Chapter 1

After another defeat in the war, the Alpha of the rival Northern wolf pack captured Sabrina, the woman my brothers loved, and demanded that I, the strongest fighter among us, be sent in exchange.

I had armed myself and was preparing to lead the guards out to rescue her personally when, just before I set off, my brother handed me a drink laced with drugs.

When I woke, I found myself tied to a wooden bed.

My three brothers - one was the leader of the wolf pack, one was an executive councilor, and one was commander of the guard.

They had once been the proudest pillars at my back.

But now, my second and third brothers were pinning me down with all their strength, while my eldest brother held an iron rod, his eyes filled with pain and grim resolve.

"Jodie, don't blame us. Sabrina can't be allowed to come to harm."

As soon as he finished speaking, the iron rod came crashing down on my leg.

Only in that agony did I finally understand.

They were not sending me to rescue her.

They were making sure I could not run - that I could be used to bring back their beloved Sabrina, safe and whole.

...

"Sabrina is in poor health. She can't withstand the cold of the Northern snowfields, and she can't survive their torture."

Harvey, my eldest brother, lowered his eyes. His voice trembled faintly, but the hand holding the iron rod did not shake at all.

My mouth was full of the bitter taste of the drug, mixed with the metallic tang of blood rising in my throat.

"So I'm supposed to endure all of that for her?"

I stared at him and spoke in a hoarse voice.

My second brother, Victor, pressed down hard on my shoulders, his grip so brutal it felt as if he would crush my bones.

He avoided my gaze, the line of his profile drawn tight.

"Jodie, we're doing this for the Frostmoon wolf pack too. Their power keeps growing. We can't beat them."

My third brother, Edgar, pinned my legs down. His charming eyes, which were usually full of laughter, were now ice-cold.

"You're the strongest Alpha in the Frostmoon pack. They may not be able to kill you."

I gave a cold laugh, my chest heaving violently.

"So you decided to help them along and make sure I die faster?"

I received no answer. I only saw the iron rod in Harvey's hand rise again, cutting through the air as it came down without mercy on my other leg.

"Crack-"

The sound of bone shattering was so clear it was piercing.

My vision went black. Cold sweat soaked through my clothes in an instant.

Pain flooded over me like a tide, swallowing me whole.

Through my blurring consciousness, I saw my eldest brother throw the iron rod aside and wipe the blood spattered on his face with his sleeve.

He moved slowly, carefully. Then he came to the side of the bed and leaned down to look at me.

"Jodie, you've suffered enough. Sleep for a while." His voice was terrifyingly gentle.

"Don't worry. When you wake up, Sabrina will be back."

My fingers dug hard into the bedboards. With every last bit of strength in me, I called his name.

"Harvey."

His body stiffened, and something complicated and pained flashed through his eyes.

I smiled. Blood foam spilled from the corner of my mouth, staining my pale lips red.

"You will regret this."

Victor and Edgar released me and stepped behind Harvey.

On three similar faces was the same unyielding resolve.

My gaze grew colder and colder.

Back when our father fell ill and wanted me to inherit the position of leader, I had done everything I could to prove myself weaker, all so my eldest brother, whose ability was beneath mine, could take the seat.

After Harvey inherited leadership, I went out to fight. I became the renowned "God of War" far and near, all to help him manage the pack and keep our wolves from being bullied.

I never imagined that, in the end, this would be my fate.

They did not look at me again. They turned and strode out of the room.

The instant the door closed, I heard the lock fall into place.

I had become a cripple imprisoned in my own room.