Chapter1

Ron came back. He had just finished a campaign to wipe out the northern bandits, and his armor still carried the lingering smell of blood. Yet at this moment, this Alpha, who made enemies tremble with fear, paused at the entrance of the bedroom. He took a deep breath before stepping inside. After my bath, I lay straight under the covers without wearing anything. Listening to his slightly hurried footsteps approaching, my heart kept racing. A year. It had been a whole year since I became the mate of the Alpha of the Thunder Pack, and I had almost kept the bed empty every night. Campaigns, training, expelling enemies... He always had endless reasons to be busy. I could barely remember what it felt like to sleep in each other's arms. The sound of water filled the room. I closed my eyes, imagining the water rushing over his back muscles, sliding over his sculpted abs... The water stopped, and the door opened. He only had a loose towel tied around his waist, water droplets rolling down his honey-colored skin, looking especially tempting in the candlelight. A strong masculine scent instantly filled the room. He lifted a corner of the quilt, and when his gaze fell on my bare skin, he froze completely. The air turned stiff. He almost hastily averted his eyes, his Adam's apple rolling violently up and down. Suddenly, he grabbed a towel from the side and roughly wiped the water off his body—even though he was already dry. I stared at him with fiery eyes. Ron had been fighting outside all year round, training hard every day, even more robust than ordinary warriors. His muscles were like carved stone, extending down to his waistline, with a perfect mermaid line, and the blood vessels at the junction were prominent. No matter how you looked at him, he didn't seem like a man who was... incapable. But what was puzzling was that he seemed to have no interest in intimacy at all. Up to this day, not once. He turned his back to me, stiffly uttering two words: "Put this on." A soft silk nightgown was thrown beside the bed. Again! I lifted the quilt and suddenly pressed against his broad back. Under my palm, the muscles on his back instantly tensed like iron, and the scalding temperature burned me. "Darling..." My lips were almost touching his. I felt the sudden heat of that skin on my face, and heard the chaotic beating of his heart. It worked! I rejoiced inwardly. But before I could be sure, he suddenly stepped back. "I get it." His hand brushed my cheek, sending a tingle through me. A rush of heat surged to my lower abdomen, making my whole body burn. Then I saw him stride to the wooden cabinet in the corner and take out a stick... I instantly fell silent, anger flaring up. "Ron! Don't you have... that?" He turned around abruptly, a look of astonishment flashing across his handsome face. "I... I do." He explained palely. In those gray-blue eyes, there was an emotion I couldn't fathom. It was as if my request made him feel wronged. "You have it, but can't use it?" He opened his mouth, his Adam's apple rolling hard, but not a word came out. Looking at him like this, I became even angrier. "If you don't want to touch me, just say so! Don't humiliate me with this stuff!" I grabbed that stick and threw it hard on the ground. "There are so many men in the world. If yours doesn't work, others' do!" Ron was often out fighting bandits, and it was rare to have a chance to share a bed. Taking out a fake one, what's the point? The more I thought about it, the angrier and more wronged I became. Panic flashed across Ron's face, and he suddenly stepped forward, trying to grab my wrist: "Irene! Where are you going..." I shook off his hand hard. "Forget it, it's really boring." I turned around, not looking at him, and left without looking back. I rushed back to my birthplace, the Frostcliff Pack, and plunged into my sister Mia's hut. The anger that had nowhere to go made me restless. "Mia! Get up!" I pulled back her quilt. "Irene?" Mia rubbed her sleepy eyes, startled by my pale face. "What's wrong with you in the middle of the night?" Ignoring her, I dragged her out to hunt in the forest. With the bow in my hand, I shot randomly. Many wild animals suffered. Mia caught up with me as I ran, grabbing my hand: "Irene, what’s wrong with you? It’s this late, and you’re not sleeping—suddenly in the mood for special training in the forest?" "Did you bring the wine I asked for?" I said, suppressing my anger. Mia took out the wine pouch tied to her waist. I snatched it and poured it straight into my stomach. "Irene, what's really wrong?" I glared at her angrily: "What else could it be? Since we got married, he hasn't touched me once." "Mia, I'm just a joke. A mate of an Alpha who's... alone..." "I can't stand this life anymore!" With that, I poured more wine from the pouch into my mouth. Mia listened, also feeling puzzled. "Is Ron... into that?" "How could he be!" I denied it immediately. Ron and I grew up together; I knew all his habits. If he were into men, he would rather stay single than marry me. "Could it be because of her?" Mia's eyes lit up, and she suddenly said. My heart sank, and I froze. Long before marrying Ron, I’d known he’d had a betrothal—to Kate, a girl from the Deathsong Pack. Kate had called off the engagement, saying it would interfere with her campaigns. Could it be that Ron was holding back because of her? So he'd been keeping his first time. After marriage, Ron treated me like family, though not as passionate as young lovers. As a mate, he was quite qualified. Yet every time I got all worked up, he’d just half-heartedly use that damned stick. He wouldn't even look at me more. In his heart, am I just a shameless, insatiable woman? Thinking of this, I threw the wine pouch on the ground. Picking up the bow, I shot several arrows. The shrill cries of some animals echoed in the silent forest. Mia was startled. "Irene, why bother?" "Why don't you ask Ron face to face? After all, you're mates..." I glared at her. "Mates? Don't call him my mate anymore." "I want to break it off!" Mia sighed. At this time, the light of torches came from afar. "Luna! Please wait!" I took a look; it was someone sent by Ron's side. "What are you here for?" I said coldly. The servant trembled, bowing his head: "The Alpha sent us. He's waiting for you at the door." "Tell him to go away!" "I just want to be alone now! I'm not going back tonight!" I turned around, ignoring them. Mia helplessly waved at them, signaling them to leave. The servants begged several times, but to no avail, so they retreated.