Chapter 3

When I got home, I packed my things quickly.

Then I saw the announcement posted on the pack's internal network.

[Ariel defied Emily and nearly caused the pack to fall into the Alpha King's disfavor. She has now been expelled, and her right to bathe in the Sacred Spring has been transferred to Emily. In addition, thanks to Emily's arrival, the pack has gained the opportunity to attend the Alpha King's banquet for the first time.]

I let out a cold laugh and shut off my phone.

As I lifted my bag and headed for the door, several of Emily's supporters surrounded me.

Their expressions were filled with disdain.

"So what if your hunting results were impressive, Ariel? Can you get our pack into the Alpha King's banquet?"

"You really don't know your place. If not for Emily's arrival, our pack might never have even earned the right to lay eyes on the Alpha King."

Emily stepped out from the crowd, standing proudly in front of me.

"All right, everyone, that's enough. Even though Ariel was disrespectful to me, my father is the Alpha King. I know how to show mercy."

She looked at me, her gaze openly provocative.

"If you kneel and apologize to me right now, I'll ask my father to arrange another pack for you. Of course... It would be as a slave."

Her words set the crowd off, and murmurs of discontent rippled through them.

"Emily is too kind. If it were me, I wouldn't bother with her at all."

"Ariel, don't be ungrateful. You challenged Emily again and again, and she's still willing to help you. Hurry up and apologize."

Claude stood off to the side and shouted coldly, "Ariel, if you want to stay alive, apologize right now. Being given a slave's status is already more mercy than you deserve."

I sneered. "Is that so?"

When she realized I had no intention of apologizing, Emily twirled her fingers, her expression lazy and careless.

"Fine. If you won't apologize, then I'll make sure you learn what happens when you offend me."

Claude immediately echoed her.

"That's right. Thanks to Emily, our pack is about to attend the Alpha King's banquet. When the time comes, I'll personally tell the Alpha King all about your disgraceful behavior and let him punish you."

With that, Claude grabbed Emily and walked away without looking back.

I watched them leave, the corner of my lips lifting slightly.

The next second, I reached out through the mind link.

[Uncle Hyde, I heard you've already contacted Alpha Claude?]

My uncle paused for a moment before answering.

[Yes. I wanted to see for myself what the pack you've spent the past year fighting for is really like.]

I let out a quiet sigh.

[But I've already left that pack.]

He caught the shift in my tone instantly. His voice, once warm, sharpened with authority.

[Did they do something to you? Claude must have a death wish!]

I cut in quickly.

[No, Uncle Hyde. It's nothing like that. I just... miss home.]

The moment I said that, he burst into laughter.

[Good. So you finally miss home. Come back, then. I miss you too. Also, I've already notified every pack to attend the upcoming banquet, as I'll be formally announcing you as my successor.]

I answered with a soft hum and ended the link.

I sneered. Those idiots really believed the invitation was because of Emily. They had no idea my uncle had summoned every pack for one reason only.

To announce me as his successor.

I left that disappointing place without looking back, bringing my trial and training to an end.

-

On the day of the banquet, the venue was extravagantly prepared. My uncle was still in a private room, making final arrangements for the ceremony.

I sat quietly in a corner of the hall, dressed casually, savoring a plate of Stag King meat.

The moment the former pack members spotted me, gasps rippled through the room.

Emily's and Claude's eyes on me were full of barely hidden displeasure. Emily strode over, her tone dripping with disdain.

"How are you even here? You're not part of this pack anymore. You have no right to be at this banquet!"

I calmly placed the Stag King meat back onto my plate and looked up.

"You're right. I'm not from your pack anymore, but I have more than enough right to stand here."

Emily scoffed, the mockery in her voice unmistakable.

"Ridiculous. My father is the Alpha King. Do you think I wouldn't know exactly who was invited? I'll have my father throw trash like you out immediately."

Her words instantly drew attention from all around us.

Werewolves leaned in, whispering among themselves.

"I heard the Alpha King is announcing his successor tonight."

As they spoke, their eyes shifted toward Emily.

It was obvious Claude had poured the pack's resources into her. Her necklace, her rings, her gown—every detail screamed excess and privilege.

Emily stood tall in the center of it all, chin lifted proudly, as if silently declaring herself the star of the night.

Those who didn't know the truth took one look at her and began praising her openly.

"I can't believe we're seeing his successor so soon."

"She's gorgeous. And that presence! You can tell at a glance she's the future Alpha Queen."

"Look at the shewolf standing across from her. She's dressed so poorly. She must have snuck in."

"How dare she speak to our future Alpha Queen? Shameless!"

The whispers lit up Emily's pride. She soaked it in, lifting her chin higher.

When she looked at me again, the hostility in her eyes was no longer hidden. She shrieked loudly. "Guards. Get this shewolf out of here!"

Werewolves immediately rushed forward, surrounding me.

Every one of them were eager to earn Emily's favor, hoping their packs would be rewarded with resources.

Too bad they were backing the wrong side.

The moment they closed in, I stopped suppressing my Alpha aura.

Power surged outward in a violent wave. Several werewolves staggered back, forced to retreat.

"The ones who should be leaving are you."

Claude pulled Emily into his arms, fury and disbelief twisting his face.

"H-how... How do you have such overwhelming power?"

The werewolves who had mocked me seconds earlier snapped their mouths shut, terror filling their eyes.

Emily clung to Claude, her face drained of all color.

The hall fell into dead silence. Then murmurs broke out, all eyes turning toward Emily.

"That doesn't make sense. If Emily is the successor, how did she get pushed back by that aura? She looks terrified."

"Emily's only an Omega... but she told me she was just hiding her true strength."

"But the one across from her looks like the one hiding it."

As the whispers spread, Emily shakily straightened. She forced herself to calm down and spoke quickly. "My father sent me to inspect each pack. To avoid drawing attention, he temporarily sealed my wolf.

"But you..."

Her eyes were bloodshot as she pointed at me.

"What is wrong with your scent?"

As soon as she finished speaking, it was as if a thought struck Emily. She shrieked.

"Did you use black magic? Are you secretly working with witches? That's forbidden among the wolves! What's your real reason for coming to the banquet?"

Claude exploded in rage.

"You wench! No wonder you were so obsessed with bathing in the Sacred Spring. Were you trying to corrupt our holy relic?"

Emily smoothed her hair, forcing herself to look calm.

"Everyone. We need to drive this shewolf out together!"

The moment Claude heard her words, he lunged forward and grabbed my hair.

"You filthy wench. Good thing Emily saw through your plan. Otherwise, who knows how much longer you would've deceived us? You deserve to die!"

Others rushed in, pinning me down.

"Thank the Moon Goddess Emily was here, or the banquet would've been ruined."

"She really is worthy of being the future Alpha Queen. She's so dependable!"

Emily watched me with smug satisfaction, lifting the emblem in her hand and shaking it lightly.

I laughed.

"It's just an emblem."

I looked at the emblem in her hand, then wrenched myself free from the crowd and pulled a photo from my bag.

"An emblem can be stolen, but a photograph can't. The Alpha King is my uncle, and I have a photo with him. Do you?"

In the picture, my uncle had his arm around me, smiling with a gentleness no one outside had ever seen.

Every gaze locked onto the photo, and the hall fell into stunned silence.

Emily's eyes widened.

"H-how is that possible?"