She Chose Fire

From the moment she was born, Seraphina Grant was doomed to live a life without being loved.

Her dad, the Alpha of the pack, said to her, "You owe Layla too much. Give her the Moonshadow Blade blessed by the Moon Goddess."

Her mom, the Luna, asked her, "Are you really going to stand by and watch Layla die? We're just asking that you give her a bit of your life essence each day. You'll be fine."

Later, Seraphina met Damien Norman. He swore that across lifetimes, whether as a wolf spirit or in human form, he would love only her.

But later still, Damien told her, "Layla ended up like this because of you. Staying with her is my way of helping you atone."

Even her son said, "I don't want you to be my mom. I want Aunt Layla!"

In the end, every single one of them demanded that she give her life for her sister, Layla Grant.

All because she belonged to the legendary Sunfire bloodline and possessed the power of Ember Rebirth.

So Seraphina did what they wished and set her own life ablaze, not to trade it for Layla's, but to erase them all from her heart forever.

When her parents and mate abandoned her for her sister for the 99th time, Seraphina Grant was finally exhausted.

She knelt before the statue of the Moon Goddess and said, "I'm willing to erase all my memories, sever every emotional bond, and go to Howlpeak to become its eternal guardian, to suppress the wild spirits of the abyss and protect the balance of the supernatural world."

The Moon Goddess's majestic voice echoed in her mind. "Once you go to Howlpeak, you will never be allowed to leave. You will never return to your pack's territory.

"And you will be completely alone, with no companion. Are you sure about this?"

Seraphina did not hesitate for a second. "Yes."

"Then it shall be as you wish." A beam of silver light poured from the statue and sank into the center of Seraphina's forehead. "In seven days, this Mooncrest will sever your ties of love, erase your memories, and send you to Howlpeak."

Seraphina bowed deeply. "Thank you for your mercy, great Moon Goddess."

On her way back to the Sunfire Pack's territory, heavy snow began to fall.

Seraphina caught a snowflake in her palm, a bitter smile tugging at her lips.

Today was supposed to be her 100th birthday, an important milestone in a werewolf's life.

But early that morning, her sister, Layla Grant, had suddenly collapsed and fallen unconscious.

Her mate, Damien Norman, rushed to her side in a panic. "Layla!"

Her Luna mother, Miriam Grant, cried out and nearly fainted on the spot.

Her Alpha father, Bryan Grant, hurried to steady Miriam and then followed Damien in a rush.

Even her child, Leo Norman, cried, "What's wrong with Aunt Layla? I don't want anything to happen to her!"

They all hurried away with Layla. Not one person looked back at Seraphina. Not one person remembered what day it was.

Half an hour later, they returned and said to her, "Seraphina, Layla really cannot hold on any longer. Back then, you pushed her into Thornfrost Grove and damaged her primal wolfheart. Now you should trade your life for hers.

"You're from the Sunfire bloodline. You can go through Ember Rebirth."

Ember Rebirth. As someone of the Sunfire bloodline, her parents knew better than anyone how agonizing that ritual was.

First, her heart would be torn out while she was still alive. Then her soul would burn in soul fire for seven days and seven nights, before flesh and bone were rebuilt, and her wolf spirit re-formed.

Seraphina curled her lips into a mocking smile. "What I owed Layla, I already paid back with everything I have given up since childhood.

"My den, my hunting rights, the sacred items from every ceremony, even your attention, my mate's love, and my own son's affection. I gave all of it away. Isn't that enough? Now you want my life, too?"

Miriam slapped her hard across the face. "You were the one who damaged Layla's wolfheart in the first place!"

They turned and walked away again. Even Damien didn't pause for a single moment.

That was when Seraphina truly grew tired.

She would rather forget everything than ever give up her life again.

She returned to the Sunfire Pack's territory, to her stone house known as Afterglow Lodge.

Because she wasn't favored by the Alpha and Luna, the other pack members looked down on her as well.

On her 100th birthday, she didn't even get a single cup of clean spring water, let alone roasted meat.

Seraphina had long grown used to days like this. She went alone to the communal kitchen and baked herself a small cake.

She took a few bites of the cake, praying for peace and for the pain to end.

The next moment, tears fell into the frosting.

Seraphina wiped away the blur in her eyes and told herself it was fine. In seven days, she would never cry over anyone again.

The next day, Damien finally returned with Leo.

When he saw her, he handed her a wooden box, a trace of stiffness flashing through his eyes. "Your belated birthday gift."

Seraphina only glanced at it before looking away calmly. "Thank you. Just leave it there."

Damien had never seen her react so coldly and frowned in surprise. "Are you angry? Just because we didn't celebrate your birthday with you yesterday?"

Without waiting for her to answer, he pinched the bridge of his nose with a weary sigh.

"Seraphina, you saw what happened yesterday. Layla was at death's door. Were we supposed to happily celebrate your birthday in that situation? That would've been heartless."

"And as Layla's sister, you didn't even visit her once. She was very upset about that."

Hearing the hidden accusation in his words, Seraphina wanted to ask if they truly could not see through Layla's tricks after all these years.

Layla was a rare Frostheart werewolf. How could simply entering Thornfrost Grove damage her wolfheart?

And she was usually perfectly fine, so why did she collapse only on Seraphina's birthday? Did they really think that wasn't strange at all?

But Seraphina said nothing. She didn't feel like saying anything. She simply sat down and poured herself a cup of water.

Damien frowned more deeply, as if he wanted to continue.

Just then, Leo tugged on his sleeve and suddenly looked up and spoke a sentence in an ancient language. It was the Primal Tongue, spoken only by the noblest Shadow Wolf Pack.

"Dad, Mom is so annoying. Aunt Layla is nothing like that. She's so gentle and kind."

Damien lowered his head and replied casually in the language, "It's fine. Ignore her. In the end, she will still make up with us."

Seraphina quietly watched the two of them, the fingers resting on her knees slowly curling into a fist.

She didn't know when it had started, but those two would communicate in the Primal Tongue from time to time.

She wasn't surprised. After all, Damien came from the powerful Shadow Wolf Pack, so it was only natural that he could speak such a language.

In order to blend into their world, she had secretly learned that ancient tongue, planning to someday surprise them by speaking it fluently.

But the more she understood, the colder her heart became.

At that moment, she looked at the pride faintly shining in the eyes of the two people before her and suddenly spoke in flawless Primal Tongue.

"I won't."

She would never make up with them again.