Chapter 4

Kael Black walked over at some point, frowning at me,

"Who were you talking to so mysteriously on the phone?"

"Elara, I'm warning you, don't go making alliances outside using Pack resources."

"Raising a pup will require resources everywhere later; you need to be frugal.

Don't forget, all these things will be my son's someday."

He lectured me as if it were his right, completely forgetting that his Alpha position,

was entirely paved with my mother's resources and fought for by me, blade by blade.

Years ago, he was hunted by rival Packs, hiding in the snow like a stray dog.

My mother sent people to rescue him. I brought him back to the Silverveil Pack, giving him a chance at a new life.

I ignored him and walked straight to the dining room.

The long dining table was laden with food, but all of it was Lila's favorites.

Kael meticulously picked out tiny bones from the venison for Lila, completely oblivious that I hadn't even touched my fork.

My father, his face flushed from drinking, suddenly spoke, his tone a commanding dictate:

"Elara, transfer your inheritance rights in the Silverveil Pack, and the Voss family's hunting grounds in the Western Territory, all to the pup in Lila's belly. Consider it a welcoming gift from you, as his elder sister."

I looked up at his face, etched with calculation, and nodded softly.

"Alright."

My quick agreement stunned them all.

They had probably braced themselves for my tears and resistance, never expecting me to agree so readily.

Kael was the first to react, a satisfied smile on his face.

"I knew Elara was the most sensible. Truly Alpha Seraphina's daughter, she understands the bigger picture."

"Then the hunting grounds and resources under your name in the Ironvein Pack, and the Alliance pacts your mother left you, transfer those too. For our child, you'll certainly be willing."

Lila leaned against Kael, feigning worry as she tugged on his sleeve.

"Kael, don't be like that, Elara will be unhappy. These are Alpha Seraphina's things for Elara, I can't take them."

My father sneered.

"What nonsense, she's delighted! Elara. Come, propose a toast to Lila. That way, you, as her sister, acknowledge this child."

Kael picked up a glass of wine and offered it to me.

"I can't drink," I said.

Kael's face instantly darkened. His Alpha dominance instantly swept through the entire dining room.

"Can't drink? To secure the Eastern Territory's hunting grounds,

you drank until you puked at rival Pack gatherings, why didn't you say you couldn't drink then?

To help me secure a seat on the Alliance council, you competed in drinking contests with those Alphas,

and drank until you collapsed for three days and three nights, why didn't you say you couldn't drink then?"

My father chimed in: "Exactly. All these years, for the sake of both Packs, how many drinking parties did you attend?

I remember you enjoying it then; you even eagerly volunteered when not asked.

Why are you pretending to be so noble now? Do you really think you're the legendary Wolf King?"

All these years, one of them had to maintain the image of a refined and benevolent Alpha, while the other had to put on airs as the leader of a rising strong Pack.

The dirty work, the life-risking negotiations with rival Packs, naturally all fell to me.

They complacently enjoyed my mother's glory, and the peace I risked my life to earn,

then turned around and found fault with me for not being gentle enough, not "womanly" enough.

Taking the glass Kael had practically shoved to my lips, I turned to Lila.

Her face held a poorly concealed triumph.

I raised the glass and said to them,

"To celebrate Lila's good news, in a week, I'll give you a grand gift."