From the moment she was born, Seraphina Grant was doomed to live a life without being loved.

Her dad, the Alpha of the pack, said to her, "You owe Layla too much. Give her the Moonshadow Blade blessed by the Moon Goddess."

Her mom, the Luna, asked her, "Are you really going to stand by and watch Layla die? We're just asking that you give her a bit of your life essence each day. You'll be fine."

Later, Seraphina met Damien Norman. He swore that across lifetimes, whether as a wolf spirit or in human form, he would love only her.

But later still, Damien told her, "Layla ended up like this because of you. Staying with her is my way of helping you atone."

Even her son said, "I don't want you to be my mom. I want Aunt Layla!"

In the end, every single one of them demanded that she give her life for her sister, Layla Grant.

All because she belonged to the legendary Sunfire bloodline and possessed the power of Ember Rebirth.

So Seraphina did what they wished and set her own life ablaze, not to trade it for Layla's, but to erase them all from her heart forever.

When her parents and mate abandoned her for her sister for the 99th time, Seraphina Grant was finally exhausted.

She knelt before the statue of the Moon Goddess and said, "I'm willing to erase all my memories, sever every emotional bond, and go to Howlpeak to become its eternal guardian, to suppress the wild spirits of the abyss and protect the balance of the supernatural world."

The Moon Goddess's majestic voice echoed in her mind. "Once you go to Howlpeak, you will never be allowed to leave. You will never return to your pack's territory.

"And you will be completely alone, with no companion. Are you sure about this?"

Seraphina did not hesitate for a second. "Yes."

"Then it shall be as you wish." A beam of silver light poured from the statue and sank into the center of Seraphina's forehead. "In seven days, this Mooncrest will sever your ties of love, erase your memories, and send you to Howlpeak."

Seraphina bowed deeply. "Thank you for your mercy, great Moon Goddess."

On her way back to the Sunfire Pack's territory, heavy snow began to fall.

Seraphina caught a snowflake in her palm, a bitter smile tugging at her lips.

Today was supposed to be her 100th birthday, an important milestone in a werewolf's life.

But early that morning, her sister, Layla Grant, had suddenly collapsed and fallen unconscious.

Her mate, Damien Norman, rushed to her side in a panic. "Layla!"

Her Luna mother, Miriam Grant, cried out and nearly fainted on the spot.

Her Alpha father, Bryan Grant, hurried to steady Miriam and then followed Damien in a rush.

Even her child, Leo Norman, cried, "What's wrong with Aunt Layla? I don't want anything to happen to her!"

They all hurried away with Layla. Not one person looked back at Seraphina. Not one person remembered what day it was.

Half an hour later, they returned and said to her, "Seraphina, Layla really cannot hold on any longer. Back then, you pushed her into Thornfrost Grove and damaged her primal wolfheart. Now you should trade your life for hers.

"You're from the Sunfire bloodline. You can go through Ember Rebirth."

Ember Rebirth. As someone of the Sunfire bloodline, her parents knew better than anyone how agonizing that ritual was.

First, her heart would be torn out while she was still alive. Then her soul would burn in soul fire for seven days and seven nights, before flesh and bone were rebuilt, and her wolf spirit re-formed.

Seraphina curled her lips into a mocking smile. "What I owed Layla, I already paid back with everything I have given up since childhood.

"My den, my hunting rights, the sacred items from every ceremony, even your attention, my mate's love, and my own son's affection. I gave all of it away. Isn't that enough? Now you want my life, too?"

Miriam slapped her hard across the face. "You were the one who damaged Layla's wolfheart in the first place!"

They turned and walked away again. Even Damien didn't pause for a single moment.

That was when Seraphina truly grew tired.

She would rather forget everything than ever give up her life again.

She returned to the Sunfire Pack's territory, to her stone house known as Afterglow Lodge.

Because she wasn't favored by the Alpha and Luna, the other pack members looked down on her as well.

On her 100th birthday, she didn't even get a single cup of clean spring water, let alone roasted meat.

Seraphina had long grown used to days like this. She went alone to the communal kitchen and baked herself a small cake.

She took a few bites of the cake, praying for peace and for the pain to end.

The next moment, tears fell into the frosting.

Seraphina wiped away the blur in her eyes and told herself it was fine. In seven days, she would never cry over anyone again.

The next day, Damien finally returned with Leo.

When he saw her, he handed her a wooden box, a trace of stiffness flashing through his eyes. "Your belated birthday gift."

Seraphina only glanced at it before looking away calmly. "Thank you. Just leave it there."

Damien had never seen her react so coldly and frowned in surprise. "Are you angry? Just because we didn't celebrate your birthday with you yesterday?"

Without waiting for her to answer, he pinched the bridge of his nose with a weary sigh.

"Seraphina, you saw what happened yesterday. Layla was at death's door. Were we supposed to happily celebrate your birthday in that situation? That would've been heartless."

"And as Layla's sister, you didn't even visit her once. She was very upset about that."

Hearing the hidden accusation in his words, Seraphina wanted to ask if they truly could not see through Layla's tricks after all these years.

Layla was a rare Frostheart werewolf. How could simply entering Thornfrost Grove damage her wolfheart?

And she was usually perfectly fine, so why did she collapse only on Seraphina's birthday? Did they really think that wasn't strange at all?

But Seraphina said nothing. She didn't feel like saying anything. She simply sat down and poured herself a cup of water.

Damien frowned more deeply, as if he wanted to continue.

Just then, Leo tugged on his sleeve and suddenly looked up and spoke a sentence in an ancient language. It was the Primal Tongue, spoken only by the noblest Shadow Wolf Pack.

"Dad, Mom is so annoying. Aunt Layla is nothing like that. She's so gentle and kind."

Damien lowered his head and replied casually in the language, "It's fine. Ignore her. In the end, she will still make up with us."

Seraphina quietly watched the two of them, the fingers resting on her knees slowly curling into a fist.

She didn't know when it had started, but those two would communicate in the Primal Tongue from time to time.

She wasn't surprised. After all, Damien came from the powerful Shadow Wolf Pack, so it was only natural that he could speak such a language.

In order to blend into their world, she had secretly learned that ancient tongue, planning to someday surprise them by speaking it fluently.

But the more she understood, the colder her heart became.

At that moment, she looked at the pride faintly shining in the eyes of the two people before her and suddenly spoke in flawless Primal Tongue.

"I won't."

She would never make up with them again.

Damien and Leo froze when Seraphina finished speaking.

Damien stared at her in shock. "W-what did you just say?"

Seraphina calmly repeated herself.

Then, before their expressions could grow any worse, she pretended not to understand and asked casually, "I heard you say that sentence in the Primal Tongue earlier. What does it mean?"

"Oh, you're asking what it means?" Damien visibly relaxed.

He stepped forward, took her hand, and smiled gently. "It means, 'My soul has chosen you.'

"If you wanna learn the Primal Tongue, I can teach you every day from now on."

Seraphina slowly pulled her hand back. "No need. That kind of ancient language is too complicated. I would never manage to learn it."

And even if she did, it wouldn't matter. In six days, she wouldn't remember anything at all.

Damien didn't push the issue. After kissing her forehead, he said, "By the way, I remember a flower sprite once gave you a Frostbloom, right? You're from the Sunfire bloodline, so you can't really use something that cold in nature anyway. Why not give it to Layla to help keep her alive?"

So that was why he came back.

She was just wondering why he would leave Layla at all.

Seraphina nodded. "Sure. Take it."

Her tone was calm, which seemed to make Damien uneasy. He spoke again, "Sera, why don't you come with us to visit her later? She's still your sister, after all."

Seraphina shook her head. "No. I have something else to do."

Damien frowned and asked unhappily, "What could possibly be more important than your sister's life?"

Seraphina found it bitterly ironic. To her mate and her parents, nothing had ever been more important than Layla.

But she didn't explain. She simply walked past the two of them.

Leaving her stone house behind, Seraphina went to Whisper Ridge.

Years ago, during the Wild Hunt, she had been gravely injured and collapsed by the banks of the Oblivion Stream. Bryan, Miriam, Damien, and even Leo hadn't come looking for her because they were all with Layla.

At the brink of death, a fiery spirit wolf had carried her to Whisper Ridge and shared its life essence with her, helping her survive and heal.

After she recovered, Seraphina wanted to bring the spirit wolf back to the Sunfire Pack's territory, but it refused to leave.

So she came to visit it every month instead.

Now, as she prepared to forget everything and go to Howlpeak to suppress wild spirits, the one she was most worried about was this spirit wolf she had named Blaze.

The moment she stepped onto Whisper Ridge, Blaze came bounding toward her, tail wagging, rubbing against her like an oversized puppy.

Seraphina rubbed its head, her heart heavy. "Blaze, in six days, I will leave this land. I won't be able to see you anymore. I know you don't wanna leave Whisper Ridge, but promise me you'll take good care of yourself, alright?"

Blaze understood her words. He sat down sadly, tail drooping, letting out soft whimpers from his throat.

Seraphina smiled helplessly. "What should we do, then? Should I take you to Howlpeak with me?

"The abyss aura of Howlpeak is too heavy. A pure spirit beast like you won't be comfortable there. You should stay here and live an easy life."

After playing with Blaze for a while, Seraphina decided to head back.

This time, Blaze followed after her and even crossed the barrier of Whisper Ridge with her.

"You wanna come home with me?"

Blaze caught the hem of her clothes in its mouth and nodded.

Seraphina thought the Sunfire Pack's territory was large enough to accommodate a spirit wolf, so she brought Blaze back with her.

She didn't expect to run into Damien and Leo the moment she returned. They were on a walk with Layla.

Blaze caught Seraphina's scent on Leo and instinctively grew fond of him. It trotted toward Leo happily, wanting to get close to him.

Leo didn't understand what was happening. He raised his hand and gathered a ball of energy, then blasted Blaze with Shadowfire.

Blaze had no chance to react. It was thrown through the air and slammed into the ground, letting out painful cries.

"Blaze!" Seraphina's heart clenched. She rushed over to check on it, then glared at Leo. "Why did you do that?"

Leo looked a little frightened, then he put his hands on his hips and complained righteously, "He almost ran into Aunt Layla. Mom, are you trying to hurt Aunt Layla on purpose?"

Damien also pulled Leo behind him, frowning at Seraphina.

"Seraphina, how can you speak to Leo like that over a stray beast? With you acting like this, no wonder he likes Layla more."

Seraphina's face went completely cold, her heart sinking even lower.

So her son liking Layla more was her fault.

And Damien probably thought the same thing, too.

For a moment, neither side spoke.

Then Layla broke the silence, looking sorry. "Phina, Leo only did it to protect me. If you're angry, take it out on me. Please don't be upset with Leo. He's still just a kid."

Before she finished, Leo immediately objected, "Aunt Layla, it's not your fault!"

A trace of mockery flashed through Seraphina's eyes. So, who was really his mother here?

Before she could speak, she suddenly noticed a line of pack members approaching, carrying white wreaths, silver ribbons, and ornaments carved with moon runes.

She froze and frowned. "Is the pack holding some kind of celebration?"

Damien and Leo's confident expressions instantly turned awkward.

After a moment, Damien finally said, "It's Layla's bonding ceremony."

Seraphina stared at him in disbelief. "Bonding ceremony? With whom?"

Leo blurted out proudly, "Aunt Layla and Dad are holding the ceremony."

Another line of pack members walked in at that moment.

In their hands were moonflowers, carved silver vases, and cupcakes made with morning dew and berries.

Every single item was something Layla loved.

Seraphina stared at the scene, feeling as if an invisible hand had clenched around her heart.

What Damien prepared for Layla far surpassed what he had done for her during their own bonding ceremony.

"Damien…" Seraphina looked at him, her voice trembling slightly. "Care to explain?"

Damien opened his mouth but didn't speak.

Layla suddenly reached out toward Seraphina, her voice choking up and her eyes turning red.

"Sera, this is all my fault. I just felt like I didn't have much time left and wanted to know what it felt like to be a real mate. That's why I begged Damien to play along and act it out with me.

"I swear I won't steal him from you. The moment the ceremony ends, I'll give him back to you. Alright?"

She swayed as she spoke, looking like she was about to collapse.

At that, both Damien and Leo looked alarmed.

"Layla, are you okay? You don't look well."

"Aunt Layla, be careful. Nothing matters more than your health."

Just then, Bryan and Miriam walked in.

Seeing Layla with red eyes, Miriam rushed forward in distress. "Layla, what's wrong?"

Bryan shot Seraphina a cold look and stepped forward without hesitation.

A sharp crack echoed as his palm collided with her face.

"Seraphina, why did you push Layla over the edge again? You know she's weak, so why make her upset?"

The blow was brutally hard. Seraphina stumbled and fell to the ground.

Only Blaze rushed over to her side, licking her burning cheek and using its warm life force to ease the pain.

Everyone else gathered around Layla instead.

Her parents, her mate, her son.

Seraphina looked across all of them and finally let out a self-mocking smile.

It didn't matter. Soon, she would forget them all, and she would never appear before them again to bother them.

Seraphina pressed a hand to her cheek and slowly stood up. "Blaze, let's go."

Damien froze, a sudden and inexplicable sense of unease rising in his chest.

He released Layla's hand and called out, "Sera…"

Layla immediately collapsed into his arms. "Damien, it hurts so much…"

Damien's expression tightened. Without hesitation, he lifted her and rushed toward her room.

Bryan, Miriam, and Leo hurried after him.

Seraphina didn't look back at their panic. She no longer cared.

When she left, she would let Damien truly become Layla's mate, and Leo would become Layla's son.

Back at Afterglow Lodge, half of Seraphina's face was already swollen.

She channeled the power in her body to reduce the swelling, then gently touched Blaze beside her.

"Does it still hurt where Leo hit you?"

Blaze shook its head, sadness shining clearly in its eyes.

Seraphina forced a small smile. "Are you feeling sorry for me? It's fine. I'm used to it."

She had lived like this for almost 100 years.

Even the deepest wounds eventually went numb.

When night fell, Damien returned.

Seeing Seraphina and Blaze leaning against each other, he frowned, but still softened his tone as he stepped closer.

"Sera, don't take what happened today to heart. You know Layla is weak, and her emotions are unstable.

"She said holding the bonding ceremony is her only wish. Even if it's fake, she just wants to experience it once. I have to fulfill that for her."

Seraphina quietly watched the man who once swore to protect her for life.

Suddenly, she felt a warmth blooming at her forehead. It was as if the Mooncrest was heating up.

Then she realized she could no longer remember the first time she had ever met Damien.

The Moon Goddess's words echoed again in her mind. "In seven days, this Mooncrest will sever your ties of love and erase your memories."

So the forgetting was happening slowly, little by little.

She was already beginning to lose her memories.

No wonder her heart felt so calm now.

"Sure. I don't mind."

She did not make a scene, yet Damien looked even more unsettled.

"The ceremony is just for show. It's not real."

Seraphina curled her lips faintly. "Might as well go all the way. Let's go to the Promise Stone and sever our mate bond."

Damien went rigid. "You want to sever our mate bond?"

"After your ceremony with Layla is finished, and after her condition improves, we can go back to Promise Stone and reestablish the bond," Seraphina said lightly. "We'll do it for Layla. That would make her happier, wouldn't it?"

Damien hesitated. His instincts told him this was unnecessary.

But when he thought of Layla, he took Seraphina's hand. "I knew you still cared about Layla. Does it still hurt where Dad hit you?"

"It doesn't," Seraphina replied quietly.

The pain they caused her no longer reached her heart at all.