Chapter 1

David, my childhood sweetheart who promised to have a Mark ceremony with me when I turned 18, proposed to my cousin Violet at my coming-of-age party.

That wizard Andrew, who was said to be uninterested in women, put a silver ring carved with mystical runes onto my ring finger at David's celebration.

For five years after our mark ceremony, he was gentle and devoted to me.

I believed that it was my true love.

Until I overheard his conversation with a friend.

"Andrew, Violet's already become the pack healer. How long will you keep pretending with Morgan?"

"Since I can't be Violet’s mate anyway, it doesn't matter who I mark. Besides, with me here, Morgan can't interfere with Violet's happiness."

The rune stones he carved in secret all bore Violet's name with his blessing to her.

“Bless Violet could rid of bad dreams”

“Bless Violet could obtain all she wants, and needn’t worry anything.”

“Violet, I can’t be your mate, hope you have a wonderful life.”

Five years of reaming. One moment of awakening.

I arranged a fake identity and planned my staged death.

…

After confirming the final arrangements for my fake death, I hung up the phone.

In two days, I would disappear forever, just as they wished.

The door opened softly. I looked up to see Andrew.

He embraced me, his voice gentle. "Who were you talking to?"

"Nothing important. Pack hospital business." I smiled, trying to sound natural.

He kissed me. "You've been so busy lately. I'll cook something special for you tonight."

During our five-year mate bond, Andrew had always been gentle with me.

Everyone said wizards never fell for women, but once they did, it was for life.

I thought this was my happiness.

Now I understood this mate bond wasn't my happiness—it was his protection of Violet.

Andrew gently stroked my shoulder and said, "The Silverton family is throwing a party tomorrow. Celebrating Violet's three-month pregnancy and her promotion to pack healer. You should rest at home. I'll drop off a gift and come back."

"I'd like to go too..."

He interrupted with a gentle but undeniable tone. "You should skip the party. Haven't you been wanting a baby? This is a good time to rest and prepare your body."

I lowered my eyes, hiding my complex emotions.

I was marked for years without baby. I had consulted healers, tried fertility treatments, prayed to every deity I could name.

I once thought it might need some luck. But recently I found the truth.

After each time we were intimate, he secretly put the special herbs in my food to prevent pregnancy. He didn't want children with me because that would make our bond too real, too permanent.

After all, how could he let me bear children that would taint his true love?

He probably didn't want me at the party because I might overshadow Violet. The pack healer's celebration would be her moment to shine, her chance to bask in the admiration and respect that should have been mine. My presence would only remind everyone that she had built her success on stolen research, stolen dreams.

He kissed my forehead, seemingly unaware of my sadness, his lips gentle against my skin in a mockery of true affection. "The day after tomorrow is your birthday. I've prepared a surprise, Evangeline."

"The day after tomorrow is your birthday. I've prepared a surprise, Evangeline."

Evangeline.

I repeated the word, suddenly finding it harsh.

All these years, his blessings always included "Evangeline."

Only now did I understand its true meaning.

Violet Evangeline Silverton.

He'd been blessing me with his beloved's secret middle name.

All those blessings from his lips were never meant for me.

"Sounds wonderful. I've planned some activities too. Make sure you're free to spend time with me."

He nodded. "Of course. Whatever my Morgan wants."

I looked up and smiled.

Andrew, how painstaking you are.

That night, I couldn't sleep. I carefully moved his arm from around me.

I accidentally knocked over the bracelet he always wore.

When I picked it up, I felt something strange on the beads.

In the dim light, I saw letters carved on each glass bead.

V.E.S.

Violet's initials.

That moment, I gave up completely.

Chapter 2

The next morning, I told Andrew, "Let's go to the Silverton house together."

His expression froze briefly, then returned to normal. "Fine. We'll leave after giving our gift."

I knew he didn't want me there, and afraid I'd disturb Violet.

But I just wanted to see my family one last time.

Tomorrow, I would be faked died and left.

At the Silverton estate's ballroom, Violet wore a champagne dress. David, who should have been my mate, now look at her full of love.

The sight of them together should have hurt more, but I found I felt nothing. David seemed like a stranger now.

"Dr. Violet's healing potion is miraculous!" someone was saying near the refreshment table. "It healed silver wounds that left werewolves scarred for life."

The crowd murmured appreciation, voices rising in praise for Violet's incredible breakthrough. They mentioned the potion had earned the Elder's recommendation and was now popular throughout Hethrgard, bringing honor to the Silverton name and establishing Violet as a healer of renown.

When Violet saw me enter, her expression flickered—surprise, annoyance, calculation—before returning to its practiced smile.

Her smile was polite but mocking as she approached us, her voice carrying just far enough for nearby pack members to hear: "Morgan came too? What a rare guest."

I ignored her barbed greeting, my attention focusing instead on the potion bottle in a guest's hand. The distinctive cobalt blue glass, the silver stopper, the elegant label with flowing script—every detail was familiar.

This was my research, years of work, still in clinical trials, never shown publicly.

How had my creation become her "masterpiece"?

Violet smiled coldly, leaning close so only I could hear her next words. "Is Morgan interested in this potion too?"

I stared at her without any expression, my face a mask of calm while inside I seethed. I was about to speak, to challenge her publicly, to demand answers, when she suddenly cried out:

"No—"

Before I could react, she fell backward, stumbling and clutching her abdomen with a pained expression.

Chaos erupted around us like a disturbed beehive.

"What happened?!"

"Violet is pregnant! How could you push her!"

"Call the healer!"

"Someone help her!"

In the chaos, I heard a tense shout: "Violet!"

Others might not recognize it, but I realize immediately.

It was Andrew's voice.

The tenderness in his eyes was obviously, shattering my last hope.

Realizing my attention, Andrew quickly calmed himself down.

He looked at me, his tone softly but condemning: "Regardless, Violet is pregnant. You shouldn't have pushed her."

Just then, the butler rushed in: "The Alpha thinks Dr. Violet's potion is special. He's promoting her to the Royal Pack Hospital!"

Joy flashed across Andrew's face—an expression I'd never seen in five years.

I asked quietly, "Why is Violet's potion the same as my research?"

He stiffened but quickly recovered, pretending innocent: "Maybe it's a coincidence. Perhaps you both researched similar things..."

I laughed with no emotion and didn’t know what to say.

All my experiments were done alone, the results locked in my safe.

It only had two keys, one is for me, and the other saved by him.

Though Andrew hid it well, after years together I'd discovered he was the mysterious Elder.

How the potion appeared here was obvious.

This potion was meant as our fifth anniversary gift, developed for his silver-wounded knee.

Now I realized even our mate bond was fake. This gift had become meaningless.

My expression was calm and others couldn’t know what I was considering.

Andrew seemed to notice my change and quickly suggested, "Should we leave now? Find somewhere to relax?"

I looked at him, say the words in calm: "Let's take the yacht. Night cruise, watch tomorrow's sunrise."