---- end of the corridor, staring absently at the ring on my finger. I'd worn the green healing stone set today. Suddenly, a cool male voice spoke behind me. "Tt seems the rumors were understated. Miss Rivers is far more than devastatingly beautiful." My breath caught. I quickly adjusted my emotions before turning, displaying a proper smile. The man before me had striking, superior features and an air of nobility. I felt like I'd seen him before but couldn't recall who he was. A familiar pine scent lingered in the air. "You're mistaken, sir. My surname isn't Rivers. My name is Evelyn Winters." The man didn't seem annoyed, only leaned closer to my ear. "But I don't recall ever giving this jewelry set to Miss Winters." I was shocked. So this was the person who'd refused payment and only wanted a favor. linstinctively controlled my expression, maintaining only a light smile. "Indeed, it was a ---- gift from a friend." The man looked up, his eyes holding an intensity I couldn't understand. "Pleased to meet you, Miss Winters." "We'll be seeing each other again very soon." I took a deep breath. At least the first test had gone better than expected. At the banquet, Kieran's friends finally saw him alive after nearly a month. "Kieran, you've finally come to your senses. Aria was beautiful, sure, but after playing with her for so many years, you should be tired of her by now." "Right, right! Later tonight, I'll introduce you to a real prize. I guarantee after you try her, you won't even remember what Aria looks like." "If you ask me, since you're separated anyway, Kieran should go big. With that face of yours, winning over the Winters heiress would be a piece ---- of cake." "The Winters heiress has never appeared in public. What if she's hideous? You'd be ruining Kieran." "If she's ugly, just keep her as a mascot at home while having fun outside." "You're so clever! Once Kieran mates with the Winters heiress, he'll naturally become Winters Pack's heir. When he becomes Alpha King, we'll all benefit from his success." Kieran laughed coldly with contempt. Every single person at this table had encouraged him to seek thrills, to cheat on Aria, claiming that if he was careful enough, he'd never be caught. He despised them all. If not for today's formal occasion, beating them would be letting them off easy. "Don't let me hear you speaking disrespectfully about Aria again, or I won't be polite with you!" "T'll only ever have Aria as my Luna for the rest of ---- my life. You can have your prizes and heiresses-I want none of it." "Don't invite me to any more of your disgusting gatherings!" The entire table fell silent, everyone keeping their heads down in fearful quiet. In the northern pack territories, apart from Winters Pack, the Blackwood pack was supreme. Kieran was someone they absolutely couldn't afford to offend. They'd grown up together, and Kieran had always been extremely well-mannered, never losing his temper in public. In all these years, this was the first time. On stage, Winters Pack's Alpha finished his speech and slowly walked backstage. He took my hand and led me step by step toward the front of the stage, until we reached center stage.