Chapter 4

On Saturday, there was a joint gathering hosted by the three major packs. All the outstanding young members attended.

I accepted the invitation, just wanting to clear my head.

But I didn't expect to see Kael there with Lira.

Kael, Lira, and I had all attended the same academy.

Back at the academy, Lira had pursued Kael just as crazily as I had.

In the end, I won—I moved Kael's heart and we got together.

And Lira turned around and married Kael's brother, the former Alpha of Blackrock Pack, Rurik.

After the banquet began, Kael sat beside Lira, patiently cutting the venison on her plate.

He carefully reminded her: "Don't be picky. Eat more venison—it's good for the baby's development."

A packmate nearby teased:

"Kael, you're so good to your sister-in-law. You gave her the whole tenderloin. Aren't you afraid Elara will be upset?"

He smiled, his tone flat: "Elara doesn't like this."

The people around could see my face had darkened and tactfully changed the subject.

"Will we be attending Elara and Kael's wedding soon?"

"Back in school, I envied Kael for finding such a beautiful and capable mate."

I couldn't take it anymore and raised my hand to interrupt them:

"Stop, everyone stop! You're all welcome to attend my wedding, but not mine and Kael's. We've already broken off our engagement. The groom is someone else."

"Elara!"

Kael ground out my name through clenched teeth, his hand balled into a tight fist.

He quickly explained to everyone:

"Sorry, everyone. Elara is just talking out of anger. Our wedding will happen—it's just postponed a few months."

Hearing this, the people around thought I was just throwing a tantrum and turned to persuade me.

"The wedding is just delayed a few months. You and Kael have been together for so many years—what's a few more months?"

"Exactly, it's not a big deal."

With Kael's explanation, it seemed like I was the one being unreasonable.

Using the excuse of needing air, I left the banquet hall and walked to the deep forest pool behind the gathering grounds.

I was staring at the water when Lira's voice suddenly came from behind me:

"If I were you, I would have told everyone the truth just now."

I turned to glance at her, about to speak, when the woman in front of me suddenly reached out and pushed me into the deep pool.

The icy water instantly enveloped me. I'd been afraid of deep water since childhood—Kael knew this.

He'd suggested many times that we hunt at the border lakes, but I'd refused.

He said the best way to overcome fear was to face it head-on.

But I was terrified of this endless cold, terrified of the suffocating feeling of sinking underwater.

"Splash"—someone jumped into the pool.

I thought it was Kael coming to save me.

But he swam right past me without even touching me, heading straight for Lira standing by the pool's edge and pulling her tightly into his arms.

Love and indifference were clear at a glance.

In that moment, my heart went completely cold. I didn't even have the strength to struggle, letting my body slowly sink to the bottom.

Just as my consciousness blurred and despair filled my heart, a pair of strong hands suddenly wrapped around my waist, lifting me up from the depths.

He swam me to shore. Seeing I was unconscious, he immediately bent down and gave me CPR.

Just as his lips were about to cover mine again, an angry roar rang out:

"What are you doing to my fiancée?"