I returned to the palace of the Snowdrifter Pack, where Liam and I had been staying after our marriage.

Liam and I were childhood friends. He was a prince of the Snowdrifter Pack, while I was the daughter of the richest member of the pack.

My parents tragically lost their lives in a rebellion within the pack. Before my mother passed, she begged Liam to shelter me, which he agreed to. Only then did she draw her last breath.

Since I had had a crush on Liam from a young age, I mustered all my courage to confess my love.

To my surprise, Liam rejected my confession. I had thought he loved me back because he was the one who helped me through the grief of losing both parents. He had hit back at those bullies who harassed me or insulted me because I was an orphan.

I could have misinterpreted the intentions behind those actions, but what about the times he'd dried my hair, bought me underwear and pads, and even kissed me on the cheek? I thought he loved me.

I was left confused and frustrated for a while. Things started to change when we got engaged on Liam's parents' wishes.

Overjoyed, I naively thought that Liam had deliberately turned me down to spring this surprise on me.

Never had I thought that the marriage arrangement was the start of our deteriorating relationship.

"Sofia, I never thought you'd be so calculative! After I turned you down, you bribed my parents with your inheritance and forced me to marry you!"

Liam came at me angrily and glared at me as though he was staring down an enemy.

I was utterly confused and desperately explained to Liam that I had done nothing. But he didn't believe me.

In his eyes, I was just a woman who would stop at nothing to marry him. He still held onto that belief even after we formed a mate bond and had Cecilia.

Perhaps I had made the wrong decision from the very beginning. If I had never married Liam, my daughter wouldn't have fallen victim to an unknown dose of wolfsbane and met such a tragic end.

I held Cecilia's ashes in my arms and stayed awake the entire night.

"Why are you just sitting there in a daze? Look at yourself—where is the dignity of the Luna of the Snowdrifter Pack?"

Liam had returned.

Seeing that I didn't respond, he assumed I was still upset about Cecilia's birthday.

"I bought Cecilia a birthday cake. See? I kept my promise this time. So, stop acting like the whole world is against you."

"There's no chance anymore," I said coldly.

"What are you talking about? I missed one birthday! It's not like Cecilia won't have any more birthdays in the future! Do you really have to blow this out of proportion? Sofia, my patience has its limits!" Liam's pupils contracted, his frustration evident.

"Liam, what's going on? Is Sofia mad at you again because of me?"

Just as I was about to explode in anger, Mia barged in.

"I'm really sorry, Liam. You know I never wanted to come between you two. I just… I just want to stay by your side…"

Mia's acting had gotten much better. If I hadn't caught the smug, taunting look she threw my way, even I might have felt sorry for her.

"It's okay, my dear Mia. It's not your fault." Liam's voice was filled with tenderness.

Watching this scene unfold, I suddenly lost the will to argue. Their voices became nothing more than noise.

"Just leave, Liam."

"Sofia, I am only here to celebrate Cecilia's birthday. Look, I even brought a gift! And I wanted to apologize for selfishly taking Liam away last time. Please don't kick me out, okay?" Mia pleaded, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Sofia, don't be ungrateful. I'm warning you—just get along with us peacefully." Liam's tone carried a sharp edge. "Go wake Cecilia up. We'll celebrate her birthday and not let Mia's kindness go to waste."

"Cecilia isn't here." My voice remained emotionless.

"She's not? Where did she go? Don't tell me you hid her on purpose just to get my attention! I'll find her myself." Liam started heading upstairs.

"Sofia, I heard Cecilia was poisoned with wolfsbane. Is she alright?" Mia's lips curled into a wicked smile.

"What did you say? It was you! You did this to Cecilia, didn't you?"

I hadn't told anyone about Cecilia's poisoning. Everyone simply believed Cecilia was sick.

"Give me back my Cecilia!" My eyes widened in fury. I wanted nothing more than to strangle Mia right then and there!

"Are you out of your mind?" Liam happened to come downstairs.

"Liam, help me! Sofia says she wants Cecilia to be the only princess of the Snowdrifter Pack. She doesn't want my child to be born!"

"Sofia, you never learn your lesson, do you? I've had enough of you and your vicious schemes!" Liam carefully picked up Mia and yelled at me.

Looking at the two of them, I suddenly burst into laughter.

"Haha... Liam, you fool!" I shot Mia a hateful glance. "Fine, I'll grant your wish! Liam, inform all members of the royal family that we're getting divorced tomorrow!"

"Good! Remember—you said that! Don't back out at the last minute! You think rejecting me will make me care about you again?" Liam sneered. "You'll regret this! Mia, let's go!"

The two of them slammed the door and left.

Without time to calm myself down, I packed up the belongings of my deceased daughter and used the werewolf spiritual power to erase every trace of the life we had shared. I swore never to return to this disgusting place.

…

The next day, Liam sat proudly in the center of the bustling sacred hall of the Snowdrifter Pack, waiting smugly for something to happen.

"Did you hear? Our Alpha King is divorcing Luna!"

"No way! Luna loves our Alpha King so much—she even tolerated his affair with a human. How could she possibly agree to a divorce?"

"Just look around. The royal marriage officiant isn't here, and some of the elder council members are missing too. That couple is probably just arguing!"

The royal members whispered among themselves.

"Hmph, I don't believe that—" Liam did not get to finish his speech. I entered the hall, dressed in an elegant black gown.

I was accompanied by the royal marriage officiant and a group of elder council members.

"Sofia! How dare you?" Liam clenched his fists in fury.

But I didn't spare him a single glance. I stepped onto the stage and spoke calmly, "Thank you all for attending our mate bond dissolution ceremony. I willingly relinquish my position as Luna of the Snowdrifter Pack and divorce Liam."

"Good! Sofia! You chose to reject me! You'd better not regret this!" Liam gritted his teeth.

As I watched our mate bond dissolve, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders.

"I will never regret this! My only regret is not breaking our mate bond sooner! If I had... Maybe my Cecilia would still be alive!"

"What? Is Princess Cecilia dead?"

"Is this real? What happened?"

A wave of murmurs swept through the hall.

Liam staggered back, clutching his chest in shock. "W-What did you just say? Sofia, what did you say?"

"You've always been so curious about this box I carry, haven't you?" I looked straight into his eyes. "Liam, I'll tell you now. It contains the ashes of our daughter, Cecilia! Our daughter is dead! And it was your precious human, Mia, who killed her!"

I screamed, my voice breaking. "As you wished, Cecilia will never have another birthday! My poor child... Her last breath was spent asking me, 'Why hasn't Daddy come yet? Does Daddy not love me anymore?'"

"No! That's impossible!" Liam's hands trembled as he glared at me. "Sofia, is this another one of your tricks? You're lying to me again, aren't you?! I'll find out for myself—I'll check for myself!"

He fumbled for his phone, his hands shaking violently.

A cold, emotionless voice answered on the other end.

"Yes, Alpha King. Princess Cecilia was cremated... on her birthday."