Chapter 1

“What did you say? Say it again!” Father sprang up from his beast-bone throne, his wolf pupils contracting into thin slits in sheer shock.

The North was bitterly cold and unforgiving; very few she-wolves were willing to marry into the Snow Wolf pack, so it was almost always a marriage of convenience.

This time, it was our pack's turn to pay the price. Either Selina would go, or I would.

But everyone knew that the wolves of the Snow Wolf pack were extremely possessive. Once you entered the Frostlands, there was no turning back.

In my past life, Selina was the one who went, but she died in less than one year because she couldn't adapt to the harsh environment.

The sacrifice had to be either me or Selina.

My voice was calm, yet resolute. "Father, I will go. I am willing to marry the Alpha of the Snow Wolf pack."

Selina was my half-sister, and the goddess in Lucien’s heart.

In my past life, Father had chosen to sacrifice Selina. Because of this, Lucien silently hated me for the rest of his life.

He despised me for being the older sister who coldly watched his frail, sickly Selina be sent to her doom in the Frostlands.

During the ten years we were mated, no matter how carefully I tried to please him, I could never win his heart.

It wasn't until vampires attacked and Lucien blocked a silver blade for me that he finally revealed his truth.

"Sylvia, please, in the next life, spare me and Selina."

He loved Selina. As for me, I was nothing more than a duty.

Even though we were fated mates, whenever he touched me, he was thinking of Selina.

Reborn, I was exhausted. I no longer wanted to be entangled with him.

"Sylvia, do you have any idea what kind of man the Alpha of the Snow Wolf pack is? You are walking to your death! Have you lost your mind?"

Father’s brows were deeply furrowed, his gaze toward me incredibly complex.

I had been proud since childhood, unable to bear even the slightest grievance, whereas Selina was obedient.

Father believed she could better endure the desolation of the Frostlands.

He felt immense guilt toward my late mother, and the thought of sending me to die in the Frostlands was something he could barely accept.

But if I didn't go, Selina would have to.

"I know. I am willing to bear all the consequences. As long as you give your blessing."

I looked directly into his beastly eyes. Father remained silent for a long time before finally nodding in agreement.

With Father's permission granted, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.

Our mating contract was the result of negotiations between our two packs.

I still had to obtain the approval of Lucien's mother, Elder Sophia.

I went to visit her immediately, only to find Lucien kneeling outside Sophia's door.

I stepped into the room.

Sophia opened the door, looking irritated, and seemed somewhat surprised to see me.

"Mom, Selina cannot withstand the harsh environment of the Frostlands. I beg you, do not force her into this marriage of convenience," Lucien pleaded with Sophia desperately.

Sophia’s fur stood on end with rage.

"Silence! If Selina doesn't go, then Sylvia must! Sylvia is the fated mate chosen for you by the Moon Goddess!"

In my past life, the scene was exactly the same.

Lucien had angered the Elders and his mother for Selina’s sake, and they were about to sentence him to the dungeon for punishment.

Back then, I loved him with my life. I had rushed in to shield him, begging the Elders for leniency on his behalf.

Yet, he took that as proof that I despised Selina. He accused me of deliberately refusing to help her, of watching her go to the Frostlands to die.

Lucien saw me then, a flicker of hesitation crossing his amber wolf eyes.

"Sylvia, it's a good thing you're here too."

"Think of a way to save Selina. She’s been frail since childhood; she will never survive the cruelty of the Frostlands."

Lucien looked at me with desperate pleading, his words piercing my heart like silver nails.

In his eyes, Selina always came first. He never once thought of me.

I took a deep breath, suppressing the dull ache in my wolf.

"You can rest easy. Selina will no longer be going to the Frostlands."

Lucien immediately broke into a look of sheer joy.

Sophia said nothing, her expression remaining stern.

"Sylvia, you..."

I cut him off.

"I will not be mating bond with you. You are free to bond with Selina now."

I turned to look at Lucien, my gaze as calm as a winter lake.

Lucien froze, frowning impatiently as he demanded:

"Enough! What are you deliberately doing to attract my attention?" Lucien frowned impatiently. "I know you don't like Selina, but there's no need to say such spiteful things."

My heart gave a violent lurch.

No matter what I did, he always thought I was being unreasonable.

Lucien continued to condemn me: "You really should learn from Selina. She is so gentle and kind. Just because I pay a little extra attention to her, you keep getting jealous endlessly. What is the point of that?"

The words that were on the tip of my tongue stopped. I had originally wanted to tell him that I would take Selina's place and go to the Frostlands.

But what was the point of saying it either way? I wasn't going to entangle myself with him anymore; saying it would only make him think I was throwing another tantrum.

Why not let Selina take my place as his mate on the day of the claiming ceremony? It would certainly be a surprise for him.

I nodded, not wanting to say another word to him.

After he turned and left, my tears finally broke like a dam, surging down my face.

Sophia looked at me helplessly, carefully instructing me on the precautions to take within the Snow Wolf pack.

"My good girl, I respect your choice. I hope you stay safe."

The carriage to the Frostlands was set to depart at dawn in three days, which was originally supposed to be the day of our bonding ceremony.

Three days. Goodbye, Lucien.

I will never throw another tantrum at you again.