Charlotte's POV

Over the next few days, I went through all the formalities to leave the pack and head for Silvermoon City.

I left early and came back late every day just to avoid running into Layson. No matter how hard I tried, I still witnessed his clear fondness for Grace.

She loved swimming, so he had all the cherry blossom trees we planted together removed to build a private pool for her. When Grace felt unwell, he canceled an important meeting and stayed with her throughout the night. If she casually mentioned liking a piece of jewelry, it would appear on her dressing table the very next day.

All the gentleness, care, and appreciation he once showed me, he now devoted to Grace without holding back.

I no longer clung to him or threw tantrums the way I used to. I quietly watched it all, like an outsider.

While waiting for the paperwork to go through, I began packing my belongings.

First, I organized my luggage. Then, I gathered the sketches I had drawn of Layson, the love letters I had written him, and the albums I had made to confess my feelings. I tore them up and placed them into a large cardboard box, planning to throw them all away.

When I walked out the door with the rubbish in my arms, I happened to run into Layson, who had just returned to the castle. He was carrying a small box of pastries, probably something he had bought for Grace.

I lowered my gaze, pretending I hadn't seen him, and prepared to pass by without looking.

But then, Layson suddenly grabbed hold of my wrist.

He gripped me tightly, his voice low and dangerous. "Charlotte, have you been hiding from me these past few days? Is this your new trick?"

"I have not."

He leaned in closer, studying my evasive expression.

"You're not hiding from me? Then why do you leave early and come back late every day? Why do you turn away the moment you see me and refuse to speak? Aren't you avoiding me?" His voice sounded deep as he stared me down with a powerful sense of oppression. "Why? Just because I'm with Grace now?"

"No, that's not it. Your Majesty, you're with your fated mate. I should be happy for you. I truly wish you both happiness and may the Moon Goddess bless your love forever. And don't worry. I don't like you anymore. I won't call you anything inappropriate ever again."

I spoke in a calm, even cool tone, as if stating a perfectly reasonable fact.

Yet Layson's expression darkened in an instant. "You don't like me? Charlotte, are you trying to get my attention in another way?"

He watched my face as though scrutinizing me. When I tensed up slightly, he sounded even more sure of himself.

"You confessed to me once, and I turned you down. You hovered around me every day, and I ignored you. Now, you've changed tactics and are trying to play hard to get?"

He moved step by step toward me. Then, he spotted the box in my arms and let out a cold laugh.

"You wrote so many letters to me and secretly drew countless portraits of me, and you followed me around for five long years. Now, you say you suddenly don't like me anymore? Charlotte, don't you think that's ridiculous?"

I lifted my head and silently watched the man before me. Yes, it sounded absurd. I had truly loved him, so nobody would believe I no longer cared.

But it was the truth.

"Your Majesty, I loved you for a long time, but you never felt the same. In fact, you even hate me. So, I've already let go."

After I spoke, I moved around him and dumped all the items related to him into the bin.

When I looked up, I saw that Layson's expression had grown colder, his gaze deep and unreadable. While I stood there uncertain, his cold voice suddenly fell on my ears.

"Keep pretending. Charlotte, I watched you grow up. I know exactly what you're thinking. I do spoil you, but we'll never be together!"

I never understood why he couldn't love me. Was it because he was my father's friend? Because he was 20 years older than me? Or were those just flimsy excuses so he could have both of us at once?

Charlotte's POV

After that day, I never spoke to Layson again. I had nothing left to say, but he probably thought I was just playing hard to get.

Things remained tense between us all the way to the Full Moon Celebration hosted by the Black Forest pack.

I still remembered the Full Moon Celebration when I was 18 years old, the night I awakened my wolf for the very first time. Layson had been standing right beside me. When violent power surged through my blood, pushing my sanity to its breaking point, he used his Alpha power to keep me firmly under control.

Layson became my guide. From that time on, he taught me how to control my wolf, how to find the balance between hunting and restraint, and how to become a true warrior. He taught me everything except how to make him love me.

I used to believe that we were a perfect match.

Before I turned 18, he doted on me and indulged me. After I turned 18, he made me endure his wolfish desires under him every night. I thought that was the intimacy between mates, that he needed me, longed for me, and wanted to meld me into his body night after night.

Yet as it turned out, he behaved the same way with Grace.

At tonight's celebration, everything I once had was given to Grace instead.

The nobles of the Black Forest bowed to her, and the elders gathered around her with whispered blessings.

Layson's mother, Margaret Carter, even placed the family's heirloom necklace around Grace's neck.

That necklace had been passed down for generations, worn by each queen before her coronation. In my previous life, I had never even set eyes on it.

At the celebration, I watched Layson and Grace dance together. I slipped away to hide in a quiet room.

"Charlotte, you should leave."

Margaret followed me in, her tone calm but carrying no effort to hide her dislike.

"You know Layson stayed unmarried for so long because of you. But now, he's engaged to Grace, and their wedding is next month. So, tell me, is there any reason for you to stay here besides making trouble and embarrassing yourself?"

She had once treated me kindly, but that warmth disappeared the instant I confessed my feelings to Layson. Everyone regarded me as ridiculous and berated me for having no shame.

I drove my nails into my palms, forcing my emotions down, and spoke slowly.

"Don't worry. I'll be leaving."

I pulled a stack of papers from my bag and handed them to her.

"A few days ago, I called my father and told him I'm willing to study abroad. He has already arranged for me to attend an academy in Silvermoon City and has also set up a marriage with Carlson from the Blazing Sun pack.

"Once my permit is approved, I'll leave immediately. After that, I'll have nothing more to do with His Majesty."

Margaret glanced through the papers. After a moment, a satisfied expression crossed her face. "You'd better do exactly as you said."

"Don't worry. I'll stay far away from him."

She turned and left, and only then did I slowly unclench my fist.

Just as I was putting the papers away and getting ready to go, a tall figure stood silently in the doorway. It was Layson.

"Who are you trying to stay away from?"

"No one. You misheard."

I didn't want him to know I was leaving. As I turned around, his voice reached my ears.

"If you don't want to go abroad, then don't. After I marry Grace, you don't have to move out. I'm your father's good friend, and I've watched you grow up all these years. I can take care of you for the rest of your life."

Charlotte's POV

I didn't take Layson's words to heart that day.

I simply waited quietly for my documents to be approved so I could leave.

The next day, Grace behaved very differently. She enthusiastically insisted on taking me to the werewolf pack's marketplace.

However, the moment we boarded the carriage, I caught a whiff of something strange. A wave of dizziness rushed through me, and then everything went black.

When I opened my eyes again, icy winds whipped around me, and waves crashed against the jagged rocks nearby. My wrists were chained to a wooden stake. Not far away, Grace was also chained up. I struggled to ask her why, but my mouth was gagged, and all I could produce were muffled whimpers.

Grace seemed to understand my question and smirked coldly.

"Charlotte, I don't want to do this to you. But you've always been a threat. I heard what Layson said that day, and it unsettled me. I need to prove who matters more to him."

I never imagined Grace would go to such extremes.

Before long, I heard the sound of familiar footsteps.

Layson arrived. He wore a black coat, his gaze was cold, and he was followed by several werewolf guards. Yet as he approached, a few shadowy figures emerged from either side of the cliff. They were rogue werewolves.

Exiled from their packs, they roamed the forests and wastelands in a life of looting and banditry. Grace had spent a fortune to bring them here.

Layson directed his guards to place two chests of gold before them.

"Here's your money. Let them go!"

One of the rogue werewolves sneered, glancing at Layson with a mocking grin. His voice was rough as he said, "So, the Alpha of the Black Forest, the Wolf King of the North, really does keep his word. Too bad we're not here for money."

Layson narrowed his eyes, his tone suddenly turning cold. "What do you want?"

The rogue werewolf dug his claws into my shoulder, slicing my flesh and drawing blood.

"I hear these two women are dear to you. One is the daughter of your loyal beta, Arthur Winston, and the other is your fiancée. You can only save one. The other will be thrown into the sea for the sharks."

With that, they forced both of us to the cliff edge. The rocks beneath my feet shifted, and the roiling tide below seemed to await my fall.

Grace struggled in terror, her voice trembling. "Layson, save me! I don't want to die!"

Layson's expression changed in an instant. "Don't touch Grace!"

The answer was clear.

Grace, who had been deathly pale only a moment ago, let out a sigh of relief.

When Layson looked at me, I kept my face calm. He probably expected me to feel hopeless and beg for help. But I stayed silent.

I could see his panic. He started toward me, but in the next moment, Grace threw herself into his arms with tearful eyes. "Layson, my dear Majesty, thank goodness you got here just in time..."

He instinctively hugged her.

Right then, the ropes binding me came loose. The rogue werewolves threw me straight into the crashing sea.

"Charlotte!"

His cry for me grew fainter, and the water was so cold it stabbed like knives, dragging me down into the depths. I struggled as hard as I could, but my body was turning rigid, and my mind was slipping away.

In the end, everything went dark...