Chapter 1
On the eve of their mating ceremony, her mate–to–be suddenly claimed to have lost his memory. He remembered everyone else, but her – his future Luna – was erased from his
mind.
That day, Winter Frost clutched a vial of ancient memory restoration potion in her trembling hands, her heart racing as she rushed to find him at the pack house. But just as her fingers brushed the door handle to his study, familiar voices drifted through the heavy
oak.
“Alpha Reed, that memory loss act is brilliant! How did you even come up with it? Winter would never suspect you’re just playing with her. How long do you plan to keep up this
charade?”
The jovial laughter froze Winter in place, her expression hardening as the truth crystallized.
Reed Sullivan, her Alpha mate, was faking his memory loss?
What about all those nights she’d spent crying, desperately searching through ancient grimoires for a cure? Those countless hours consulting with pack healers and elder wolves?
An icy chill crept up from her feet, spreading through her body like winter’s grip. Her enhanced hearing picked up Reed’s casual tone through the door.
“Perhaps another month. Then I’ll return to my dear Winter, playing the role of the devoted mate once again.”
His packmates‘ surprise was evident in their responses.
“One moon? Is that enough time for all your… diversions? Why not just break the mate bond? Seven years with one she–wolf – that’s unheard of in our circles.”
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All this sneaking around, putting on this memory loss act just to avoid her anger… isn’t it exhausting?”
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Reed’s laughter faded at their teasing. “I’ll never break our bond. Winter is my true mate.
But seven years… she’s too pure, too proper in our intimate moments. I can’t bring myself to
how her my beast’s true nature. This is just a brief escape, a pause before I return and become her everything again.”
“But Winter’s pride runs deep in her bloodline. If she discovers this deception, she won’t quietly submit. Aren’t you afraid she’ll reject the mate bond?”
“Look at Beta Morrison’s situation – his mate fled across the ocean when she discovered his infidelity. He’s gone half–feral trying to track her.”
Reed’s response came with the clink of a crystal glass. “She’ll always be mine. As long as she Dears the name Frost, whether she runs or tries to mate another, I’ll track her down and keep her by my side. Forever.”
The pack members howled their approval at their Alpha’s confidence, champagne bottles popping in celebration.
Numb, Winter stumbled away from the pack house into the raging storm outside. The sacred memory potion slipped from her trembling fingers, shattering on the ground. As she watched the purple liquid mix with rain and mud, long–buried memories stirred in her
mind.
Her first encounter with Reed Sullivan had been at the Winter Solstice Moon Festival duri her first year of wolf training. She had been chosen to perform the sacred Moon Dance, he graceful movements captivating the entire pack.
Reed had fallen for her instantly, cornering her after the ceremony with a bouquet of moo flowers, declaring his intention to court her. His reputation preceded him – having courted nearly two dozen she–wolves in his first moon as Alpha, his romantic exploits were legendary throughout the packs.
Winter had no interest in a playboy Alpha, especially after witnessing her parents‘ bond shatter due to mutual infidelity. The experience left her with an unshakeable need for loyalty and purity in matters of the heart.
She ignored his advances, avoided his territories, yet he pursued her with an almost obsessive determination. He had once plunged the entire pack house into darkness during her pre–heat cycle so she could rest undisturbed, publicly declared his devotion before all
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five packs at the Great Gathering, rejected countless eligible she wolves…
For three years he persisted, yet Winter never yielded.
Until that summer after their coming–of–age ceremony, when she was ambushed by rival wolves in the border territories. Reed fought for her against five attackers, suffering multiple silver–laced wounds that nearly claimed his life.
Watching him fight for survival in the healer’s den, her tears falling freely, Winter finally understood what it meant for a wolf to value their mate above their own life.
In that moment, she chose him.
They spent seven years together, from young wolves to pack leaders, and Reed’s devotion never seemed to waver.
Everyone said the infamous Alpha had finally found his true mate and reformed his ways.
Winter believed it too.
Until three moons before their mating ceremony, when he reportedly suffered a head injury during a territory patrol, resulting in selective memory loss.
He remembered everyone except her.
The news nearly broke her, but she persevered.
She searched tirelessly for a cure, traveling to distant packs, studying ancient healing tex spending countless nights researching memory restoration magic.
Only to discover it was all an elaborate deception.
The storm washed away the last of Winter’s resolve. She returned to her den in a daze, gathering her identification marks and pack documents before heading to the Pack Registry.
Meeting the registrar’s questioning gaze, she spoke in a hollow voice.
“I wish to change my name.”
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The registrar reviewed her documents and handed her the sacred ink.
With trembling hands, Winter inscribed both her old and new names in the pack records,
Looking at her new, secret identity, she forced a bitter smile.
From this day forward, no matter where she went or what she did, Reed Sullivan would never find her again.
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