2

As I expected, Ethan didn't return all night.

But when my hand touched the other side of the bed and felt only cold emptiness, I couldn't help the ache in my heart.

The knocking on the door grew louder with each rap.

I opened it to find the Elder's assistant looking at me with pure disdain.

"The old lady says to bring the child to the pack house," he stated flatly.

The pack matriarch—Ethan's grandmother—had always looked down on me.

According to Silver Crescent law, if I didn't return to inherit my position, I couldn't reveal my status as heir to anyone outside our pack.

So she always saw me as just a shameless Omega trying to climb the social ladder through her grandson.

Her contempt extended to my daughter as well.

With the matriarch setting such an example, the rest of the pack naturally followed suit.

When we arrived at the great hall of the main house, I discovered all the members of the pack council were present.

Ethan, who had vanished for the night, stood beside Victoria, supporting her with tenderness filling his eyes.

The old matriarch stared at Victoria's belly, her face nearly splitting with joy.

"Victoria is finally pregnant. Now that all the Elders are here, it's time to fulfill the promise made six months ago!"

The most respected Elder stepped forward and publicly announced Ethan's status as the pack Alpha.

"Now that the pack has a new Alpha and a new heir, let's set a date for the Mating Ceremony."

I looked up to see everyone's eyes fixed on Victoria, including Ethan's.

He caressed Victoria's stomach as if no one else was present, his expression gentle and loving.

"I'm going to be a father," he said softly.

Not "I'm going to be a father again," but "I'm going to be a father."

My daughter's small voice echoed through the hall: "Mommy, what does that mean?"

Her question drew every eye in the room.

The Elder frowned. "If word gets out that the pack Alpha has an illegitimate child, the pack's reputation would be ruined."

"Just a bastard born to a loose woman," someone muttered.

Ethan's grandmother looked at me with contempt. "From now on, we'll tell outsiders this child is an orphan of a fallen pack warrior, being raised here to comfort the warrior's family."

The old matriarch disliked me and, by extension, disliked my little Lily.

It had been her idea for Ethan to take responsibility for his sister-in-law in exchange for the Alpha position.

Now that Victoria was pregnant, Lily became even more insignificant in her eyes.

Ethan released his hold on Victoria. "Grandmother, isn't that going too far?"

He started to move toward me, but Victoria subtly pulled him back.

I saw it clearly. Taking Lily's hand, I walked up to Ethan's grandmother.

"As you wish. From this day forward, Lily is no longer Ethan Blackwood's daughter."

My daughter would soon be the most honored heir to the Silver Crescent Alpha position.

I knelt before Lily and calmly explained:

"Sweetie, you can't call him Daddy anymore. You'll have to call him Uncle Ethan from now on, okay?"

Ethan froze. He knew that for the past six months, I had stayed largely because Lily didn't want to leave her father.

He searched my eyes for any sign of resentment or pain.

But he found none.

A child can't understand such complex situations. Lily's small face turned red with tears.

I hurried to lead her out, but Victoria's voice stopped us.

"Sister Autumn, my morning sickness has been terrible. I need a rare healing amethyst, and Ethan has been searching for days without success. I just learned you happen to have one!"

"You wouldn't mind giving your healing amethyst to me, would you?" Victoria asked with a challenging look.