Chapter 4

The trunk of the Maybach was packed full.

Selena got out of the car first, beaming with joy. She called out, "Mother! Come look!"

Kyle followed behind. He shut the car door with one hand while holding a leather trunk case in the other.

Mother rushed out to greet them, with Father following behind, his face all smiles.

Selena took things out one by one, explaining, "Mother, these are the betrothal gifts Kyle gave me.

"An ancestral dagger that's said to have been handed down through seven generations of Alphas in the Shadowfrost pack.

"This is a deed granting permanent hunting rights to a hunting ground of the Shadowfrost pack. And this is a loyalty oath from a 12-member elite squad of warriors in the pack. Also…"

She pulled out a deerskin pouch last, which contained a moonstone bracelet and several ancient wolf coins.

"Kyle went to Palais to have this moonstone bracelet custom-made. And these are the Shadowfrost pack's tokens—ancient wolf coins. There are seven in total."

Mother took each item and looked it over one by one. Her mouth was agape the whole time, and her eyes welled with tears.

"Kyle, you're too sincere…" she choked out.

Kyle smiled. "It's only right."

I stood farther back, not moving as I looked at the pile of things. I suddenly thought of my previous life.

Back then, when Kyle married me, he prepared nothing. The day he came to pick me up, he brought only two bottles of red wine and a box of chocolates.

He also gave a betrothal gift of five million dollars, which Mother thought was too little, but she didn't dare say anything.

Because at that time, it was already enough that Kyle was willing to have me and hadn't broken the mate bond.

When we went shopping after the bonding ceremony, we passed by a jewelry store. I glanced inside a little longer, and Kyle said, "The one at home is still wearable."

But that piece had belonged to his mother for years. The style was outdated, and the clasp was always loose.

Selena, now wearing a moonstone bracelet and grinning widely, suddenly spotted me standing far away. She paused for a moment before asking, "Mother, why is Layla just standing there?"

She walked over to me, looking at Mother, then at me. "Were you two fighting just now?"

Mother was quick to reply, "Layla says she wants to get married."

Stunned, Selena turned to look at me again. "Who are you going to marry?"

Kyle looked over too. His scrutinizing gaze landed on my face, as if he were examining a traitor.

"Tell us. Who are you going to marry?" Selena asked again.

I remained silent.

Kyle circled around from behind Selena and walked up to me. He was a head taller than me, so he stared down at me.

He spoke quietly, but each word struck like a hammer to the core. "Layla, we asked you a question. Who are you going to marry?"

I took a half-step back, and my back hit the wall of the entryway.

Kyle's gaze was like two silver blades, seeming as if he wanted to carve an answer out of me.

"Don't play games with me." His voice was pressed extremely low, so only I could hear. "I will never marry you again in this life. Give up."

I clenched my fists, digging my nails into my palms.

At this moment, a deep rumble of an engine came from outside the manor. The windows of the house trembled from the vibrations.

A black Rolls-Royce came to a stop outside the iron gate. The car bore the emblem of the Northwolf pack—a proud arctic wolf with its head held high. It glinted sharply in the setting sun.

The car door opened, and someone stepped out.

I was stunned.

The person shut the car door, straightened his suit cuffs, and strode toward me.

Finally, he stopped before me. His voice wasn't loud, but everyone present could still hear him.

"Layla Madden, I've come to marry you."

The air froze over completely at those words.

Selena stared at me blankly, as if she were meeting me for the first time.

While still clutching the deeds to the hunting ground, Mother's knuckles turned white.

Kyle's pupils narrowed into slits, and a low growl came from his throat.

Soren Caldwell looked at me and reached out his hand. "Layla, will you marry me?"