Chapter 3

The sneering expression on Kael's face instantly vanished, replaced by pure fury.

He lunged forward, grabbing my wrist with a force that almost crushed my bones.

"Elara, you'd rather choose a cripple to spite me than lower yourself to beg?"

Before I could struggle free, my father, Arthur, rushed over.

I thought he was coming to pull Kael away, to protect me.

But he raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face.

"Slap!"

The sharp sound echoed piercingly in the quiet woods, silencing all whispers.

My cheek instantly swelled and turned red, and I staggered back two steps from the force of the blow.

The entire scene fell silent for a moment, then erupted into even louder murmurs.

"You've brought utter disgrace upon Frostveil Pack! Get back here immediately!"

Father's eyes held no hint of tenderness, only raging fury and undisguised disgust.

I covered my face, tears nearly spilling out.

Not from pain, but from the bone-chilling disappointment.

My own father would rather watch his daughter be betrayed by her fiancé than jeopardize the alliance between the two Packs, to preserve his ridiculous reputation.

Sera then came over, pretending to intervene, reaching out to pull us apart.

"Daddy, please don't be angry. Elara is just acting on impulse."

As she spoke, she deliberately bumped me hard with her shoulder, and I stumbled and fell to the ground.

The wolves below began pointing and scoffing disdainfully.

"This Frostveil Pack's upbringing, tsk tsk…"

"The elder daughter is a lunatic, but the younger one is much more sensible."

"Good thing Alpha Kael chose the right person, otherwise Shadowfen Pack would be in chaos with that madwoman."

Sera proudly caressed her pregnant belly, her eyes filled with the triumph of a victor as she looked at me.

Killian tried to rush to my aid, but Kael's two guards held him back firmly, pinning him in place.

"What are you? A broken wolf, daring to touch the future Luna of Shadowfen Pack?"

Kael sneered, looking down at me.

I lay on the ground, watching Killian's anxious but helpless face, a despair deeper than any physical pain welling up inside me.

Was this the man I chose?

He couldn't even get close to me, couldn't protect me.

Kael knelt down, reaching out to help me up, his voice laced with false tenderness.

"Do you see now? This is your choice. How can a broken wolf who can't even stand protect you? Come back. I can let bygones be bygones, as if none of this ever happened."

This man, who just last night mocked me as a "dead fish" in a separate room with his friends.

Now he was acting all tender and loving.

Disgusting.

I used all my strength to violently swat his hand away.

"Get lost!"

Kael's face instantly darkened, the killing intent in his eyes almost overflowing.

"You're ungrateful."

He stood up and kicked the hem of my gown by my side, tearing the fabric instantly.

"Since you're so cheap, go live with your cripple. But don't you dare regret it!"

Seeing this, Arthur rushed forward again, raising his hand to strike me once more.

"Why aren't you apologizing to Alpha Kael?!"

Eleanor also rushed over, weeping, pulling my arm and shaking it.

"Elara, are you mad? Are you going to ruin your whole life just to spite him?"