Chapter 3
When the three-year deadline was approaching, Sophia came to see me once.
She sat on the sofa, staring at the glass of ice water I had poured for her. Suddenly she asked,
“Emma… if you died, would Harvey still break the mate bond with me?”
At the time, I didn’t understand what she meant.
Not until later.
The day before Harvey was supposed to end his mate bond with Sophia, he brought me to the edge of the forest.
It was a dangerous place filled with wild beasts.
It was also where adult wolves of the pack brought newly-shifted wolves to train.
But I— was born with a defective wolf spirit. I couldn’t shift into my wolf form.
Ever since the time Harvey tricked me onto that drop tower ride and I nearly died, he had never taken me anywhere that could endanger me again.
So when I stood at the entrance of that forest, I was completely confused.
I was about to ask him what we were doing there when Harvey suddenly dropped to one knee in front of me.
At that moment, a foolish thought flashed through my mind.
I thought he was about to propose.
But the next second he said,
“Emma, there’s a territory near the border currently held by the Alpha of Bone Claw Pack.”
“I need his support. He likes extreme trials.”
He paused.
His voice was gentle… almost pleading.
“Sophia’s wolf form was already injured because of me. If she enters the forest, her wolf spirit could collapse. She might die.”
“Emma… just this once more.”
“Once this trial is finished, she and I will owe each other nothing.”
“Then I’ll marry you.”
In that moment, it felt as if lightning had struck me.
My entire body froze.
My fingers trembled uncontrollably.
My ears rang.
I could barely hear the rest of what he was saying.
I opened my mouth, wanting to ask him—Do you not know my wolf spirit is defective? Do you not know I could die?
But something clogged my throat.
Not a single word came out.
My emotions finally collapsed.
Harvey only looked at me.
Then he handed a contract to me.
“Emma, you don’t want the wolves of Black Moon Pack to lose their homeland, do you?”
“And if you don’t want the people of Sliver Claw Pack to find out…”
“That all these years you’ve only been my lover.”
“Sign it.”
His words landed lightly.
Liability waiver. Death at your own risk.
He threatened me with my father’s reputation.
He threatened me with my own name.
I knew then— there was no way for me to leave that forest.
And yet I still signed.
At least… my father wouldn’t be mocked because of me.
Before entering the forest, I couldn’t help asking one last question.
“Harvey… have you ever loved me?”
He froze for a moment.
Then, just like he always used to, he reached out and gently rubbed my head.
His gaze was soft.
He lowered his head and pressed a kiss against my forehead.
“In this lifetime… I only love you, Emma.”
The moment those words fell, I suddenly laughed.
The corners of my eyes burned red.
Inside my heart, I cursed him as a liar.
If he truly loved me— how could he bear to let me die?
So the truth must be that he didn’t love me.
It was just a pity…
that I only understood that truth at the very last moment.
The memory abruptly shattered.
I had already walked into the back alley of the shooting club.
But I didn’t expect to see Carter there—
Harvey’s younger brother.
The most uncontrollable man in Black Moon Pack.
Seven or eight men had him surrounded at the entrance of the alley.
He wore a black tactical jacket, sleeves rolled up.
A steel pipe rested in his hand.
His expression was dark.
Every strike he threw was vicious.
Carter was completely different from Harvey.
Harvey was the future Alpha in everyone’s eyes—
restrained, rational, perfect.
But Carter—was an illegitimate son.
And the pack’s most infamous mad wolf.
Fighting.
Street racing.
Underground cage matches.
He had done it all.
On the first day he entered the academy, he was almost expelled for assault.
It was only because the old Alpha of Black Moon Pack personally stepped in that the matter was suppressed.
“Damn it, Carter!” one of the men surrounding him cursed, clutching his stomach.
“What the hell did I do to you? You suddenly show up and start beating the crap out of me. You think I’m easy to bully?”
Carter curled his lips. He didn’t answer. He simply lifted his foot and kicked the man hard again.
The man was knocked to the ground and completely enraged.
He suddenly pulled a silver dagger from his pocket.
A weapon specifically designed to restrain werewolves.
He pushed himself off the ground and prepared to rush forward.
I immediately pressed my phone.
The sharp wail of police sirens suddenly rang through the alley.
Closer and closer.
The men’s expressions changed instantly.
They glanced around, then quickly stuffed the dagger back into the pocket.
“You’re fucking lucky today, Carter. Next time I’ll chop you into pieces.”
They cursed as they ran away.
The alley fell silent again.
I stepped out from the corner.
Carter didn’t move.
He stood there, blood running down his jaw.
Bruises spread across the corner of his mouth.
His gaze was dark enough to make people uneasy.
“Carter,” I frowned, “do you not want to graduate?”
He didn’t move.
I continued, “You’re already in your second year. If you get one more disciplinary record, do you really think you’ll still graduate from the Werewolf Academy?”
He still didn’t speak. He only stared at me. That gaze was far too intense. It made me uncomfortable.
I put away my phone and turned to leave. Just then—
Carter’s voice sounded behind me. Hoarse and low. “Emma… I can.”
