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.

As the comments had predicted, Roy returned to the pack house at dawn, bringing Helen with him.

He looked exhausted, yet his voice remained tender as he spoke softly to the woman beside him. Helen, however, seemed distracted, her eyes downcast as she murmured brief responses.

I greeted them at the entrance with the pack's attendants trailing behind me. Roy subtly shifted to shield Helen, as though expecting me to cause trouble.

The comments erupted in a frenzy.

【What’s the Omega planning? Is she going to make trouble for our precious Helen? The Alpha’s right here, how bold!】

【Lol, she’s going to get put in her place soon enough.】

Ignoring the screen, I turned my attention to Helen. She seemed lost in thought, her brow furrowed.

Roy’s voice was cold. "Helen’s been out all night. If you have anything to say, wait until she’s rested." His tone made it clear he’d been prepared to shut me down if I’d caused a scene.

But instead, I smiled gently and said, "You’re right, Alpha. Miss Knight must be exhausted after the night’s work. She should rest."

Both of them paused, glancing at me in surprise.

I stepped around Roy, taking the cloak from one of the attendants. Helen stood still, allowing me to drape it over her shoulders and secure the ties. I adjusted it carefully, then handed her the prepared ginger tea, watching as she sipped it. Only then did I instruct the attendants to take her to freshen up.

Roy’s expression was unreadable, his eyes lingering on me as though he wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words.

The comments, too, fell silent for a moment before exploding again.

【What’s happening? Why is the Omega being so nice to Helen? Is this some kind of new strategy??】

【Am I the only one who finds this lowkey adorable? The Omega didn’t even look at the Alpha, and Helen just went along with it. Look at the Alpha’s face—he’s fuming!】

【Who swapped my tea for iced coffee?!】

Roy glanced at my empty hands, his displeasure evident. After a long pause, he bit out, "How considerate of you, Luna."

I smiled serenely. "Thank you, Alpha. It’s my duty."

He exhaled sharply, then turned on his heel and left.

The comments continued to spiral, speculating about my motives. I watched them quietly, amused.

I didn’t understand why they were so fixated on the idea of conflict between Helen and me. Why should I resent her or target her? She’d done nothing to harm me.

From the moment I’d been marked by Roy, I’d known he would take another mate. The Alpha’s mother had always disapproved of me, claiming my frailty made me unfit to bear heirs. Even if it hadn’t been Helen, there would have been someone else.

Besides, last night, it was I who had acted impulsively, pulling her aside and saying things I hadn’t fully thought through. Even if she had agreed, I wasn’t prepared to act on it.

My thoughts drifted back to the comments and the fate they’d predicted. I’d waited all night for Roy and Helen to return, just to see if their words would come true. From last night to now, every detail had aligned.

My unease only deepened. If I wanted to escape the path laid out for me, I would need to find another way.