Chapter 2

Philip turned to Louis, his expression stern as he said, "Grace is the one who is truly fit to be your wife, Louis."

Louis quickly helped Chloe to her feet and declared, "I'm a superior white wolf, so even if Chloe is a brown wolf, I'm still capable of fathering white pups, Father!"

Philip had always valued bloodline purity above all else.

I noticed Dad staring daggers at Chloe. Her parents were a disreputable lot, so as a result, our families had become strangers to one another the moment Mom passed away.

I held Dad back, preventing him from stepping forward to side with Philip.

"Are you truly certain you want to marry Chloe, Louis?" Philip asked.

Louis nodded firmly in affirmation.

Philip ultimately couldn't sway him, so he had no choice but to consent to the union. He only allowed Chloe to be his mistress for now, decreeing that she would earn her place as Louis' wife only after proving herself by bearing a pure-blood pup.

Chloe's family basked in their newfound glory now that she was officially tied to Louis, the heir of the Wolf King. Fiona Moore, my indolent and greedy aunt, took advantage of Chloe's position as an excuse to visit our home and lord it over us.

Dad, however, had no patience for her and promptly kicked her out.

The Twin Wolf lineage was incredibly precious among wolf clan. Therefore, even though I was passed over during the selection, that didn't stop others from coveting my lineage.

Dad, however, was never satisfied. In just a few short days, he had already rejected over a dozen families who had come to propose marriage.

Chloe's family held a grand feast to commemorate her being Louis' mistress. They extended invitations to every wolf of consequence in the clan, sparing no expense to flaunt their new status.

I naturally received an invitation as well. Heather Bell, my maid, advised me against going, but I felt no fear and went anyway.

The moment I entered Chloe's home, I noticed the guests muttering to each other with knowing smiles. I remained unfazed by their petty gossip and chose a secluded seat away from the prying eyes of the crowd.

I hadn't been sitting long when a figure stopped right in front of me. I looked up to find that it was Chloe.

I was just about to get up and leave when Chloe suddenly grabbed my arm to stop me. "You might have lost the selection, but it's not the end of the world. Grace, I'm sure that if you hide it well enough, someone out there will still be willing to marry you."

I had no idea what Chloe was saying and was utterly confused.

Chloe covered her mouth after saying that, feigning a look of distress. "I've said too much, haven't I? I can assure you that I'll be looking out for you and help you find a suitable husband."

I flung her hand away and tried to walk off, refusing to listen to her rambling.

In an unexpected turn of events, Chloe's words sparked murmurs among those nearby.

"Why would Chloe say that? Does Grace really have some shameful secret to hide?"

"It certainly looks that way. I mean, it would explain why the heir of the Wolf King passed over her Twin Wolf lineage in favor of a common brown wolf like Chloe."

…

The following day, Heather came to tell me that rumors about me were circulating. They claimed that my private life was a mess and that I was involved with several wolves at once. They even went so far as to say I had sought out beastmen from other clans during my heat.

Those who had previously wanted a marriage alliance shunned me, going out of their way to avoid me whenever they saw me in public.

It was clear as day that these were the very seeds Chloe had planted at her home the day before. I also suspected, with growing certainty, that Louis was pulling the strings right alongside her.

They had no idea that I was actually pleased with the outcome. There had been so many marriage proposals lately that I'd grown just as tired of them as Dad had.

I knew the rumors would ruin my reputation, but I preferred that over more marriage offers.

I instructed Heather to spread the rumor that my Twin Wolf lineage was nothing but a lie, forcing those suitors to retreat completely.

Once I handled that matter, I carried a jug of medicinal wine and walked into a heavily guarded courtyard.

"What brings you here, Grace?"

Ella Craft, my twin sister and also a superior white wolf, lived here. She had been frail and sickly since birth, so Dad had specially built this courtyard and stationed guards there to ensure she was never disturbed and to allow her to recover in peace.

I would drop by to see Ella every so often.