Chapter 3

The murmurs spread like a tide. The words from the branch family members grew more and more cutting.

"No wonder Eliot married her three years ago with no results. Turns out the human woman's private life isn't clean, so she can't conceive pure blood!"

"Thank goodness Lola came through and gave birth to a pure-blooded grandson, or Silverpine Pack's legitimate bloodline would've been cut off by this human!"

"I think she's gone crazy with jealousy and is deliberately slandering them!"

Hearing this, Lola's eyes instantly reddened. She leaned into Elara's arms, her sobbing voice carrying throughout the hall.

"Please don't say that, everyone. Seren is just feeling unbalanced right now. I don't mind. As long as the child can be properly recognized, I can endure any amount of grievance."

As she spoke, she cast a timid glance at me, looking for all the world like I had mistreated her somehow.

Elara's face instantly twisted with distress, her voice rising so loud it hurt people's ears.

"Who dares make my precious grandson suffer even a little? I'll tear their mouth off first!"

"Look at these eyes, this nose! It's like Eliot as a baby was carved from the same mold! Does it even need testing? If this isn't our Silverpine Pack's own grandson, whose could it be!"

I looked at her vicious expression before me, feeling a bone-deep chill in my heart.

She used to always smile kindly when she saw me, calling me "good child" constantly. I'd sincerely treated her like my own mother. But now, for the sake of a child of unknown origin, she looked at me like she wanted to devour me.

Gideon's face darkened like the bottom of a pot. He slammed his hand on the table and roared at the guards.

"What are you standing there for! Drag this crazy woman out! Don't let her ruin Alpha Eldric's celebration!"

I looked around, staring hard at Gideon and Elara.

"You really think just because Lola gave birth to a son, she can claim Eldric's inheritance?"

"Even if the council of elders comes, she won't get a single penny!"

The air froze for an instant, so quiet you could only hear breathing.

Gideon was so angry his cane pounded hard on the floor, his face turning the color of liver.

"Outrageous! Outrageous! Drag her out! I don't want to see this lunatic anymore!"

Two guards immediately stepped forward to grab my arms. I suppressed my anger and shook them off hard.

"Don't touch me. I'm pregnant."

I pulled out my pregnancy test results from my bag and slapped them on the table with a "thwack." The black text on white paper was crystal clear: twelve weeks pregnant, fetus developing normally.

Gideon and Elara exchanged glances and laughed coldly.

Lola reached out and snatched the pregnancy test results. After looking for a few seconds, she burst out laughing.

"So what if you're pregnant?"

"My child is the first one born in the family."

"What right do you have to compete with me for the inheritance?"

She turned toward Alpha Eldric, who had remained silent in the seat of honor. She stepped forward holding the child and dropped to her knees on the carpet with a thud, her voice choked with emotion.

"Alpha Eldric, please grant justice for me and the child. I don't ask for status. I only ask that you recognize this legitimate Silverpine Pack bloodline and don't let him wander outside."

This act of kneeling completely ignited the emotions in the hall.

Gideon immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Eldric.

"Father, Lola has given birth to Silverpine Pack's only legitimate heir. This is cause for great celebration. Please announce on the spot that you recognize this child and make Lola Eliot's Luna to oversee the inheritance matters!"

Elara also quickly knelt down. "Yes, Father! You've waited so many years for this day!"

The branch family members also chimed in. "Please, Alpha Eldric, recognize the heir!"

Everyone's gaze focused on Eldric in the wheelchair.

Alpha Eldric's fingers continued tapping lightly on the armrest. His eyes slowly swept over Lola kneeling on the ground, the Gideon couple, and finally landed on me.

He didn't speak immediately. The entire banquet hall was utterly silent.

Meeting his gaze, I spoke calmly.

"Alpha Eldric, I object. This child has no right to inherit any of your assets or authority."

"You're talking nonsense!" Lola screamed, raising her head. "The report says it plain as day. He's Eliot's biological son!"

She moved to hand the test report up to him.

"I'm not talking nonsense."

"If you don't believe me, run the genetic test again."

Gideon flew into a rage, pointing at my nose and cursing.

"Seren, don't push your luck! Putting a newborn baby through testing, what are your intentions? I say he's legitimate, so he's legitimate!"

"My intention is to protect the legitimate bloodline." I stared back at him unflinchingly. "Does Gideon want to violate the iron law Alpha Eldric personally established for the sake of a child of unknown origin?"

"You—" Gideon's whole body shook with rage. He raised his hand to strike me.

"Stop."