This is Zyrich's first time leaving her hometown. She felt sad and uneasy, having a second thought and questioning why she accepted Floryna Avery's offer. Every time she moved away from the place she lived in, it was like a dart that pierced her heart one by one. She couldn't help but think of her family because it was the first time they would be apart for a long time. But all her decisions are for them. She wants them to be in a good state in life and to help them, so she has to endure all of this.

"Why are you frowning like that, Zyrich? Chin up and be confident. You are me, the most beautiful she-wolf in the Pack. Be proud," Avery declared while looking at her through the rare view mirror.

She sighed. "I understand."

Their trip to the Astral Pack was long because it was located deep inside the jungle while they were coming from the beach at the end of the archipelago. She had no choice but to reread the data containing all the details about Avery, Gael, and the pack he needed to know. Nervousness and fear are still bothering her. What if she makes a mistake? What will she do if others find out she's not Avery? Maybe she will be sentenced to death and her family will also suffer. She didn't want those possibilities to happen but it was too late to say no.

Her deep thoughts were interrupted when the car door opened and Avery's frowning face appeared. She didn't realize that they had reached the Astral Moon Pack because of her confused thoughts, so she hurriedly got out of the vehicle. "I-I'm sorry," she mumbled.

"There's no turning back now, Zyrich. From the moment that you agreed to me, you already didn't have any other choice but to continue. If you have doubts about this job, then why say yes in the first place? Now, compose yourself and be me!" Avery hissed while steadying her hands on her waist like a mother scolding their child.

She is right. Floryna Avery planned everything well and that realization hits Zyrich hard. The wicked lady knew she would accept the offer because of her family's status. She felt betrayed and Avery made her a fool. "Okay," she uttered.

They walked between tall trees and bushes until they reached a wooden door. It was a secret passage to enter the pack, leading them to the back of the Packhouse. The surroundings were quiet and no one was around, so they could easily move closer to the back door. Maldrin didn't come with them and just waited in the car. Then, they went to Avery's study room to explain everything to her again from the beginning.

"I...I don't think I can do this. What if I mess up?" She stammered while looking at her reflection in the life-sized mirror near the tall wooden cabinet.

She jolted when Avery's reflection appeared in the mirror, looking at her darkly. "You will not mess up. Why? Because you don't want to die."

"W-What do you mean?" She asked.

Floryna Avery made an action with her right hand, demonstrating a knife slitting her throat. "Dead. I will kill you and bring your family to shame by telling everyone that you kidnapped me because you want to be me and get whatever I have. The whole society will dishonor your poor family and even your hometown. So, if you don't want that to happen, you will do your best to act like me and never think of messing up. Understood?"

She nodded, and tears started forming in her eyes. "O-Okay."

After some discussion, Avery left her with a satisfying grin on her face. She just let out a deep exhale and sat on the swivel chair. Then, she rested her elbows on the desk and messed her hair out of frustration. Her inner self was battling with her, lecturing her about her reckless decision. But it's too late. She was already inside the den of an evil wolf where every wrong move is death.

Zyrich jolted when the door sprang open and a handsome man came in. He is Gael Mikael Cardenas, one of the respected Alphas in the werewolf society. Everyone knows him for his good looks, power, and wealth. He is like an idol.

"You're here. How was your girl-bonding trip?" The man asked while walking closer to her.

She gulped. "I-It was amazing. We talked a lot, laughed, and you know, some girl kinds of stuff."

"I'm glad to know that you enjoyed your free time. So, can we have some alone time now? I miss you," Gael smirked as he sat on the edge of the desk, looking straight at her.

Her eyes widened after hearing those words. She quickly stood up and walked in the opposite direction, away from him, making him frown. "I...I am tired. The long ride was exhausting. Can we just..ahm...walk outside? Can you cook for me? Yeah, right! I am hungry."

The Alpha stood up and turned to her, confused. "I can do that, my love. It's my pleasure to cook for you. Is there something wrong?"

The fact that Floryna Avery and Gael were a couple slipped her mind. That means that there will be some intense intercourse! But she doesn't know about that stuff. She hasn't even had a boyfriend since birth. What is she going to do? What if he notices that she is not the woman he loves? Avery's characteristics and traits are far from what she had. The wicked lady is bold, fierce, wild, and confident while she is the exact opposite of those.

She shook her head. "N-Nothing. I am just tired and starving."

"Okay. Let's go to the kitchen and I will prepare a delicious meal for you," Gael replied.

She let him lead the way even though she knew where the kitchen was. She had a great memory, so she could memorize an entire book in just a few minutes. All the data that Avery gave, she clearly remembers them all. She may look like an ordinary girl, but she graduated from Seaside Werewolf School with high honors.

"What do you want, my love? Anything that you're craving for. I can cook it for you," the Alpha implied while moving to the other side of the countertop.

She smiled sweetly at him, making him look puzzled. But she didn't mind it and just sat in the high chair near the countertop. "I want delicious pasta and meat."

"Special Pasta with meat coming right up!" Gael chuckled as he started rummaging through the fridge to look for the ingredients.

Watching him working in the kitchen makes her smile stay on her lips. Experiencing the things that she never thought could happen to her made her heart flutter. As the eldest among her siblings, she felt responsible for all the things, so she was usually the one who took care of all the stuff around the house. 

"I like that," Gael murmured.

She frowned. "What do you mean?"

"The smile. Your smile. Why did you hide that beautiful smile from me?" The Alpha replied, making her blush.

She looked away. Did she do something off? "I-I didn't. You are just busy with other things that's why you never notice."

Her heart is beating fast and hard. She didn't know that Floryna Avery didn't know how to smile. What if she messes up? The wicked lady is now obligated to smile because of what she did. Now, she felt sorry and nervous.

"From now on then, I will never lose focus on you. I promise. Just don't hide that beautiful smile again," Gael smiled, looking at her.

She nodded and went off the chair. "Do you need some help?"

Zyrich didn't know what to do. She started panicking and she couldn't stay in one place. So, she unconsciously moves closer to the Alpha, curiously looking at the boiling pot. She didn't notice that she was just inches away from him until goosebumps spread all over her body when she felt his hot breath on the back of her neck. She froze as realization hit her while Gael was putting his hands on both sides, leaning on the countertop, caging her between his muscular arms.

"You look tense, my love," he whispered over her left ear, making her shiver.

She cleared her throat. "L-Let me help you."

She gasped when he gently forced her to turn around to face him. Her heart is drumming hard on her chest as if it were going to break out. He was staring into her with love and adoration that she had never felt before. It was the moment she realized how lucky Floryna Avery was. She was jealous.

"Let me handle everything, my love. You are tired and I want to serve you. So, sit and relax, okay?" he said tenderly as he put a light kiss on her forehead, making her system block out for a moment.

No one ever did that to her before.

She was shocked, so she just let him guide her back to the other side. He pulled out a chair and helped her sit on it, a real gentleman. Then, he came back to her job and started cooking again while she was just staring at nothing, speechless.

She was silent and dazed for a moment and just returned to herself when the Alpha carefully put the plate full of pasta and decorated it with slices of tasty meat. "Special meal for my beloved now served."

"Thank you," she mumbled as she took the fork and knife.

She cautiously started eating while keeping her guard up as Gael sat beside her. "Is it okay?"

The different taste of a new dish exploded inside her mouth. She had never tasted a delicious meal before. It is not like the usual food that she knows at the seaside. It was out of the world, making her guard down as she looked at him with a cheeky smile. "It's delicious!"

A flash of adoration and shock painted on Gael's face but she didn't notice it. Zyrich was now busy eating her food while the Alpha was just watching her quietly.

Something's changed. But he didn't dare to spill that out loud. For some reason, he felt like she loved her more with that change. It was something like a new gate of her personality had opened up. After all their years together, he didn't know that she still had something he didn't know about her.

“Really? Well, if you insist, I can cook whatever dishes you want. Just tell me and I will make that happen,” he smiled.

Zyrich nodded. “Thank you. I would love that.”

He watched her eat delightfully like a child. If he only knew that she would be happy with him by cooking the food she wanted, he would have done that earlier.

“Did you enjoy your girl bonding moments with your friends? You seem distressed. Did something happen?” Gael asked worriedly.

She gulped hard and looked away. “Nothing happened. The girls insisted to do some weird stuff. Maybe I am just...you know, tired.”

“I see. Do you want to go to the hot spring with me? I will help you ease that fatigue away,” he suggested while smiling sweetly at her.

Her heart beat fast and h,ard. What is she going to do? If she agreed, she was sure that it is not just relaxing but something more. She can tolerate and endure to be naked but if the Alpha insisted to had some hot intercourse, she will surely faint out of fear.

She sighed. “I am not in the mood for that, Gael.”

A faint sadness flashed on the Alpha's face but quickly put a smile to her. “I understand. At least, let me tuck you in bed? I had so much works to do so, I definitely stayed up all night.”

“That's fine,” she nodded.

Gael didn't just took care of her, he also cleaned the dishes and table for her. Then, he escorted her to their chamber and carefully tucked her in. A pile of guilt and loneliness bombarded her up after the Alpha kissed her forehead and left to work.

“I'm sorry,” she murmured as she close her eyes and let herself drift to dreamland.