Chapter 3

He finally had something to prove himself, a pup of his own,

a bargaining chip to rid himself of the "legendary Wolf King's son-in-law" label.

My father was also flushed with excitement. He had lived his entire life in my mother's shadow,

and now, he finally felt he could triumph over the dead woman.

Dr. Ellis turned to me, a hint of pity in his smile,

"Luna Elara, don't be too sad."

"Since your womb has been quiet, having Lila bear one for you is just the same.

After all, Alpha Seraphina's glory must be inherited by a child, mustn't it?"

The laughter in the room felt like countless poisoned needles, piercing my ears.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms.

They dared to desecrate my mother, daring to use her legacy to whitewash this sordid betrayal.

Kael held the report, walked up to me, and thrust the paper in front of my eyes.

"Elara, look how adorable he is.

From now on, he'll be our pup. He'll inherit the Voss family's glory, he'll inherit everything from your mother."

My father quickly added: "But Elara, even though the pup will be registered under your name, he'll also call Lila 'mother.' After all, only a biological mother can raise him well, unlike some people who only know how to fight and kill, completely lacking what a woman should be."

They still, as always, expected me to agree to all their requests.

Just like seven days after my mother's death, my father brought home Lila, who was only half a year younger than me.

He claimed she was the daughter of an old acquaintance, but her face was almost identical to his.

He dared to do this only because he was sure I would honor my mother's dying wish, not expose him, and not destroy the Silverveil Pack.

Just like after Kael said he wanted a pup of ours, I tried countless Dr. Ellis's remedies,

even though I had told him before we married that my body was severely damaged protecting my mother during an assassination attempt, making it difficult to conceive and impossible to take strong medicine long-term.

He hugged me then, saying it was okay. But then, he used that very fact as an excuse to betray me.

All because seven years ago, on her deathbed, my mother, using the Voss family's Wolf King bloodline, established a blood pact.

It was to help my weak father secure his position as Alpha of the Silverveil Pack,

and to pave a bright path for Kael, whose Pack was on the verge of extinction, to rise again.

For my mother, the Silverveil Pack were her kin,

and the former Alpha of the Ironvein Pack was her savior.

This was her last lingering attachment.

But for me, it was nothing more than a seven-year agreement.

Now that seven years had passed, I saw nothing worth clinging to here.

I turned, walked to the deserted Moonlit Terrace,

and called Cain, the trust lawyer my mother designated before her death.

He was the person my mother trusted most, and the only one in the entire Wolf Alliance capable of dissolving a blood pact.

"Mr. Cain, seven years are up."

Silence on the other end, then a sigh,

"Luna Elara, everything is ready.

At your word, all resources injected into the Silverveil Pack and Ironvein Pack will initiate recovery procedures within twenty-four hours. We anticipate all transfers will be completed within a week.

All pacts were established by Alpha Seraphina with her Wolf King bloodline; no one in the entire Wolf Alliance dares to defy them."

"Begin."

Hanging up the phone, I felt the chain that had bound me for seven years finally loosen.

I no longer had to carry my mother's lingering obsession, protecting a bunch of ungrateful wretches.