Chapter 4

The hall fell into instant silence, and everyone froze.

"That's the Alpha King. I've seen him from a distance at a celebration before."

"Who is this shewolf? Why does she have a photo with him?"

"It's just a picture. That doesn't prove anything, right?"

"But I heard the Alpha King never takes photos..."

I nodded slightly.

My uncle truly despised being photographed.

After the war, a brutal scar had been carved across his face. From that day on, he avoided cameras entirely.

Except with me.

Emily stumbled back, her flawless makeup cracking under the strain.

The crowd looked between the two of us, confusion rippling through them.

"You said the Alpha King is your uncle. And she claims to be his daughter?"

"By that logic, you two should know each other."

Emily's face had gone ghost‑white. Her lips trembled.

"That's impossible. You're lying. How could I not know if he had a niece?"

Then she raised her voice, sharp and shrill.

"That photo is fake. You fabricated it!"

Before I could react, Emily lunged forward and tore the photo in half, her expression twisted and wild.

"This liar was exiled by the pack and came to the banquet for revenge. Throw her out. Now!"

But this time, no one moved. They were all filled with hesitation.

I crossed my arms and watched her quietly, then spoke again.

"Are you sure you want to throw me out? I am my uncle's only successor. If you do this, have you thought about the consequences you'll be facing?"

My words made everyone instinctively step back.

Fear and wariness flashed through their eyes.

They believed me.

Not just because of the photo, but because the Alpha aura rolling off me carried the same unmistakable pressure as my uncle's.

When no one spoke, Claude immediately stepped forward. He positioned himself protectively in front of Emily.

"Everyone, don't listen to Ariel! She's only been in our pack for a year. If she were truly the successor, why would she come to my pack? Waiting for the throne would have been enough. And even if she is the Alpha King's niece, how could she attack members over a piece of Stag King meat?"

One of the other pack members hesitantly spoke up.

"But you just said Ariel joined your pack only a year ago. What if she came here to test herself and gain experience? Also, I heard she helped you hunt nearly five years' worth of food this year alone. That Stag King meat is her rightful reward."

Emily's eyes flickered with panic as she pulled out my uncle's emblem.

"Look carefully! This is proof! I am the one sent to train. My father sent me to inspect the packs. If she were really my father's niece, why doesn't she have an emblem?"

Her explanation earned murmurs of agreement from the crowd.

"Yeah! Ariel, you say you're the Alpha King's niece, right? You should have an emblem too, shouldn't you?"

"Show it to us."

Claude snorted coldly.

"What emblem could she possibly have? She's just a liar."

The pack members I once led quickly chimed in.

"Yeah! Just a liar! All that talk about planning hunts? Lies."

"She took the results of the members' hunts and claimed them as her own. A werewolf like her should be thrown out."

"If it weren't for Emily inspecting the packs, we would never have discovered what a shameless werewolf Ariel really is."

I stared at them in disbelief.

The moment our eyes met, the speakers' gaze faltered. They looked down, ashamed.

I knew it. They had been bought by Emily.

My silence only made her smugness return.

"Alright, Ariel. Will you leave on your own, or do you want me to help you?"

Claude stepped forward, shoving me roughly.

"Get out!"

I smiled coldly and gripped his fingers with all my strength. He screamed, the sound raw and panicked.

His eyes were bloodshot as he glared at me.

"How dare you touch me!"

Emily immediately puffed up, her arrogance shining through.

"You're still talking back after everything!"

I smoothed my clothes and let out a low, sharp laugh.

"You keep claiming you're the Alpha King's daughter. Tell me, then. Who is your mother? Last I checked, my uncle has no mate."

For a moment, the hall was quiet, but then a ripple of chatter exploded.

"How could I forget? Our Alpha King has never had a mate!"

"Could she be... an illegitimate daughter? But he doesn't seem like the type..."

Emily's face went pale as the whispers grew louder.

At the peak of the crowd's speculation, she screamed to cut them off.

"That's not true! I am my father's daughter!"

Her hands trembled slightly as she reached for me, trying to pull me along.

"Fine. I'll take this troublemaker with me. Honestly, I can attend as many banquets as I want in the future anyway."

I smiled as I felt the quiver beneath her grip.

Unease radiated off her in waves.

She was far too conspicuous now. The moment my uncle arrived, her lies would crumble.

But I couldn't help my curiosity. Where had she gotten the confidence to storm into the banquet like this? And where did she even get my uncle's emblem?

When she saw that I didn't move, Emily's head snapped toward Claude.

"Don't forget who made it possible for this little pack to meet the Alpha King!"

Claude snapped back to his senses and roughly yanked at me.

Following his lead, the pack members surged forward, trying to restrain me.

I glared at them, my voice cutting through the tension.

"Step back! The Alpha King is about to arrive. If you don't want to die, get back!"

The crowd froze.

Emily screamed, her tone sharp with panic and rage.

"She's a liar! Get her out with me, now! If the Alpha King finds out the banquet was ruined, I won't speak for any of you!"

Those words were enough to make everyone around me close in.

They lunged, tearing at my clothes. Emily's eyes glinted with triumphant defiance.

Then, my uncle's voice rang out from the back of the crowd.

"What do you think you're doing to my princess?!"