The night before the marking ceremony, Roy’s mate ran away.

Panic gripped the Red Moon Pack as Roy, our Alpha, stormed through the territory, his aura sharp and commanding, ordering every corner to be searched. The pack was in chaos, wolves scrambling to obey his Alpha tone, their movements frantic. Amid the disorder, I saw the comments.

*Finally, the chase begins! Serves him right for trying to make her a second mate. Run, Sienna, run! Let him regret it!*

*Ugh, this sickly girl is so annoying. When is she going to disappear? Stop getting in the way of the main couple!*

*Well, she’s just a weak Omega. I remember she’ll die in a few weeks anyway, and then Sienna can take her rightful place as Luna.*

I froze, the words on the screen burning into my mind. The call I was about to make to Roy died on my lips. Instead, I turned and walked toward the back corner of the pack house, where the scent of wildflowers and vanilla lingered faintly in the air. There, hidden in the shadows, I saw her—Sienna, her wolf’s scent unmistakable even in human form, her hands gripping the edge of the wall as she prepared to climb over.

I reached out and tugged on the hem of her coat. She spun around, her eyes wide with surprise.

"Can you take me with you?" I whispered, my voice trembling.

---

Sienna had run away.

Roy had returned from the southern territories three months ago, bringing her with him. Her scent had drawn him in, a unique blend of vanilla and wildflowers that no wolf could ignore. He’d declared her his true mate, intending to make her Luna despite already being mated to me. But Sienna, proud and unwilling to be a second mate, had chosen to flee.

Now, the pack was in disarray. Roy’s Alpha tone echoed through the territory, sharp and commanding, as he ordered every wolf to search for her. My eyes flicked to the comments floating before me.

*Finally, the chase begins! Serves him right for trying to make her a second mate. Run, Sienna, run! Let him regret it!*

*Smart move by Sienna, pretending to escape but hiding in the corner, waiting for the chaos to die down before making her real move.*

I paused, glancing toward the back corner of the pack house. Sure enough, a sliver of fabric peeked out from the bushes. Sienna was still here, waiting for the right moment to slip away.

My heart clenched. It was late, and if she left now, alone and unprotected, anything could happen. I turned to Roy, ready to call out to him, but the comments interrupted me again.

*What is she doing? Is she going to snitch? Come on, this is just a little game between the main couple. Why does she have to interfere?*

*This side character is so annoying. When is she going to disappear? Stop getting in the way of the main couple!*

*Well, she’s just a weak Omega. I remember she’ll die in a few weeks anyway, and then Sienna can take her rightful place as Luna.*

The words hit me like a physical blow. I stood frozen, my body cold as the realization sank in. I was a side character in this story, a sickly Omega destined to die so that Sienna and Roy could have their happy ending. In just a few weeks, I’d be locked away, left to die alone in the cold, forgotten by everyone.

Roy’s figure disappeared through the gate, his wolf’s scent fading into the distance. The comments urged Sienna to move.

*Alpha’s gone! Now’s your chance, Sienna!*

*Hurry up! This is killing me!*

I shook off the numbness and moved quickly toward the corner where Sienna was hiding. She was already climbing the wall, her movements graceful despite the tension in her body. I reached out and caught the edge of her coat.

She turned, her eyes wide with shock.

"Can you take me with you?" I asked, my voice barely audible.

The chat exploded with comments.

【What does the female side character mean?! Isn’t she the most rigid and rule-abiding one? She actually wants to run away with the female lead?】

【Hilarious, trying to imitate the female lead to make the Alpha care about her. She should look at herself first.】

I ignored the harsh words on the screen, my attention fixed on the figure in front of me.

As soon as I finished speaking, Helen frowned.

She looked me up and down, as if weighing her thoughts.

Seeing her remain silent for so long, I slowly released her hand.

I had been too hasty.

My heart, which had been pounding with anxiety, gradually settled.

I hadn’t even confirmed the authenticity of these strange messages, how could I act so recklessly?

Besides, Helen might already dislike me—why would she agree to such a ridiculous request?

Sure enough, after a moment, Helen crossed her arms and sneered,

“You pampered, delicate Omega girls, how could you possibly endure the hardships outside?”

“You’d probably cry and complain to go back the moment the sun hits you. I don’t have time to indulge your whims.”

She sat high on the wall, and I could only look up at her.

She gazed down at me with a haughty, vibrant expression.

Suddenly, I remembered the first time I saw Helen—it was the day Alpha returned from the southern territories.

I had been frail and sickly since childhood, kept secluded in the pack house.

At sixteen, I was mated to Alpha in an arranged union.

On the night of the mark ceremony, he lifted my veil, his eyes cold.

“This mark is just a formality. You’re not the one I belong to. From now on, we’ll maintain a respectful distance and not interfere with each other.”

Because of Alpha’s words, I spent the next three years in the Red Moon Pack treading carefully, afraid to make even the slightest mistake that might displease him.

Over time, he softened toward me, no longer keeping me at arm’s length.

The night before he left for the southern territories, he gently brushed my hair and promised to bring me a silver necklace as a birthday gift upon his return.

I thought things were slowly getting better.

But three months later, I received news that Alpha was bringing back a new mate.

The day Alpha returned, I waited outside the pack house as per protocol.

Amidst the deafening cheers, I caught sight of the approaching figures from a distance.

Alpha sat tall on his horse, his posture straight as a pine, a gentle smile on his face.

Half a horse-length behind him was a woman in a narrow-sleeved crimson dress, her sash fluttering in the wind.

They looked like a perfect pair.

The sun made my eyes sting, but I couldn’t bring myself to look away.

She was so beautiful.

Jet-black hair, red lips, a silver necklace around her neck—radiant and vibrant, like a spring blossom.

Unlike me, always sickly and pale, my face worn and tired.

That silver necklace looked so much better on her than it ever would on me.

The distant area suddenly lit up with torchlight, and I snapped back to reality.

*Oh no, the Alpha’s back. Sienna, stop talking now!*

*It’s all the antagonist’s fault for wasting time. Otherwise, the protagonist would’ve escaped smoothly.*

Helen and I turned simultaneously, spotting Roy Dixon approaching with an anxious expression.

He had sensed something was wrong and led his warriors back, searching in a grand procession.

Helen’s face darkened. She shot me a warning glance.

“Don’t follow me. If something happens, I can’t take responsibility,” she said flatly.

With that, she braced herself and vaulted over the high wall.

Roy spotted her from a distance, his brow furrowing as he sprinted toward us.

I stood at the base of the wall, inadvertently blocking his path.

He shoved me aside instinctively, reaching out to grab the edge of Helen’s cloak.

But Helen moved like the wind, slipping through his fingers effortlessly.

She was like a wild wolf, yearning for freedom.

*Hahaha, this is satisfying! Alpha, don’t worry. If you chase her now, she’ll calm down by tomorrow and come back obediently.*

*That rogue needs to suffer a bit to learn how to cherish our Sienna.*

Roy missed his target.

He gritted his teeth in frustration, turning to meet my gaze as I sat on the ground, having fallen from his push.

*The Alpha’s being a bit too much, right? Couldn’t he just ask her to move instead of shoving her?*

*Exactly. She’s still his officially mated wife. Shouldn’t he show some respect?*

*Hey, what are you guys on about? Shouldn’t we be focusing on Sienna? Why isn’t the Alpha chasing her yet?*

I was momentarily stunned until a sharp pain in my palm snapped me back to attention.

I looked down to see my hand scraped and bleeding, mixed with dirt and gravel.

Roy hesitated, his expression flickering with realization at what he’d just done.

He seemed unsure, his fingers twitching as if he wanted to reach out and help me up.

But before he could act, I pushed myself up using the wall for support.

Roy’s lips parted, but he said nothing in the end.

His mind was still on Helen, unwilling to waste any more time on me.

He only tossed a cold remark my way.

“No matter what, you shouldn’t have forced her to leave.”

With that, he hurried off with his warriors, chasing after Helen.

He came and went in a flash, not willing to linger for a moment longer.