Chapter 3

Silence ensued. No one had expected me to be so bold. Their faces showed nothing but surprise.

Cassian stared at me in disbelief. A flicker of helplessness crossed his eyes.

Seeing that, Asher quickly went up to him. "Alpha Cassian, there's no need to accommodate her since she's being so ungrateful. A she-wolf from a small pack like her doesn't deserve to be your Luna in the first place anyway. If you force yourself to accept her, it would only harm your prestige."

Cassian agreed with him and regained his composure.

However, he frowned again. "But… My pack knows I'll be marking my Luna tonight, and everyone is waiting to meet her. If I call off the marking ceremony now, where does that leave my honor as the Alpha?"

A slight smile formed on Asher's face. There was a devious glint in his eyes. "Alpha Cassian, the daughter of the Silvermoon pack's Alpha, Irina Torvald—who visited us a few days ago—is gentle and distinguished. Pardon me for saying this, but only a she-wolf like her is worthy of being your Luna.

"The Silvermoon pack is one of the largest packs in the area, second only to ours, and Irina is the Alpha's only daughter. If she becomes your mate, our pack will surely prosper."

Cassian abruptly asked, "Is she a white wolf?"

I was stunned, confused as to why he would ask such a question. Could it be that he was into white wolves?

Unfortunately, I was one only when I was younger. As I grew, my fur turned a darker shade, and I eventually became a black wolf like my father.

Asher immediately understood what Cassian was concerned about. He quickly answered, "Of course, just like your first love."

"But… Will she agree to be my mate?"

Cassian was tempted. Seeing that, Asher was delighted. He replied hastily, "Don't worry. The moment she laid eyes on you, she thought you looked familiar, as if she'd fallen for you a long time ago.

"She's even dropped by to attend your marking ceremony just to see you and is now waiting outside. One word from you, and you could proceed with the marking ceremony with her as your mate."

Noticing the excitement on Asher's face, I finally understood.

Iris said in a low voice, "He was indeed finding faults with you on purpose!"

Although Cassian was domineering and rude, he didn't seem like someone who could come up with over a hundred oaths.

Besides, when Asher read out the oaths, I observed Cassian's expression closely. It seemed there were a few oaths that he didn't know about. I suspected back then that something wasn't right. Now, it was clear that Asher was the one behind it all.

He must be on Irina's side, trying to sow discord between Cassian and me, just to help Irina rise to be the Moonfall pack's Luna.

At that thought, I said coldly, "Alpha Cassian, no matter what, our marking ceremony has been made public. Even if we were to call off the marking ceremony, you can't just switch your mate on short notice. Don't you think that's just too rude?

"Besides, I'd like to know who came up with all those oaths. Could it be that your patrol leader is so unwilling for me to be your Luna that he invented those oaths just to make things difficult for me?"

Instantly, both Cassian and Asher turned uneasy. They exchanged a frantic glance.

Suppressing his guilt, Cassian replied, "An outsider like you has no right to question me, nor do you have the authority to suspect my patrol leader of such a deed. If you spout any more nonsense, I'll cast you out of our pack's territory."

Their reactions proved me right.

I heaved a great sigh. Cassian's father, Horatius Locke, had both brains and brawn. He led the Moonfall pack out of their looming downfall and regained their glory. I wondered why Cassian failed to inherit even the slightest bit of wisdom from his father.

On behalf of Horatius, I decided to advise Cassian for the last time. Iris sneered at me for being too kind, but didn't stop me anyway.

"Cassian, do you really think Asher's done all that for you? Have you ever thought of the consequences you'd have to face after changing your Luna candidate abruptly—"

Before I could finish, Cassian furiously snapped, "Noelle Sawyer, I told you you have no right to suspect Asher. Who do you think you are? Do you think you can order me around just because you managed to butter up my dad? I'm telling you, even if you beg me now, I will never mark you."

Asher added, "That's right! How dare an outsider like you talk to our Alpha in such a manner! Guards, chase her off our territory."

I cast him an indifferent glance. "You're overdoing your act. Is the mastermind planning to hide in the shadows during the marking ceremony too?"

Immediately after I said that, a pretty she-wolf dressed in bright clothes entered the room.