~Ella~

"Nova must have done something," the High Priest pondered. "That cup of wine—she must have tampered with it."


Marcus limped over. "Miss Ella, please believe that Alpha's feelings for you cannot be false."

Suddenly, a suspicious figure appeared in the corner. I recognized that silhouette immediately.

The heavyset researcher!


"It's him. He researches werewolves. He must have developed a mind control drug."

Marcus understood immediately. "Perhaps the missing werewolves were his and Nova's doing! I'll catch him!"


I nodded. Caden and Nova had already disappeared, so the High Priest and I hurried into the mansion.

In the room, Nova's shadow on the wall showed her kissing Caden. The blood moon grew deeper and higher. Caden clutched his head in pain, his features gradually transforming into wolf form.

Nova's voice was bewitching. "Come on, Alpha. Mark me, and we can be together forever."

The door was locked. I froze at the doorway, hearing only a long howl as a giant wolf burst through the main door, his crimson eyes scanning the surroundings.

"Ah—"

Nova screamed in agony. She lay on the ground covered in wounds, while the giant wolf continued transforming, his growl making the entire estate tremble.

"Alpha Caden... is that you?" I hesitantly stepped forward. The High Priest's expression was grave. "Ella, don't go near him. That is no longer Alpha Caden."

"He has completely transformed into a beast, losing all rationality."

Caden, fully transformed into werewolf form, suddenly raised his head. A pair of blood-red beast eyes, filled with violence, chaos, and bloodlust, stared fixedly at me.


"Mike has been captured," Marcus rushed in and exclaimed. "My God, how could the Alpha end up like this?"

Nova leaned against the wall, her expression grief-stricken. "He would rather be consumed by the curse than mark me! He would rather become a wild beast than love me!"

She looked at me hatefully, hysterical like a madwoman. "It's all because of you, you slut! Why? Why would I lose to a human?"

The High Priest sighed. "Marcus, take her away."

Several guards escorted Nova out. No one dared approach Caden. My heart tightened and my eyes grew moist.

"What about the Alpha? Is there no other way?"

The High Priest sighed helplessly. "Five years ago, Alpha Caden didn't complete the marking on you, so his curse remained. This time, to fight against the drug's control, he let the curse consume him and has completely turned into a beast."

"Perhaps completing the Ceremony of Marking could work."

Hope ignited within me, but then she continued: "However, once the marking is complete, you become the Alpha's eternal mate. Even if he remains a beast forever, you must stay by his side for life."

"Ella, are you willing to... gamble your entire life on a future where he might never wake up?"

I stood frozen in place.

For werewolves, marking represents an eternal commitment, which is why Caden valued it so much. Even while enduring the torment of the curse, he wanted all werewolves to know he had one and only one mate.

That was me.

I stared into those blood-red eyes, tears falling, and spoke solemnly and firmly: "I am willing."