Ten years ago, I took the dark curse meant for Alpha Leo Frostmoon, and my mental development stopped dead forever at the age of five. My inner wolf burned through every last drop of its energy trying to purge the dark magic from my body, and eventually fell into a deep, unawakening sleep. Alpha Leo once swore an oath before the Moon Goddess herself. Even without a fated mate bond, he promised he would marry me once he came of age and keep me safe for my whole life. But later, he didn't think twice about using me as a bargaining chip just so he could form a mate bond with a high-born Gamma she-wolf, Amira Moonveil. He personally handed me over to the brutal, bloodthirsty Northern Wolf King, Carlos Hawthorne. "Ivy Vance, there's a nice older guy up north, why don't you go hang out with him, okay?" I traced the newly appeared inner wolf awakening mark on my collarbone, didn't say a word, and stepped across the border. After that, I became the White Wolf Queen, and the Northern Wolf King protected me with his life. As for Leo? He was on his knees outside my tent on blood moon night, his inner wolf wailing in gut-wrenching agony while the rebounding curse ate away at his heart. He sobbed, begging me to just turn around and look at him once.