That year, the Snowfang Pack had just annexed several smaller wolf packs in the surrounding regions, expanding its territory and prestige.

That year, I had not yet officially become Ryan's mate, nor had we held the Moonlit Ceremony that symbolized an eternal bond.

"It's not surprising she'd have a headache," came a sharp whisper behind me. "Prince Ryan has been making public statements on all the major networks for three days now, announcing he's breaking off the engagement with the Snowfang Pack!"

I stopped Annie, my maid, from snapping back in my defense.

The situation was far more complicated than just a broken engagement.

A few days ago, Ryan was ambushed by rival packs while inspecting the newly annexed borderlands. Gravely injured, he fell off a cliff and was rescued by a young she-wolf living in seclusion deep in the forest.

She was delicate and beautiful. In a desperate attempt to save him, she used a forbidden herb to heal his wounds, which ultimately cost her the ability to speak.

Ryan was deeply moved by her sacrifice and brought her back to the main castle of the Alpha King's territory.

From that day forward, he declared to the entire pack that she was the only one he would marry. He even went as far as to vow that this nameless, mute she-wolf would one day become the future Luna—the queen of all wolves.

"They're just talking nonsense, Your Highness! You and Prince Ryan grew up together, and after all these years…"

I gently shook my head, cutting off Annie's attempt to comfort me. I knew exactly what she was going to say.

Three days ago, I woke up in the Snowfang Pack's palace. Three days was all it took for me to untangle the truth of both my past and present lives.

"Your Highness," Annie suddenly whispered excitedly, "Prince Ryan is here."

I turned around and saw Ryan striding into the banquet hall. He wore a black battle robe, his shoulders draped in the silver-embroidered cloak symbolizing the wolf kingdom's honor. Surrounded by his retinue of warriors, he moved with the authority and presence of a leader.

The murmurs around the room instantly fell silent.

Ryan and I had grown up together, and our bond had been forged from the time we were children. Our engagement had been arranged early on by the elders of our two packs, a pact meant to solidify the alliance between them.

When we were young, if anyone dared to say a single bad word about me, Ryan would be the first to step in and defend me. And when he got himself into trouble and faced punishment from the elders, I was always the one to plead on his behalf.

Until now, no one in either pack had ever doubted that I was Ryan's one true love and the future Luna.

But on my coming-of-age ceremony today, he brought another woman.

Saya.

The young she-wolf who had saved his life was dressed in an expensive gown. Despite her elegant attire and carefully styled appearance, she looked like a small, skittish animal that had wandered into a palace of predators.

She clung tightly to Ryan's arm, seemingly unable to stand without his support.

Ryan leaned down, whispering something in her ear, his eyes filled with tenderness. Saya's gaze shifted to me, and panic flashed across her face. Then, she stepped forward.

Thunk!

Suddenly, she dropped to her knees in front of me.

What a familiar scene.

Even the tear hanging precariously at the corner of her eye was exactly the same as in my past life.

Back then, I had been utterly deceived by this fragile, helpless act of hers. When she knelt before me, I actually felt pity. I found myself helping her and Ryan, doing everything I could to help them achieve their "true love".

As the Snowfang Pack's princess, I was destined to shoulder the responsibilities of my people. My future didn't have to revolve around Ryan. Even though Saya's arrival left a bad taste in my mouth, it wasn't enough to shake my dignity.

When Ryan had wanted to break off the engagement, I didn't throw a tantrum. Instead, I earnestly offered him advice out of the respect and history we shared.

"Saya comes from a lower-ranked wolf pack and is mute. While she saved your life, the elders or the clans may never accept her as your Queen, no matter how hard you try to convince them. It'll only bring her trouble.

"Why not take a step back? Settle her in my territory as a servant for now. In the future..."

I left the implication hanging—In the future, he could do as he pleased.

Those few words resolved her immediate crisis but set me up for disaster.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

The crisp sound of slaps echoed in the banquet hall.

In my past life, I rushed forward to help Saya up the moment she knelt.

This time, I merely watched coldly as she slapped herself, hard and without hesitation.

One strike after another, the sound echoed through the room.

Annie tugged gently at my sleeve, whispering, "Your Highness, today is your coming-of-age ceremony. The hall is full of guests—if this continues..."

The banquet hall was packed with guests today, many of whom were already reaching for their phones, eager to capture the drama.

Annie made a move to step forward, but I placed a hand on her arm.

"What's the rush?"

"Saya!" Ryan's voice was low and dangerous now, his expression darkening.

In just a few seconds, Saya's cheeks were red and swollen. Tears pooled in her eyes, making her look pitifully fragile.

She glanced at Ryan, then at me, biting her lip as she continued her self-inflicted punishment.

I took a slow sip of my wine, completely at ease.

I was suddenly curious—how far was she willing to take this performance?

Yes. Saya was acting.

Her muteness was an act. Her delicate, innocent facade was an act. Even her dramatic "poison suicide" in my past life? That was also an act.

I had seen her true colors with my own eyes. It happened at a secret gathering, where I accidentally stumbled upon her talking to a werewolf alchemist.

"Sir, I'm just an exiled lowly she-wolf. How could I survive without using some desperate ploys to get into Prince Ryan's good graces? Please, I'm begging you! Give me a potion that can make me appear dead for a short time. Just once—that's all I need.

"I truly love His Highness. With my background, being his servant would already be aiming too high. But now that he has promised to marry me! I have to use this final trick to ensure he'll always feel guilty about me.

"Please, help me! Just one staged death, and His Highness will remember for the rest of his life that he owes me."

What a masterful scheme.

Saya fooled Ryan, fooled me, and even fooled an entire gathering of werewolf nobles.

I had once asked Ryan why he was so fixated on Saya.

"I've been the heir to the wolf clan since I was a child. Everyone flatters me and caters to me. They respect me and bow to me—but only because of my bloodline and my status.

"Even you, Selina. If I weren't the future Alpha King, would you still love me?"

His words left me speechless.

If Ryan weren't the heir to the Alpha King, with that powerful bloodline running through his veins, we wouldn't have a bond, let alone a marriage contract. We wouldn't have grown up together, and there wouldn't be talk of love or not loving.

"Saya was the only one..." He continued. "She was willing to sacrifice her life for me before she even knew who I truly was. How could I not be moved by love so pure?"

His words nearly convinced me.

As the princess of the Snowfang Pack, I was born with the pride of a noble wolf. Every decision I made required careful deliberation. I had to consider my parents, and the interests of my clan—I couldn't afford to recklessly lay down my life for someone.

But we both ignored another possibility.

Even if Ryan had been gravely injured and unconscious in the wilderness, his wolf pack markings, his natural aura of dominance, and the battle robes woven from the shadows of the moon itself that he wore—all of it screamed his exalted status.

Whether he was the future alpha of the pack or one of its top elites, his power was undeniable.

From the very beginning, Saya had seen him for what he truly was—her only path to glory and status.

"Enough!" Ryan's sharp voice suddenly cut through the tension.

The room fell silent.

Saya flinched, her body trembling as she slowly lifted her gaze. Her eyes were wide and filled with helpless innocence as she looked at me.

Her intentions couldn't have been clearer.

She had destroyed my engagement, made me a laughingstock in front of the entire pack, and now she played the part of the remorseful sinner. She was putting on an act, hoping I would pity her enough to hand her a graceful way out.

Fine.

Let her continue this charade.

I arched a brow and leisurely sipped my wine.

Saya noticed my cold reaction. She gritted her teeth and leaned forward, ready to slap herself again.

But before she could, Ryan strode forward and knocked the glass out of my hand.

"Selina, don't push it!" he growled.