare for it, wanting to surprise him. However, during a gathering with friends, I accidentally overhear something.

"If you ask me, there's no denying Alpha Liam's good looks and charm. To think he managed to make the Silver Snow pack's Alpha's sister his stand-in lover and bed partner!"

"What are you going to do with Maya now that Nina's back, Liam? Andrew won't let you off the hook if he finds out you've been fooling around with his sister…"

The following day, Liam takes me to Nina White's welcome-back party. He's gentle, considerate, and affectionate with me. His love for me seems so deep that I wonder whether I'm imagining things.

Then, Nina "accidentally" spills scalding soup on my arm and runs out in tears. I'm the injured one, but she feels wronged. However, Liam shoves me aside and runs after her in a panic.

I return home with a burned arm and open the door to the basement—Liam has never allowed me in there. I see Nina's photos plastered on the walls. There are even photos of them doing the deed in various positions. He looks so wild.

I call Andrew with a heart full of despair. "I've made up my mind about the marriage with the Alpha heir of the Storm Tribe. I'll do it!"

After secretly dating my brother's best friend—Liam Ferguson—for seven years, we were about to hold our Marking Ceremony.

That day, Liam took me to a welcome banquet for his childhood friend, Nina White. The event was grand, attended by the pack's most influential figures—members of Pack Council, successful business owners, and other high-profile guests.

Throughout the evening, Liam was gentle and affectionate with me, and people whispered about how much he doted on me.

But when Nina "accidentally" spilled a bowl of scalding hot mushroom soup on my arm, she ran out in tears as if she was the victim. Liam, to my surprise, shoved me aside and chased after her in a panic.

My hand was injured, and a large portion of my arm was burnt, the skin raw and red.

I was a werewolf with rapid healing abilities, and the pain was nothing compared to what I could endure. Yet, why did my heart ache so much?

Why wasn't Liam's first instinct to protect me? Why didn't he check my wound? Instead, he ran off chasing after someone else.

The banquet hall was packed, and no one noticed my distress. Silently, I left and took a cab home.

Back at home, I did something I had never dared before—I opened the door to the basement he had always forbidden me from entering.

And then I saw it. Nina's photos covered an entire wall, along with explicit images of them together in every possible position.

In those photos, Liam was wild and unrestrained, his eyes filled with primal hunger, while Nina wore a collar, looking every bit like a seductive and alluring she-wolf.

At that moment, I finally understood why Liam had abandoned me at the banquet.

Feeling numb, I pulled out my phone and called my brother. "Andrew, I've made up my mind about the bonding ceremony with the Storm Pack's Alpha heir. I agree to it."

There was a brief silence, likely from shock, before he responded.

"I thought you insisted on free love, refusing to accept the mate moon goddess picked for you. Why the sudden change of mind? You're my precious little sister, and I won't let you suffer any grievances. You don't have to force yourself."

My nose tingled, my heart aching. Forcing a light tone, I said, "No, I just finally figured things out. Since I have to bond with someone in the end anyway, instead of searching for love among deceitful men, it might as well be my fated one.

Moreover, I should have faith in the moon goddess. The mate she has chosen for me must be an Alpha who is responsible and worthy."

Upon hearing that, my brother let out a relieved sigh. His voice was noticeably lighter. "It seems our little pup has finally grown up. When are you coming home? Do you want to meet him first before making the final decision?"

"No need. You can start preparing for the ceremony. After all, I've never been good at telling if a man is truly good or not."

"Alright. Oh, by the way, have you been in contact with Liam? I heard his first love has returned. Maybe you should invite him to your bonding ceremony?"

So, even my brother knew about Nina too. It was no wonder Liam never let me tell him about our relationship.

I remember he once joked, "If your brother finds out we're together, he'll kill me!"

Suddenly, my heart hurt.

"Andrew, I don't want to invite him. I don't like him. He's too fake."

Upon hearing the sound of the door unlocking, I quickly ended the call. Looking up, I met Liam's bright, smiling eyes.

"Who don't you like? Who's too fake? Tell me, and I'll teach them a lesson for you."

"I don't like you. You're too fake!"

My eyes were red-rimmed, my voice trembling with suppressed sobs. My inner wolf sensed my turmoil, silently grinding its claws, growling with rage.

Liam arched an eyebrow, smirking wickedly as he pinned me onto the couch. "Really? You don't like me? You think I'm fake? Insincere?"

I recoiled at his touch, disgust curling in my stomach. I wanted to vomit.

"Let go of me. I don't feel well."

"Not feeling well? It's not your time of the month though. Are you just in a bad mood? What about this, does this feel better?"

His hand slid under my shirt, slipping deftly beneath my underwear. His heated breath tickled my ear as he bit my earlobe and whispered, "Then I'll make you feel good. Stay still…"

His kisses trailed down my body. The scent of wild rosemary, once intoxicating, now made me sick.

My body reacted to his touch, but my inner wolf snarled and thrashed in defiance. It didn't want to be touched by this deceitful man.

As I struggled, a faint lipstick stain on his collar caught my eye.

In an instant, my vision blurred with anger. Whenever we were intimate, he never let me leave marks on him, claiming that, as an Alpha of the pack, he had to maintain a serious image.

But now, he was letting another woman leave her imprint on him. That lipstick stain was like a blade, stabbing deep into my heart.

His hand brushed against my burned arm, and the sharp pain made tears spill from my eyes.

"What's wrong, Maya? Did I hurt you?"

Liam stiffened at the sight of my tears, clearly flustered. He tugged up my sleeve and froze when he saw the angry red burn on my wrist. His voice trembled with distress.

"How did this happen? When did you get burned? Why didn't you tell me?"

Had he really forgotten that, at the banquet, he had abandoned me to chase after Nina while my skin scorched under the hot soup? His feigned concern now was almost laughable.

"Alright. Don't cry. I'll get some medicine for you."

He ruffled my hair in an attempt to comfort me before standing up to fetch the first-aid kit, muttering as he walked.

"You're such a crybaby. You're already a grown woman, yet you still can't handle a little pain. What would you do without me?"

I stared blankly at my burned wrist.

Yeah… after seven years of being spoiled by him, what would I do without him? But… had his love for me in the past seven years ever been real? Or had I just been a stand-in for Nina all along?

A wave of frustration surged through me. I hated being a substitute.

Sensing my mood shift, Liam grabbed my face and kissed me again. And suddenly, I understood. He always used intimacy to distract.

The image of him in those basement photos—lost in passion, utterly devoted—flashed in my mind. Now, every touch from him felt like an assault, like I was being violated by a rogue wolf.

I clenched my fists, and my inner wolf howled, "Liam, I don't want you anymore. I don't want this fake love anymore."

That night, I slept fitfully, drenched in sweat. At dawn, Liam dragged me out of bed.

I groaned, swatting him away, but he only chuckled and leaned in to kiss me.

Whatever drowsiness I had left me in that instant. My inner wolf nearly lashed out at him, but I forced it back down. Thankfully, he only gave me a quick peck before pulling away.

"Awake yet, my sleeping beauty?"

I turned my head away, wiping my mouth in disgust.

Liam seemed exasperated. "Did you know you had a fever last night? Get up. I'm taking you to see the Healer."

At the hospital, we ran into Nina in the hallway. She seemed to have hurt her foot and was struggling to hop forward on one leg.

Liam, who had been all calm and gentle just moments ago, instantly tensed up, his brows knitting tightly together.

He seemed to have completely forgotten that I was there. Without hesitation, he rushed to Nina's side, holding her up with concern.

"What happened to you?"

Nina smiled at him before shifting her gaze past him, zooming in on me. "It's just a little sprain. What a coincidence. Are you guys here for a checkup too?"

Liam hesitated for a moment before finally glancing back at me, his expression flickering with guilt. "Uh… yeah. My little sister had a fever, so I brought her in for a check-up."

I was long used to him referring to me as his little sister. From the moment Liam decided to keep our relationship a secret, he introduced me to everyone as his best friend's little sister he helped take care of.

Nina smiled at him warmly. "Then you should take good care of her."

As she tried to limp away, Liam didn't even think twice before scooping her up in his arms.

"I'll take you to the doctor first. Maya, wait here for me."

Quickly, without looking back, he carried her off into the VIP treatment area reserved for the Alphas.

I let out a bitter chuckle and turned toward the general ward for regular patients.

Liam was usually so good at acting, but the moment Nina showed up, he would immediately forget about me, his secret girlfriend.

After my check-up, I was notified that my temperature was at 106.3℉.

The burn on my arm hadn't been properly treated, and my emotional stress had weakened my immune system, allowing an infection to take hold. I was told I needed an IV drip.

Out of habit, I reached for my phone to call Liam, but before I could press the dial button, I hesitated. Habit sure was a scary thing.

Scoffing at myself, I put my phone away, collected my medication, and made my way to the infusion area alone.

After the IV, my head felt even dizzier. I took a few steps and nearly collapsed.

Liam had told me to wait for him, but he never came back. There wasn't even a single call or message from him.

I didn't want to overthink things, so I gave in and dialed him first. When he picked up and heard I was still at the hospital, he sounded surprised.

"Shit! Maya, I'm so sorry. I meant to come back right after dropping Nina off, but her stomach problems acted up, so—"

Before he could finish, I heard a voice in the background.

"Ms. Nina, your fiance is so sweet, proposing to you with a ten-carat diamond ring! You might not know this, but it's the only one of its kind in the entire pack!"

Even though Liam quickly tried to cover it up with a fit of awkward coughs, it was too late. I had heard it clearly. They were shopping for wedding rings.

Liam quickly tried to recover. "Maya, just go home first. I'll explain everything later."

"No need. I can take care of myself. Goodbye, Liam. Make sure you take good care of Nina!"

I wasn't just saying it to him. I was also reminding myself.

Hanging up, I hailed a taxi and went home.

That night, Liam never came back. Fireworks crackled outside my window, keeping me awake. I picked up my tablet and distracted myself with work.

But then, by accident, I tapped the Instagram app in the corner of the screen. A post, updated just an hour ago, appeared before my eyes.

It was from Nina, with a picture of her holding someone's hand, and her ring finger adorned with a matching couple's ring.

"Moon goddess, thank you for sending me the love of my life!"

I stared at it in a daze for some time. It was only when I exited the app that I realized I was logged into Liam's account.

I no longer had any interest in digging through their secrets, so I logged out without hesitation.