Chapter 5

• Savvy
• It was the darkest day of my entire life. The eve of my wedding. A day that was supposed to be the most memorable, happiest day of my lifetime.
• Nine days had passed without a response from Terona Silver, and I could already guess why. He wouldn’t be helping me.
• My interaction with the outside world had been severely limited. My cellphone was taken away, and I had been under surveillance. Irene had been a great help—a young lady I could never repay for her kindness.
• The Winter Tribe had been locked up for days, and Phoenix had given his word that he would only release them after the wedding ceremony was completed. His mother, whom I tried to plead with, merely shrugged and told me to obey the Alpha.
• That night, I sat on the bed, staring blankly into space, when the door opened gently. Irene walked in with the food basket I had her secretly bring to the dungeon.
• “They won’t accept it, Ma’am. Everyone in your tribe... they rejected the meal you sent,” Irene said softly, trying to comfort me. I nodded.
• It was expected of them to hate me already. I put them in this loophole. I should be the one to pull them out.
• “You should get some rest, Ma’am. I’ll try to make your dinner and—” Irene was still speaking when the knock came.
• She quickly got up to answer the door, but before she reached it, it swung open. Sapphire appeared, her presence suffocating. She wore a big, taunting smile, and I felt my hands clench into fists.
• “Hi, Concubine. Sorry I couldn’t visit you these past days. You know, accompanying the Alpha on his business trip can be tiring—and carrying his unborn child is something else entirely...”
• “What do you want?” I cut her off. I wasn’t in the mood for her games. I knew Phoenix wasn’t bluffing when he said he’d reject me if I ever hurt Sapphire again.
• “You’ll be coming down to the living room with me.”
• “Why?”
• “Our wedding dresses have arrived, and you, as the concubine, should choose the dress you’ll wear. The designer said since your status is lower, we should just shove whatever your way, but I said no. I told them, ‘Oh my goodness, she’s the only daughter of Beta Winter! Her dad was a very important person in the werewolf world. He was best friends with Alpha Royal!’ So come on out. Let’s do this.”
• It took everything in me to suppress my anger. Slowly, I looked up at Sapphire and shook my head.
• “No. Tell the designer to keep any one for me.”
• “That’s not gonna do. I insist you come now. What if Phoenix hears you won’t accept my kind gesture? He might think you’re plotting to murder his unborn child again.”
• A cold chill ran down my spine, and I saw Irene flinch in fear. We all knew the gravity of such an accusation.
• Helplessly, with no other choice, I got up from the bed and followed Sapphire. It was a humiliating reversal of roles. She wielded unsettling control over me, while I felt reduced to a mere puppet.
• We arrived in the living room quickly, where I saw the dresses hanging on display. The wedding gown I had personally chosen was set aside, and Sapphire walked over to point at it.
• Kathleen, Phoenix’s mother, sat nearby, watching with what felt like mockery in her eyes.
• “Phoenix told me you picked this for your wedding. It’s a pity you can’t wear it anymore, since you’ll just be a concubine. But here—some simpler dresses suit your new status. How about this one?”
• From the corner of my eye, I saw Sapphire pick up another dress—less fancy, less beautiful. But my gaze was fixed on Phoenix Prince all along.
• He hadn’t shown his face since the incident nine nights ago, and seeing him now made me realize where I stood in his life. I had said I didn’t dislike him the other night, but now? I despised him. And the Moon Goddess bears me witness—killing him wouldn’t be enough to satisfy the hatred burning inside me.
• I was lost in that hatred when a guard rushed forward and whispered into Phoenix’s ear.
• Immediately, his expression shifted. He stood up in disbelief.
• “What happened?” his mother asked, clearly curious, and Phoenix simply nodded.
• Footsteps sounded down the hall, and gasps filled the air. From where I stood, frozen, I felt the atmosphere shift—the wind swirled, cold and otherworldly.
• I had only heard rumors: the last Silver Wolf never appeared without reason, and his presence was always marked by a divine wind that set him apart from all others.
• I turned slowly toward the entrance. And that’s when I saw him.
• The guards of the Silver Moon pack entered first, standing at attention. And then, he emerged. My heart skipped a beat as I laid eyes on the infamous Terona Silver, the last of his line.
• He was the epitome of male perfection, radiating an aura of confidence and raw charm. Dressed in tailored trousers and a long-sleeved shirt, he exuded understated elegance.
• His long, dark hair framed his chiseled features. Intricate tattoos adorned his hands. A sleek silver bracelet wrapped around his wrist—an unmistakable mark of his status.
• I had never imagined he would come. Yet here he was.
• He strode toward Phoenix with effortless grace, every step commanding attention.
• “Terona Silver. I can’t believe you’re here,” Phoenix muttered.
• Sapphire quickly jumped in. “Oh, please—meet Sapphire Lake. She’s going to be my Luna tomorrow.”
• “Hello,” Sapphire greeted.
• But Terona only had eyes for Phoenix. His expression unreadable, he finally spoke—his voice low and husky.
• “I didn’t come here for pleasantries, Phoenix Prince. But I should congratulate you on your ascension. You did well.”
• Phoenix nodded. “Have you come for business, then? We can talk in my office and—”
• He stopped when he noticed Terona wasn’t listening. His gaze was fixed on me.
• Phoenix cleared his throat. “Please, Terona. This is Savvy Winter. My mate. Now, if you will—”
• “She’s even more breathtaking than I imagined,” Terona murmured.
• He strode toward me.
• Each deliberate step sent my heart racing. When he finally stood before me, the intoxicating blend of his cologne and natural scent made my knees weak.
• How could one man embody such perfection? It was as if the gods had conspired to create him.
• “Hello,” he said, his deep voice smooth as silk. He extended his hand, and when I placed mine in his, he gently kissed the back of it, his eyes never leaving mine.
• “I received your letter,” he said, a note of amusement in his voice. “And I must admit, I was taken aback by your audacity. But I’m intrigued. I had intended to respond immediately, but I received word that you were being held captive. Knowing you would never get my letter, I decided to deliver my answer in person.”
• Goosebumps broke across my skin. He took the letter from his attendant and extended it to me.
• His piercing gray eyes met mine. With a nod, he urged me to take it. I did, hands trembling, and opened the seal.
• The message was brief:
• ‘Be my Luna for half a year, and I will grant you your deepest desire.’
• I looked up at him. My throat tightened.
• “Forgive me,” Terona said firmly, “but I won’t be granting you more than a minute to decide. Your time starts now.”
• I gulped, overwhelmed. The air thickened with tension. I looked between him and Phoenix. A sob welled up inside me. Phoenix took a step forward.
• “Savvy, what’s wrong? Are you—”
• “Shhh...” Terona silenced him, his voice commanding. “She’s making a choice.”
• It was clear. I had no life left with Phoenix Prince. Everything between us had been a lie. The faster I got out of this pack, the better.
• I turned to Terona, my voice barely a whisper. “How can I trust you? How will I know you’ll keep your word?”
• His expression remained unreadable. But then he smiled slightly.
• “Because we’ll sign a contract,” he said, stepping closer. “A contract that states no one touches you, no one even looks at you, without my permission for six months. You will be mine. My Luna.”
• His eyes burned with intensity as he continued.
• “If you agree to this, I vow to worship you. To treat you with the reverence and adoration you deserve. And your tribe—the Winter—will never want for anything.”