Chapter1

That was exactly how long I had bled my youth dry chasing Kaelzen, the Alpha heir of the Frostfang tribe.

I stood before the mirror, trying on my ceremonial gown.

In just a few hours, the Naming Ceremony was supposed to begin.

I was finally about to fulfill my four-year dream of marrying him.

But the moment I overheard Kaelzen talking with someone in his private study next door, everything changed.

"Are you seriously going through with this? Marrying Sevran?" The gruff voice belonged to Vargus, his chief advisor.

"Of course," Kaelzen replied dismissively. "With Vesya actually pregnant now, the Frostfang elders are furious. Marrying the Miststag heir is the perfect solution."

"And you aren't worried Sevran will use her tribal influence to go after Vesya?"

Kaelzen let out a cruel scoff. "Never. She’s insanely in love with me. She’ll swallow the secret just to keep her place by my side. As long as I put my official mark on her, Vesya stays completely safe."

The words hit me like physical blows.

Blinded by panic and tears, I fled down the corridor. I tripped over the heavy hem of my dress and hit my head hard against a marble pillar.

White-hot agony shot through me, and my world went entirely black.

......

When I woke up in the healing ward, my mind was fractured yet bizarrely clear.

I remembered everything, but I had completely forgotten Kaelzen.

The severe trauma to my head, combined with my Omega biology's defense mechanism, had literally erased memory of him.

My parents had known of his betrayal and swiftly arranged a backup plan: a political marriage with Lothian, the Alpha heir of the Duskthorn tribe.

I agreed readily. The Ash Gate Relay would open in seven days, and I would leave this place for good.

Right now, I stood by the window of my recovery quarters, systematically dropping my official seals into a leather pouch.

"Sevran, are you out of your mind?" Irem, my closest ally and an Omega Frostfang noble, stared at me in absolute disbelief. "You're really going back? You're actually accepting the Duskthorn marriage?"

Irem had just spent the last hour recounting everything that had happened between Kaelzen and me, but I felt nothing at all.

I honestly thought it was pathetic to waste four years on such a person.

I didn't even look up. "Yeah. The Ash Gate will open in seven days."

"But... what about your feelings?"

I paused, a wave of genuine irritation washing over me. "I literally have zero impression of him. He is nothing but a stranger to me."

"What are you doing, Sevran?"

The voice from the doorway was cold and sharp.

I turned. A tall, imposing Alpha leaned against the doorframe.

His presence was heavily territorial, but looking at his face, I felt absolutely nothing.

By process of elimination, this had to be Kaelzen.

His dark eyes narrowed. He had no idea my memory of him was gone. "What kind of childish game are you playing now? You skipped our Naming Ceremony to bang your head? Did you expect me to feel sorry for you and stay by your side longer?"

"Wait—" Irem stepped forward. "She has—"

"I wasn't asking you," Kaelzen snapped, silencing her.

He stepped into the room, his gaze locking onto mine. "I already agreed to make you my bride, Sevran. Stop this pathetic stunt," he commanded, checking the silver watch at his wrist. "You're going to come with me to the banquet in two days."

I frowned, instinctively taking a step back. "Why would I do that?"

"Vesya is pregnant, and it makes her emotional," Kaelzen said, a rare flicker of gentleness entering his tone "I’m going to bid on some rare protective artifacts for her. But since she isn’t my legal wife, I need to take you along so the others won't talk nonsense."

I stared at him, my brain struggling to process the sheer audacity of this entitled stranger.

"Let me get this straight," I said, my voice eerily calm and completely detached. "You want me to act as a shield so you can publicly buy gifts for your pregnant mistress?" I scoffed softly, shaking my head. "No. Fuck off. I'm not going."

Kaelzen froze. He had clearly expected tears, jealousy, or a desperate plea for his attention.

The flat, detached indifference in my eyes seemed to completely derail him.

His confusion quickly morphed into volatile anger. He strode over and grabbed my shoulder in a vice grip.

"What did you just say to me? You are going," he growled, yanking me forward.

The rough tug tore the fresh stitches over my shattered collarbone. A blinding, sharp pain shot through me, and warm blood immediately blossomed across the fabric of my shirt.

"Kaelzen!"

A sweet voice drifted from the hallway. Vesya, the Omega mistress.

The moment Kaelzen saw her, his entire demeanor shifted. He roughly shoved me aside and rushed to her.

Thrown off balance, I stumbled backward, crashing hard against the edge of the mahogany desk.

"Sevran!" Irem screamed, rushing to my side to catch me.

Kaelzen completely ignored the damage he had just caused. He hovered over Vesya, his voice melting into a sickeningly soft whisper.

"Vesya, what are you doing walking the halls? Didn’t the doctors tell you to rest?"

She glanced at me. A triumphant gleam flashed in her eyes before she leaned weakly against his chest.

"I've been feeling so sick," she murmured, burying her face into his coat. "I just... I missed you. I wanted to see you."

"You shouldn't be walking out here," Kaelzen said gently, immediately sweeping her up into his arms.

As he turned to leave, Irem finally snapped.

"Are you out of your fucking mind?!" she yelled. "She is your future wife! How can you treat her like trash?!"

Kaelzen stopped dead in his tracks.

In his arms, Vesya bit her lip, forcing tears to well in her eyes. "It's all my fault," she whimpered. "Following you without a registry title... I just make everyone hate you. I make her hate me."

Kaelzen gently set Vesya down on the chair by the door. His face was thunderous.

He stalked back into the room quickly. Before I could even brace myself, he raised his hand and brought it backhanded across my face.

Smack.

The sheer force of the slap sent my head snapping to the side.

Kaelzen shook out his wrist, staring down at me with zero empathy.

"I thought you were at least well-behaved. Turns out, your petty jealousy makes you just as vicious as the rest," he said coldly. "I am warning you right now, Sevran. If you dare instigate Irem to insult Vesya again, I will remind you exactly who holds the power in this tribe."

Then, he scooped Vesya back up and walked out, leaving the room in a stunned silence.

Irem was openly sobbing now. "Sevran... I'm so sorry... I—"

I gripped the edge of the desk, waiting for the ringing in my ears to fade. I looked toward the empty hallway, forcing a calm, chilling smile.

"Don't waste your tears, Irem."

She helped me to the sofa, practically vibrating with rage. "That arrogant bastard! Good! You go back and finalize that contract with Duskthorn! Let him regret it!"

I nodded slowly. Kaelzen was so confident playing his little mind games, utterly convinced that I was still desperately clinging to him.

He didn't realize that in my mind, he was already dead to me.

As his temporary guest , I would play along and attend his necessary public events just to survive the countdown. I had to hold on.

Seven days.

In seven days, the Ash Gate opens. I am returning to Miststag, and this madman will have absolutely nothing to do with me ever again.