My parents had always been biased, and to them, forming a connection with the Ice Wolf pack was beyond their wildest dreams. So they agreed on my behalf without a second thought.

A month later, Briar and I both got married on the same day.

Briar wore a wedding gown adorned with jewels, riding in an elegant carriage pulled by white horses, with wagon after wagon of luxurious gifts following behind her. Meanwhile, I only had a simple dress and a few pitiful trunks of belongings.

Before leaving home, Briar smiled sweetly and said, "Oh, Lyra, a day like this should be mine. Enjoy struggling in the wilderness with your crippled husband."

I said nothing and calmly climbed into my wedding carriage. She thought that giving birth to a son would secure her position as crown princess, but Damien's family was ruthless. To them, women were nothing more than breeding tools.

Compared to Damien's magnificent palace, Rowan Hunter's home was quite simple. Ribbons hung from the bed frame, and a plate of sweet cakes sat on the table.

I was hungry and had just reached for some nuts from a bowl when I heard wooden wheels rolling across the floor.

A handsome man lifted my wedding veil, his amber eyes gleaming with amusement. "Well, well, caught a little thief."

Rowan was strikingly handsome. I'd heard his mother was from the snow fox clan, and he had inherited her beauty and the Wolf King's strength.

Unfortunately, he had somehow injured his leg and earned the Wolf King's scorn. His moods were unpredictable, and in my previous life, no beastwoman would marry him until the day I died.

I wondered if he could… perform his husbandly duties.

"Admiring the view?"

He leaned closer, his warm breath against my bare skin, carrying the scent of pine and herbs. Moonlight streamed through the windows. Neither of us slept that night.

The next morning, I was dragged from bed early to meet the Wolf King. Rowan and I waited outside for ages before being summoned.

When we entered, Briar was bashfully receiving a fertility pendant from the Wolf King. All I got was a plain silver bracelet. I took it without comment.

The Wolf King sat on his throne as he said, "I expect you both to produce heirs soon and strengthen our pack."

Damien and Briar quickly agreed, while Rowan and I said nothing.

The Wolf King's expression hardened. "Rowie, now that you're married, it's time you went to your lands. You leave today."

Rowan's lands were in the remote northeast. Being banished on the first day after the wedding showed just how much the Wolf King truly despised this son.

As we left the palace, Damien and Briar stepped into our path on purpose. Damien smirked as he said, "You two are a perfect match. I just wonder, with my brother's bad leg, how he'll manage in bed..."

Briar giggled and added, "Lyra, I hear Rowan's lands are barren. Once you go, we'll never see each other again.

"But don't worry, okay? When I have exciting news, you'll be the first to know." I could hear the venom in their voices.

"You and the crown prince seem perfectly suited, too," I replied icily. What a perfect pair of scumbags.

"What's the point of talking to them? Let's go." Rowan snorted coldly and wheeled forward. I hurried to catch up.

Once we left the throne room, Rowan's expression darkened. He yanked the silver bracelet from my wrist and hurled it into a ditch.

"Don't accept his gifts." His sudden move caught me off guard, and I took a step back. He raised an eyebrow.

"What? Are you upset? Well, tough luck. You married a worthless cripple."

"I'm not upset." I shook my head and pressed my hand to my lower back. "I'm just sore."

He went utterly still. Realizing what I meant, his face flushed red, and he quickly wheeled away. I stared at his retreating figure thoughtfully.

How could someone with a bad leg have that much stamina? Was Rowan the moody cripple everyone thought he was?

Rowan's territory was indeed remote and desolate, but it was nothing like I'd imagined. Word had spread that Rowan and I were coming, because many beastmen crowded the roadside holding gifts they wanted to present to us.

They all looked well-fed and healthy, their eyes bright. Even the little ones and elderly were plump and rosy-cheeked.

Since the apocalypse began, all the clans had struggled to survive. Food was barely enough to get by, and many older beastmen had starved to death. Those who survived were skin and bones. However, everything was completely different here.

Though Rowan's residence wasn't large, it was exquisite and had everything we needed. Seeing my surprised expression, Rowan raised an eyebrow and chuckled, then had a maid bring me a jewelry box.

The mahogany box was filled with sparkling jewelry and gems.

"I'm no saint, but I won't let my wife suffer alongside me." He looked at me with clear, sincere eyes, tilting his chin up slightly. "No need to look so moved."

"It's fine. It's just... Rowan..."

"What?"

"Could you maybe go easier on me next time?"

This place was far from the Wolf King's palace, but news of Briar and Damien reached us every month. There were always stories of treasures he'd bought her, how he'd personally fastened her cloak, or how our parents had cooked her favorite dishes.

I ignored it all. The latest news was that she was pregnant. The doctor said it was a son, and the Wolf King was thrilled.

I sat in my chair and gently touched my own belly. Rowan treated me well, but the Ice Wolf pack had always valued sons over daughters. If I gave birth to a daughter, would he become like Damien?

Would he despise me, abandon me, or even kill me to marry someone new?

The thought made me shiver, and I secretly packed a small bag. It would be okay. I could survive on my own with my daughter.

"What are you doing?" Rowan had appeared behind me without warning, his gaze dark as he stared at the bag in my hands. "Planning to run?"

In that instant, I felt like prey being stalked by a predator, pinned in place by his stare. My lips trembled slightly as I quickly shook my head in denial. But he rose from his wheelchair and threw me onto the bed.

"Then, I haven't been doing my job as a husband."

I cried out in shock, staring at his legs. "Y-You can stand?"

"That's not what you should be worried about right now." He smirked and leaned over me.

"Rowan, don't." I grabbed his hand and pleaded softly, but he persisted, tearing at my clothes.

Tears of frustration fell one by one onto his hands. He paused and let go of me, sitting on the bed, looking confused. "Do you want to leave me that badly? Am I truly that awful?"

I froze, my eyelashes trembling. "Rowan, I'm pregnant."

He froze.

I lowered my head and continued, "It's a girl. I know your pack has never liked daughters, so please let me—"

Before I could finish, he swept me up in his arms. Rowan seemed to have gone crazy with happiness as he spun me around the room.

The spinning made me dizzy and annoyed, so I smacked him hard on the shoulder. He winced and stopped, staring at me without blinking.

"Hey, listen to me properly. I said I'm carrying a daughter."

"So what if it's a daughter? Wait, you're not cheating on me, are you?"

I clapped my hand over his mouth. "Don't be ridiculous! I was afraid you wouldn't want a daughter."

"I'll love any offspring you give me," he said.

Rowan seemed to truly love my unborn daughter. He changed from his usual unpredictable moods and became much gentler.

As for his leg, it was only slightly injured, but it didn't affect his walking. I had no idea why he insisted on staying in that wheelchair.

Ten months later, news arrived from the palace that Briar had given birth. At the same time, I went into labor. I lay on the bed, sweating from the pain as the doctors' and aids' voices drifted in and out around me. Suddenly, a sharp cry filled my ears.

My daughter, Raven Hunter, was born. At that moment, my entire world seemed to light up. I lifted my head, trying to get a look at her, but everything went black and I passed out.

Before losing consciousness, I vaguely heard Rowan's furious roar. Was he disgusted with our daughter?

When I woke up, it was already the next day. My bed was empty. Rowan was gripping my hand, dozing with his head resting on the bedside.

I sat up in panic. It felt like I was reliving my past life when my offspring were forcibly taken away after each birth. Tears fell uncontrollably.

"Rowan, where's Raven? Where did you send her? Please give her back to me."

In my past life, Damien had done precisely this, snatching away my daughters right after I gave birth. They suffered somewhere I couldn't see and died quietly. From birth to death, I never even got to meet them.

He hadn't just killed them, but destroyed the world's hope as well. I grabbed Rowan's hand desperately. "Please, I'll take her and go far away. I won't interfere with you taking a new wife."

Rowan touched my head gently. "The wet nurse took Raven to feed her. What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"

He held me carefully, comforting me, then had the wet nurse bring our daughter back. It was only when I held the tiny bundle in my arms that I finally calmed down.

I looked up at him. "Did Briar have a son?"

"Yes. The Wolf King named him heir."

"Aren't you angry? Or afraid they'll mock you?"

Rowan raised an eyebrow. "What's there to be angry about? Even if they gave birth to solid gold, it wouldn't matter to me.

"As for mockery, isn't the fact that your husband is a cripple enough for them to laugh about already?" Rowan touched Raven's little face, then mine, looking completely serious.

"I don't know why you're so insecure, but I'm different from them. Before I met you, I never wanted to have any offspring. She's my daughter, and I'll love her just as much as I love you."

…

Time passed, and Raven had inherited my bloodline, looking every bit like a little serpent. She grew steadily, thriving each day. Touching her chubby cheeks always filled me with contentment.

That day was surprisingly pleasant, so we brought Raven outside to soak up some sunshine in the snowy landscape. Suddenly, one of our people burst in with urgent news.

"My lord! Amazing news! The northern forest that's been frozen solid for years is finally melting!"

Rowan was ecstatic and dragged me along to witness it. The endless frozen wasteland was thawing.

As I walked closer with Raven in my arms, I could see fresh buds emerging from the dead, icy trees. Vines curled and spread at lightning speed. It was miraculous.

Rowan and I had both lived through the endless winter and had never witnessed such vibrant life returning. Raven giggled and waved her little fists, almost like she was taking credit for it all.

The entire territory buzzed with excitement over the forest coming back to life. That was when Briar showed up out of nowhere with her and Damien's son.