1 goi nje groggily the next day, covered in sweat. It was like I was sleeping next to a furry furnace. I shoved the nkets off, trying to cool down, but the warmth still dong to me, like an invisible Ing. My heart started beating faster as pieces of the dream came back to me a deep voice murmuring sohtly, though I couldn''t remember the words, and strong furry arms holding me close. It felt so real, like it actually happened.


    Was someone here!


    1 looked around the room. Everything seemed normal-the chair by the window, the half-open wardrobe, and the bedsidemp still glowing because I forgot to turn it off. Yet, I couldn''t shake the feeling that I hadn''t been alone.


    1 got out of bed and walked to the window. The sunlight warmed my skin, but it didn''t stop the chill that ran down my back, I rubbed my arms, trying to calm myself, but my mind kept racing. Why did my nightmares go away the moment I felt that warm thing in my dream! And why did it feel like more than a dream? Like it was realt


    Shaking my head to clear away the weird thoughts, I decided to take a long bath. As the warm water surrounded me, memories of Sable''s humiliation came flooding back, dragging my mood down again. That wolf always had a way of making others feel awful while pretending she was doing good for others.


    hi got me breakfast in the room. "Lady Auren," she said, keeping the breakfast tray down. "I''m so sorry about what happened to you yesterday. Sable shouldn''t have stepped out of line."


    I nodded as I sat at the table. "Vivi, is BDSM a wolf?"


    And she blushed again heavily. "Ah no!" she blurted. "It''s something you do while having sex!"


    1 blinked rapidly, struggling to process what I''d just heard. This was all about sex! My mouth fell open in shock, and heat rushed to my cheeks. Was that why Sable wore all those things-to show what it meant in sex? A startled gasp escaped my lips. "Oh. My. Goddess."


    "Vivil" Tom''s loud voice reached us.


    Vivi looked towards the door. "Please don''t


    on''t tell Alpha


    Alpha Lucien that I told you so," she croaked


    1-1 won''t." I croaked as well. I sat over there for a long time, thinking about it so hard that my head started aching. Even though I knew my oue, Sable''s actions made me feel unhappy. Tears welled in my eyes on how everyone around me treated me as nothing more than a breeder. I had feelings too. My blood was the same as theirs, so why was I branded as someone so low?


    Wiping my tears, I went outside to stroll in the garden, hoping the fresh air outside would clear my head. The atmosphere inside the house felt heavy and suffocating


    I couldn''t help wishing I''d been born into a higher rank. Maybe then Alpha Beam would have epted me. But the very thought of him epting me now felt revolting. My mind drifted to Alpha Lucien, and I couldn''t stopparing the two.


    Even though Lucien saw


    saw me as nothing more than a breeder, he was still better than Bram. At least with Lucien, I felt safe.


    The garden surrounding the Alpha''s house was breathtaking, bursting with blooms in a vibrant riot of colors. A cool breeze swept through, sending a shiver down my spine as it wrapped around me. The pups were ying near the training grounds, their giggles cutting through the otherwise chilly atmosphere.


    Watching then reminded me of simpler times-back when I watched them ying "Help!" One of the pups shouted. "Help!"


    I wasn''t so confused about my ce in the world. I chuckled as I stood in my ce and


    Istrained my eyes to see who was shouting for help. Then I saw him. A small pup, no older than six, was struggling in a shallow hole near the tree line. He looked scared, histe arms iling as he tried to climb out. The other pups had stopped ying to watch, but no one moved to help


    "Doesn''t he have ws! He can dig himself out," one okler puj said, rolling his eyes.


    My chest tightened. No one was helping him. My feet carried me toward the hole before my mind could catch up. "Are you okay?" I rushed and crouched beside the hole, giving the pup a reassuring smile.


    His big brown eyes, full of tears, linked up at me. "My


    ty foot is stuck," he whimpered, his voice trembling. "And there are snakes inside.""


    "It''s okay. I''ll help you out," I said softly, digging into the loose dirt with my hands. It wasn''t deep, but his foot had gotten wedged under a roo Something slithered around my arm and I suppressed a shriek. By the time I freed him, my hands were caked in dirt. The pup sniffled but


    managed a small smile.


    "Thank you, miss," he said, hugging the tightly. My heart melted.


    The other pups, sering him safe, went back to their gaine as if nothing had happened. But as I stood and brushed off my hands, I noticed two adul Chapter IS


    minning from the packhouse steps. Their gazes were full of concern. The p pop''s parents,


    1. I realized when they hugged him tightly.


    "Thank you!" the mother said as the father picked him up in his arms. "These paddles are infested with snaked! You saved his life


    "It''s fine," I replied with a smile.


    They carried him inside the house and with a deep sigh, I walked after them, looking at my dirty hands When I stepped in, I saw Alpha Luciening inside the main hall with an urgent look on his face. His brows shot up in disbelief when he saw my mud-covered hands and face. "What happened to you?" he practically growled. "Did someone attack you? Who attacked you? Tell me his name


    "Calin down." I breathed. "No one attacked me, I saved a pup who was trapped in a water hole down the tree line."


    His expression shifted from relief to something darker. "I''ll have the masons seal that water hole with concrete," he said firmly. I nodded and started walking back to my room, but his voice stopped me. "Auren," he called, his tone serious. "Elder Rynia will be here in fifteen minutes to assess our rtionship.”


    "Wh-what?" My eyes widened in astonishment. Assess our rtionship? What did that mean?


    Just wash yourself ande down quickly!" he gritted. Then he mumbled something about putting up a show.


    I ran to the bathroom, took a quick shower, changed into a shirt and a skirt and darted back to the main hall. He was pacing the room with his fingers in his hair. The moment he saw me, I asked, "Why does she want to assess the rtionship?"


    He sighed. "Because she wants to be reassured that the marriage will take ce


    in a few days as nned, not be postponed for another week!"


    I furrowed my brows. "But why would we postpone it for a week!"


    "Because I suggested," he said in a low voice. "Plus there are rumors that we are not together, and want to split!" He shook his head. "I don''t know who is spreading these rumors, but if they reach the Crimson Howl pack, the treaty will fail, and there will be serious consequences!"


    "So how do we solve this issue?" I asked, totally worried and confused.


    "By acting that we are in love."