Chapter 4

"Enough!"

An old but commanding voice cut through the crowd. Ethan's mother, Eleanor Stone, walked onto the stage, leaning on her cane.

"Regina, you have brought enough shame to the Stone family!" Eleanor struck the ground hard with her cane. "An outsider with an impure bloodline, daring to cause trouble at the sacred full moon celebration!"

The pack members around immediately chimed in.

"Eleanor's right! Regina was never fit to be Luna!"

"Her bloodline is too common; she could never bring strong offspring to the Stone family!"

"Look at Miss Scarlett, that's a true noble bloodline!"

Ethan nodded proudly. "My mother is right. Regina, the Stone Pack's power today is all thanks to the strength of Scarlett's family bloodline."

"Bloodline strength?" I scoffed.

"Of course!" Ethan spread his arms, gesturing to the allied packs around. "Since I met Scarlett, our allies have grown, our strength has increased. This is the power of a pure-blooded wolf!"

Scarlett lowered her head shyly, but her eyes glinted with triumph. "Ethan, you're too kind... I just hope to contribute to the pack..."

She paused, her voice laced with feigned concern. "Actually, I've always been worried... Caleb has been too sheltered by Regina, sister. He hasn't had real Alpha training. If this continues..."

"What are you worried about?" Ethan frowned.

"I'm worried Regina's way of raising him will weaken Caleb's wolf instincts," Scarlett said carefully. "A child needs tough training, not motherly coddling. Of course, Caleb is so smart entirely because he inherited your excellent genes..."

Eleanor nodded emphatically. "Scarlett's right! Regina, you've made my grandson too soft! How can a future Alpha be so gentle?"

Ethan's face grew grim. "No wonder he didn't dare attend the coming-of-age ceremony last night! Regina, what exactly have you turned my son into?"

I looked at these hypocritical faces, the anger inside me churning like lava.

"You want to know what I turned him into?" My voice was low and dangerous. "I taught him to respect his father, I taught him to train hard, I taught him to push himself to make you proud!"

"Push himself to be strong?" Ethan sneered. "If he was really strong, why wouldn't he attend the ceremony?"

"Because you didn't give a damn about his ceremony last night!" I finally exploded. "You only cared if your mistress was comfortable, if she was fed, if she needed more guards to protect her!"

The hall fell dead silent.

Ethan's face instantly turned ashen. "What did you say?"

"I'm telling the truth!" I pointed at Scarlett. "Last night was her heat, and you took all the elite guards to protect her while she hunted, leaving Caleb to face the dangers of his coming-of-age ceremony alone!"

Scarlett hid behind Ethan, frightened. "I... I didn't ask for so many guards... It was Ethan who was worried about me and the baby..."

"Of course, I have to protect you!" Ethan roared angrily. "You are my real family! As for Caleb..."

He paused, his voice turning ice-cold. "If he can't even handle a basic coming-of-age ceremony, then he proves he's not fit to be the heir of the Stone family!"

Sounds of agreement rose from the crowd.

"The Alpha is right! Survival of the fittest!"

"True strength doesn't need coddling!"

"Maybe this is for the best; Miss Scarlett's child is more suited to be heir!"

Eleanor struck the ground again with her cane. "Regina, since you're so unhappy, then break the bond and get out of the Stone family! But..."

She narrowed her eyes, her voice full of menace. "Caleb must stay. He is of Stone family blood. You won't take him anywhere!"

"That's right!" Ethan sneered, walking towards me. "Regina, I can agree to break our bond. But Caleb belongs to the Stone family, don't you dare try to take him!"

I clutched the ebony box tightly, looking at these greedy, ugly faces.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" My voice was terrifyingly calm.

"Of course!" Ethan announced proudly. "Now, in front of all our allies, hand over Caleb! I want to personally see where he's hiding and slacking off!"

I slowly raised the ebony box in my hands.

"As you wish."

"This is the Caleb you're looking for."