Zephyrine "That's the... bracelet I pleaded with you to get at the Moonlight Trade last week, Nyroth. You're giving it to her?" When I pushed open the carved ironwood doors of Hue Pack's council chamber without knocking the door, what I found is nothing but my mate slipping a bracelet onto Kaela's wrist. My sudden appearance brought the room to a halt. Inside the chamber sat the elders of Hue Pack and two of elders Blackbridge pack. Among them was a female, one I recognized too well. Kaela！Hailed From Blackbridge Pack. My Mate's childhood crush. His obsession. My gaze dropped from Kaela's face to the bracelet in her wrist. That was my Bracelet, before I lost it.My mother had gifted it to me a day before they went off to war and never returned. On the inner band of the bracelet was engraved my name which my mother had lovingly written for me. Zephyr. But now my mate wanted to give it to his crush? My heart began to fill with anger, and I stared straight at him. "Nyroth, I have something must to tell you now." "If it's about the bracelet, then forget it. Kaela is getting it, Zeph," he snapped, his grey eyes flashing with irritation. Then he shrugged, like he hadn't just chosen her, again. “Kaela like this bracelet too. It’s the first gift she asked for since her came back from the the Five years serving as envoy. Zeph, she deserves the bracelet, don’t you think so?” Another chill ran down my spine. I clenched my fists as suppressed thoughts surged through my mind.Ever since Kaela has returned from her mission as envoy, Nyroth obsession for her had grown and he didn't bother to hide it anymore. "But I asked for it first, and you promised me, Nyroth," I declared firmly. To this, Kai, the Beta of Hue Pack and Nyroth's best friend who had stood quietly rolled his eyes. "We won't be hearing a rogue's nagging now, will we? You heard him. It's just a gift. And it's a stupid bracelet anyway. Why do you care?" Rogue？ That one word tightened my chest and my wolf stirred within me, but I forced her back. I never told Nyroth that I was from the Ash Pack. Soldiers from our Ash Pack were called Ashmere, warriors by blood, loyal to death, and respected across the Empire for our unmatched discipline. When an Ashmere walked onto the battlefield, even king and Alphas held their breath and stood aside. I am the only daughter of the last Warlord, Vale and War General, Seraphine. Younger sister to the best war strategist, Varyn. The last battle that sealed the Demon Portal? I led it. I was given a medal, praised as a hero. Earn the title Goddess of war. But five years ago, I met Nyroth. He was my fated mate, and I had fallen deeply in love with him. To be with him, and also to keep him away from danger, I abandoned my name, my title, my home, and kept it secret. Then I disguised myself as a gentle, non-aggressive she-wolf, to get his love. I believed that I can seek peace in his arms. Yes, I did get everything I wanted, before Kaela came back to him. Now, I fear I'm losing him. I stepped forward, seized Kaela's wrist, and coldly snatched the bracelet away."This is mine." My voice trembled, yet it carried an unyielding firmness. "What are you doing?!" she gasped, a flicker of panic flashing in her eyes. The next second, Nyroth stormed over and shoved me aside, his face dark with anger. "Are you crazy? You'd really make a scene over something so trivial?" he roared, his accusing gaze cutting into me like a blade. I clutched the bracelet tightly against my chest, my fingers turning white from the force. I turned my gaze to my mate, who was still staring at me, his jaw clenched tight with impatience. "What belongs to me, no one will ever take away. But I didn't come here for the bracelet, Nyroth. That's not what I wanted to talk about, I came here for my parents." "I just received a letter," I said, trying to steady my voice. "It says their wolves have been cremated, and the Moonstone Vessel holding their ashes is ready to be brought home. Nyroth, I want to take you to meet them tomorrow, just at the border of the empire. Then I want to tell you something about them, and about me." Silence fell. Heavy. Crushing. My Mate looked at me for a long while before he said something. “Zeph, sorry about the bad news. I did not know it. But your parents already died. You should forget them. Kaela’s mother invited us to a dinner tomorrow. It’s an important dinner to gather Blackbridge Pack to us. We should... But never mind. If you don’t want to attend, I can attend alone, and I'll ask my Beta to accompany you to the border of the empire and take your parent’s ashes back. Don't worry, you'll be safe.” My heart sank. This was cruelty. Pure, sharp, deliberate cruelty.I stared at him, stunned. Confused. "You're... You mean you'd choose a meal over...” I can’t believe what I heard from Nyroth. I slowed down. Waited. Expected, hoped, that Nyroth would say something. Anything but what followed was silence. The same cold silence he gave when his family bullied me. When his pack members spat at me. When they called me rogue. I no longer offered any explanations and went alone to the border. "I, Zephyrine Ashmere, the only daughter of the last warlord, am here for the Moonstone Vessel." Before the impenetrable walls of Moonveil Fortress, I stood and said those words, allowing the goosebumps to overwhelm my skin and permitting my wolf to awaken inside me.