Chapter 1

I, Ian McLeod, held the yellowed family rules in my hand, my finger lingering on the words "Trial of the People's Hearts".

"Young Master, are you really sure?" Margaret stood behind me, her voice filled with worry.

"Family traditions cannot be violated." I placed the family rules back on the desk. "Besides, you know the consequences of failing the trial—losing the right of inheritance and the family losing a third of its northern territory. I cannot allow the legacy of our ancestors to be destroyed in my hands."

This trial, which began ten months ago, has rules so strict they're almost cruel: I must live as an ordinary guard for a whole year, without revealing my identity, without using any resources beyond my guard's authority, and without even exhibiting any behavior inconsistent with my role. If I violate these rules, not only will I lose my inheritance rights, but the entire McLeod family will suffer enormous losses.

But I never expected that this trial would lead me to meet her.

Moonlight streamed through the castle's stained-glass windows, casting a dappled silver-blue hue on the stone floor. I had just finished my night patrol and was about to return to my room to rest when I saw Ella bustling about alone in the hall.

She knelt on the ground, carefully wiping away the shards of a broken vase, her long golden hair cascading down her cheeks. The moonlight made her profile appear exceptionally beautiful, but I noticed that her fingers were cut by shards and were bleeding.

"Let me do it." I quickly walked over and squatted down next to her.

Ella looked up, a flicker of panic crossing her lake-blue eyes: "Ian? Your patrol is over? I just accidentally knocked over a vase and was trying to clean it up before anyone noticed..."

"Take care of the wound first." I gently held her hand, took out a handkerchief from my pocket, and carefully bandaged it. "The vase isn't the problem, but an infection would be troublesome."

Her hands were small and soft, trembling slightly in my palm. I could smell a faint rose scent emanating from her, along with Luna's signature sweet pheromones. My alpha instincts began to stir, a urge to pull her into my arms, a desire to mark her...

"Ian?" Ella called softly, "Are you alright?"

I snapped out of my daze and realized I'd been holding her hand for far too long. "Sorry, I was just... making sure the bandage was secure."

She didn't pull her hand away; instead, she chuckled softly, "Thank you. You always take such good care of me."

This has happened many times before. Three months ago, when Ella first arrived at the castle, she got lost in the rainy night, and I found her and took her back to her room. A month ago, she fell ill with a fever, and I secretly waited outside her door all night. Two weeks ago, she wanted snow lotus flowers from the mountaintop, so I braved a blizzard to climb to the edge of a cliff and pick them for her...

Every time, the way she looks at me changes. From initial gratitude, to later dependence, and now... I'm not sure what it is.

"Miss Ella?" Aiden's voice came from the top of the stairs. "Why aren't you resting yet?"

We quickly separated. Aiden strode over, dressed in his impeccable adjutant's uniform, the silver badge on his chest gleaming in the moonlight. His face darkened instantly when he saw the two of us crouching together.

"What happened?" His gaze shifted between us.

"It was just a broken vase." Ella stood up, instinctively hiding her bandaged hand behind her back. "Ian is helping me clean up."

"These kinds of chores can be done by the servants," Aiden said, walking over to Ella and naturally taking her arm. "You're Luna; you shouldn't be doing these things."

His movements were natural and intimate, as if he were used to such contact. Watching them, I felt a surge of indescribable bittersweetness.

"Ian, you can go," Aiden said to me, his tone clearly commanding. "I'll handle the rest."

"Yes, sir." I replied with my head bowed, but before turning to leave, I glanced at Ella.

She was looking at me too, with a complex emotion in her eyes—like apology, or perhaps reluctance.

I walked towards the stairs, and behind me came Aiden's gentle voice: "Ella, are you hurt? Let me see..."

"It's just a minor injury, it's nothing serious."

"How can you say it's nothing serious? I'll call the doctor right away..."

"Really, it's not necessary. Ian has already bandaged it up for me."

"Ian?" Aiden's voice suddenly turned cold. "How could you let a guard touch you? That's against the rules."

I stopped in my tracks.

"Aiden, don't talk like that," Ella said, her voice tinged with displeasure. "Ian is trying to help me."

"Help?" Aiden sneered. "Ella, you're too kind to see through some people's true intentions. A guard is fawning over Luna; what do you think his motives are?"

I clenched my fist. If it weren't for the rules of the trial, if it weren't for the fact that revealing my identity would cause losses to my entire family, I would have already taught this arrogant Beta what respect is.

"What are you saying?" Ella's voice grew even more displeased. "Ian isn't that kind of person."

"How do you know he isn't?" Aiden lowered his voice, but I could still hear him. "Ella, someone as beautiful and noble as Luna will always have people with ulterior motives around her. They'll use all sorts of methods to get close to you, to gain your sympathy and favor, their ultimate goal being to use you to gain a higher position."

"you..."

"I'm saying all this to protect you," Aiden's voice softened. "Next week is the full moon engagement ceremony, and I hope you'll carefully consider your choice. Choose someone who can truly protect you and bring you happiness, rather than being misled by some unscrupulous servants."

I couldn't listen anymore and quickly left.

Back in my small room, I sat on my simple wooden bed, gazing at the moon outside the window. In a week, the full moon engagement ceremony would begin. According to wolf clan tradition, Ella had to choose her partner on that night.

As for me, I could only watch helplessly as she made her choice, as an ordinary guard.

There was a soft knock on the door.

"Ian?" It was Ella's voice.

I opened the door and saw her standing alone in the hallway, the moonlight streaming through the window, making her look like a fairy from a dream.

"Why are you here? It's so late, what if someone sees you..."

"I want to talk to you," she said softly, "about what Aiden said earlier."

I let her in and closed the door. The room was small, containing only a bed, a table, and a simple wardrobe. She looked around, a hint of heartache flashing in her eyes.

"Ian, why do you live in a place like this?" She sat in the only chair. "You could have..."

"What can I do?" I sat down on the edge of the bed, keeping a proper distance from her.

"You're no ordinary bodyguard." She looked directly into my eyes. "I can sense it. There's a very special aura about you, very much like... very much like Alpha's pheromones. And your demeanor, your bearing, doesn't seem like someone of humble origins."

My heart started racing. Luna's sensitivity to pheromones made her realize something.

"Ella..."

"Tell me the truth." She stood up, walked over to me, and said, "No matter who you are, I'm not afraid."

She was very close to me, close enough that I could see every glimmer of light in her eyes. I wanted to tell her the truth, to let her know who I was, to give her a reason to choose me.

But the rules of the trial bind me like shackles. If I were to reveal my identity, not only would I lose my inheritance rights, but my family would also lose a third of the northern territory. That was the foundation laid by our ancestors with their blood and sweat; I cannot destroy it because of personal feelings.

"Some things are complicated," I said, taking her hand, "but I want to tell you that my feelings for you are real."

"That's enough," Ella said softly. "I don't care about your status; I only care about you as a person."

Her words warmed my heart. This is what I want—to be loved not because of status or power, but because of who I am.

"Ella, about the full moon night..." I hesitated for a moment, "Who would you choose?"

She remained silent for a long time, then whispered, "Whom do you want me to choose?"

This question pierced my heart like a sharp blade. I wanted to say choose me, I wanted to tell her I loved her and wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. But given my current situation, what right did I have to say those things?

"The choice is yours." That was all I could say in the end.

Disappointment flashed in Ella's eyes. "Yes, the choice is mine."

She turned to leave, but stopped at the doorway: "Ian, if...if I tell you a secret, will you keep it for me?"

"What secret?"

"I love you." Her voice was soft, but clearly audible in the quiet room. "From the first time you saved me, I fell in love with you. Not because of your possible identity, not for any other reason, just because of who you are."

After saying that, she quickly left, leaving me sitting alone in the room.

She loves me.

She said she loves me.

But will she choose me on the night of the full moon a week later? Or will she choose reality, a stable future, as Aiden suggested?

I have no idea.

All I knew was that it would be the most important night of my life.