brought another woman and her children into our home. When Dad left for campaigns, those children tormented me for sport.
When I was 12, they cornered me yet again, taunting and laughing. That was the day Connor happened to pass by and save me.
After that, I began sneaking into Blackclaw Pack territory just to catch a glimpse of him. That was when I realized he, too, was bullied by his siblings.
I fell for him completely.
So when the Moon Goddess prophesied that we were fated mates, I was overjoyed. My heart nearly burst with happiness, too blinded by love to notice the flicker of displeasure in his eyes as we sealed our bond.
I didn’t know then.
I didn’t realize the only reason Connor married me was for the wolf-spirit bracelet.
With it, he could win the trust and loyalty of my father’s warriors.
Until I handed it over, he played the role of the perfect mate. He left water by my bedside each night and brought me fresh flowers when he returned home.
I fell even deeper for him. Without hesitation, I gave him the bracelet.
With the power of the wolf-spirit bracelet, Connor quickly crushed his siblings and claimed the title of Alpha of the Blackclaw Pack.
But was I truly just a pawn to him?
I didn’t think so.
I wasn’t naive.
The small, fleeting smiles he let slip when he thought no one was watching, the quiet care he still showed me, even after obtaining the bracelet—these were all signs—signs that, despite everything, Connor was slowly falling for me too.
