3

"Luna Olivia, please don't be rash!" the old caretaker's voice cracked with panic. "This arrangement was specifically set up by Lady Sarah. Whenever the Alpha heir sees the wolf fight, he gets very excited."

"If you harm it, Lady Sarah and the Alpha heir will be upset, and the Alpha will become angry," the old caretaker pleaded nervously.

I looked at my daughter's mangled body, then back at the caretaker. The coward couldn't even meet my eyes.

"So Derek allows this monster to stay just so it could torment his own daughter?" My voice was deadly calm.

I ignored the caretaker's warnings. The moment the rogue wolf lunged toward us, my claws shattered its skull.

Still not satisfied, I tore through the entire prison cell, reducing it to ruins.

Derek rushed over when he heard the commotion, immediately starting with accusations:

"Olivia, how could you cause such a disturbance the moment you return? Are you trying to make the pack members suspicious?"

His face tightened as he noticed the dead rogue wolf. "Nathan is crying from fear now. Do you have any idea what you've done? Sarah has already been busy all day with the ceremony, and now she has to comfort our son. Can't you stop causing trouble for one damn minute?"

"I know you've suffered for over a year, and I'll explain everything later, but Sarah's reputation cannot be damaged by you!" he hissed, lowering his voice.

Bitterness flooded my heart, turning my blood to ice. He was this concerned because another woman's son was crying?

What about the years when my daughter and I were nearly tortured to death?

"You're so heartbroken because her son shed a few tears? Emma is your daughter too, yet you let Sarah lock her in the silver prison and allowed that rogue wolf to use her as food. How can your heart be so one-sided?!" I snarled, my voice shaking with rage.

Derek seemed to notice Emma's wounds for the first time, his face filled with confusion:

"What are you talking about? Emma is my blood. How could I let her be bitten by wolves and fed like animal feed?"

I hesitated, studying his expression. Was it possible he truly didn't know?

Frowning, he called for the caretaker to bring Sarah.

When Sarah arrived, she took one look at the scene—the destroyed cell, the dead wolf, Emma in my arms—and immediately broke into tears.

"Derek," she sobbed, clutching at his arm. "Olivia misunderstands me. Emma is so adorable, how could I ever treat her like that? You know I loved her like my own!"

She wiped dramatically at her tears. "You know how Emma loves playing hunting games. She was begging me to play with her earlier, but I was busy entertaining guests and hadn't found time to look for her."

Sarah's voice hitched convincingly. "Who would have thought this child would be bold enough to go to the silver prison to find a rogue wolf? I've been so worried about her!"

Emma looked at me anxiously. "Mom, I didn't—"

"Emma," Sarah interrupted, her voice saccharine yet venomous, "I know you hate that I've taken your mother's position, but you shouldn't unite with your mother to lie..."

She clutched her chest dramatically. "Do you both hate me that much? After everything I've done for this pack? For you?"

Derek's face darkened as he turned to Emma, delivering a harsh slap across her face.

"You're just a pup, yet you dare to lie and falsely accuse your aunt? Who knows what kind of trouble you'll cause when you grow up. Today, as your father, I need to teach you a lesson!"

Emma was stunned by the blow. Tears welled in her eyes but she stubbornly refused to let them fall.

My heart ached for her. I shoved Derek away with one paw: "Derek, what gives you the right to hit my daughter?"

I held Emma closer, shielding her from him. "Use your brain for once! You know very well that Emma can't defeat a rogue wolf. How would she lock herself in the prison? She's so small and thin, how could she possibly move those heavy iron chains?!"

Doubt flickered in Derek's eyes, but Sarah cried even harder:

"Fine, I'll just be the villain here. Yes, I did it all, are you satisfied now? I might as well take Nathan and kill myself. Perhaps in death, I'll meet the Moon Goddess and your brother!"

With those words, she turned and ran away, her sobs echoing down the corridor.