Chapter 1

After I came into the werewolf world by accident, Logan gave me a home and protected me from harm.

But several days before our mating ceremony, his territory was attacked, and he desperately needed reinforcements.

I stumbled into the neighboring territory, seeking help, but the Alpha there pinned me to the ground and ripped every piece of clothing off my body.

The cold sank into my skin, shame washed over me, and all I could do was cry in despair.

In that moment of panic, I grabbed a decorative piece beside me, ready to take him down with me.

But then, a voice I knew all too well suddenly called out, bringing everything to a halt.

Logan walked out from the back room with his arm around his childhood friend.

They stood there together, looking down at me, barely dressed, like I was nothing more than a piece of merchandise.

I felt like I had been thrown into a frozen lake. "So this is all a show?" I asked, my whole body trembling.

The she-wolf gave me a nasty look. "Humans are always so fickle and unfaithful. I'm the one who suggested Logan test you. Otherwise, what gives you the right to be our Luna?"

Logan said, "Evelyn, I had to think about the pack. Keep your head down, and you'll be my Luna."

I looked at those two hypocrites and laughed through my tears.

"I don't want to be your Luna anymore. Call off the mating ceremony," I said.

*****

It was Logan Ashcroft's most trusted Beta who told me that Logan's territory was under attack.

He said Logan was already fighting at the front line and told me to run.

He also said Marcus Blackwood, the Alpha of the pack in the neighboring territory, was Logan's best friend and would definitely protect me.

I knew I was nothing but a weak human with no chance of fighting back, so I slipped out the back door.

I ran so hard that my heart felt like it would burst, and I didn't stop even when my legs got scraped raw from falling.

All I could think about was getting help for Logan.

But when I finally made it to the neighboring territory and met Marcus, he shoved me to the ground before I could say much.

He sneered, "Logan's about to fall from grace anyway, so you might as well stick with me. I'll keep you safe."

His grip was like iron, and I couldn't break free.

He tore my clothes off, the cold air biting into my skin as humiliation flooded through me.

Desperate and defeated, I squeezed my eyes shut, clenched my jaw, and held tight to a bone ornament I'd grabbed while struggling.

Even if I couldn't kill him, I was going to protect my virginity.

That way, if I died, at least I wouldn't have to face Logan in shame.

But right then, a familiar voice cut in and brought everything to a halt.

Marcus climbed off me and clapped his hands. "See, Logan? I told you she'd pass your test."

Then he gave my nearly-naked body a slow, hungry look and licked his lips. "Got to admit, this human has some seriously soft skin. No wonder you can't keep your hands off her."

I curled up, trying to cover myself, trembling as I looked up at them.

"Logan... so there was no attack? This is all a show?" I asked.

Lila Emerson, his childhood friend, let out a sarcastic laugh. "Logan's the strongest Alpha around. Who would dare attack him? You actually bought that story? How stupid can you be?"

"Then why..." I turned to Marcus, whose cold eyes were still fixed on me, and what he'd done made me want to throw up.

Lila smirked again. "Humans are always so fickle and unfaithful. I'm the one who suggested Logan test you. Otherwise, what gives you the right to be our Luna?"

That was the breaking point.

I stared at Logan in disbelief. I was supposed to be his mate.

How could he let his friend do something like that to me?

Werewolves had always been casual about relationships, but I'd truly believed Logan was different.

Two years ago, I stumbled into the werewolf world and nearly died, and he was the one who saved me.

All these two years, he had treated me with nothing but respect and care, ignoring all the she-wolves who threw themselves at him.

When I couldn't stomach their food, he would cook for me using my recipes, never complaining.

I loved the pearl flowers here, so every morning, he would leave a fresh bouquet outside my window.

Since I was always cold, he would go into the wilderness alone to hunt the best fox fur and make me a warm coat.

He hated anyone touching his ears, but he would shift into his wolf form and let me rub them without a word, simply because I told him I loved seeing him as a wolf.

Every full moon, when his emotions ran high, he would hold me close and kiss me.

He'd say, "Evelyn, you're the only one who makes me feel alive."

He'd won me over for two full years, so I finally gave up on finding a way back home and agreed to be his mate.

But with only three days left before our mating ceremony, I never expected him to put me through something like this.

A humiliating, degrading, and downright cruel test.

I was shaking uncontrollably, my heart torn apart, tears pouring down my face.

It took me a long moment to choke out the words. "Logan, how could you do this to me?"

"Enough," he said, frowning with impatience. "Evelyn, I did this for the pack. It was nothing but a small test. You passed. In three days, after the ceremony, you'll be my Luna."

That small test of his had nearly destroyed me.

He'd let them humiliate me, and I was still nearly naked in front of everyone.

And the fact that he'd chosen to test me proved that he'd never trusted me to begin with.

Lila, still hanging on Logan's arm, gave me a smug look. "I'm the one who came up with this test. Otherwise, Logan might not have picked you as his Luna. Evelyn, you should be thanking me."

After everything she had put me through, she wanted me to say thank you?

Her shamelessness was so ridiculous that I couldn't help but laugh.

But as I laughed, tears rolled down my cheeks.

"I don't want to be your Luna anymore. Call off the mating ceremony," I said.