chapter 2

The car pulled up in front of the house Alpha Ethan had set aside for their future as mates.

As soon as Audrey stepped out of the car, she started gathering her things.

She tossed out everything she had ever brought into that place, erasing any sign she'd ever lived there.

Clothes, pictures, souvenirs—even their first private photo together—she packed and destroyed them all without a second thought.

She moved quickly, her face unreadable and her actions firm.

She didn't intend to keep any traces of their "love".

At last, she unlocked the safe and pulled out a small wooden box she had stashed away long ago. Inside were the ingredients for a potion—one meant to wipe out her scent completely.

It was the only way to disappear from the Moonshade Pack for good.

But something was still missing.

The contract was tied to her wolf identity.

It held her dried blood from a bitten fingertip. Even though the blood had long hardened, its binding force remained. Any half-skilled witch could use it to track her down—even across the entire continent.

She needed to wipe it all out before walking away—otherwise, they might come after her.

After standing still for a moment, she realized she had no choice but to go back home.

Even though she didn't own that place anymore.

An hour later, she stood in front of her house.

It was supposed to be her home, but she didn't have a key. Just knocking felt like it took every bit of bravery she had.

Because deep down, she knew her parents didn't want her there.

After a long wait, the family's Omega maid opened the door. When Audrey walked in, she saw her parents pacing in the living room, clearly nervous.

They rushed over when they heard the door, but the second they saw it was Audrey, their faces changed.

"Why are you here?"

"You disappear for years, and now you just show up again? Why can't you be more like Lucy? You're her sister, but the two of you couldn't be more different."

Audrey and Lucy were siblings—same parents, same blood.

But from the day they were born, their parents clearly favored Lucy and looked down on Audrey.

When Audrey came into the world, the sky turned blood red, and birds and deer from the Moonshade Pack dropped dead on the snowy ground.

A witch once said she was a bad omen, while her younger sister, Lucy, had been born with a gentle scent—perfect for an Omega—and instantly became their favorite.

Later, Audrey uncovered the truth, she carried the blood of the legendary white wolf.

The white wolf, according to stories, was the Moon Goddess's chosen—but also the one that brought disorder to the wolf world, since white wolves were the only kind that didn't obey pack rankings.

At the moment of her birth, countless beasts perished as a sacrifice—an event that explained the eerie omen that followed.

Her family had always feared and loathed her because of the white wolf blood in her veins, but she'd grown numb to it long ago.

Her face stayed blank, like she hadn't heard any of their words.

She walked upstairs, found the contract, burned it to ash with her wolf spirit's power, and turned to leave.

Seeing how calm she was only fueled her parents' anger even more. Their rage grew, and they struggled to hold back the beast inside them.

"What? So now you're just going to ignore everything your mother and I say?" he snapped, his voice rising with fury. "You're nothing but a defiant, ungrateful girl. How did we end up with a daughter like you?" His words came with a low, rumbling growl, his presence crashing down on her like a tidal wave.

Suddenly, the front door opened.

Ethan came in, carrying Lucy in his arms.

As he stepped through the door, his eyes immediately met Audrey's, who was standing right in the middle of the living room.

She caught sight of their close stance but quickly looked away without any emotion.

Her face stayed calm, but his heart skipped a beat in panic.

He hurriedly set Lucy down and stepped in front of her. "Audrey, don't misunderstand. Lucy was bitten by a poisonous snake, and I since I was close by, I just brought her home ... "

He didn't finish the sentence, and Audrey didn't bother to call him out on the obvious lie.

"Jason is on a business trip, and I'm an Omega going through a sensitive time, feeling weak. Otherwise, I never would've asked Ethan for help. I hope you don't mind, Audrey."

She knew exactly what Lucy was trying to pull.

Audrey didn't even care enough to argue.

Jason used to be Audrey's mate, but now he was with Lucy—who never missed a chance to show off how "perfect" they were together.

When Audrey was 17, Jason saw her awaken as a white wolf and quietly broke off their engagement. Not long after, he chose Lucy.

She once asked why, and he claimed they weren't a good match. But what stuck with her was the fear in his eyes when he looked at her.

Now, with Lucy getting all the attention from their parents again, she wasn't about to stop. Though she pretended to be explaining, her words were clearly full of pride.

"I'm so useless, it's really my fault ... Mom and Dad never let me train like other Omegas, not even basic self-defense. So when I got bitten by a snake, the pain was unbearable ... Luckily, Ethan sensed it and came running in his wolf form. I barely remember anything except him carrying me by the scruff of my neck. He went through so much for me."

While she spoke, Lucy smiled sweetly and kept glancing at Audrey, waiting to see her crack or react. But Audrey's face stayed cool and unreadable, like none of it bothered her one bit.