Chapter 1

Under the argent gaze of the full moon, I was besieged by a group of vampires. Their mouths curved into cruel, bloodthirsty smiles, and the atmosphere grew heavy with an eerie excitement and yearning. That wound on my neck had blackened, causing a searing heat to course through my veins. It was so much so that it felt like my very soul was being set ablaze. Though I was just a mere human, I still chose to confront the vampires. It was all because I had received news that the Alpha of the werewolf pack, Christopher Lambert, had fallen into peril. I was his marked mate, and in that moment, nothing else mattered. I only had one thought in my mind—I had to save him, even if it meant risking everything. In moments of mortal peril, the mark would typically compel the werewolf to instinctively shield their marked lover. Christopher fought against the mark's command, though, choosing instead to stand by and watch as I was brutalized and left for dead. He had reasoned that the mark itself would have prevented my demise. I lost all hope after hearing that, even resigning myself to selling my soul to the devil. I was just about to succumb to unconsciousness when a chilling laugh cut through the air. "If you're desperate enough to sell your soul to the devil, you should do it with someone who can pay the price. Why settle for a devil when you could strike a deal with me?" I smiled wryly in response before nodding almost imperceptibly. I merely felt the cold rain soaking through my clothes as the vampires, who had been surrounding me, were suddenly overcome by terror. They didn't even have time to escape before they imploded into wisps of black smoke, vanishing into the night. I was convinced that I was on the verge of death as I stretched my hand out into the air, hoping to grasp a final, fragile thread of hope. I blinked awake to find myself in bed. I immediately snapped my eyes open as I recalled someone really important to me—Christopher! I ignored the pain that racked my entire body and hurried downstairs. It wasn't until my eyes landed on him, calmly eating his breakfast at the dining table, that I finally breathed a sigh of relief. He was safe, and that was all that mattered. Christopher raised his gaze and scrutinized me. Having spotted the dried bloodstains on my clothes, he immediately furrowed his brow. It was only then that I noticed that while my skin was miraculously untouched, I was still wearing the claw-torn, blood-soaked clothes. "Why would you come downstairs looking like this? You're going to scare Lillian!" I then noticed a young woman sitting close to Christopher, who turned out to be the same passerby who had fainted the night before. Lillian wore an oversized men's shirt and huddled against Christopher, looking as skittish as a frightened rabbit. Christopher's indifferent gaze momentarily betrayed a flicker of alarm. He then immediately placed his hand on Lillian's back and said reassuringly, "It's alright. I told you she'd live through it. In the end, you're the one still hurting from that twisted ankle of yours." Lillian blushed before she leaned in and murmured something into Christopher's ear. Christopher's ears flushed red as he asked, "Why the rush? You can't wait anymore, huh?" He was still smiling when he looked up, but the moment our eyes met, his expression immediately hardened. "Go get changed! You're a disgrace to look at!" I merely lowered my gaze and retreated in silence. I submerged myself in the bathtub and noticed that the mark on my chest had faded considerably. I then suddenly recalled the mysterious figure's instruction, saying, "In three days, when the mark disappears, meet me in Mistfall Forest." It turned out that everything that had happened the previous night had indeed occurred. It turned out that Christopher had actually stood by and done nothing as I faced death. … Christopher marked me on the day I was born. It was said that a mark was a wondrous phenomenon, an emotional connection that werewolves actively created when they met their destined mate. It was said that once it was formed, the werewolf would experience an overwhelming affection for their marked mate. Christopher had always been by my side ever since I was marked. He forbade other men from approaching me, dedicated himself solely to my well-being, and could even discern my desires with a mere thought. In the past two decades, I had also become so accustomed to caring for him that, despite everything that transpired yesterday, my first thought upon regaining consciousness was the urge to confirm with my own eyes that he was unharmed. I hadn't noticed when it happened, but the bathroom door was left slightly open. I could hear Christopher's voice through the crack in the door, his tone sharp as he spoke on the phone. "I'm well aware that this is a trap set by the vampires! I'm the Alpha of the pack, though! How could I allow myself to be swayed by such human emotions? That damned mark! How the hell do I get rid of it?" I chuckled bitterly in response. I desperately wanted to tell him that the mark would disappear in three days, granting him the freedom he yearned for. I didn't manage to say it out loud, though, as tears started streaming down my face.