I was a rogue werewolf who had roamed the earth for centuries, cursed with a bloodthirsty nature and a solitary existence. When I stumbled upon the lifeless body of a beautiful werewolf, I knew my fate had intertwined with hers once more.

She lay there, her stomach torn open, her clothes in tatters. The words "Adulteress" were carved deeply into her pale skin, the wounds so severe they exposed bone. The scent of betrayal and suffering clung to her like a dark cloud.

A healer from the Castro Pack, Henrik Castro, stood nearby, his aura calm but his eyes heavy with sorrow. "She died too unjustly," he said quietly. "Even my healing can’t guide her soul to peace."

I stepped closer, my wolf form low to the ground, my amber eyes narrowing. "What if I avenge her?" I growled, my voice rough and low.

Henrik paused, then met my gaze. "That would be worth a millennium of atonement for your sins."

I didn’t hesitate. This was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. Besides, I owed her. This werewolf, Nina Black, had saved my life years ago.

I leapt into her body, my rogue energy merging with her broken form. Her wounds began to heal instantly, but the flood of her memories was overwhelming.

She had been framed by her half-sister, Wren Hill, accused of infidelity by her mother-in-law, Frances Ramos, and abandoned by her mate, Jasper Robinson, the Alpha of the Robinson Pack. Desperate and betrayed, she had tried to flee to her grandfather, Rohan Bailey, for refuge. But on the outskirts of the territory, she had been ambushed by rogues. Their hatred for her was palpable, their brutality unimaginable. They had shattered every bone in her body, leaving her to die in agony.

As I healed her wounds, my amber eyes glowed with a faint green light as I recognized the mole at the corner of her eye. Memories flooded back—memories of when I was just a young rogue, injured and starving in the freezing wilderness. A little girl had found me, her laughter warm and her scent sweet. She had taken me in, healed my broken bones, and fed me with kindness. She had told me her name was Nina Black.

I had stayed with her for three months before slipping away. I was a rogue, after all; I didn’t belong to anyone. But I had never forgotten her.

And now, here she was, her body broken, her spirit shattered by those she had trusted most.

"It’s okay, Nina," I whispered, my voice a low growl. "Those who hurt you won’t escape. I’ll make sure of it."

Her body was mine now, and with it, I would unleash the vengeance she deserved. A rogue’s fury, honed over centuries, would tear through those who had wronged her. They would learn that even the smallest of creatures could be the deadliest of predators.

I walked into the Robinson mansion dressed in a striking red gown.

Coincidentally, it was the seventh day since Nina Black’s death.

The mansion was alive with music and chatter, but it didn’t feel like a funeral.

Instead, the atmosphere was festive, with red ribbons adorning the trees.

The Robinsons were hosting a mark ceremony.

But Jasper Robinson, the only son of the pack, had already been marked to Nina three years ago.

Was he taking a new mate?

I cleared my throat, my crimson sleeves billowing as I strode into the grand hall.

The chatter died down as the crowd turned to stare at me.

When Jasper’s eyes landed on me, they widened with surprise and a flicker of admiration.

He was the mate Nina had once loved so deeply.

For three years, he had been cold and distant toward her.

Then, he had betrayed her with her half-sister, Wren Hill, treating Nina as if she were nothing.

The reason? He found Nina dull compared to Wren’s allure.

But Nina’s love and care for him, her devotion to his mother, Frances Ramos—he had ignored it all.

A few days ago, Nina had been accused of infidelity, caught in a trap set by Wren and Frances.

Though Jasper had his doubts, he had still cast her out of the pack.

Now, as he looked at the radiant version of Nina standing before him, he felt a pang of regret.

Someone who loved him so fiercely couldn’t possibly have betrayed him.

Besides…

He had always known Nina was framed.

His mother had never liked Nina, and Wren had wanted to be his mate.

It had to be their doing.

As Jasper’s gaze lingered on Nina’s mesmerizing eyes, a heat stirred within him.

For three years, Nina had dressed modestly, rarely wearing anything bold.

But now, in that red gown, her cold, alluring eyes glinted with a dangerous beauty.

While he stared at me, I stared back.

Perfect. A dark cloud hovered above his head.

When I had taken on Nina’s form, I had heard her anguished cries.

Her resentment was overwhelming.

Before her death, it had manifested as five dark clouds.

Each one represented a murderer.

That meant five people had a hand in her death.

Jasper was so entranced that he didn’t notice the bride lifting her veil.

It was Wren Hill, Nina’s half-sister and the mate he was about to mark today.

I turned to face her.

A dark cloud hovered above her head too.

Nina’s memories flooded my mind.

Since childhood, Wren had always taken what belonged to Nina.

First, it was jewelry and clothes; later, it was status and a mate.

When Nina had marked into the Robinson Pack, Wren had schemed her way into Jasper’s bed.

After becoming pregnant, she had flaunted it in front of Nina:

“Mother says you’re barren, and it seems she’s right.”

“I have some good news for you—I’m carrying your mate’s child.”

“If you know what’s good for you, leave the pack quietly.”

To ensure Nina could never rise again, Wren and Frances had framed her for infidelity.

That was how Nina had been cast out.

But Wren hadn’t stopped there.

When Nina, heartbroken, had decided to leave the pack and seek refuge with her grandfather, Wren had hired rogues to ambush her on the road.

She knew what a group of ruthless men would do to a defenseless woman.

But she wanted Nina dead.

When Wren saw me, she froze.

Her veil slipped from her hands, and fear flickered in her eyes.

“You… you’re supposed to be…”

I stepped closer, my red lips curling into a smirk as she stumbled back.

“Go on. What was I supposed to be?”

Wren retreated until she had nowhere left to go, tugging at Jasper’s arm in desperation.

Jasper snapped out of his trance.

Right. She was supposed to be dead.

Wren had told him so herself.

She had claimed Nina had been killed by rogues.

Had Wren been mistaken?

Yes, that had to be it.

Ever the quick thinker, Jasper spun a lie on the spot:

“Nina, a few days ago, you said you couldn’t bear children and left a rejection letter.”

“I searched for you everywhere, only to learn you went to your grandfather’s pack. I didn’t care about heirs, but my parents wanted a grandchild, so I…”

I let out a cold laugh.

“So you marked my half-sister?”

The crowd gasped.

Everyone knew Nina as gentle and unassuming, someone who avoided conflict.

Yet here she was, speaking with such sharpness.

She must have endured something terrible in the Robinson Pack.

The pack members glanced between Jasper and Wren, their faces alight with curiosity.

Wren’s face flushed as her hands instinctively cradled her stomach.

I covered my mouth with a handkerchief, feigning shock.

“It’s only been seven days since I rejected the bond. How is my half-sister already two months pregnant?”

The banquet ended amidst sobs, curses, and murmurs of disdain. The Robinson Pack had lost face in front of their allies and kin. Taking a new mate was one thing, but the revelation of an affair—and a child born from it—was a scandal that tarnished their reputation. The Robinsons, who prided themselves on their noble lineage and integrity, now found themselves the subject of whispered ridicule.

Wren Hill stood behind Jasper Robinson, her eyes burning with venomous hatred. She had never imagined that Nina Black, her half-sister who was supposed to be long dead, would return to ruin her mark ceremony and expose her affair with Jasper. She had dreamed of rising through the ranks by mating into the Robinson Pack, but now, her honor was shattered, and her reputation in tatters.

I watched her fuming expression with satisfaction, perched on a chair, my sharp claws flexing subtly. Wren thought she had hidden her secrets well, but I could tell at a glance that she was two months pregnant—and with a male heir, no less. What was meant to be a joyous celebration had turned into a spectacle of shame. But that was none of my concern.

My attention was drawn to the plate of roasted venison on the table. The aroma was irresistible, and I was plotting how to sneak a bite when the room suddenly fell silent. A regal woman dressed in formal attire stepped forward, her fingers idly toying with a silver pendant engraved with the Robinson Pack crest. She murmured a soft blessing, her face serene and benevolent, yet I felt an undercurrent of coldness radiating from her.

I narrowed my eyes. The dark aura surrounding her was even thicker than that of Jasper and Wren. She was another one of Nina’s tormentors.

Frances Ramos, Jasper’s mother and the former Luna of the Robinson Pack, had made Nina’s life a living hell for three years. She enforced endless rules, subjected Nina to constant scrutiny, and forced her to drink so-called “tonics” that were meant to ensure a pregnancy. But those tonics were nothing but poison, draining Nina’s vitality until she could barely function. Frances despised Nina and had no intention of letting her bear an heir.

I clenched my claws tightly, resisting the urge to lash out. Henrik had warned me—using my power to harm others would condemn me to a beastly existence forever. I had to find another way to exact revenge.

Frances adjusted her posture, her fingers brushing against the silver pendant as she spoke with a sharp edge to her voice. “Nina Black, you left the Robinson Pack without a word, disgracing us all. How dare you show your face here today? Guards, remove her at once!”