Chapter 4

I stayed at the lakeside villa for a few days.

Jason didn't call once.

Only Sarah Jenkins, the financial assistant, called me cautiously.

"Luna Ava, Alpha Jason… their spending at the Kingdom's overseas resort has already exceeded ten million. If this continues, the company's cash flow will be cut off."

That resort was the Alpha King's property. They wouldn't dare default, so they had to use company money to cover it.

This was the Alpha I'd been loyal to for years.

Stupid, incompetent.

I leaned against the headboard, looking out at the gray lake.

"Let them be."

Sarah Jenkins on the other end grew anxious: "But Luna Ava, the first payment for the southern project is due soon. If that money is touched, we'll default on the contract! According to the rules, we might lose the mining rights to that territory!"

"Do Alpha Jason and Alpha Arthur Hayes know about this?"

Sarah Jenkins spoke with difficulty: "They said it's fine, that with you around, you'll take care of it."

I chuckled softly: "Then let them default."

I hung up the phone and started packing.

Today marked the seventh anniversary of my mother's death.

It was also the last day of my promise.

I bought a bouquet of white roses, my mother's favorite, and went to the cemetery on the west side—the traditional family burial ground of the Silverfang Pack.

But standing before that familiar headstone, I froze.

The photo on the headstone was unfamiliar.

The name carved on the epitaph was Lillian Wright.

Rebecca's biological mother.

All the blood in my veins instantly solidified.

Behind me, I heard Jason and Rebecca's laughter.

"Ava, you're here so early."

Jason carefully pushed Rebecca's wheelchair, afraid of even the slightest bump.

I pointed at the cold stone tablet, my voice trembling.

"Where's my mother?"

Jason frowned, seemingly displeased with my attitude.

"Ava, keep your voice down, don't scare Becca."

He shielded Rebecca behind him before slowly explaining: "Becca dreamed a few days ago that Lillian said she was lonely on her own there."

"I had someone check, and your mother's grave site has good feng shui and energy, so I had Lillian moved here. After all, your mother has been gone for so many years."

Alpha Arthur Hayes followed behind, his expression one of complete justification.

"Your mother never liked these formalities when she was alive. A grave is a grave, it's all the same. Now it's perfect, giving it to Lillian gives her a good final resting place."

I looked at the three of them as if watching an utterly absurd scene.

"So where is my mother?" I asked, enunciating each word.

"Her ashes have been moved to the public cemetery in the back," Jason said dismissively.

"Don't worry, I arranged everything, your mother won't be without a place."

Rebecca peeked out from behind him, timidly saying, "Ava, don't be angry. My mom is also your elder, and now she's my baby's grandmother. She's part of both our Silverfang Pack and the Stoneclaw Pack. Taking care of her fulfills your mother's last wish."

"That's right, Ava." My father, Alpha Arthur Hayes, tapped his cane on the ground.

"You promised your mother you'd protect both the Silverfang and Stoneclaw Packs. Now Lillian is part of our family too; you can't play favorites."

They used the promise I had upheld for seven years to force me to accept this outrageous act.

I looked at the unfamiliar headstone for a long time, and then, suddenly, I laughed.

I didn't argue with them anymore.

I turned and walked towards the public cemetery in the back.

Following the administrator's directions, I found my mother's small niche, so small that her name hadn't even been carved on it yet.

I cradled the cold urn and walked out.

As I passed them, I didn't stop.

Jason probably thought I had finally given in. His tone softened.

"Ava, stop acting like a child. Come home tonight, we'll have a nice family dinner."

"Becca even brought you a gift."

What a grand blessing.

I walked faster.

Leaving their sickening voices behind.

I placed the signed divorce papers on the bedside table in the master bedroom.

Ensuring that I had no further legal ties to the Silverfang and Stoneclaw Packs.

Then I returned to my grandfather's—the Alpha King's—territory.

They didn't know that my grandfather had disowned my mother because she insisted on marrying my father.

But he adored me.

He promised me that if I was willing to cut ties with them, he would appoint me as the Alpha Female of the powerful Moonshadow Pack.

This meant I would become the only female Alpha in the Kingdom.

...

Back home, Jason suddenly felt uneasy.

He frowned and asked Alpha Arthur Hayes: "Father, isn't today Ava's mother's death anniversary?"

Alpha Arthur Hayes replied indifferently: "It's just missing one memorial. I'll have the servants make it up tomorrow."

But just then, David Lee rushed in.

"Alpha Jason, Alpha Arthur, it's bad! The company's cash flow is gone, and a dozen projects have all defaulted!"

"Our partners on the projects have all sent notices, saying if we can't produce the money, they'll take Pack territory in exchange!"

Alpha Arthur Hayes frowned and yelled: "Where's Ava! Tell her to get over here and deal with this immediately!"

David Lee cried urgently: "Luna left a message and then became unreachable."

Jason grew even more uneasy: "What did Ava say?"

"Ava said, Your problems are no longer my problems!"