Chapter 4

For the next month, Leah posted photos in the family group chat every day.

There were crates of jewelry, evening gowns spread across the bed, and a greenhouse Kane had newly built for her.

Every time, Dad praised her for bringing honor to the family, then took the opportunity to berate me for not even being able to afford a decent dress.

I muted the group chat.

During that month, I bought a lumber mill and took in the first group of stray wolves.

When the old waterwheel started turning again, we also landed our first timber order.

Derrick knew nothing about any of it. He spent most of his time at bars and with women. When he ran out of money, he went home and asked Kyla for more.

I had just come downstairs when I saw him smash a vase onto the floor.

"It's just a car! All my friends have one. Why won't you buy me one?"

Kyla clutched her chest as a servant helped her into the sitting room next door.

Derrick turned and saw me, immediately holding out his hand. "Where's your $500,000? Give it to me first."

"Spent it."

"What could you possibly spend it on?" He looked over my old coat and reached for my bag. "Give me the card. You took Leah's place and moved into my house, so you should help support me."

I stepped back and pulled up a photo of the dissolution agreement. "Your mother is right next door. Want me to ask her to come out and see what a wonderful son she has? You signed a dissolution agreement behind her back, and now you're planning to use your mate's private assets to support the women you're seeing outside."

Derrick's hand froze in midair. "You dare threaten me?"

"I'm just reminding you that keeping quiet is in both our interests."

He stared at me, then suddenly sneered. "Hold on to your money. When three months are up, don't kneel outside the door begging me to keep you.

"Your father's caravan is practically falling apart. Who's going to take you in once you leave my family?"

I stepped over the broken pieces on the floor without looking back.

Leah's birthday party was held in the most expensive ballroom in the city.

She stood beneath an arch of flowers, her dress even more extravagant than the one she'd worn for the mating ceremony. Her waist was so thin that it looked as though she could barely support the weight of the dress.

The moment she saw me from across the room, she immediately smiled and came over. "Erin, you finally made it."

She linked her arm through mine and led me straight into the middle of the crowd.

Someone asked about Derrick, and she gave a soft sigh. "He's been busy lately, so Erin had to come by herself."

The people around us exchanged looks. Word had already spread throughout the city about Derrick spending his days drinking and fooling around with women.

"Leah really is lucky. Even though the Alpha couldn't come, he certainly made sure she knew how much he cares."

Leah smiled and touched her neck. The skin beneath her necklace was red, and even the thick layer of makeup couldn't hide it.

A server brought her a drink. She had only held it for a moment before a guard replaced it with warm water.

Someone praised Kane for taking such careful care of her, and her smile grew even sweeter.

When fireworks rose in the direction of the castle, her pale face was reflected in the glass.

"Kane had them prepared for me." She looked at me, waiting for me to say something.

"I saw them."

"Don't you have anything to say?"

Before I could answer, a guard approached. "Luna, it's nine."

Leah's hand holding the water cup suddenly shook. Warm water splashed onto her dress, and she didn't even have time to wipe it away. "The cake hasn't been cut yet."

"The car is ready, and the physician is here."

The guests around her urged her to go home early so she wouldn't make the Alpha worry. She smiled along with them, but her lips were beginning to turn pale.

After the guests had left, I picked up my bag. Leah suddenly grabbed me. "Erin, wait."

The guard remained where he was, and her voice immediately turned sharp. "Can't I even have a few words with my own sister?"

The guard glanced at his watch. "Ten minutes."

Once the door to the lounge closed, Leah finally let go of my sleeve. A damp handprint remained on the fabric.

She walked over to the table, picked up half a glass of champagne, brought it to her lips, then stopped and slammed it back down. "You've seen it all, haven't you? The dresses, the jewelry, this entire ballroom. Whatever I want, Kane gives me."

She opened a jewelry box and slid a ruby necklace toward me. "Try it on."

"No."

She grabbed the necklace and insisted on holding it against my neck.

I blocked her hand. The necklace struck the edge of the table before bouncing onto the floor.

Leah crouched to pick it up. When she stood, she swayed and had to brace herself against the table.

When she spoke again, her voice had softened. "Derrick is keeping several women on the side. Sooner or later, he'll squander everything. If you stay with him, you'll have nothing left."

I looked at her. "So?"

She hurriedly shoved the necklace into my palm. "We'll switch back. I'll go to Derrick, and you become Kane's Luna. Dad will arrange a new contract for us.

"Kane only wants a healthy Luna. You're healthier than I am. He'll agree. Derrick was always the one who loved me. Everything here will be yours."

She spoke faster and faster, pushing the box toward me along with the necklace. "You managed it before. You can do it again."

I opened my hand, letting the necklace fall back into the box. "Before?"

She froze for a moment, then forced a smile. "I mean, you've always been more capable than me."

Footsteps sounded outside. She suddenly whipped her head around, her breathing growing faster and faster. "Just promise me first. I'll handle the rest."

I pulled my sleeve free from her grip. "Keep your own mate."

She rushed over and blocked the door. "Why? You used to give me everything. Now it's just a different mate! I gave you such a good life. How can you still be dissatisfied?"

By the time she finished, tears were already streaming down her face, yet she still wore that ugly smile.

There was a knock at the door. "Luna, time's up."

Leah's entire body trembled.

"Go home. The medicine has gone cold. He'll make them force-feed you another bowl."

Her sobs stopped instantly.

A few seconds later, she lowered her head and looked at my mouth, then toward the door. The color slowly drained from her face. "How do you know?"