Chapter 1

When I announced I would replace my adopted sister and sleep with her poisoned fiancé, the whole room went dead silent.

Stella let out a sharp laugh.

"You? Maya, are you crazy? Are you that desperate to throw yourself at a comatose man?"

Stella shoved me.

"Makes sense. Right now, he's just a beast who could go mad and bite you to death at any moment. And you are a cursed freak who sees ghosts. You two are a perfect match! Go ahead. Let's see how they carry your body out tomorrow morning!"

My biological father grabbed my arm.

"Shut up, Maya! Haven't you embarrassed our family enough?"

My mother took a half-step back in disgust.

"Let her go. If she is cheap enough to throw her life away, let her. Better her than our Stella."

I lowered my head and said nothing.

They saw my silence as cowardice and guilt.

But they had no idea I was already calculating my payout.

What's a reputation? A few insults wouldn't kill me.

For that private island estate on the South Coast. For those five million dollars.

Even if there was a real risk, I would gladly take it.

Right then, the temperature in the room dropped to freezing.

A suffocating, terrifying aura swept over us.

I looked up.

Caleb's translucent soul was hovering right behind Stella.

His imposing, tall frame was oozing the dangerous vibe of an apex predator.

"I can't believe I was fooled by this woman's innocent act. Stella, you said your sister always bullied you because you were adopted. Now I see you are just a disgusting snake."

After venting his anger, his gaze snapped to me.

It was highly aggressive. He looked at me like a beast sizing up its prey.

I avoided his eyes, shook off my father's hand without a second thought, and strode past Stella's mocking face.

I walked straight up to Caleb's mother, Diana.

The iron-fisted Luna of the Northern Territory now had eyes full of despair and exhaustion.

Caleb's fall had put the entire territory in jeopardy.

"Luna Diana," I looked her in the eyes. "I am willing to take Stella's place and soothe the Alpha."

Diana jolted.

She stared at me, her chest heaving.

The next second, she lunged forward and grabbed my hands.

"Good girl..." Diana's voice trembled violently, like she had just caught her last lifeline. "When the silver poison flares up, his body temperature reaches a boiling point. His feral Alpha instincts have no reason left. He might tear you apart like an enemy. Do you really dare?"

"I dare," I answered without hesitation.

Tears filled Diana's eyes.

"Good!" She made a resounding promise in front of everyone. "When Caleb wakes up, you will be the only recognized future Luna of the Northern Territory!"

"Then have sweet dreams, freak," Stella sneered from the side.

My parents pulled Stella away and left quickly.

I didn't even bother to give them a look.

I turned around and met Caleb's soul.

He had floated right in front of me without me noticing.

He was extremely close.

Even as a bodiless soul, the dangerous vibe of a top Alpha still washed over me.

It made my scalp tingle.

He lowered his head slightly. His straight nose almost brushed my cheek.

I could clearly see the outline of his full chest muscles and the dark fire dancing in his dark gold eyes.

"You've got guts, little freak."

His deep, raspy voice echoed directly in my mind. It carried a spine-tingling sexiness.

His gaze swept over my body recklessly. His intense possessiveness was completely unhidden.

"Survive this. Just save me with your body heat. I'll give you everything you want."

My heart skipped a beat. The blood in my veins boiled with extreme excitement.

He curled his lips into an incredibly wild and dangerous smile.

Then, he turned around, and his tall phantom walked straight through the door.

Only Diana and I were left in the hallway.

"Go, Maya." Diana wiped the tears from her eyes and opened the door for me herself.

I took a deep breath and stepped into the bedroom. It felt like a furnace.

I prayed silently in my heart.

Great Moon Goddess.

Please bless this dangerous beast to survive.

And, most importantly.

He absolutely, positively cannot forget his promise of that massive fortune!