I Won't Be Your Spare Anymore

Three years after the Luna of the Crestwood Pack died, I went to the Ancestral Crypt to pay my respects. I searched the cold stone walls, but her name was nowhere to be found.

Fury burned in my chest as I stormed into the Alpha King's private study.

The Alpha King sighed, his eyes filled with a weary helplessness.

"Caspian, Seraphina is not buried there. Before she passed, she used her final battlefield merits to beg me for one thingDto stay out of the Royal Crypt."

"She told me that she and Reid had already wasted a lifetime being apart. She didn't want to miss him again on the path to the afterlife."

The Reid he spoke of was the man Seraphina had whispered about in her sleep every night for fifteen years... Her sweet, darling Reid.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Seraphina returned to the capital.

This time, I didn't cling to a dying flame. I agreed to sever our bond just as she wished and volunteered to go to the Silverglade Empire to marry their Princess.

In Silverglade, I would build a textile empire that would change the world, carving out a Golden Trade Route for the people.

I spent three days recovering in my private chambers, and even the Alpha King remembered to send me mountain ginseng to nourish my body.

Yet, Seraphina, who had just returned to the city, hadn't bothered to visit me once.

She had been at the border with her father's army for three years. I had been so excited for her return that I went to the city gates to welcome her personally.

But I was shoved to the ground by one of her subordinates. His apology was cold, dripping with a complete lack of respect.

Seraphina didn't care about my injury. Instead, she comforted Reid right in front of my face.

During the three days I was bedridden, she was a ghost.

"Alpha Caspian, the Luna has returned," a guard announced.

I waved him off, my eyes not leaving my book.

Seraphina's gaze swept over the messy scrolls on my desk and my casual, loose-fitting clothes. Her face twisted with displeasure.

"You are a Prince of this Pack. I've been gone for three years, and yet you've become so lazy. You aren't even managing the household affairs."

She didn't even glance at my ankle, which was wrapped in thick layers of gauze. She only knew how to criticize.

I looked at her briefly and turned another page of my novel.

"If you want to blame me, you should think about why I'm in this state to begin with," I said nonchalantly.

Her eyes finally dropped to my ankle. Realizing she was in the wrong, her harsh tone softened slightly.

"My soldier was clumsy the other day. I've already punished him. I'm sure he won't make that mistake again."

I raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised by her attempt at a gentle tone.

A few days ago, she hadn't even spared a glance for me as I lay on the ground, unable to get up. She had walked straight toward Reid to joke around with him.

She picked up a bottle of ointment from the table, intending to apply it to my leg.

I pulled my leg away, refusing her touch. She froze.

"The pack healer will do it," I said coldly.

Normally, with her temper, she would have stormed out with a cold face.

But this time, she forced a smile.

"Right. I'm not very good with my hands. I wouldn't want to hurt you further."

"By the way, look at this. I bought this in the Western Territories. I thought it would look good on you."

She pulled a jade pendant from her sleeve and moved to tie it to my waist.

My fingers brushed the jade. It was a rare, warm piece of stone.

In my past life, I had begged her for a gift countless times. She had always brushed me off with excuses.

In this life, simply because I didn't interfere with her flirting with Reid, she decided to fulfill my old wish.

If this were my past life, I would have been over the moon. But now, she didn't stir a single emotion in my heart.

I took the pendant off and set it aside.

"Thank you for thinking of me, Seraphina. I have work to do. If there's nothing else, you should leave."

Seraphina didn't expect this reaction. Her eyes widened in shock, and then a flash of anger crossed them.

Her gaze seemed to say, I've lowered myself to visit you, don't be ungrateful.

But she suppressed her rage, trying to keep her voice soft.

"Caspian, I heard the Alpha King granted you a new territory in the Northwest. But that's Reid's hometown. Can you give that land to him?"

"The Alpha King loves you. If you go and ask him, I'm sure he will agree."

I looked at her with dull eyes. No wonder she was being so nice. She was here for her lover.

"I'm at the age where I need to establish my own estate. If I give away my territory, where am I supposed to go?"

I crossed my arms and looked at her mockingly.

She immediately lost her patience and glared at me.

"Don't be unreasonable! I only married you because I had to, and I've already failed Reid. He followed me to the capital and has no one to rely on."

"Even if you give him the land, the Alpha King won't let you suffer. As my husband, taking care of Reid is your duty. As a Prince, giving land to the people is only right."

She was willing to offend the Alpha King just to get benefits for a man with no status. No wonder they ended up in a grave together in the end.

I let out a dry laugh.

"Since you have such a logical argument, you should go ask the King yourself instead of bothering me."

Seeing that I wouldn't budge, she clenched her fists.

"A Prince with no heart or kindness... You'll get what's coming to you sooner or later!"

She slammed the door on her way out. The wind chimes on the eaves rattled, a sound that only made my headache worse.

After that disastrous meeting, she left the palace grounds.

When the Alpha King came to visit me, he wasn't surprised that Seraphina wasn't there. He brought up the political marriage as if it were just small talk.

"The Silverglade Empire is powerful. We can't win a war against them. They refuse to send their only Princess here, so we must send a Prince. Your younger sister is the right age, but I worry for her."

Hearing this, I remembered my past life. My sister had tried to run away on the journey to Silverglade because she hated the marriage.

That move had enraged Silverglade. In the end, we had to give up three major cities just to calm their fury.

In the years that followed, Silverglade's power exploded.

Their territory was vast, their grain stores were overflowing, and their culture was thriving. Every other pack looked at them with envy.

I tapped my fingers on the table, deep in thought.

A month later, the Autumn Hunt began. It was there that I saw the two of them sharing a carriage.

In my previous life, my pride wouldn't allow them to meet. They never dared to be so bold.

In this life, because I stayed out of it, they seemed to have forgotten their own titles.

They laughed and played as if no one was watching. Reid's hand was resting casually on Seraphina's waist.

To any outsider, they looked like a devoted couple.

Sensing my gaze, Reid pulled Seraphina a little closer.

"Sera, I'm feeling a bit dizzy. Thank god you're here to hold me."

"Oh, Alpha Caspian is here! Sera said you'd definitely beg her to come back to the palace. She's been staying at my villa waiting for you, and I've been teasing her about it for days~"

As I walked closer, Seraphina's expression became a bit awkward.

But she didn't let go of Reid's hand. "You're too late to find me now. I promised to stay with Reid today. I can't break my word."

I smiled faintly, my eyes as cold as a frozen lake.

"I didn't come to find you because I don't need you."

Seraphina frowned. She clearly thought I was just being dramatic. She let go of Reid and stepped toward me.

"I'll watch over you during the hunt so you don't get hurt. Just follow my lead."

I felt sick just looking at her. I turned to walk away.

She grabbed my sleeve, her face full of annoyance.

"I said I'd protect you. Are you going to run to the King and tattle again? It's pathetic."

In the middle of our argument, no one noticed a wild boar charging out from the brush, crazed and foaming at the mouth.

By the time I realized what was happening, Seraphina had already pushed me directly into the boar's path.

Her first instinct was to grab Reid and run toward the safety of the trees.

The impact of the boar was like being hit by a truck. I coughed up a mouthful of blood instantly.

If the guards hadn't acted fast to take the beast down, I would have been shredded.

Once she realized she was safe, Seraphina ran back toward me, looking panicked.

"Caspian! Are you okay? Don't be scared, I'll get the medic."

Just as she reached for me, Reid started coughing nearby and collapsed to the ground.

I watched the woman hesitate. I didn't even have to guess which choice she would make.

Sure enough, she shoved me into a guard's arms and spoke hurriedly.

"I'm sorry, Caspian. Reid is in shock. His heart is weak, and I can't leave him like this."

"Guard, take the Prince to the medic!"

She ran off with frantic steps, not looking back at me once.

Her retreating figure overlapped with the memories of her running toward me on the battlefield years ago.

We had met in the war.

My mother had died early, and I wasn't raised like the other royal pups.

To escape the bullying of my brothers, I had volunteered for the front lines.

It was a hellscape. She and I had relied on each other to survive. After the war, I used my military honors to ask the King for our marriage decree.

If I had known she was already obsessed with someone else, and that she only married me to use me as a stepping stone, I would have begged the King to take it back.

As her silhouette disappeared, I closed my eyes in exhaustion.

It was all just a bad dream.

As soon as I woke up, the Alpha King summoned me.

But when I reached the grand hall, the head steward stopped me.

"Alpha Caspian, the King wishes for you to listen from here."

Inside, I heard Seraphina's voice.

"Your Majesty, I have returned with one request. I ask that you grant the Northwest territory to my brother, Reid. He has a gentle soul and took care of me at the border for three years. I wouldn't be here without him."

I couldn't believe it. Even after I had explicitly told her no, she still had the audacity to ask the King for my land.

In my last life, after I gave Reid the land, he didn't show a shred of gratitude. He mocked me constantly while living off my resources.

I had already told my father two days ago: that land was mine, and I wouldn't give it up to anyone.

"That land belongs to Caspian," the Alpha King's voice boomed. "The whole pack knows it. Does Caspian know you are asking for this?"

Silence followed. Seraphina clearly didn't expect the King to ask that.

"He knows," she lied.

I stepped into the hall, my expression like ice.

"I do not agree."

I saw Reid was there too. Even while kneeling, they were leaning into each other.

Reid kept his head down, clutching Seraphina's sleeve like a frightened pup.

Seraphina patted his hand gently, her eyes shooting daggers at me as a warning.

I ignored her and looked straight at the Alpha King.

"Father, what is mine is mine. I will not step aside."

The King nodded and looked at Seraphina with a sigh.

"You know the tradition. A Prince receives land to build his own estate after marriage. If he gives it to a man with no merit, the whole world will laugh at him. Do not mention this again."

The King was firm. Seraphina looked at Reid, who remained silent but refused to move.

That seemed to embolden her.

She gripped Reid's hand tighter, their intimacy on full display.

My chest felt a dull ache.

In public, she had always refused to be close to me. If I even brushed against her, she would lecture me for hours about how a Luna must be a role model and shouldn't engage in "public displays of affection."

Now I saw the truth. It wasn't that she was reserved. She just didn't love me.

Seraphina's voice snapped me back to reality.

"Your Majesty, you said a Prince is given land after marriage. If I divorce Caspian, then he can just keep living in the palace, right?"

I froze, looking at her in disbelief. I caught Reid's smirk.

I clenched my fists so hard my nails drew blood.

I knew exactly what she was going to do. To save Reid, she was going to destroy my reputation.

She didn't hesitate for a second before the lie left her mouth.

"Caspian and I have never shared a bed. When he was captured during the war, he was... broken. He's had a shadow over him ever since. He hasn't touched me once since our wedding..."

"Enough!"

I screamed, my voice raw.

I looked at her, feeling like I had saved a snake only for it to bite me.

I was captured because I was covering her retreat! She had promised she would never leave me...

And now, the secret I wanted to take to my grave was being broadcasted to everyone, just for the sake of another man!

The pain in my chest was suffocating. For the first time, I felt true, deep hatred.

I turned my hollow gaze to the King.

"I agree to the divorce. But I am keeping my land."

Then I looked at Seraphina with pure disgust.

"Father, in exchange for the trouble, I will take my sister's place. I will go to Silverglade for the marriage pact."

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