Chapter 1
The council hall was filled with a suffocating, oppressive atmosphere.
The she-wolf standing in the center of the hall trembled uncontrollably.
Her name was Lina, a rogue werewolf discovered by the patrol team at the edge of the pack early that morning.
What was most striking was that her scent was somewhat similar to mine.
They were both a cold, crisp pine scent, but while mine carried a hint of bitterness, hers was purer.
Kalen sat on the high throne, his gaze boring into Lina.
In all the five years I'd stood by him, I'd never seen such fanaticism, such greed in his eyes.
Five years ago, I had carried him from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood back to camp. He had been on the brink of death, and I had used blood from my heart to keep him alive.
Back then, he had gripped my hand tightly, swearing to make me the most honored Alpha mate.
Now, it seemed that had been nothing more than a dying man's desperate lie.
Kalen rose abruptly from the throne and strode over to Lina.
He removed the black cloak symbolizing the Alpha's authority and gently draped it over her thin shoulders.
"From today on, the sunny eastern territory is granted to Lina."
The surrounding elders exchanged glances, none daring to speak.
That sunny eastern territory belonged to me.
It was an honor I'd earned through countless combat achievements, paid for with over seventy scars of various sizes across my body.
"Tear this impostor apart!"
My wolf let out a frenzied roar.
I forcibly suppressed the surging bloodlust, my icy voice echoing through the hall.
"Kalen, you can't do this. That is my territory."
Everyone's gaze instantly focused on me.
Kalen turned, looking down at me.
There was not a trace of guilt in his eyes, only deep disgust.
"Eve, watch your attitude when speaking to an Alpha. This territory belongs to the Bloodmoon Pack, and I am its Alpha. Who I give that land to isn't for you to question!"
The air in the hall seemed to freeze.
Lina hid behind Kalen, peeking over his shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Eve. I didn't know that was your place. If I've upset you, I'll leave right now..."
As she spoke, tears slid down her pale cheeks, and an even purer pine scent wafted from her, right on cue.
Kalen pulled her close, his face twisted with distress, then turned to glare at me viciously.
"You scared her! Eve, did you really think you were irreplaceable? You only got this far because of that scent. Now that the real thing is back, it's time for you to get lost."
His words cut like daggers, each one piercing straight to my heart.
So five years of risking life and limb meant nothing in the face of this scent.
I was nothing but a sword and shield in his hands, to be discarded at any moment.
The crushing pressure of a top-tier Alpha crashed down on me.
My knees buckled, and I dropped to the stone floor.
"From now on, you'll live in that abandoned scrap of land up north."
Holding Lina in his arms, Kalen turned and sent everyone back to their homes.
